♡︎

The reserved karaoke room smelled like leftover barbeque from the diner earlier and the faint sweetness of soju bottles sweating on the low table. It was one of those mid-tour family things, Arirang Korean leg giving everyone a precious four-day breather before flying back to North America. Jeongguk had insisted on showing up for his older brother’s small gig celebration, even jet-lagged as hell and in the middle of switching his ADHD meds.

Jeongguk was sitting beside you on the long couch, one arm draped casually behind your shoulders like always. He was still smiling, chuckling at his brother’s friend’s dumb joke about military stories, even throwing in a short comment that landed perfectly. But you caught it, the way his thumb kept tapping a restless rhythm on your shoulder, the slight delay before his eyes focused again, the way he was fighting not to space out. Jet lag and the med transition were hitting him sideways tonight. His brain was loud in there, you could tell, but he was powering through because this mattered to him.

You leaned into his side, casual as ever. “My glass is empty. Go fill it for me please?” You wiggled the soju glass at him with a small smirk, giving him the perfect excuse without making it a thing.

He blinked once, then nodded, that familiar soft look flickering across his face. “Yeah, sure.” He stood up smoothly, taking your glass, and headed toward the small bar counter in the corner of the private room. You waited maybe thirty seconds before getting up too, slipping out quietly like you were just stretching your legs.

At the bar he was standing with both hands on the counter, shoulders a little rounded, staring at the bottles like they held answers. You slid up beside him, bumping your hip against his gently.

Jeongguk immediately leaned into you, heavy and familiar, his arm sliding around your waist like it belonged there. “Ya… took you long enough,” he whined under his breath, forehead dropping to your shoulder for a second. His voice was low, a little pouty in that way only you ever got to hear. “These new meds are making me feel nauseous as fuck. My stomach’s been flipping since we got here. I hate it.”

You rubbed his side once, casual, the same way you’d done a hundred times before. “I figured. You want to head home? We can make an excuse easy.”

He shook his head, still glued to your side, fingers bunching the back of your shirt. “No… I don’t wanna be that bum who ditches his brother’s thing after showing up. Hyung would understand but I’d feel like shit.” He lifted his head just enough to look at you, eyes tired but clingy as hell. “Just… stay with me a bit? Fill the glasses slow or something. I need a minute where nothing’s moving.”

“Fine, you big baby,” you teased lightly, reaching for the soju bottle so it looked like you were actually doing something. He didn’t let go, just shifted so his chin rested on your shoulder while you poured, his body warm and heavy against your back. You could feel the tension in him slowly easing the longer he stayed attached to you.

“Love you,” he mumbled against your neck, half-whiny, half-sincere. “Even when my brain and stomach are teaming up to ruin my night.”

You bumped your head lightly against his. “Love you too, guk. We’ll stay a little longer, then go home and crash. Deal?”

He nodded, arms tightening around you for another second before he finally straightened up, still standing way too close, one hand lingering on your hip like he couldn’t quite let go yet. Same old Jeongguk. Same old you, knowing exactly how to ride these nights out together.

author's note — super short but made with love xx