Work Text:
Working with his ex was a very fun experience. Seriously, Jiung was having the time of his life. You could ask his friends all about it or his co-workers, or even his family. They may say all he did was complain but that was just the hidden love in his heart talking.
"Can you stop glaring at Keeho and actually pay attention to what I'm saying?"
Jiung furrowed his eyebrows and tore his gaze away from the glass in front of him to pay attention to Intak. He wore that knowing smirk Jiung absolutely hated.
"I wasn't looking at him."
"Right, no, I think you were glaring at Taeyang for talking to your crush."
"He's not my crush, he's my ex!"
"Those are not mutually exclusive, I fear."
Jiung huffed and tried his best to keep his eyes on Intak's presentation on his laptop. He failed after a few seconds when he glanced back over at Taeyang and Keeho through the glass.
"Stop!" Intak slapped his forehead before he stood in front of him to block his view. "You either go and talk to him or I will."
Jiung raised an eyebrow.
"And what will you tell him, exactly?"
"That you never stopped loving him and you're dying to kiss him."
Jiung grimaced, but he didn't deny it outright. He couldn't.
He and Keeho broke up at the end of college when Jiung was offered a high-paying job in one of the best companies in Gangnam. He thought at the time that a relationship would only be a distraction to his goals, that he needed to climb the corporate ladder, and he didn't have time for love.
He was absolutely wrong about that. He had thought about Keeho every day since the breakup, right up until Keeho came to work at the company six months ago. It had been even worse since then, with Keeho walking in front of him, more handsome and mature than ever, with the same easy smile and sense of humor that made him fall in love in the first place.
Jiung was absolutely fucked, and everyone and their mother knew. Everyone in the office, in his family; he wouldn't even be surprised if Keeho knew by now.
But Jiung still had a bit of pride left, the remnants clinging to his skin like a parasite consuming his last hope for happiness.
"You won't tell him that because it's not true!"
"Ok, then you can go and deny it to his face." Intak made a move towards the door, and Jiung almost jumped over the table to stop him.
"Wait, wait, wait." Jiung grabbed Intak's jacket. "I'll talk to him."
The words left his mouth before he could stop them, and he knew he made a mistake when Intak grinned.
"You can't take it back."
"I—"
"Go, or I'll send an email to the whole company."
Jiung’s eyes widened and he grabbed Intak's jacket tighter.
"You wouldn't."
"Oh, baby, you underestimate me."
Jiung closed his eyes, frustrated yet resigned. He waited a couple of seconds, maybe hoping God would show him some mercy, before he shakily got to his feet. He fixed his jacket, while Intak watched him intently. Jiung could see on his face that he thought he was bluffing, that Jiung was a coward and couldn't do it, and that look pissed him off more than the idea of having to confront Keeho.
"Here I go."
He made his way to the door, feeling eyes piercing his back. He took a deep breath and glanced at Keeho one last time. He was standing against the wall, talking animatedly. He wore a blue suit with no tie, effortlessly stylish even in that sort of environment. His features were as striking as the first time they met, his black hair slicked back, glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose.
"Ok," Jiung moved his fingers, his nails digging into his skin. "I can do it."
He walked the few meters separating them, his pace firm and unwavering. A few heads turned toward him curiously as he stood in front of Keeho.
"Jiung."
Taeyang took one look at him and left without a word. Jiung wasn't sure what they were talking about before he approached them, but it seemed to lose any importance as soon as he got close.
"Keeho." He swallowed as he felt a shiver go down his spine. Keeho's gaze on him was intense, sharp, and inviting at the same time. "I-I need to talk to you."
"Oh." Keeho looked genuinely surprised, and soon his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "About?"
"About—" It was a bad idea, a obviously foolish one, and Intak was going to pay for this, but— "Us?"
He didn't mean for his voice to sound so unsure and shaky. He felt small, something he hadn't felt since he left his last job. He had vowed to always stay in control, to not let circumstances beat him down, no matter how unpredictable. But Keeho was a part of his past, and Jiung even thought sometimes, looking at him from afar, that he was part of his very soul, hanging from the edge, trying not to fall into the abyss.
"Oh." Keeho's expression didn't reveal any of his thoughts, and that killed him. He wasn't mad, but Jiung couldn't tell if he even wanted to hear him. "Sure."
