𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙗𝙤𝙮

Hwan  snorted  quietly  at  the  nervous  laugh,  thumb  still  running  along  the  edge  of  the  envelope  before  he  finally  pulled  the  photos  free.  He  looked  through  them  slower  than  Jay  probably  expected,  eyes  catching  on  every  detail.  The  outfits.  The  poses.  The  way  Jay  looked  half-confident  in  one  picture  and  completely  embarrassed  in  the  next.  It  made  Hwan  smile  immediately.  “You  really  went  all  out  for  this.”  he  muttered,  shaking  his  head  once  under  his  breath,  genuinely  amused  and  fond.  The  blush  on  Jay’s  face  only  made  it  worse.  Hwan  could  already  picture  him  standing  in  front  of  a  mirror  trying  to  take  the  photos,  probably  regretting  every  second  while  still  refusing  to  quit  halfway  through.  That  alone  made  something  warm  settle  heavily  in  his  chest.

So  when  Jay  relaxed  after  seeing  his  reaction,  Hwan  didn’t  think  twice  about  leaning  in.  He  pressed  a  kiss  against  Jay’s  cheek  first,  slow  and  lingering  enough  to  make  the  other  man  squirm,  then  another  against  his  forehead.  “Cute.”  he  said  simply.  “Way  too  cute.”  He  slid  one  of  the  photos  into  his  phone  case  with  zero  hesitation,  like  it  belonged  there  already.  Like  there’d  never  been  another  option.  At  Jay’s  soft  i  love  you,  Hwan’s  expression  softened  immediately.  He  leaned  closer  again  for  another  quick  kiss  near  his  temple  before  letting  himself  get  tugged  onto  Jay’s  lap  without  resistance.  “Oh,  only  three  in  the  world?”  Hwan  asked,  settling  comfortably  against  him  while  Jay  moved  the  chair.  “Damn.  Guess  I’m  dating  a  real  artist  now.”  One  arm  looped  loosely  around  Jay’s  shoulders  while  he  watched  him  open  the  box,  curiosity  obvious  on  his  face.  The  second  the  figure  appeared,  Hwan  let  out  an  actual  laugh,  surprised  and  bright.

there's only a slight grimace as he watches hwan fiddle with his phone, pour over the photocards he'd made with a soft, embarrassing sigh. ❛ i tried really hard, ❜ he admits honestly, though he's sure it shows with how all out he went. ( the poses were one thing, the clothing was another. he doesn't own anything fancy, or elevated. things that someone would wear for something like that. and after worrying himself silly about it, he figured actually looking like himself was the best possible option. even if the make-up was just subpar, he wanted to show his dedication. because nothing was too much if it was for his boyfriend -- that much was evident. ) ❛ i'm glad my hard work paid off, ❜ he settles on instead, chuckling to himself as his eyes flutter, focused on the soft kisses that litter his skin.

and then he can't focus, because hwan keeps kissing him, and jay's face scrunches with affection. he sets the now empty bag down, turns to where hwan is settled on his lap, and knocks their foreheads together softly. ❛ i'm glad you think so, ❜ he encourages softly. ❛ though, if you start saying things like that, i'm gonna actually believe you. and then you'll have to deal with my weird, intrusive thoughts that three in the morning. ❜ a beat, his head shaking. ❛ not that you don't already, but -- trust me. it can always get weirder. ❜ a waggle of his eyebrows accompanies his words, and jay leans in, presses a soft row of kisses from the bottom of his jaw, up towards the tip of hwan's nose.

❛ next time, i'll have to go shopping with you, ❜ he insists softly. ❛ there's so many places that are totally hidden -- it took me a while to figure out where the best spots were. and even then, i still feel like i'm missing something. ❜ he trails off slowly, thought in his own train of thought. ( when it came to his interests, he tended to get lost like this. nothing to be ashamed of, of course -- not anymore. but, jay can't stop himself when he starts. ) ❛ i could always show you them -- make a whole day out of it. go shopping, spend too much money on things i don't need, treat my handsome boyfriend to lunch at our favorite ramen place, ❜ he tilts his head up, catches hwan's gaze with his own. ❛ come back here for dessert. could be nice, right? to have a day to ourselves? ❜

taeyang  happily  allows  himself  to  be  tucked  into  jay's  chest,  finding  comfort  there  as  he  always  does.  one  hand  against  his  chest,  idly  rubbing  over  his  pec,  feeling  his  cheeks  burn  a  gentle  warmth,  he  mumbles  under  his  breath,  affectionate  in  nature.  “okay  well,  so  long  as  that's  all  then  i  have  no  need  to  interfere.  but  i  swear,  i  hear  one  thing  about  your  team  treating  you  wrong  and  im  gonna  make  sure  they  respect  you.”

