self-locking doors are genuinely stupid, and hyoseop is incredibly mad at legacy for having one of those kind of doors. it’s a tiny bit his own fault, for being stupid and forgetting his way, somehow getting lost in the legacy building like he hasn’t been here for almost five years. “let me just find the toilet” he said to himself, and suddenly he was lost, at some place in legacy he couldn’t recognize. he opened a door, pitch black he decided to go in, the light turned on once he moved, the door closed and hyoseop had no worries, until he tried to leave the room, only to be hit with the realization he was locked inside the room.
having forgotten his phone, he switched between sitting on the floor, wondering how much longer he’d be stuck and knocking on the door, hoping someone would eventually hear.
and there’s incredibly much joy on his face when the door opens, and even though he doesn’t know this person well, he’s about to jump up, scream ‘i’m free’ and hug the stranger, until the stranger lets the door close behind him as well. “it’s not… it’s not locked, again, right?” there’s a frightened facial expression sitting on his face “i think the door locks automatically, please tell me this nightmare isn’t continuing and that door is open”.
junkyu had been a trainee at legacy for a long time now, having pretty much lived a few lives throughout the duration there so far that it was natural for him to have a pretty well known idea about the building as a whole. though, it didn't mean that he knew everything, which proved to be just true when junkyu had decided to take a different route to the bathrooms since the usual route was too busy to sneak his way through.
the moment junkyu's hand reaches for the handle of the door and opens it, he doesn't even notice hyoseop sitting down on the floor until seconds too late. the door closes behind him as he stands there staring down at hyoseop. "w-what? what do you mean? it doesn't-" he cuts himself off as he turns to try and open the door, only to be met with a door that wouldn't, most definitely, open.
slowly, junkyu turns back around and looks at the other. ".. i think the door locked.." he says, running a hand through his hair. "okay, okay, wait. all doors like this should have an emergency release button, right? so.. we just have to find it..?"
akio’s grin lingers as junkyu talks, but it softens into something more thoughtful when he actually considers the question. he leans back into the couch, arm draped over the backrest like he’s already claimed the space, letting his eyes scan the staged living room again. yes, he could picture himself setting down after a long day, wrapped in that man’s arms, letting the outside world disappear.
“modern but cozy…” he repeats under his breath before nodding in approval. “yeah. that fits you.” a small glance toward junkyu, a little more fond than teasing. “warm… somewhere you actually want to stay.” akio always enjoys a little chaos, something that doesn’t feel too cold while still feeling organized enough that you can relax at the end of the day and not think about all the mess that needs cleaning up.
the comment about not getting rid of him makes his ears burn slightly, and he ducks his head for a second, huffing out a soft laugh. “you can’t say stuff like that here,” he mutters. not somewhere he can’t pull him closer and thank him properly for making him the happiest he’s been in years.
when junkyu brings up mattresses next, akio perks up immediately, sitting up straighter. “wait, that’s actually genius,” he says, eyes lighting up. “because your leg… if it’s bothering you, you could keep your side warmer. i’m always too hot so i can keep my side cool.” he pauses, realizing he said that a bit too casually. “i mean, whenever i stay over,” he corrects quickly, clearing his throat slightly. “not like every night.” even if he wanted to, he wouldn’t be able to.
his gaze darts away for half a second before he exhales and pushes himself up from the couch. “anyway,” he says, way too casually, already walking toward the mattress section, “we should test them! this is important research.”
he glances over his shoulder, a faint smile sneaking back in.“for you, of course. i’m only helping you judge their comfort level. as a close friend.”
junkyu watches as akio leans back into the couch, taking the sight in and he thinks about how it'd be. how it would look with him sitting on a couch in their shared place, even while it'll technically be junkyu's place legally — it would be just as much akio's place too. it was a thought that at one point, he never thought he'd experience. something that was entirely out of reach, but now, it was their reality.
he smiles softly as akio glances at him after saying it fits him, small quiet chuckle falling from him after. part of him wants to say 'i want to stay anywhere as long as it's with you', but junkyu knows it would be a risky thing to say right there and then, especially after his previous words. so instead, he sends akio a knowing look, one to say that as long as they're together, junkyu would be content.
with a small shrug, junkyu smiles sheepishly. "it's not like there's anyone too close to us right now, we're okay." he says, casting a sly glance around in search of people but making it look like he was checking out the furniture around them. "see? we're okay." he wants to say he doesn't care, though he knows that's a whole can of worms that neither of them can open anytime soon. but with that, there was something special about being private like they were too, like no one was in their little bubble except from them.
he laughs freely as akio perks up, shaking his head with amusement but a hint of fondness shows through his eyes too. seeing him so excited at the mere mention of a temperature mattress, his heart swelling with emotions when akio mentions how it'd be good for his leg — he wonders what he'd done in his past life to deserve him by his side like this. like he'd scored the best gem in the whole world. "something tells me you'll be over every chance you get," junkyu teases playfully, the smile never falling off his face. "so i guess that's the mattress idea sorted?"
as akio pushes himself up, junkyu slowly pushes himself up too, following him over toward where the show mattresses were located. yet when he casts that look back at him, the older can't help but shake his head in amusement as he catches up to him. "you are such a tease, you know that?"
