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Intak had been staring at the tens of lyric drafts in his notes app for… way too long. Usually, he didn’t write this many, and he’d have narrowed it down to no more than three by now, but his mind couldn’t focus.
They had a few days off while the management team figured out their starting schedules for their next comeback, so he had spent most of the day with Theo and Soul. They had gone shopping at an outlet and got lunch at a bibimbap cafe around the area.
Theo began playing around with the noodles, trying to feed some of it to Soul, but the younger male kept dodging every advance with dramatic flicks of his head. Intak had been laughing so hard, the food almost spat itself out of his nose. It was then that he got hit with a sudden burst of inspo, a few thoughtless words that started marinating in his mind.
He wasn’t sure what it was—probably just the blend of fun vibes and sounds from the atmosphere around them. Something about the moment had felt easy in a way that quickly got blood pumping into his brain. He’d reached for his phone without thinking, wanting to catch that feeling before it evaporated like the steam from their bibimbap bowls.
Now as he sat crisscrossed on his bed, looking at the lyrics again after several hours of checking out a market and studying dance practice videos, his brain was blank.
He already had the bones of a good verse; he just needed to expand on it. He had always been confident in whatever he wrote, but hearing himself sing this part over and over out loud just didn’t hit anymore. His mind felt like overlapping tracks in a messy demo when he tried incorporating the new ideas—nothing lined up how he wanted.
He had two parts in the song, one of which was already completed, but now he suddenly felt like rewriting everything. It was like the moment he got that spark, the tiny, annoying voice in his head wouldn’t stop whispering, Seriously? You can do better.
Looking at the lyrics now just felt like an unfinished thought, the kind where he couldn’t remember the exact emotion he had when he first wrote it.
He wasn’t frustrated exactly—he knew he could do this. He was just… stuck. He needed something to pull himself back into the right head space. He thought about asking Jongseob for some advice, but the younger had said he’d be sleeping at the studio tonight and not to bother him. He got even deeper in his thoughts when working on his craft compared to Intak.
Intak sighed, scrolling through his notes again. He hummed under his breath, trying to see if anything clicked differently this time. Running a hand through his hair, he mouthed some of the lines under his breath in different melodies until his phone buzzed. A notification banner slid across the top of his screen, covering the lyrics.
jwiung
tak-ah
Intak’s heart did a little flip upon seeing the name pop up. Was he back from the team dinner already?
Other than Jongseob, there was Jiung.
Jiung, who would understand this sentiment Intak was having better than anyone else because he’d also been in this situation before. Jiung, who always knew the right words to say to encourage him in tough times. Jiung, whose smile and laughter could cheer him up no matter the situation.
Jiung, who was also Intak’s annoyingly cute, attentive boyfriend. His boyfriend who he hadn’t seen all day.
Intak’s lips tugged up as he opened their chat room. Jiung had gone to a meeting with Keeho for a good chunk of the afternoon and then went to dinner with the team. He didn’t tell him about that though; Intak only knew that fact because Keeho was the one who had mentioned it.
It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Jiung to be silent about his day sometimes, especially since they got very few to themselves. He still texted Intak before it got too late though, right after he chatted with p1eces on fromm. It was nearing 9:30pm now, so he definitely wasn't in bed yet. But considering he was messaging Intak at the moment, maybe he was just tired.
yes~?
He stared at the screen, waiting. The response came through quickly.
jwiung
miss you
Oh? Intak’s breath caught in his throat. It wasn’t that Jiung never said things like that—he did, albeit rarely. And the way he said it felt softer than usual. Jiung must be really tired if he was texting Intak so cutely.
His fingers pressed the buttons on his screen, typing a response, but another message appeared before he finished.
jwiung
come over
Intak blinked. Jiung wasn’t usually so straightforward with him or with what he wanted. If anything, he tended to be the opposite—simple confirmations, the occasional emoji, neutral updates. But come over?
A warmth bloomed in Intak’s chest, but right behind it was something small, tight, curious.
miss u too
you okay?
jwiung
just
come
please
Please.
That did it—along with the strange string of texts that didn’t sound like Jiung at all.
Intak pushed himself off his mattress, sliding his phone into his pocket after turning it off. He straightened up and grabbed his jacket from the foot of his bed. He slid it on as he exited his room, not planning on wasting a second if Jiung wanted him.
