features remained drawn to bleed apologetic smiles, fingertips brushing at fabric ( as they crept upwards, to hold at shouldersâ the urge to cling, bubbling⊠but failed to be acted upon ), as onyx hues found themselves  g l u i n g  to the ground beneath feet, with shyness bleeding into mannerisms. iseul had always felt comfortable when in jihoâs presence, the aura that they radiated bringing EASE, which was evident in how the smaller male would act ( when around the other )⊠however, whenever they reconnected, there was a period of time that iseul would retreat ( fall back to square one ) and, with how he was acting in this current moment, it showedââ he couldât rid of his typical demeanour, anxious ( regardless of the steady heartbeat that was drawn from touch ). perhaps, this all came down to a fear, paranoia taunting at thoughts, with the belief that he was not wanted here⊠regardless, of what vocalisations had suggested. there was a soft breath that threaded off plump tiers ( in which teeth had found themselves, momentarily, settling into ), as the boy connected words to spill, calculating, â i j-justâ â he cut himself short, gaze raising ( to analyze features, take in the beauty of the male stood under his touch ), warmth bleeding into his expression, â i p-promise, â words rang with sincerity, mainly, because iseul was terrible at concealing when touches would overstep boundaries ( a boy drowned with fear, gasping for air, was a sight that could not be missed ), â y-you knowââ k-know that iâm happy t-to have y-you touch me⊠â jiho being one of the only people with the privileged, flinched touches rare between the pair ( and it was uncommon for iseul not to flinch ), and, iseul wanted him to know this⊠but, as always, words failed to reach the tip of his tongueââ captured by the SWELLED lump in his throat.Â
   eyebrows knitted, as his gaze resettled on jihoâs features ( iseul would fixate on the other all day, if there wasnât the barrier of burning cheeks, to be stained scarlet, and nauseating shyness ), confusion at the protest ( if it could be called that ), before the following words were heardâ obsidian hues gazing into the others, as his chest  s k i p p e d⊠how could the other speak such nonsense? a crimson hue danced on appleâs of his cheeks, protest settling at the tip if his tongueââ though it waited, until the motion had concluded, with his arm willingly following with the tug ( a hand connecting with warmth of jihoâs chest )⊠his own heart FLUTTERING with the contact. the thuds vibrated into his palm, humming through fingertips, and iseul couldnât bring himself to move ( nor did he want to ), only the motion of a thumb strokingââ as if that would calm the rapid beating⊠iseul, mildly, concerned. â n-no, â he finally managed, â stop w-with that. â he felt guilty protesting what had been said, but, he couldnât allow itâ iseul thought so highly of jiho, so, the smaller boy wished for the other to see themselves in the same radiant light. â youâre ââ you a-are so gorgeous, â so much more than me, â b-believe that. â a hand reached, to brush at jihoâs cheekââ the touch craved. before a shaken inhale, warmth bleeding into a smile, words failing to fall from lips⊠he could only HOPE that jiho would understand ( they had known each other long enough for him to know that iseulâs strength was not in talking ), as silence settledâ though, void of discomfortâ if only for a moment, before movement. hands dropped, taking their place on his lap ( slightly, disappointed with the separation ),  as a nod was given.