he  chuckles  softly  to  himself  and  nods  in  agreement  to  his  words,  smiling  more  when  he  feels  jay's  nose  brush  against  his,  an  action  of  love  they've  always  done  because  they  just  couldn't  keep  their  attention  and  hands  off  of  each  other.  and  why  would  they?  when  they  had  to  deprive  themselves  of  each  other  so  often  when  they  were  younger.  now  that  they  were  married  and  lived  together⸺taeyang  could  be  as  selfish  as  he  wanted. 

"i  can't  even  be  that  mad  because  she  is  the  cutest  baby  to  ever  exist.  we  really  did  good  with  her,  honey.  she's  you  all  over."  he  gushes,  reaches  to  cup  the  sides  of  jay's  face  as  he  holds  him  steady  while  he  kisses  his  lips  several  times.  "mhhhmm.  i'm  all  yours.  did  you  have  any  ideas?  oh,  we  can  play  that  new  co-op  game  you  got  off  of  steam  a  few  days  ago.  i'm  actually  not  too  exhausted  to  play."

taeyang's fierce, protective nature isn't lost on jay. there's something about the way his husband is always ready to fight his battles, even if the battles don't seem very large or intimidating. it makes his heart clench in his chest, makes his eyes soften as he stays close, practically tries to tug taeyang on top of him in ways that aren't scientifically possible.

❛ i love you, ❜ he breathes, simply because he can. ❛ thank you for always protecting me, baby. trust me -- no one wants to mess with you. ❜ he pauses, lips worrying together as he stifles a giggle. ❛ i think they're all afraid of you, honestly. you get so, ❜ he squeezes at his side, ❛ passionate when you yell. it's hot. ❜ there's a heat in his eyes he doesn't try to hide when he speaks, and when taeyang leans in to connect their lips, jay simply follows the motion, chases him when he pulls back too soon for his liking.

fondly, he rolls his eyes. ❛ she's both of us, ❜ he insists, though there's something to be said about the way their daughter shares his giant, round eyes. ( genetics are a crazy thing. ) still, he nods, taps his hip with a thoughtful touch. ❛ we could, ❜ he agrees. ❛ it'd be good to blow off some steam after a rehearsal like that. before we move, though, ❜ he presses on, nosing against his jaw, ❛ i just wanna stay here for another minute. coming home and being able to hold you like this, ❜ he breathes, ❛ is my own personal form of therapy. i wanna enjoy it for a while longer. ❜

Joon giggled - couldn't keep the sound trapped in his chest no matter what - and wrapped his arms around Juwon. It wasn't every day that he was allowed to indulge in the unrestrained gentleness that was his significant other, and he's not about to let it slip through his fingers. The pet name that fell from Juwon's lips brought more flush to his cheeks, and Joon leaned closer, sharing an intimate smile with his chosen.

"You are beyond words! I am trying to give a compliment here, you don't get to turn this on me!"

Yet, as more laughter escaped him, he couldn't exactly expect Juwon to take him seriously.

"But if I am sweet, and you're soft, what does that make us?" He allowed himself to steal one more kiss, finger tangling in Juwon's hair - soft, of course it's soft, everything about this man was so gentle and pure. "Ice-cream? Smoothie? I refuse to be a slushy."

the sound of joon's laughter -- soft and high pitched and so, so gentle -- makes something clench in jay's chest. he's not sure he's ever met someone so genuinely, heart achingly sweet. it makes his teeth worry his lower lip, his eyes nearly closed with how wide his smile stretches across his face. in fact, he can't help himself from leaning up, presses a row of kisses against those rosy cheeks, the warmth from his skin causing jay to tug him closer, if at all possible.

