❝ your expectations for me have been set way too high. ❞ (to hanbin)
“You’re such a drama king, Junnie,” Hanbin cooed at him from across the kitchen, the warm voice spreading just like the delicate scents of slowly cooking food. He was leaning over two pots, the insides of both of them simmering softly as he stirred into them from time to time, tasting here and adding more seasoning there. It took only a split second of a glance back over his shoulder to see Hojun’s grimace, scrunching up his face in less than elegant ways, a reaction Hanbin had known he would receive to using a pet name that he did even before it left his mouth. If he was honest with himself, half of the reason why he called him that way was because he knew it annoyed the younger – the other half was an actual, pure affection he felt for him.
“Acting like I’m waiting for you to get a steady nine-to-five job, marry and father two children… We both know it’s impossible and that’s a-okay,” He laughed – a tiny, soft sound that fit right in the atmosphere of this place: the dim lights, the comforting but not overwhelming scents, the good temperature. Hanbin knew it was carefully arranged by Hojun, just like it always was whenever he visited him, and he was eternally thankful to him for that. It made being here almost as comfortable as home. “All I ever asked of you is to take care of yourself and your proper nutrition. And for the record, before you say anything else, proper nutrition isn’t based exclusively on instant ramyeon, soda and alcohol.”











