hongjoong’s words settle into him, soft but charged, and seonghwa feels that familiar ache at the center of his chest—the one he’s been pretending isn’t there since the hotel. since their mouths found each other like it was inevitable.
he draws a slow breath, trying to steady himself, but hongjoong’s hand is still on his shoulder and the warmth of it keeps undoing every attempt at composure. still, he lets that warmth in. lets it anchor him instead of scare him.
“you… do that a lot,” seonghwa says quietly, eyes tracing the line of hongjoong’s jaw before he catches himself. “prove me right.”
he means it more tenderly than he can safely admit, but he doesn’t look away this time. doesn’t hide. the studio lights catch in hongjoong’s hair, on the curve of his cheekbone, on the small streak of shimmer he must’ve brushed against while adjusting the wings—and something inside seonghwa softens further, impossibly so.
his hand lifts before he even thinks about it—slow, careful, giving hongjoong every chance to step back. when he doesn’t, seonghwa lets his fingertips brush just under the sleeve seam at hongjoong’s bicep, thumb resting lightly against warm skin. not clinging, just touching. grounding them both.
“joong,” he murmurs—gentle, almost steady despite the tremor in his ribs. it’s not a question, not yet, but the name carries too much truth to be casual.
“thank you,” he says, voice low but clear. “for… being this careful with me.”
his thumb grazes once, barely anything, but the affection in it is unmistakable.
“i notice,” he adds, almost a whisper. “even when you think i don’t.”
he could say more. there’s so much more hovering at the back of his throat, pressing to be named. but for now, he lets this be enough—the closeness, the softness, his hand resting over hongjoong’s arm like a question he’s too afraid to voice. "you should know... i'm not so fragile as you might think." there's the smallest hint of mischief in his voice, an invitation not quite extended by presented to the other. "should we leave soon?"
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