Before Jiung could react, he was dragged into an office. It may have been Keeho's office for all he knew, but Jiung wasn't paying enough attention to his surroundings to tell.
"Hey." He heard Keeho's sweet voice murmur in his ear from behind, and he hadn't realized he'd spaced out until then. "Relax."
"I-I'm sorry."
"We don't have to talk." Keeho stepped in front of him, a soft expression on his face. "I can tell Intak we did talk, though."
"You—" Jiung tilted his face and looked at Keeho with awe. He couldn't help it, that was just a natural response whenever Keeho was around. "How do you know?"
Keeho shrugged as he sat on the edge of the desk behind him. He seemed relaxed at first glance, but Jiung could see the signs of anxiety coming to life in his body, the drumming of his fingers on his arm, the subtle tapping of his shoe, his restless gaze.
"I think—" Jiung gathered the courage, and this time, it was for real. Not for Intak, not to prove some stupid bravery to himself. "I think I want another chance."
Keeho froze, the movement of his body stopping gradually, like a machine malfunctioning. Jiung had never felt so scared yet expectant in his life.
"I—" Keeho let out a sigh, the sound harsh and low. "I didn't think you'd say that."
"What did you think I was going to say?"
Keeho shook his head and let out a bitter laugh.
"I thought you were going to quit because of me."
Jiung gaped, and he felt a sharp pain in his chest. It made sense that Keeho thought he was still the same person, the man who ran away from him as soon as he could.
He'd been thinking about it. About the time he could meet Keeho and tell him he wanted him back, that he was much more than a distraction, that he was worth it. Some days he imagined he would scream at him for not fighting for them, for not following him to the end of the world. But most of the time he would just feel frustrated at himself for letting go of one of the few good things life granted to him.
Jiung took the few steps separating them, and he felt an urge he couldn't resist. He reached out, first touching Keeho's arms, testing the waters. When that wasn't rejected, Jiung moved up until he held Keeho’s face in his hands. He hadn't been so close to him in years, but his skin was as soft as the memory engraved in his fingers. He was a bit cold, but only a few seconds of touching turned his cheeks red and warm, and Jiung smiled, shy but soft, before speaking again.
"I'm not running away again."
Keeho closed his eyes, and he shook his head. Jiung could tell that he was having a million thoughts, and ten times as many doubts, but he wasn't willing to back down. He was there, brave and determined, and despite the suddenness of it all, Jiung knew that feeling was all there to stay.
"How can I know?" Keeho's voice was broken, only a thread of sound caught in his throat. "You're still avoiding me. You left me all of a sudden, and I've missed you, but how—"
"I've changed." Jiung wanted to convey all of his feelings; he wanted to wrap them up with a big bow before placing them at Keeho's feet as an offering, an apology. "I was an asshole to you, and maybe I don't deserve to even look at you again."
"Don't say that—"
"But it's true—"
"It wasn't only you." Keeho's eyes were filled with tears, and Jiung even felt something wet and warm trailing down his own cheeks. "I was too much; I made you think you couldn't handle us—"
"Keeho, stop." Jiung moved his hands down and held the back of his neck. "Never think it was your fault."
"It wasn't yours either. Your parents, everyone— I get it."
"I was a coward and an idiot."
"We all are at that age."
"You don't have to forgive me."
"But I want to."
Jiung searched Keeho's eyes, and they looked at each other for a few seconds before the words left his mouth.
"Really?"
Keeho nodded, his eyes suddenly filled with hope, the same one that had been blooming inside Jiung ever since he saw Keeho walk through the entrance of the company.
"I want to try, too."
Jiung wasn't really thinking straight when he pulled Keeho close to kiss him. Keeho responded in kind, soft lips pressing against his own. It felt the same as years before, like their first kiss, shy and unsure, but sweet all the same. When they pulled apart, both of them were smiling, just like the old times.
"I think we should take it slow." Keeho was the first to speak.
"I agree." Jiung took a step back, still keeping his hands on Keeho's shoulders.
"Dinner tonight, then?" Keeho tilted his head, a familiar smirk forming on his face. Jiung hated him so much. He didn't think he could love anyone more.
"Dinner tonight."