The hallway was fairly quiet as Intak padded out. The lights were on in the kitchen, and the sound of rustling echoed through the room. When he peeked out, he was met with Keeho’s body leaning against the corner, a packet of bite-sized rice cakes in his hand.
So they were back from dinner. How long ago, Intak wasn’t sure. He had been too lost in his own head to hear the leader enter the dorm.
“Oh—hey,” Keeho said, chewing. “Where are you going?”
Intak froze for half a second before speaking. “…to see Jiung.”
Keeho raised an eyebrow. “Right now?”
“Yeah.”
His relationship with Jiung wasn’t really a secret to the members, even if they hadn’t outright confirmed it. As the leader, Keeho was preceptive to these things, so Intak didn’t blame him for being a little wary about why he’d be visiting Jiung at this hour.
Intak tugged his jacket sleeve up slightly. “Um, did something happen at the meeting earlier?” Maybe he could reel some information out of Keeho.
“It was fine,” Keeho replied. Then his expression shifted, a little tight around the eyes. “Other than the fact Jiung and I had a few differing opinions about how we should approach the concept shoot. We had an argument before we ate, but it wasn’t huge.”
Worry evolved in the pit of Intak’s stomach. Arguments between Keeho and Jiung weren’t anything new, and even though they reconciled better than their debut days, Jiung was still prone to keeping his thoughts bottled up inside. He didn’t like talking about things until he had sorted them out internally.
Keeho sighed. “You’re going to check on him then? I know he needs time to process his feelings, but we’ll be okay tomorrow.”
Intak nodded, resuming his stride. “I won’t take long.”
“I hope not,” Keeho said, though he was looking at Intak like he already knew that wasn’t true.
~
When Intak arrived at the other dorm, he knocked lightly, rocking back on his heels as he waited. He heard footsteps approach the door, then a few clicks sounded through his ears.
It opened just enough for Jiung’s small face to appear. His eyes were a little unfocused, cheeks tinted a light shade of red. He blinked once, then his expression lit up.
“Intak,” Jiung breathed, opening the door wider. His voice was warm and thick, like honey dripping off a spoon.
“Hi,” Intak breathed back. Now that his boyfriend was fully in view, he could appreciate the cute, green-striped pajama set he was wearing and the flatness of his hair that looked a little damp, probably from a recent hot shower. He really wanted to grab Jiung and smother him in a hug.
But if he did, he would most likely receive a harsh whisper that they weren’t alone in the dorm, or Jiung would swerve and avoid him with the excuse of he still wasn't used to touching, even though he never stopped Intak when he thought no one was looking.
To Intak’s surprise, Jiung reached out, grabbing his sleeve with both hands. His grip was a little clumsy and very much not how Jiung usually greeted him.
Jiung tugged him inside, and Intak was startled by the sudden closeness. The door shut behind him softly. “Hyung—”
Jiung didn’t let him finish. He rose onto his toes and placed his hands on Intak’s shoulders. Then he pressed a full kiss to Intak’s lips.
Intak froze when the plush skin met his own. His brain didn’t just short-circuit—it rebooted and was refusing to turn back on.
Jiung leaned in again, pressing his body closer, soft and smelling of something fresh. His arms winded behind Intak’s neck, hair brushing his cheek as he tilted his head to aim for another kiss.
Intak’s hands automatically flew to his waist, steadying him. “Ah—wait—”
Jiung whimpered in protest, kissing him again, slow but eager. An embarrassing noise slipped as Intak’s mouth became occupied by his very needy boyfriend—two ideas that simply shouldn't exist in the same plane.
Jiung, who only voiced his concerns out loud if Intak pestered him about them. Jiung, who’d shyly nudge Intak when he wanted something. Jiung, who rarely let Intak lean his head on his shoulder when they were relaxing in waiting rooms.
That Jiung was now gingerly moving against Intak, painting his lips with deeply soft kisses that made his insides churn with butterflies.
If Intak didn't know any better, he would've thought that his boyfriend had been possessed by some personality altering spirit lingering in the FNC halls, but based on the taste of soju on his tongue, Intak concluded that the older male was drunk.
Jiung had gone to a team dinner, so it made sense that he had some drinks. Maybe a lot more than some seeing how out of it he was acting, contrary to how Keeho had appeared. And it was clear that Jiung had taken a shower, though it hadn’t shaken off all of the drowsiness from the alcohol.
His mouth moved across Intak’s lips, rough and searching, like he was trying to cover every part he’d ever held back from. The older was initiating every movement with surprising determination for someone so languid. Hands slid down to Intak’s collarbone before reaching back up to lace fingers in the tufts of hair at the nape of his neck, pushing him closer.
