#jinho.all

[itsacriime]

starter for @celestiialmechanics​!!

Tonight was all about Minjae. Another award ceremony, and Jinho knew what to expect. It was something that pushed both of them out of their comfort zone to a certain extent. Even more so for Jinho, when Minjae would get pulled away into conversation. Congratulations being tossed around, smiles wide. 

Jinho remained seated at their table, eyes locked onto the small group and wishing he could hear whatever was being spoken about. It wasn’t his place to butt in. He was happy for Minjae, of course he was. Beyond happy. But seeing one of the men place a hand on Minjae’s arm had Jinho subconsciously shifting in his seat, tongue in cheek. Staring daggers, unbeknownst to them.

Try as he may, Jinho couldn’t tear his attention away. It would last for all of about two minutes before he found himself looking back, leg bouncing with impatience. Should he go over there? Or was that too much? They still had the after party, too. Maybe if he had the slightest clue what he could talk about with some of the people around him, he could distract himself without interve—did that guy seriously just put his hand back on Minjae’s arm?

Getting up from his seat, Jinho casually made his way over, slipping an arm around his boyfriend and letting his hand rest on the small of his back. He smiled without missing a beat, nodding along to whatever was being said. And when his eyes met the other man’s, Jinho couldn’t help smiling a little triumphantly to himself. Especially when the guy immediately broke eye contact.

[itsacriime]

starter for @refiecticn​ !!

Completely immersed in work and trying to make sure everything was perfect for the party that would take place later, Jinho lost track of time. He’d hit ignore on his phone’s reminder and then forgot about it. Thankfully, there were some perks to having worked with this family for a while now because they could immediately see the panic in his eyes and offered to have their driver drop him off. Which was sure as hell faster than taking the bus, so he gratefully accepted. After giving the school a call to let them know he was running a little late, he kept watching the clock. And he nearly bolted from the vehicle as soon as the school was in sight. 

Feet legitimately shuffling as not to overexert himself, or come across as rude, he made his way down the halls and came to a stop at the classroom. The last thing he wanted was for his daughter to think that he had forgotten her. While he was almost expecting to turn the corner and find her crying, it turned out to be quite the opposite. “Hey...” Jinho swallowed, trying to catch his breath as he glanced between the two. “Sorry. I didn’t realize the time.” Hanuel ended up running to him, Jinho expecting a hug but again, he was sorely mistaken. “Daddy, this is Mattie!” She pulled him further into the classroom as his eyes landed on the other male. “This is... this is the Mattie you’ve been talking about? As in Matt. Mattie.” Jinho blinked. He had this completely wrong. Not that it really mattered, right? It just wasn’t what he was expecting. “I—sorry. I’m Jinho. It’s, uh. It’s nice to finally put a face to the name. She talks a lot about you.” Jinho chuckled, offering his hand to be polite.

[itsacriime]

misc sentence starters

@celestiialmechanics​ sent: “ i need you to trust me. ” { ' jinjae }

Trust. That one word was enough to make Jinho twitch. After the heartbreak and finally having started to build back what they once had, he was questioning everything again. Only this time was different. This time, it was so much more. 

Dark hues settled on the man he loved, pleading eyes staring back at him, awaiting Jinho’s response. One thing had led to another. One truth revealed, and Jinho swore he would wake up from this... this nightmare. Because none of it felt real. Life energy? Witches? Actual magic? He may have been naive, but how was he supposed to have ever guessed Minjae wasn’t truly who he said he was?

Jinho swallowed. At this point, he wasn’t even sure which part of this frightened him the most. The fact that Minjae had been keeping this from him, that he was ultimately lying about all of it and what he was doing. That they could all be in danger if something went wrong. Or the fact that there was even a chance Jinho could recover and live a normal life—whatever that may have consisted of at this point.

“What happens? What happens... after we meet this witch?” The elder refrained from chewing his lip to the best of his ability, brow slightly creasing with concern. Jinho couldn’t find it in himself to be angry. At least, not as angry as he thought he might be. He was worried more than anything. Confused, hurt. After all, Minjae did what he did for Jinho. For all of them. “What about Haneul?” 

His daughter was never far from his mind, even if she was tucked away in bed, fast asleep. If they both needed to meet this other being, Jinho had to consider the worst possible outcome. If neither of them returned... But he knew Minjae loved Haneul as if she was his own. Minjae knew his concerns before he ever needed to vocalize them. He already had a plan, and he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize neither Jinho nor Haneul. 

