I’ve hesitated to write this piece for weeks now. Not because I don’t love the pairing, at this point they basically own all of me. No - it’s because Despite having written many pieces about partnerships/relationships, I still find it difficult to express myself when it comes to Joong and Nine. Maybe it’s that I’m rusty at this, maybe it’s that I don’t have the vocabulary or that it’s become to mean too much to me. This isn’t about romanticism, I think that’s too simplified for what I’m speaking to - it’s about the dynamics to a relationship that has bonded two people as partners, friends, family and how those bonds have changed their life and by so effected some of ours.
Joong and Nine met on the set of 2 moons 2, a BL series where the main original cast had been changed out for new and inexperienced actors - Joong and Nine of course were 2 of these actors. When they both explain their first impression of one another it seems to stem from a bit of intimidation and at the beginning their differences were fairly clear. These differences enough that they could have easily found handling eachother difficult but somehow it’s the differences that ended up bonding them.
“When I’m with him, it’s like I can be myself. I can be so crazy, I can be so dumb. I don’t have to care what I act out like.” - Nine (Tep)
Nine is the serious type, studious and focused, he built for greatness. There’s something undeniably special about him. It’s not just that he’s multitalented, he’s also multifaceted and this quality adds charm to anything he tries to do. Acting, singing, photography, hosting, modeling while also being skilled in things like art and language.
Joong on the other hand carries himself in a more carefree manner that comes with the charm of being authentically fun. And this charm wins him just as much in life. Like Nine, his talent potential is also found in acting, singing, modeling, photography.
It’s difficult to imagine a world where their not exceeding expectations in some way.
Joongs’ youthful nature allows nine to also be carefree, to get out of his own head and just experience without worry of how the actions be perceived by others. Nines focused nature helps lead and teach Joong. They have different methods of how to go about life but what they cater to in themselves makes up for what the other one lacks.
They have an understanding of one another.
In fandom, we tend to speak a lot on how much Nine carries Joong, how he cares for him, how attune he seems to be with Joongs state of being and his emotionalism. But we don’t speak as much about how Joong carries Nine, how he cares for him, how attuned he is in Nines state of being and how sensitive he is to his emotionalism. Nine has many cheerleaders in his life but it’s debatably a rare few that cheer harder than Joong. At times there is no rhyme, nor reason - at others, it’s because he can recognize the bother of being Nine, looking like Nine, and having played Nine’s role, comes with a box fans thereafter place him in (regardless if it pleases him or not). If Nine is self deprecating Joong is the first person that will tell him he looks great. There is a respect and a love for Nine and his talent, his looks, and who he is.
On the flip side of that Nine shows his care through sharing, giving advice, and assistance. He undeniably has garnered a type of lead in the relationship. Because Nine chooses to show care this way we often tend to see Joong natural look to him to lead. Nine once said that love should be similar to one between parent and child because it should be the type of relation where you’re comfortable enough to say anything and be yourself. This is the kind of love he gives Joong. Not only by being there for him physically but also anticipating and mending to his emotional state. We often see Nine comforting Joong, but if you pay attention you’ll notice just how many times he calms Joong from being upset or offended through touch or clarification.
J9 have become many things of different levels to one another and I could talk endlessly about them all but I think the most important is - Family. The way Joong’s face lit up when Nine’s mom called him her son, the way he introduces Nines siblings as his siblings. The way Nine captions family time even when Joong is there. The way Joongs aunt loves and cheers for Nine. It’s another strand of their bond. Makes it easier for them to exist so close to each other. Plays another part in their happiness.
It’s the visual of that bond that makes them so popular with fans, with people they work alongside, with companies they promote for. The chill behind it all, their joy is contagious. When they’re having fun we too are having a good time. Nine says that Joong is the best thing that’s ever happened to him and we get to see the why of that on both sides every time they’re in each other’s presence.
What J9 have is undeniably special and thats what makes it so very beautiful.