Intak hummed against the pressure before finding a gap to speak. “Hyung,” he managed to say, slightly breathless, “you—you’re really drunk…”
Every voice in his head was shouting at him to move away because that was the right thing to do when his partner wasn’t thinking straight. But when Jiung pulled back just enough for their eyes to meet, suddenly every rational thought in Intak’s head dissolved like sugar in hot water.
“No,” Jiung whispered. “Only had a few glasses…” The warm lighting in the room seemed to reflect in his pupils.
Had Jiung ever looked at him like this? With a gentle curve in his gaze, openly inviting, and holding onto Intak like he needed him?
Intak loved to feel desired; he loved to serve his hyung and would do anything Jiung asked if he only let him. Without realizing, he’d step in front of him in crowds, he’d carry things for him, make sure he ate, make sure he rested. Jiung got annoyed at it sometimes, rolling his eyes or swatting Intak’s hand, insisting he was capable of doing things himself.
Though Intak knew he loved it, too, if his pretty smile every time it happened was anything to go by.
He didn’t know if Jiung was sober enough to remember any of this later, but with his pink-flushed cheeks, his slightly parted lips as he caught his breath, and his hair sticking adorably to his forehead—Intak thought, how am I supposed to walk away from this?
He swallowed, chest tightening with something warm and helpless and overwhelmingly fond. His hand moved on its own, rising to Jiung’s face.
“Aigoo,” he murmured, thumb brushing gently across the flush on Jiung’s cheek. “Are you sure? Your face is so pink. What should we do~?”
Jiung’s warm breath wafted in the small gap between them, eyes glossy but clearly focused on one thing. He leaned in again, answering with another attack on the lips.
Intak’s hand cupped his face, palm fitting over it perfectly. He smiled into the shorter male’s mouth, feeling like he could get drunk, too, just from the taste of Jiung himself.
A hand slipped from Intak’s neck, sliding down until it rested over his chest. The other arm snaked its way over both of his shoulders, causing the space between him and Jiung to shrink when Jiung pulled him in, tighter, closer.
Intak gasped when the older swirled his little tongue inside his mouth, firmly intertwining with the flat of his own muscular organ. His body was tugged forward when Jiung’s feet started shuffling backwards.
Maybe the strong urges flowing through his veins stemmed from being touch starved. Their busy schedules left little time for moments like this, and when they did have time, they were usually too tired to even do anything other than bask in each other's presence.
Intak made a mental note to ask Jiung on a date in their upcoming off days. And if he didn’t feel like going out, they could just relax in the dorm and do nothing but sleep next to each other, watching movies or kdramas. Intak would opt for a romance, but Jiung would probably pick something thrilling even if he got startled easily.
Not that Intak would complain—he'd gladly have nightmares if it meant Jiung would cling onto him like this and more.
Before the kiss could deepen further, Intak’s voice slipped through the crack between their lips, “Ji—”
Another smooch cut him off.
“Jihyung—”
Then another, his lips pulling off unhurriedly with a wet sound. Intak was starting to giggle, half‑laughing into Jiung’s mouth because the whole thing felt so ridiculously sweet and so unlike the careful restraint Jiung normally lived in.
If he ended up forgetting about this, Intak would remind him later, endlessly, just to watch him blush, to tease him because he deserved to know how soft he could be when he was stripped of every wall he usually kept up. He could already imagine how red Jiung’s ears would get from knowing, how pouty his voice would sound when he got annoyed and tried denying it.
Or maybe Intak would selfishly keep the memory of this version of Jiung, a treasure all for himself.
Intak’s hand detached itself from his boyfriend’s cheek, finding its way back to his waist, fingertips dancing along the smooth fabric of his pajamas. Jiung kept moving backward, step by step, until the back of his legs bumped gently against the arm of a couch. The sudden stop made him wobble, and Intak’s hands wrapped further around his torso, trying to keep him upright.
Jiung tried to lean back, tried to let them both fall on the cushions behind him, but Intak held him firmly in place. As much as he didn’t want to, he pried himself off of Jiung’s hungry mouth, their faces still inches apart.
“No, no, no,” Intak smiled, his eyes full of adoration. “Hyung, you’re tired. Let’s go to your room now, okay?”