So, taking a deep breath, Jinho nodded. “I trust you. As long as we’re doing this together, I trust you.” Because there was no way he would let Minjae go alone. If it came down to it, he was fully prepared to do anything in his nature to keep his family safe. And that included Minjae.

[itsacriime]

miscellaneous angst starters : accepting

@ofmoonics​​​ sent: "i’m okay. it’s all fine." from ahreum to jinho

That combination of words had Jinho raising his brow, turning to see what exactly Ahreum was talking about. And seeing the streak of crimson, he immediately dropped everything he was doing and rushed to her side. “Here—the sink.” Cautiously taking her by the wrist, he helped guide her injured hand under the faucet, turning the cold water on to help rinse the cut out from any debris that could have been on the knife from chopping ingredients. 

“I got the band-aids!” Haneul called out, the seven year old taking off towards the bathroom to find the first-aid kit they kept on hand. 

Jinho could hear her rummaging around for it as he kept his focus on Ahreum, providing a gentle smile. “If you couldn’t tell, she’s pretty used to me doing the same thing. Haven’t nicked myself in a while though, now. But I wasn’t joking. These knives are sharp.” He tried to get a better look at what they were dealing with, but even with the water, it was hard to tell just how bad it was. “Are you okay?” Jinho couldn’t help but wonder if maybe she was distracted; if she might have had something on her mind that made her slip.

[itsacriime]

send one for my muse’s reaction to your muse : accepting

@multiplythatbyinfinity​​​​ sent: ♢ | jinjae please :3 ♢ = reading them a story

As Jinho walked past his daughter’s room, he could hear Minjae’s voice carry through the door as he read a bedtime story to her. If he could sneak in there without Haneul wanting to pop back up with energy, he would, but he’d already tucked her in with a good night kiss before he finished cleaning up the kitchen. Now, making his way to their bedroom, he fell back onto the bed with his arms sprawled out at his sides. Staring up at the ceiling and waiting for Minjae. 

“She finally stopped fighting sleep, huh?” Jinho turned his head to look towards the doorway the moment he heard the slightest creak in the floor. Putting his arms up in the air, he tried to pout, signifying Minjae to pull him up—which he did—making him laugh. And that irreplaceable grin of Minjae’s always sent his heart fluttering, locking eyes now that Jinho was sitting up and on the edge of the bed with the other standing between his legs. 

“Do I get a bedtime story? I might need some help sleeping, too.” Still holding onto his hands, Jinho actually had to pull Minjae down a little in order to kiss him. An occurrence that didn’t happen often, and only made him smirk against his lips. Well, that and the fact that he slipped his hands free and gave Minjae’s ass a little squeeze mid kiss. Jinho couldn’t help it. He always found it adorable how a light blush would dust across his boyfriend’s cheeks, the small laugh that followed like music to his ears.

“No, but for real...” Clearing his throat, he placed his hands on Minjae’s hips to guide him back a bit so that he could stand up. All in one smooth motion, Jinho cupped his face and kissed him, then turned around to actually crawl onto the bed. “You should let me read what you’re working on. I mean, only if you want to.” Not that he would ever make Minjae do anything that made him uncomfortable. Jinho was just excited for him, and curious. 

While Jinho thought he’d just crawl into bed and settle next to him, he didn’t. Instead, Minjae said he’d be right back and disappeared from the room, leaving a rather confused Jinho trying to wait patiently where he remained. It was only a minute later when Minjae popped back into the room with a sticky notepad and pen, and Jinho silently perked an eyebrow. 

Minjae started to write something out and Jinho merely watched as the other’s brow knitted together in focus. It took a moment before he looked up with a smile and finally joined Jinho’s side in bed, fingers peeling the top note off the sticky pad and sticking it to his forehead. 

Jinho blinked and of course, he had to grin as he reached up to pluck the note off his own face. “What is this?” He watched Minjae a second longer, smirk on his boyfriend’s lips as he cast his gaze to the note. Jinho read the words scribbled out there in ink:

This light in your eyes devours thoughts, sends flutters to my heart. It says ’ in a sea of a billion souls, Yours is the one I will always find. ’

Glancing up from the note, Jinho smiled. But he didn’t meet Minjae’s eyes, no. The other already had the pen to paper once more. Another poem scrawled out, and Minjae carefully peeled it off and stuck it on Jinho’s lips. 

