It’s shortly after four in the morning when Yongguk finally stumbles back to the bedroom they all share. Jongup and Daehyun are still in the living room playing video games and hissing at each other about cheating; Himchan, Youngjae, and Junhong are fast asleep in their beds. Four hours ago marked the beginning of Junhong’s birthday, and they kept him up until well after two with cake and gifts. It was always easier to do it at the stroke of midnight. They’ve done it with most birthdays they’ve had since their debut. Schedules don’t always leave much time for celebration.
As Yongguk pulls his shirt over his head and undoes his jeans in the dark, he looks at the bunk above his own. Junhong’s foot and arm are both peeking over the edge, and he can hear the boy’s soft breathing as he sleeps. The leader kicks his jeans off, eyes on the dangling foot as he bites his lip. He reaches up and nudges it; it’s cold, and when Junhong wakes up his toes will be freezing. Smiling softly, Yongguk gently pushes the exposed limb under the blanket and tucks the blanket under the edge of the mattress to ensure it won’t escape again.
Junhong always looks so young when he’s sleeping. Yawning softly, Yongguk hoists himself onto the ladder; two steps up and he can see much better into Junhong’s bunk. The boy’s big octopus pillow stares at him, its smile firmly fixed in place. The maknae usually sleeps while hugging it, but tonight it’s behind him, having seemingly escaped from his grasp. Yongguk glances down at his own bunk, where his Tigger plushie lays silently between his pillow and the wall.
He bends down, almost upsetting the ladder and toppling himself to the floor, and grabs Tigger by his tail. The doll flops a little as he brings it to himself, and Yongguk absently straightens its limbs out before turning back to Junhong. Very carefully he lifts the tall child’s arm and tucks Tigger between it and his chest; Junhong draws in a deep breath, and Yongguk immediately lets go of his arm, afraid he’s roused him. A moment passes, and Junhong rolls onto his back, arms moving to squeeze the Tigger against himself. Its head bumps against his cheek and he nuzzles it before going still again.
Yongguk remains quiet for a moment longer just to make sure that he hasn’t woken his maknae. When it seems obvious that the boy is still out, he reaches to brush Junhong’s hair off his forehead, a smile tipping his lips.
"Happy birthday, kid… I can’t believe you’re already eighteen. Sleep well, my grown-up Junhong-ah."
He yawns again, hand moving to stifle the sound, and climbs back down the ladder to flop into his own bunk. It doesn’t take him long to fall asleep himself; as he drifts off, the boy above him opens his tired eyes and smiles as he squeezes the Tigger doll tight in his arms. When he speaks, his voice is barely more than a whisper, inaudible to everyone but himself.
"Thank you, hyung."
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