“i’m currently working on a watch that does that,” sanghyun said with a hint of lightheartedness. since becoming the owner of a watch and journal company, he’d often heard fans refer to him as the “god of time”. “unfortunately, legacy and i aren’t rich enough to give me the resources to do that.” he added, his tone playful yet sarcastic. as he listened to junkyu’s words, memories of his trainee days resurfaced as he missed opportunities that could have led him to greater things. some of it was because of the doubt since he wasn’t sure what his chances were of doing well or garnering attention with the public.
“it’s not until you experience the consequences that you realize you haven’t been practicing what you preach.” he stated, thinking of the times he had done the same. while his consequences hadn’t been as drastic as the other’s, moments like this when he is reminded by the importance of taking care of oneself first. “but,” he began, sharing an important lesson he’s learned over the past few years. “if there’s one thing i’ve learned lately, it’s that if you love performing, life has a way of presenting that opportunity to you. it might take a few months, or even a few years, but when that happens, you’ll be more mature for it.”
another thought came to his mind, and he added, “and besides, once the company sees that you’re hardworking and still passionate about performing, i don’t think they’d say no to you doing covers. that’s how i tried to keep working on my craft even when i wasn’t on stage. at this point, i’ve released enough covers on legacy’s youtube channel that some of the fans might be tired of seeing me there. they’ll probably appreciate people like you on their channel.” he chuckled at his own joke.
junkyu chuckles at the comment, his thoughts automatically shifting to the key part in lovely runner. if only there really was a watch that could turn back time to fix things. "let me know when it's complete, i'll be your first customer." the younger replies with a small chuckle, trying his best to match the light-heartedness. "maybe one day." junkyu liked to believe that everything happened for a reason, it was something that he'd tell himself and others, but taking that kind of advice when it was something bad that happened to him? it was a whole can of worms to unravel.
he nods slowly, small movements as he takes a silent deep breath. "you just.. never think it's going to be you, in that position, right?" junkyu mumbles, taking a small glance at sanghyun. for all the time in the past where junkyu was careful, knew that pushing himself wouldn't do any good and just drain him even more — the one time he thinks it'll be okay to keep pushing through is the only time it fell back on him and cost him the career he had so desperately wanted and worked hard for. "it wouldn't be the same though, will it? i can't really see myself ever with anyone to call my group members again. maybe one day in the future an opportunity will show up, i guess we'll wait and see." if there was one good thing that came from all of this, was his new relationship with akio. they had went through thick and thin to get to where they are now, a lot of pain and hidden feelings, unsaid words.
he tries to take everything sanghyun says to heart, to truly listen and take his advice since his advice was something that junkyu had always appreciated. it was hard, and he knows it will be still and while he doesn't think some things will help right now, junkyu knows it will in the future when his feelings settle more. this time, a more freeing laugh escapes the younger. "if they're really your fans, they'd be over the moon at however many covers you post. i don't think they'd mind it at all, even i'm your fan, hyung."
it had been a long time since junkyu had a school uniform on, and now here he was on a set ready to pose in front of the camera. it was ironic really, how before when junkyu was an active idol — being in front of the camera was something he'd grown pretty used to. a camera lingering around, whether it was recording for a schedule or fans snapping pictures, he was used to it. but in this setting? now as a retired idol and active model, it was like relearning it all over again but with a twist.
the set was lively when he arrived, staff rushing around, quick on their feet. the camera crew setting everything up, testing and making sure everything was working. in the midst of the chaos, of course junkyu first naturally heads to the food table, picking up a milkis to take some sips out of before he's ushered to his waiting room, the selected uniforms hung up in pristine condition.
he immediately settles his milkis down somewhere safe, away from the uniforms and the chaos. one of the staff is quick to give him the rundown of how the day would go and before he knows it, junkyu's changing into the first outfit of the day.
when he reappears onto the set, he still has a few minutes while everything gets prepared, so he stops and has some quick conversations with some of the staff members. some he'd recognised from past schedules, some he's not too familiar with but today he's feeling pretty good. he had a good nights rest, he woke up with enough time to actually have a decent breakfast and he took that as a sign that the day would be good.
and really, it is. he was still pretty new to the whole modelling side of things, he wasn't a master at it but the environment was warm and enjoyable enough that he was able to relax fully. it showed in the way he posed, loose, free, but youthful enough that it worked.
junkyu was enjoying it, content laughs falling from him, joking around with the staff — even mid shoot, someone had made him laugh and the photographer had snapped a photo at that moment. to junkyu's surprise, the photographer said it was one of the best ones of his batch.
when his final shoot is wrapped up, he thanks every single staff member personally before retreating to the waiting room, changing back into his clothes.
perhaps this new modelling career was growing on him more and more.