He couldn’t even find the words to express what he was feeling in the moment. His heart felt so damn full. That look on Minjae’s face. His writing. Jinho slowly pulled the sticky note from his lips and read it with another flutter in his chest. He had been joking when he asked for a bedtime story, but this was something he never would have expected.

“Lemme see...” Jinho took the pen and notepad from him, giving it some thought. And that’s just it: it was the thought that counted, right? Because there was no way in hell he’d ever come close to being able to make words sound so beautiful.

Perhaps I can’t write And my words may not rhyme But your smile is the brightest And I’m glad to call you mine

He actually laughed, feeling his face flush as he playfully bit his tongue and stuck the note over Minjae’s lips in return. “Cooking is definitely my expertise. I’ll let you keep the writing.” Jinho passed the notepad and pen back before covering his face, still partially laughing. 

That was how the night continued. Minjae kept writing these short verses and sticking them to Jinho—his hand, his cheek, his heart. Before long, they were surrounded by colorful sticky notes scattered on the bed. And that was how they would wake up in the morning, tangled together under the sheets and surrounded by a plethora of love notes. Something Jinho knew he would collect and keep in a safe place so he could always keep this memory.

[itsacriime]

ANGST  FOR  SHIPS  SENTENCE  PROMPTS : ACCEPTING

@multiplythatbyinfinity​​​ sent:  ❛ i don’t want anyone else but you. ❜ | jinjae { ' present }

Tonight was another Disney night, and even though tomorrow wasn’t a school day, Haneul seemed to crash a little over half way through the movie. The girl that was always so adamant about staying up later on the weekends because she could. Yet here she was, fast asleep and curled up in her father’s lap. 

Jinho smiled down at her sleeping form, fingers gently brushing her hair behind her ear. But his attention? It rarely seemed to focus on the movie itself. For the most part, he found himself looking over to Minjae. Occupying that very chair that had haunted Jinho over the months the other had been gone. Minjae, sitting there with his glasses perched on his nose, hard at work on his next novel under dim lighting in the kitchen. Using what little light he could so that there wasn’t a glare on the television and wouldn’t interrupt any princess shenanigans in the Disney universe. 

God, he had missed looking over to find him sitting there. Everything had truly been restored.

Carefully trying to get resituated, Jinho lifted Haneul’s head enough to be able to slip out from under her, easing her back down on the couch. Considering she barely stirred at the movement, it was definitely bed time. Jinho adjusted the blanket over her before moving to check on his other half. Coming up behind Minjae, he slipped his arms around him, playfully biting his ear and then pressing a kiss to the side of his neck with a smile. 

“How’s the writing and research going? You’ve been able to resist singing along. Unless you’ve been in here singing under your breath,” Jinho teased, smiling when he’d caught the other trying to hold back a grin. He hated to interrupt him when he knew he was hard at work. And how Minjae was able to channel so much focus had always stumped Jinho. But it was getting a bit late now. “Wanna help me get Sleeping Beauty to bed?” The older male pressed a kiss to his cheek, standing back upright and taking his arms back.

As Minjae pushed the chair back a little and removed his glasses, Jinho bit his own lip, contemplating whether or not he should do it. He didn’t let himself overthink it, though. Coming around the other’s side, Jinho straddled his lap, breaking out his infamous shy smirk and resting his arms over Minjae’s shoulders. “And... since you’ve been so hard at work, maybe I can help relieve some tension?” After all, Jinho had felt a little better the last day or so. He wasn’t so naive to think that his condition was improving, but surely there was still such a thing as good days. Better days.

Foreheads pressed together, noses bumping each other, Jinho found his lips. He always started slow, gentle. Pulled him in a little more and a little more. Fingers running through the hair at the back of his neck. Jinho pressed into the kiss, passion rising and lips parting. But before either could get too carried away, his hands cupped his lover’s face, pulling himself away just as gently as he had started. His eyes met Minjae’s in that moment and he swore he’d never seen such an endearing stare. One filled with nothing but love. And maybe it was just Jinho’s thought process after the words had been spoken, but he almost swore he noticed a slight change in the way he was staring back at him: I don’t want anyone else but you.

Jinho could feel his own expression change slightly, though he didn’t mean to. There was a lot of weight behind those words and Jinho knew it. He leaned in to steal another quick peck on the lips, thumbs caressing his skin. “You’re my one and only,” Jinho spoke just above a whisper, managing a smile. He truly didn’t want to think that much about their words and what they meant. And if they remained where they were, eyes looking into each others, truly seeing how tired Minjae looked, Jinho felt like he’d end up ruining the moment by overthinking. 