Jiung blinked up at him. His flat hair had a few little strands sticking up from the sides, but they still framed his face, making him look incredibly round and adorable and cute and—gosh, Intak wanted him so bad, but he needed to show some restraint.
Jiung’s hand stayed on Intak’s chest, fingers lightly curling into the fabric there, like he didn’t quite understand why they stopped. But in that moment when their eyes connected, it seemed some gears had turned in his head because he blinked again, eyes becoming steadier.
“Ah. Intak,” Jiung breathed. His cheeks began to burn. “I–I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking—”
Intak’s hands came up and gently placed themselves on the sides of Jiung’s face. He leaned in and pressed a lush kiss to his lips, stopping Jiung before he could ramble. When Intak pulled back, Jiung looked as red as a tomato.
“I know,” Intak said. “I’m not complaining though. When else would you ever kiss me like this?” He grinned, warm and giddy.
Jiung’s eyes flickered away, embarrassed, but he had nowhere to hide when Intak was standing right there, studying his every facial expression. His fingers tightened slightly in Intak’s shirt, not knowing what to do with his hands anymore.
“Thank god you guys aren’t fucking.”
A voice cut through the room, causing them both to jolt.
Intak’s head snapped toward the open hall where Theo was standing, arms crossed.
Jiung’s body went stiff, his hand dropping from Intak’s chest to his wrist instead.
How long had he been standing there?
“Relax. I just got here like a minute ago,” Theo said, like he had just read their minds. “Heard some noises and wanted to make sure I wasn’t going insane.”
Jiung’s ears flushed, but he kept a poker face as he cleared his throat. “We were just about to go to my room.”
Theo’s face contorted into the expression he always made when he was in a judgmental mood. “Gross.”
Intak could practically feel the mortification radiating off Jiung with the way he was blushing and staring at the floor, the grip on his wrist tightening. He didn’t wait for Jiung to do anything—Intak flipped his grasp so that he was the one grabbing him now. Then he stepped forward, gently tugging Jiung along.
Jiung’s head lifted, eyes a little wide, but he didn’t resist. He just followed, letting the younger male guide him.
Intak’s heart squeezed as he heard Jiung’s small, embarrassed footsteps trail behind him. His emotions swelled so fast, he didn’t know what to do with them.
Theo smirked as they passed, eyes flicking between them with a kind of knowing expression. What did he have to look so smug about? Didn’t he know that Intak himself had some dirt on him and Keeho? It was way worse than being caught kissing in the dorms.
They reached Jiung’s door shortly. Slipping inside the room, Jiung shook his arm, causing Intak’s grip on him to loosen. The moment the door clicked, Jiung let out a tiny, frustrated exhale.
“I did drink,” he muttered, voice a little irritated. “It’s just—the meeting dragged on because we couldn’t come to a solid agreement, and Keeho had the nerve to continue it with just me after it was done.”
Intak blinked, watching Jiung start to pace in a circle around his room, hands flailing in small motions. As he continued to talk, Intak’s mind drifted elsewhere; not on purpose—he just couldn’t help but notice the way Jiung’s eyebrows scrunched, the way his voice was soft but firm through all his complaining like he didn’t want to sound mean even though he was vexed, the way he was unconsciously walking in an almost perfect loop of three steps forward, turn, three steps back with an occasional fourth, akin to a tiny robot whose programming had been scrambled by soju.
Jiung huffed, crossing his arms over his chest as he stopped mid-pace. “It was just a lot, and I don’t know—”
Intak bit back a smile. He suddenly felt like scooping Jiung up like a cat and holding him in his arms forever.
“I just wanted to go home.”
“And kiss me?” Intak teased gently.
Jiung stared at him for a beat before looking away. “No,” he said, ears going pink. “Well, not… just that.”
Intak’s grin widened as he stepped closer. “Hyung, come here.” He held his arms open.
Jiung’s eyes crept back toward the younger, hesitant. But then he shuffled forward, a little shy. He leaned into Intak’s chest, arms wrapping around his torso in a careful motion.
Intak wrapped his arms around Jiung’s shoulders, pulling him close until their bodies pressed together. Jiung relaxed, letting his head rest against the taller male’s collarbone.
They stayed like that for a bit, swaying gently as Intak rocked them side to side. He hadn’t held Jiung like this since a few months ago when their relationship was still fairly new. It had taken them years to even realize they liked each other more than just as friends.
“You’re cute,” Intak murmured.
Jiung nudged him weakly. “Stop.”