❪ 4 new messages sent to kyu🐈⬛ ❫
→ baby it's so sweet of you to think i have any knowledge whatsoever in interior design
→ ... count me in🩵. and i'll have you know my pokemon decor is very tasteful.
→ you're gonna need a big couch and a big bed my legs need stretching after years in tiny dorms.
→ have you found the place already?
[ 3:16pm ] the only knowledge i have is to make sure there's enough window space for my cacti's
[ 3:16pm ] we're a great duo for this
[ 3:17pm ] i expect there to be at least one pokemon decoration in every single room
[ 3:17pm ] would a king sized bed be big enough for my prince?
[ 3:17pm ] not yet, i have a viewing in a couple days and the pictures online look really nice so i could just sign the contract right now but i wanna see it in person to make sure everything works
[ 3:18pm ] the best part is we can adopt kumo and he can finally live with us
[ 3:18pm ] these apartments just get snatched so quick
[ 3:18pm ] i feel like i'm running a marathon trying to get a viewing before they get taken off the websites
[ 3:18pm ] bad pun? 😶🌫️
the automatic doors slide open and akio steps inside just slightly ahead of @lgcjunkyu, hands tucked into the pocket of his hoodie like he’s trying to play it cool. he fails immediately, because his eyes are already roaming everywhere. there’s something oddly excited about shopping for furniture that makes him feel like he’s finally an adult. the funniest part being that it’s not even for his own apartment… technically. junkyu will finally move into his own place soon and, of course, it’s a given that akio will spend as much of his free time there as he can. so really, it’s almost a shared space.
in public, they try to behave like friends, but akio still lets his shoulder brush junkyu’s, shooting him a knowing smile as they walk deeper into the store. there are people around, but no one really paying attention. if anybody asks, he’s just here to give his opinion to a friend, rate furniture, and have a good time. but inside, akio’s chest feels light. like this is a step toward something more solid in their relationship.
“important question,” he says suddenly, turning toward him. “which style are we- sorry, are you going for?” they’ve reached the staged living room section, and akio’s mind is already running ahead of him without permission, thinking of late nights sprawled out on the couch watching movies, with no annoying roommates to bother them, nobody to hide from.
as he lets junkyu think about his answer, he heads toward one of the couches, dropping onto one to test it, and sinks right into it. “oh no, this one’s dangerous. i’d fall asleep here and never leave. you’ll have to pick another one if you wanna get rid of me.”
truthfully, it feels like it was only yesterday when junkyu had switched to the modelling industry and now, he was able to soon move into his own place. for all he'd known since becoming a trainee was living in dorms, sharing spaces with other fellow trainees and now that he'll get to have his own place — he feels a thrum of excitement and contentment swimming through his body. the best part about it? is that it'd be a space he can share with akio, where the two can hide away from prying eyes and the cameras and be together without having to worry about people spotting them.
on the outside, to others it'd just look like two people shopping together, helping out. but on the inside, between the two of them, only they know the truth and that this was something the two of them were choosing together. junkyu can't wait to finally move in, akio by his side as they both decide where to place the furniture, how to decorate everything, which side of the bed will be who's. it fills him with a feeling he hasn't felt all too much, yet it's a feeling that makes him smile immensely.
upon hearing akio's voice, junkyu turns his attention away from the staged section around him and focuses on the other. a small chuckle escapes him at the slip up, though could he really say it was a slip up? it would be just as much akio's place as it was junkyu's. "i'm thinking something modern but cozy? i think too minimal would make it feel plain so definitely something that has character and makes it cozy and feel like a home. what do you think?" junkyu asks back, eyes glinting a little.
his eyes follow akio as he moves toward a couch, letting himself fall onto it and laughs before deciding to join him. "you'd never be sleeping on the couch, and who said i would want to get rid of you?" the elder says in a hushed voice, quiet enough that no one around them could hear but only the two of them could. "what about mattresses? i've seen those ones with temperature control, you can make one side warmer and the other side cooler."