This very chair was your chair. Do you know how many nights I looked over here only to find it vacant? To feel my heart breaking, over and over and over? Do you know how nice it is to have you back? How quickly everything seemed to fall right back into the same routine, as if nothing had ever changed in the first place? You’re the missing piece of the puzzle. You always have been. And I’m sorry things can’t be better for us.

“I love you.” Jinho pulled Minjae back into a kiss, keeping a firm hold and forgoing any sense of the term gentle as if to illustrate just how much he really loved him. And just as fast, he was back on his feet, taking Minjae’s hands and pulling him up. “Let’s get our Sleeping Beauty to bed, and maybe then we can have our fun.”

[itsacriime]

ANGST  FOR  SHIPS  SENTENCE  PROMPTS : ACCEPTING

@multiplythatbyinfinity​​​ sent:  ❛ do yourself a favor and stop loving me. ❜ | jinjae { ' future }

Those words fell from Minjae’s lips, and the younger male may as well have punched Jinho. Because the result would surely feel the same. Maybe Jinho hadn’t reacted in the best way when he’d learned he had been sharing his life, his family, with the son of Death. But honestly, what did the other expect? He was still trying to wrap his head around that. What it meant. Never once did he say that he wanted things to end between them, though. 

“I’m fucking terrified, and you dropped that news on me. And... and, what? I’m just supposed to forget? Forget everything that happened between us and just... stop loving you?” Jinho actually had to laugh, tipping his head back out of frustration but to also keep the mist in his eyes from spilling over. Heart beating erratically. “It doesn’t work like that, Minjae. It doesn’t—it doesn’t fucking work like that.”

Things had been a little tense lately, sure. And it was definitely getting harder and harder to keep things normal when Haneul was around. She could probably already see the change. Hear their conversations. Jinho was fighting a battle he never stood a chance against, slipping a little more with each passing day. As much as he tried, he still couldn’t help the frustration. Not having any control over what was happening. Not fully understanding the man beside him and what he was, but still very much in love with him. And apparently, life loved to be ironic, sending a goddamn reaper into his path for him to fall in love with in the first place. The biggest cosmic joke of all, right? 

“If this is your way of trying to cope, then fine. But it doesn’t change anything. If you’re trying to—” Jinho reached out for the counter for support, trying to catch his breath only to end up choking. How embarrassing if this was how he was going to die. Not even able to hold up an argument in his own kitchen without feeling like his heart was giving out. Like he was drowning. He sunk a bit towards the floor, still desperately grasping onto the edge of the counter, other hand gripping his shirt. 

And finally, he could breathe again. Jinho instantly gave a weak wave of his arm. “D-don’t... don’t touch me.” After coming to find out Minjae had been physically helping to alleviate his pain and symptoms, it made so much sense. How he had always felt better around him. Calmer. But every time he did it, he was putting that strain on himself. And if there was one thing Jinho could still try to control, it was that. The pain was his own to deal with, and he’d keep it that way for as long as he could.

Trying to get back up, Jinho put his weight against the counter. Tried to pull himself back up but failed. He was too lightheaded. Too weak. His heart had no plans of giving him a break, not to mention he couldn’t remember the last time he really ate anything. So, he gave up. Letting himself sit down on the floor, resting against the cabinet. Jinho rubbed his face. He’d already humiliated himself enough. 

“...if you wanna leave again, you know where the door is. You can give... yourself that favor. Nothing will... will change the way I feel... about you.”

[itsacriime]

ANGST  FOR  SHIPS  SENTENCE  PROMPTS : ACCEPTING

@multiplythatbyinfinity​​ sent:  ❛ you know i will always love you. ❜ | jinjae { ' present }

When Minjae had left, he had definitely taken a part of Jinho with him. It felt as though he had literally broken his heart. It was hard to function without the younger man beside him. Everything in Jinho’s daily life had involved him, from waking up in the mornings, to getting ready for work, cooking, getting Haneul to and from classes. Getting groceries, taking small trips together as a family, winding down after a long day. All of that shattered overnight. Jinho had tried to convince himself that he was just... off on a writing retreat. That he would text. That he would call. That he would come back in the morning. Only, he never did. 