Intak only tightened his arms around Jiung. He shifted his weight and heaved upwards easily.
“Intak—!” Jiung squeaked, grabbing onto him instinctively.
Intak laughed, picking him up fully off the ground. Jiung’s legs kicked once in surprise before wrapping around Intak’s waist for balance, his arms clinging around Intak’s neck like he’d just been picked up by a crane machine.
“Put me down,” Jiung grumbled.
“No,” Intak said, grinning.
He spun around and stumbled sideways with Jiung in his arms, toppling onto the queen-sized bed together in a soft heap. Jiung landed half on top of him, half beside him, flustered and maybe angry, but his expression didn’t do much to show it.
Intak always wondered why Jiung had such a big bed when he was the only one sleeping in it, but maybe the fact that it was spacious made it more comfortable. He also had two large pillows on the mattress—one for sleeping on, one for hugging.
Intak eyed the pillow to the side, which was slightly squished in the middle, evidence of how often Jiung clung to it at night.
Intak was still grinning when he turned to look at Jiung with big eyes. He wrapped his arms around his boyfriend, holding him close; Jiung let himself melt into the embrace. He wouldn’t need the pillow tonight when he had Intak to hold onto.
They stayed enveloped in each other, warm and sleepy. After a moment, Jiung shifted, a tiny movement, enough to show that he was thinking about something.
“...Did I bother you?” he whispered.
“Hm?”
Jiung breathed through his nose, voice coming out small. “When I texted you. You weren’t doing anything, right?”
“No,” Intak said immediately, brushing his thumb along Jiung’s shoulder. “You’d never bother me. I mean, I was stuck on lyric writing, but I think my mind will be clearer after this.”
“Well… if you need ideas, I’ll help you tomorrow. If you don’t have any plans.”
“My only plan is to cuddle you to sleep right now,” Intak said, squeezing Jiung tighter against him.
Jiung let out a noise, trying to recoil from the closeness. “You’re so annoying,” he muttered, though he was starting to laugh.
It was soft and puffy and brushed against Intak’s chest as Jiung finally stopped writhing. “You annoy me,” he repeated, quieter this time.
“Only you.”
As time passed, their breathing slowed, softening into that hazy space between awake and asleep. Intak was rubbing circles into Jiung’s back, a motion that started naturally in the moment. “Hyung, you’re really warm.”
Jiung hummed, barely conscious. “Mm.”
“You comfy?”
Another hum, sleepier.
Intak smiled into Jiung’s hair, the strands brushing against the lower half of his face. “I love you,” he mumbled.
Though the only response he received was the sound of steady breathing, he didn’t mind since he was happily holding his lover safely in his arms.
Intak wasn’t sure if he was drooling when he woke up the next morning, but he licked his lips wet, hand reaching over to pat the space beside him. When he didn’t feel another body, he shifted, inching further in, thinking maybe Jiung had rolled away in his sleep.
But then something soft smacked him right in the face from above.
Intak blinked awake with a groan as the pillow slid down his chest.
Jiung was standing over him on the side of the bed, expression deeply unimpressed. “Yah. Hwang Intak, who said you could sleep on my bed without washing up first?”
Intak’s eyes were only half-open. “Hyung…?”
Jiung crossed his arms, spouting something under his breath about how his head was throbbing and how Intak was just making it worse. “Did you break in here? Without brushing your teeth or changing your clothes. And you messed up my sheets.”
Intak pouted, sinking deeper into the mattress. Looks like Jiung was back to his nagging self now that he slept off the alcohol. “You told me to come, remember?”
“I did. But I don’t recall saying you could sleep over.”
Intak only sulked harder. “Hyuuuuung. You jumped me last night. It was your fault.”
“Acting cute isn’t going to get you anywhere.”
Intak sleepily grinned. “Heh, you think I’m cute right now?”
Another pillow smacked to the face, a harder impact than the last because it was Jiung’s large one. Before Intak could take it off, he felt a weight climb on top of him, settling over his hips. Then hands trying to smoosh the pillow into his face.
“Hey—!” Intak tried to talk, but his voice was muffled. It didn’t last very long though when he eventually managed to pop his head out over the top of the plush cloth. He pouted again. “You’re mean.”
Jiung stared at him, eyes flicking down to his protruding lips. Then he leaned in and pecked them, causing Intak to smile delightedly when he pulled away.
“You’re only cute when your mouth is shut.”
“Then shut it more?”
Jiung whacked him with the pillow one last time.