[ 3:11pm ] baby
[ 3:11pm ] guess who's gonna be moving offsite soon
[ 3:12pm ] so i'll need help decorating
[ 3:12pm ] and yes you can add pokemon decorations too 💞
shaking his head, sanghyun had an immediate answer to junkyu’s question. “no, i don’t. especially the past few years, when everything i’d worked so hard for started paying off.” if anyone were to ask him what period in his career was his favorite, he would have to say two years ago when people saw him as more than just a model. the conversations about his trainee life resurfaced occasionally as people wondered why he didn’t become an idol, but now he had the answer and was content with it. “i did get some of the instant gratification with the money i was getting from gigs early on in the career, but i felt that everything paid off after future dreams.”
hearing junkyu’s story brought back the fear he’d carried since becoming a legacy trainee. he stayed silent, but sanghyun’s eyes remained fixed on him. as he recalled those times, sanghyun realized how busy he had been back then, and a tinge of guilt surfaced as he wondered if he should have done or said something sooner. still, he reminded himself that it was in the past. now that they were on the same career path, the only thing he could do was guide junkyu, much like the models who had joined the subsidiary.
“if the injury worsens and you need a temporary fix, let me know. i always keep a kit on hand for things like that. as a dancer, i know how quickly injuries can get worse if you’re not careful.” he paused as he extended his arm to pat junkyu’s shoulder for consolation. “and about ghosting everyone…i get it, it’s emotional. but you can’t keep carrying around that forever, junkyu. if you ever feel like talking, i’m here. just don’t let it eat you too much.”
while he listens intently, junkyu nods his head slowly, small, soft hums falling from him. he could understand the instant gratification of quick money at the start of sanghyun's career, especially with the years prior of being a trainee — but the best part would naturally, of course, be when people really started to see him as more than a model. junkyu wonders if he'd ever get to that period, though he knows it'll be harder and a different road for him since he had quite literally debuted twice as an idol in two different groups before moving to the modelling side.
his injury was still something he was battling with, still healing from, though the progress had been good. deep down, junkyu has regrets. naturally, his heart still lies with being an idol and performing on stage with his group mates, but he knows that's something in the past that he can't change. he didn't even contemplate a hiatus, especially then when it was a busy time for everyone. he didn't want to hold anyone back or become a burden, and even now he still misses the idol life.
junkyu's head raises slightly, eyes locking onto the elder as the edges of his lips curl up ever so slightly. he nods, "is the kit something that helps me go back in time?" he jokes lightly, though there's that hint of truth and honesty behind his words. he takes a few moments, a small breath before his head drops slightly again. "i miss performing as an idol, you know? that's all i ever saw my career as. i never had a back up plan, something else i desperately wanted to do. it was just always.. an idol. i've had thoughts about if it's something i could ever go back to in the future sometime, but i know it's impossible. just one small moment changed my whole life with the click of my fingers.. you know i always told others not to push themself too hard, the moment i did it — i lost everything."
“i know, right?” sanghyun chuckled at junkyu’s reaction. “a year sounds like a long time to figure out whether i had made the right decision, but can you really blame me? by my third month, i was basically the infomercial guy. imagine being on a show where the goal is to sell products, and one week you’re assigned shrimp chips, then the next it’s a hand vacuum.” he laughed, still remembering where all of his cf training had started. “so consider yourself lucky. you’re already walking fashion week this early in your modeling career.” he teased, even though he knew an opportunity like this was something many models could only dream of.
shifting back to their earlier conversation, sanghyun nodded as he listened to junkyu. he briefly considered asking what had made him leave versus, but just as he was about to, junkyu’s question caught him off guard instead. it made him pause as he thought of the best response. sanghyun couldn’t quite tell whether genuine interest or simple desperation for money had been the bigger factor in his decision to move to the modeling path. for a long time, he’d assumed it was a mix of both, but this conversation was making him second-guess that.
sitting down in the chair, he replied, “i think it was both. what you said earlier... about it being the best choice for you after everything — that resonated with me.” he hesitated before continuing on, “i don’t know the full story of what happened and i don’t want to pry unless you’re comfortable talking about it but…”
he trailed off, collecting his thoughts while searching for the right words. “in my case, my only modeling experience before legacy was filling in at the last minute for someone who needed a model for a clothing line they were designing. but during one of the early future dreams seasons, i started wondering what my role in the group would have been if i debuted. it was probably safe to assume i’d be a lead dancer or lead vocalist for type zero or v&a, but beyond that, what else could i really contribute? that’s when i started considering modeling more seriously. the more gigs the company gave me, the more i grew to like it.”
junkyu responds with a laugh to sanghyun's words, finding the slight realisation a little amusing. there really were models for quite literally everything these days. his laughter softens at the mention of being lucky, and it makes him realise that he genuinely, really is lucky. not many people can say their first real experience at modelling was a fashion week, but junkyu was one of those people who could say he did it. "yeah, i guess you're right — i never really thought of it like that before."