It was pathetic, wasn’t it? Not knowing how to function all because one person left his life. Jinho should have been happy. He still had his daughter and his daughter’s health. He still had his father. But everything else was slowly falling apart. And the worst part? It was almost as if Jinho didn’t care anymore. He let himself slip. He stopped trying so hard with everything in life. And he struggled to find the energy.

The first time Haneul had asked him when Minjae was coming back, he told her that he wasn’t sure. Soon, maybe. He was only getting their hopes up. After a week, he started to realize that. Minjae wasn’t taking a break. He was gone. And when Haneul had asked again, Jinho couldn’t keep lying to her. He tried to explain to her that they had their differences and that, while Minjae still loved her very much, he had to be somewhere else. Still to this day, he wondered how he managed those words without completely losing it. Haneul kept asking where he had to be and why he couldn’t be there with them. Why they couldn’t go with him. It was the first time Minjae’s absence really hit her. And it hit her harder than Jinho could have ever prepared himself for.

Somewhere along the way, Jinho pulled himself back together. He knew Minjae wasn’t coming back and that meant things were changing, but he tried to make the best of it. He took down pictures. Put away reminders of them as a family. Most things were hidden away in his closet—out of sight, out of mind—and some place Haneul would never look. They spent even more time with his father, visiting and just doing things together. Jinho did everything he could to fill that hole and keep life as normal as he could. Until he knew their normal was slowly changing once again.

Truthfully, Jinho simply thought he was coming down sick. He started to feel more tired than usual. He felt congested and he started to develop a cough. Lightheadedness would set in if he got up too quickly. Never mind the fact that he could feel his heart racing at the most minuscule things, but he figured if his body was trying to fight off some sort of infection, it wasn’t uncommon. He shouldn’t have been so careless to not consider the real possibility that his heart condition was worsening. And it shouldn’t have taken him passing out and losing consciousness to realize it. He just didn’t want to face it.

Now, Minjae was back. Minjae was back, and Jinho only felt like a shell of his former self. He couldn’t genuinely express his gratitude for the other’s return. Couldn’t reach that same level of excitement he once felt. He was still drained. His mind was running in literally every direction possible and the moment he was left alone with his thoughts, he felt like he was seconds away from having a breakdown.

Sitting at the table, Jinho alternated between chewing on his lip and chewing on his fingernails. His unfocused stare fell upon the planner he was doing for the week, coming up with meal plans both for work and home, trying to see which day would be best to take Haneul out since it had been a while since they’d done anything away from home. But his thoughts kept getting derailed. It wasn’t until he felt a grip on his arm, pulling his hand away from his mouth, that he snapped out of it. Startled, a little. 

Jinho looked over to find Minjae, met with a soft smile as his hand found his with a squeeze. And bless Minjae, he was trying. The man started explaining that Jinho didn’t have to worry about cooking around the house because he and Haneul would help. Minjae was trying. But those words were interpreted differently in Jinho’s head. He already felt like he was losing independence in his life, and it only made him think about his mother’s final days. How he had offered those same things to help. Jinho started to tune everything out until the words hit him: you know I will always love you.

He bit his lip, whether that was to try and prevent himself from crying, or to stop himself from saying anything. But he seemed to lose on both counts. “How much longer is always?” Jinho looked back to him with tears in his eyes. “How—how much longer am I...” He tore his gaze away, pulling his hand back with it and wiping at his eyes. Jinho tried to control his breathing so that he didn’t start downright sobbing. Tried to keep quiet so that he wouldn’t alert Haneul. Thinking of her only made him cry harder, though. He’d reached his breaking point.

Even while Jinho tried to bury himself into his hands, willing himself to just stop and get over it, he couldn’t. Minjae was trying to comfort him. He could feel his arms around him, which made Jinho grasp onto him. And even if it was slightly premature, Jinho wanted to ask him if he would continue to raise Haneul. It felt like there was still so much to do, yet he knew his time was running out. How much he had left, he didn’t know. But it terrified him. 

“I’m sorry,” Jinho finally choked out, shaking his head. “I’m sorry.” Shakily, he pushed himself away from the table and onto his feet, immediately turning to Minjae as his arms wrapped his frame. Fingers desperately clinging to the back of his shirt. He buried his face into the crook of his neck, eyes squeezed shut as he tried to breathe. A hiccup racked his body as he tried to calm down. Tried to focus on the fingers dancing over his own back. He mumbled into him, “I’ll always love you too.”