   being left with his own thoughts, especially when it came to moments alike this ( when iseul was questioning his every action ), was never safe⊠though, it was not as if anything STUPID could occur, when within the others apartmentââ perhaps, this was why his room was forever drowned with hummed melodies, to drown out taunting thoughts, that lingered ( until the silence loomed and they could attack ). however, the opportunity was barely granted, with the return of the other occurring  s o o n e r  than anticipated ( iseul being thankful, because, if more time was to have been bled into thoughts, there was more possibility of him making an early departureââ and, he knew, that was not what he wanted ), with a vision that made his stomach turn ( how could one person be so perfect? ). there was a gentle smile offered, reassuring settling through his expression ( so that words would not be required, he was already bordering exhaustion ), as his gaze followed, until the body was besides his own⊠a fresh scent bleeding, only identifiable to jiho ( this was all too familiar ). instinct had began to settle, iseulâs head settling against the flesh of the other ( resting, cautious of the pressure⊠what was new? ), as he listened to the words that spilled ââ â i⊠i a-am sorry for being soâ s-so abrupt, â he offered, plump lips pushing together, â i â a-and, iâm g-glad i came too⊠i r-really did miss youâ t-thereâs not enough d-distance t-to keepâ k-keep me from you. â the smaller male settled more by the passing moment, as onyx hues aimed to glimpse at the features of the other, â iâmââ i-iâm good⊠t-things are⊠g-good, â he was tired of speaking, at least for now, EVEN with the mention of his passion, â p-photography⊠y-yeah. â he shrugged, hoping to not have portrayed himself as rude ( it occurred a lot, people taking offence to how he would respond ), but, he could not muster more, â a-anything new with you? â
his mind normally tugs him in two different directions : pull iseul close, push him away. he canât afford getting too close, he knows this, but ( in iseulâs feather-like grasp ) heâs content. itâs a feeling heâs missed desperately and right now, jiho is too focused on getting lose in soft skin and affectionate touches to worry about listening to reason. after all, heâs allowed to be selfish sometimes, right? --- it doesnât matter. shades of crimson bloom atop his cheeks at iseulâs confession ( if one could call it that ) --- did he hear him correctly? or was his mind playing a cruel trick? âah, well...â jiho decides to believe in his senses, âiâm---uh---how do i say this without it sounding wrong? iâm always more than happy to touch you and iâll do it as long as youâll allow me to.â this visit doesnât seem any different than the others --- quickened heart beats, flushed cheeks warming his features, always wanting more. to him, there is no such thing as too close ... except when he finds himself suffocating and wanting nothing more than iseul to come to his rescue, to pull him from the fire, but what if isuel gets burned too?
butterflies make themselves at home, fluttering inside his stomach. what is this power iseul has? he isnât complaining, but heâs perplexed ( despite falling easily ). he silently curses the fabric separating the opportunity for skin-to-skin, but he doesnât have time to dwell. a nervous chuckle slips into the air between them, âwell, i know i can always trust your words, so iâll just say thank you and offer you the same because thatâs my truth about you.â eyes flutter shut as he leans into the touch heâs coveted, his own hand settling atop isuelâs. âwhy,â mahogany hues are revealed once more, his rhetorical question barely audible; masked by him clearing his throat as he disappears from the other to clean up, âwhy do i like you so much?â whilst in the shower, despite the length of it, jihoâs mind doesnât stop running --- thinking about issy, the two of them, inho. things donât seem to work out well for him. did he really think he and iseul were going to be any differentâ that this ... â relationship â they shared would save them from the danger that seems to follow him? wasnât that the same thing as asking for the impossible? no, e wonât allow their story to end that way. no matter how hard things may get, heâs never going to let what happened in the past happen again. this time, heâll keep his grip, but he wonât hold on so tight that he becomes the reason for their fallout. with a newfound conviction, he reconnects with the other ( hoping the confidence will last, though he knows not to hold his breath )
when the, almost non-existent, weight is felt on his bare skin, jihoâs first instinct is to wrap his arm around the other. his grip is protective and ... loving. heâs attentive when iseul speaks, quickly realizing his mistake. jiho cantâ speak with issy the way he does others --- iseul needs time, he needs a chance to relax and breathe ( or thatâs how he feels ). âiâm sorry, issy. i donât mean to bombard you, itâs just---i feel like a lot of time has passed and i feel like iâve missed out on some important stuff.â a soft kiss is placed on iseulâs head, as an apology ( and because it feels like the right thing to do ). he doesnât ive either of them much time before heâs speaking again. this time, however, his pace is slowed. âiâm glad to hear youâre well, though.â his words are true, but he canât deny the sharpness felt in his chest. was he the only one affected by their separation? ( itâs fine, because heâs here now. thatâs what matters ). he drops his head back, allowing it to rest against the cushion behind him. silence envelops the pair and itâs comfortable, because theyâre together, but maybe they need background noise? something to focus on besides the thoughts in his head, the feel of his heart pounding in his chest, but he leaves the decision up to iseul. âdo you want me to put on a movie or a show? maybe some music? or are you okay like this?â