out of everyone that junkyu knew, had met and grown close to over the years since entering legacy as a trainee, one of the few people who he was closest to was sanghyun. he was probably the only older person in the company that junkyu felt like he could open up to easier than others. on top of that, he had a ton more experience, he was here longer than junkyu and he had always appreciated any and all advice he gave the younger. over the years, they had created a bond that moulded into an almost sibling like relationship and with junkyu's disastrous family relationship, he was extremely thankful.
there's a shift in the air as junkyu nods his head slowly, after a few moments, he takes a deep breath. "so you don't ever regret choosing modelling? it was just.. something you had to come to terms with and get used to?" junkyu questions, casting a glance toward the elder. he waits a few beats longer before revealing the reality. "i hurt myself, a while ago while practicing. the doctors told me i couldn't continue like i was — in versus, that if i did then there was a possibility that i'd do irreversible damage. so i made the choice to leave. i kind of.. ghosted everyone. i still haven't really.. spoken to them. i've only spoken to akio, it was.. a lot. emotional."
“oh, yeah. sure.” sanghyun nodded, not wanting to question why and instead letting junkyu do the leading in the meantime. the older man remained quiet as he followed along to one of the practice rooms before glancing at the door once it was closed. he searched around for a chair to sit in case their conversation was going to be more than a few minutes. as he grabbed one of the chairs nearby, he heard junkyu’s question, which made him repeat the same thought in his mind.
“you mean how did i survive being a model after spending many years hoping to become an idol?” he questioned, unsure if that was what junkyu was implying but he took the next couple of seconds afterwards to think about what his thoughts were when he joined the modeling path. the career path was so new that he was now the only model that had been there since the very start.
“i don’t think i fully accepted that i was a model until almost a year after transitioning to this path.” he confessed as he leaned his back towards the wall to reflect more on his past. “since you’ve debuted as an idol before, i’m assuming that there’s those what-if moments. you wonder if you made a good decision to transition to something else…if something in your past didn’t happen, what would be the chances that your idol life would be better…or even if it’s possible to find something else that you love more than whatever being an idol offers you.” as he said such words out loud, sanghyun began to realize how much of a burden those thoughts had on him.
“i think it helped joining the path with an open mind and focusing on the benefits of being a model. back then, there were other paths i could choose from, but with modeling i knew that lgc agency would help me get the modeling gigs i was interested in and i knew that cfs and endorsements would give me a lot of money if i saved what i earned.” he explained before thinking of another thought that helped him get through the early days. “but deep down, i think one of the perks that i valued the most as a model is privacy. with the model life, you can set boundaries so people will know you more for your work and not your personal life. it’s harder to do that as an idol when you have to show facets of your personality often.”
with a small nod, junkyu takes a deep breath. "yeah, i guess so." there's a small, sheepish smile that tugs on the corners of his lips as he glances at the elder. he waits for sanghyun, noticing how he was taking his time to think about what to say and it was something that he appreciated, because he could tell that sanghyun didn't want to give him some half-assed advice.
junkyu's eyebrows raise up in surprise at the admission. "for a year?" he asks, not expecting it. his head bobs again slightly, silently agreeing for a moment. "yeah, i have those what if thoughts. not as often as i did at the start, but i still get them. i went from training for years to be an idol, debuting twice only to... you know, yeah." he says with a small sigh. he wasn't sure if sanghyun knew the reason why junkyu had switched paths, if there had been chatter that went around enough for him to hear by chance.
"was modelling something you had always been interested in? or was it something you chose and grew to like?" it's a thought he says out loud, one he wonders if sanghyun had an answer to. he knew that sanghyun at the start looked at the idol path, but then had switched to the modelling path due to age related things.
he takes a moment, inhaling before speaking. "it feels weird, a bit, honestly. i never really saw myself in this position, but other than the idol path.. it was the only one i think was best for me after everything." he doesn't specify, wondering if sanghyun knows or not.
the start of the new year was turning out to be a somewhat busy one for sanghyun as he was reminded of the first time he did fashion week — coincidentally while preparing for a musical at the same time. unlike before, however, sanghyun had adjusted to schedules like this. when it came to modeling in particular, it felt familiar enough for him that he could relax a bit and catch up on how the rest of the models have been doing.
after finding out that junkyu had switched over to the career path, sanghyun hadn’t quite found the time to check up on him. once he had finished talking to one of the coaches about the runway, he heard a familiar voice, prompting him to turn around. “oh hey, junkyu.” he shook his head after, amused by the timing. “i just finished talking to a coach about fashion week, so i’m not busy anymore.” sanghyun briefly mentioned the conversation he had earlier before glancing back at the other model with curiosity. “what was it that you wanted to ask?”
since it was an entirely new field for junkyu, pretty much, it was almost like learning how to walk all over again. he wasn't entirely sure what his future would entail from here on out, he hadn't ever even considered of moving to a different path or that one day, he'd be essentially forced to. it was a lot to come to terms with and even now, it was still a struggle.
right now, he's just thankful that he's known sanghyun for a long time, that it wouldn't come off like he was burdening the elder by pulling him to the side to ask for some advice and tips. hell, he hadn't even had time to really sit down and catch up with his hyung since before when he was in versus, and now he was about to delve into something that he knows would surprise and sadden the hell out of him.
junkyu waits for the coach to be further away before focusing his attention onto sanghyun. "can we find somewhere a little more private to talk?" he asks, the tone of his voice a bit soft and with a hint of vulnerability, and it brings him back to the time where junkyu had told him about his ex. he peeks his head into one of the practice rooms close by, noticing it was unused and opens the door before nodding the elder inside and closes the door. "how did you do it? i know we joked about it before, but i really never thought i'd be in this path."
with a new career path, it was a complete new start for junkyu. the poor guy had very little experience in the modelling field, and now he was throwing himself into a whole new world and he was, quite honestly, a little nervous.
even despite everything that had happened over the last few months, there was something a bit amusing about junkyu joining the modelling path. he knew sanghyun was in the modelling path and had a ton of experience, and he remembers one time when junkyu had stopped by his apartment where sanghyun had made a joke about the younger moving to the modelling path. who would have thought he really would have, even if the conditions weren't the best.
which is exactly why he's searching around in attempt to find sanghyun during a break, in hopes that the older could offer some advice. "hyung," junkyu calls out, a small sigh of relief escaping him when he finds him. "are you busy? i could.. do with some advice." there's a light hearted chuckle that follows after, along with a small smile across his face.
akio snorts, rolling his eyes as junkyu is already on his way to the bathroom. “what, you think i can’t live without you?” he shoots over his shoulder, already turning back to open cabinets. there’s very brief pause before he adds “... you’d be right about that.” his laugh echoes through the house, shaking his head as he puts groceries into their places. he’s still smiling long after he hears the bathroom door click shut.
the house quiets down while junkyu’s bathing. it feels… weird. they’ve lived together before, but they were sharing a small dorm with three other people, and barely had any time to do regular things. he could not have predicted that he would end up here a year later. washing produce, stacking snacks in cupboards, filling the fridge, and glancing down the hallway occasionally like he’s waiting for something to reappear.
when that something finally does, akio looks up automatically, face glowing. it’s stupid, he thinks, to be this happy to see someone who’s only been gone for at most, twenty minutes… but he can’t help it. he doesn’t even think, crossing the space between them in three steps, fingers grabbing junkyu’s shirt to pull him in into a kiss.
“mhm,” akio hums against his lips. “bath did its job?” his hands linger at junkyu’s waist, head pulling back just far enough to look at him. “you know,” he says, “we don’t have to go to the beach right away.” a small, mischievous smile tugs at his lips. “we’ve got a whole house, plenty of food, you… plenty of nice things we could do right here.”
he tilts his head, pretending to consider it seriously. not an oscar-worthy performance by any means. “purely for relaxation purposes, obviously.”
junkyu turns around as he slowly retreats to the bathroom, walking backwards as he glances at akio with an eyebrow raised. he doesn't say anything at first, until akio speaks again and a laugh falls from him, bouncing off the walls around them. "i'll be back before you know it." junkyu says, as he's just about to round the corner, throwing his arm out and his index and thumb clasped into a finger heart.
he's quick to head to the bathroom, turning on the hot water and lets the bath fill up while he scouts for some fresh, comforting clothes to throw on after, which just happens to be some sweats and a random dark shirt that smells faintly of akio too. the bath is beyond warm, the instant feeling of relaxation slinks over him and a satiated sigh leaves him. the slight ache in his legs dissipates after a few minutes, and all he does for those first few minutes is lay there and stares at his leg. physically, it looked okay. there were no major signs to show an injury, but the pain that comes and goes was a stark reminder. a few months ago, he was fine and now, there was a hurdle he was still working his way through.
he tries not to spend too long in there, as much as it was comforting, he still had akio outside waiting for him. so after twenty minutes, junkyu gets out, drains the water and dries himself off before changing into his fresh clothes. and then, he makes his way back toward akio, like a magnet pulling them closer.
when he finally reappears and spots akio, a smile blooms across his face, a surprised expression replacing when he feels the others fingers reach out and pull him closer into a kiss. he doesn't hesitate to kiss back, resting his own hands at akio's waist in response. he nods his head, "mm, no pain or aches. the only ache was being away from you." it was twenty five minutes, at most. a low hum escapes junkyu, head tilting to the side as he listens. "oh? anything you have in mind?" his voice teasing, biting back with amusement and intrigue.
he lets junkyu cover his hands, but pulls one away to put it on his left leg, grazing his knee. every word spoken by junkyu lands heavier than the last in his stomach. it’s not exactly because it’s shocking to hear. it’s because of the painful realization that it fits, that it explains so much. the distance, the silence… even the way junkyu looked when they met again at the café, like someone who had been barely surviving instead of living.
his heart squeezes in a bad way. even if junkyu tries to reassure him, tells him he couldn’t have known, he feels guilt creeping in. because all the pieces were there, he was just too busy wallowing in his own anger to see it clearly. he feels like he should have known somehow, that junkyu was out there hurting. it made so much more sense than whatever he believed. that he left without a word because he was done with them, done with him.
“you’re right. it would have hurt me.” akio says quietly. “but not as much as thinking i lost you.” no matter which way he looks at it, it’s the truth. nothing distracted him from his schedules as much, nothing hurt as much as thinking he’d never see him again.
“you’re so fucking stupid, you know that, right?” he mutters in japanese, but there’s no anger in his tone. just his own way of appeasing the situation, make it less painful than it already is. “i get why you thought disappearing was… noble. but if you ever do that again, you’ll have more than a leg to worry about.” as soon as a chuckle escapes his throat though, it turns into a sob. the emotion is too high, tears overflowing before he can stop them.
he buries his face in the crook of junkyu’s neck, arms wrapping around him tightly as he pulls him closer. as if he’s protecting him now, after the fact, as if it could shield junkyu from the pain he’s been through. “from now on, you let me be there. i’d rather face the worst with you than not have you at all. and the thought of you… lying alone in a hospital bed… fuck, kyu. you’re not alone. not anymore. ”
he shifts slightly, pressing his forehead against his and cupping his face. “will it ever… heal? your leg…” he fears he already knows the answer to that. with the way he left, as if there was no other option. but he needs to hear it for it to make sense.
the small movement of akio's hand, resting on junkyu's knee has him sighing softly, raising his head to glance at his hand. he knows that as the seconds go by, the more akio realises the intensity of things, the reasons for all of the choices junkyu had made over the last few months. choices he never wanted to make, never would have made yet he was forced to make.
yet when the sound of akio's voice breaks him out of his thoughts and the one thing he really didn't want was for akio to feel bad or blame himself for any of this. because it wasn't his fault, junkyu had chosen not to say anything for these reasons exactly.
when akio replies, junkyu's eyes soften, a soft shake of his head moments after. "you never lost me, ki. i still thought about you so much, you were.. kinda the only thing that kept me pushing through with it all." junkyu responds, the tone of his voice gentle and reassuring to the best he could.
the sudden japanese that slips from akio's mouth has junkyu confused, his extremely little understanding leaving him tilting his head to the side slightly. but he doesn't say anything, just looks carefully at the other until he speaks again. for a split second, junkyu smiles softly and a small chuckle falls from him, until he hears the sound of a sob and immediately reaches out.
"ki, don't cry, please." junkyu whispers, wrapping his arms around akio in response as he lets him bury his face into his neck. he can feel the dampness of the tears against the skin of his neck, the hot pants of breath and he runs his hand up and down his back soothingly. in hopes to help ease the distress. he hums softly, nodding his head gently before replying. "i won't hide anything from you anymore, i promise.. i promise, ki."
as he feels akio shift, junkyu lets his hands rest at his waist, gazing up at him as he cups his face. and he asks the question, the one he knew that akio would want to hear, to know the answer to. and it pains him to tell him the truth. "not really.. i'll gain more of the strength back over time with the physiotherapy, but i won't have the strength like before. it won't ever fully be the same."
“private. you’ve been trained well. fair enough”,, hyuk offered him a more sincere smile, as he threw his arms up and stretched them a little and then rested against his seat again. he was probably making junkyu uncomfortable. Still, it was a good way to know more about people when they looked vulnerable - at least that’s what he had been collecting through the years.
junkyu’s reason for quitting then returning was something private, which made hyuk’s curiosity spike a little, because it was private but not personal. the choice of words was interesting enough to make him hold on to that subject a little longer, and he was about to ask something more, but junkyu’s reply made hyuk chuckle and then shrug.
“how should i make small talk? ask about the weather or how you’re settling? what do you like to eat, and what are your best skills? don’t you find this boring? we should talk about real good stuff. for example, did you know i’m not allowed to get closer to the kitchen because i almost set it on fire once?”
the memory made him smile a little, of the good old days when the dorm was packed with different trainees, but with all of them wishing for the same thing.
“what kind of question is that? i’m only asking you to sit down because you look like i just caught you stealing. if you want me to answer about why i’m asking you those things, well, i’m just a curious person who’s trying to know more about my new roommate. it’s okay if you don’t want to answer.”
then hyuk’s expression became more serious. he always offered the same to everyone that shared the dorm with him, because when he was the one arriving there for the first time, he got the same treatment. “look. evertything that happens here, stays here. you don’t have to worry about people outside knowing about what you do or say in here. if you ever wanna ask, say, or share, this is a safe place.”
junkyu is still cautious, uncertain as to what hyuk's game was. if it even was a game, but this whole slight interrogation had him feeling a little bit uneasy, to say the least. he wasn't sure what to expect. he watches the other, eyes lingering as he tries to figure him out. it was harder than he expected, though.
it hadn't even been long since everything had happened, and he knew that people would be curious and want to know, but really, it wasn't their business. they didn't need to know. sure, curiosity is expected but the way hyuk had initially spoken to him left junkyu feeling like he should expect something else, something he needed to prepare for almost.
the sudden switch up has junkyu confused, even more so now, his eyes softening slightly into a more surprised gaze. he pauses for a few moments, before deciding to reply. "and what did you do exactly?"
he notes the small smile on hyuk's face, and it almost makes him chuckle since it was the first time he'd seen someone smile at a memory after almost setting a kitchen on fire.
but, the next words that fall from his mouth leaves junkyu feeling a little bad. perhaps hyuk was just simply not the best at those initial 'get to know your roommate' questions, because junkyu himself was bad back way before too. "no, it's okay. i guess i'm just not used to being asked those kinds of questions so quickly." he offers hyuk a small smile, choosing to avert his gaze back to the box he had placed down, staring at the contents. he's pulled out of his trance when hyuk's tone grows more serious, junkyu's eyebrows raised slightly in surprise. after a few moments, he slowly nods his head. "yeah, thank you. i'll keep that in mind." at least it seemed like hyuk wouldn't be a roommate from hell. "who was your last roommate?"
“cruel?” akio repeats, glancing up from the pantry where he’s now organizing some of the food. “i meant it more like… motivation.” there’s a teasing glint in his eyes when he says it, but if softens almost instantly, turning into the kind of fondness that always sneaks in when he thinks junkyu isn’t looking or noticing. or even when he is, honestly. he’s not one to really hide how he feels.
“bearable, huh?” he murmurs, eyeing him longer than he should. he’s not dumb, and junkyu knows he’s not. of course he’d worry, and of course he’d be suspicious whenever junkyu claims it’s not too bad. he’s only starting to open up a bit more, but there’s still work to be done. akio doesn’t push, just gently scolds or reminds him sometimes that it’s okay to lean against him. “you always say that, even when it’s not.”
when junkyu’s fingers lace through his, his stomach tightens. in a good way, of course. it’s these simple touches, so natural, that make all the other noise in his head fade out. he hums out loud as he thinks, shifting closer (never close enough to his liking). “how about seafood pasta?” busan is famous for its fresh seafood after all, and they kind of went overboard with how many they bought. “or we could grill some meat, cook a few side dishes… something simple. you decide, you’re the one with the injury privilege tonight. just tonight, though.” he teases,
he gives junkyu’s hand a light squeeze and a quick peck on the cheek before letting go, turning toward the fridge and throwing him a look over his shoulder. “hurry up and go, i’ll finish things here.”
junkyu watches in a mix of amusement and astonishment, shaking his head playfully. "you know exactly what you're doing, don't try to hide it." he replies, turning his attention again to the rest of the items in the bag. he can't see akio looking at him with that fond gaze, but he feels a warmth spread that leaves him thinking that he's watching him. the corners of his lips curl up at the knowledge.
"because it is, i promise. i can endure it now, it's not the worst pain." junkyu says, glancing back at him with a soft smile, his eyes also soft to hopefully ease akio's worries a bit. he knows that he worries and cares about him, and the older is genuinely blessed to have him by his side. "am i a good liar?"
when akio hums out loud, junkyu chuckles softly, tightening his fingers with the other's and squeezes them gently. something so soft, so sweet, so domestic and quite honestly, junkyu wishes that chuseok would end a little later than it really did. that they had some more time to themselves, away from the world and spotlight. he mimics akio's hum, playfully swaying their hands before leaning in to bump their noses together. "how about we do both? i think we'd be able to devour it."
the quick peck makes junkyu smile, watching akio break away to continue putting the shopping away. "i'm going, i'm going!" he calls out, pushing himself off the counter to head toward the bathroom. "don't miss me too much, okay?"
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