❛ mm, i think i do, actually, ❜ he breathes out, the words teasing in nature. ❛ especially when it makes you all shy -- you're so cute, it blows my mind. ❜ nose scrunching, jay falls silent, listens with intent as he purses his lips in thought. ❛ what's the hate on slushies, hmm? ❜ he starts first, squeezing at joon's side. with a chuckle, he presses on. ❛ we could be a delicious sundae, if you wanted. with sprinkles and whipped cream on top. sweet enough to give you cavities -- makes sense, right? ❜

Hanna   stays   tucked   against   him   for   a   moment   after   he   speaks,   listening   to   the   uneven   edge   in   his   voice.   It   catches   her   off   guard   a   little   ,   not   the   words   themselves,   but   the   fact   that   Jay   sounds   nervous   saying   them.   Like   he’s   waiting   for   her   to   pull   away.   Like   he’s   preparing   himself   for   disappointment   before   she’s   even   answered.   Her   hand   slides   from   his   chest   to   the   side   of   his   neck,   thumb   brushing   lightly   beneath   his   jaw.   Hanna   lifts   her   head   enough   to   look   at   him   properly,   still   close   enough   that   their   noses   nearly   touch.

when she speaks his name, it brings him back into the moment. like he can breathe again after holding back, after over thinking and panicking and worrying himself over scenarios that haven't come to fruition yet. her gentle confidence is something he's immediately drawn to, he finds, and jay tilts his head into the soft touches she offers. the words only bring him more peace of mind -- honestly, he should've expected it. there's something about his brain that gets too attached too fast, it makes him nervous when things escalate so quickly when it comes to intimacy. he never wants to leave someone high and dry, and hanna has thoroughly worked her way under his skin and into his heart.

so, when she settles against him, he shifts, holds her a little closer with a soft exhale. ❛ good, ❜ he says first, head shaking as his lips crack into a grin. ❛ i mean -- that you -- that we, ❜ he gestures between them, ❛ want... the same thing. ❜ he's a little giddy when the words leave his mouth, and jay ducks down, presses a soft kiss to the top of her head before she reaches out to fiddle with his lip ring. it makes him smile, makes his head turn to press an even softer kiss to the pad of her finger. ❛ older? ❜ he repeats, brow raised. ❛ barely, ❜ he tacks on. ❛ i don't -- you know that doesn't matter to me. you're an incredible person, hanna. you're so... smart, and confident, and, ❜ he pauses, voice lowering to a bashful tone, ❛ and sexy. it blows my mind. the fact that someone like you would be interested in me? ❜ the arm around her gives her a gentle squeeze. ❛ that's the real mystery, jagi. trust me. ❜

His   forehead   bumping   lightly   against   Jay’s   before   he   leans   back   enough   to   look   at   him   properly.   His   fingers   stay   linked   with   Jay’s,   thumb   brushing   over   his   knuckles   without   thinking   about   it.   “Good.”   he   says   simply   at   first.   Honest.   Immediate.   There’s   no   hesitation   in   it,   no   awkward   pause   while   he   searches   for   the   right   thing   to   say.   Hwan’s   expression   softens   instead,   eyes   moving   over   Jay’s   face   like   he’s   trying   to   memorize   it   all   over   again,   the   grin,   the   damp   hair   stuck   to   his   forehead,   the   way   he   always   seems   to   curl   closer   without   realizing   it.   “Because   I   don’t   want   the   toned-down   version   of   you.”   His   hand   slides   up   Jay’s   arm   slowly,   warm   from   the   water.   “I   want   all   of   it.   The   talking   too   much,   overthinking,   getting   excited   over   dumb   stuff,   all   of   it.”   Another   small   smile   pulls   at   the   corner   of   his   mouth.   “Anyone   who   made   you   feel   like   you   were   hard   to   handle   was   probably   just   too   lazy   to   try.”   The   words   come   out   casually,   but   he   means   them.   Completely.

  At   the   feeling   of   water   running   down   his   chest,   Hwan   glances   down   briefly   before   snorting   under   his   breath   as   Jay   rinses   him   off   with   exaggerated   care.   “Wow.   Service   here   is   incredible.”   He   squeezes   Jay’s   hand   after   their   fingers   lace   together   again,   then   leans   in   to   press   one   quick   kiss   against   the   side   of   his   neck.   “Bed   sounds   better.”   he   agrees,   already   shifting   to   stand   despite   clearly   not   wanting   to   let   go   of   him   yet.

the words calm his brain down in a way he didn't know he was searching for. there's something so raw and honest in the way hwan talks to him, his words always laced with a quiet tone of disbelief in the way jay was treated. ( and he never shares to illicit any kind of response -- jay just can't hold back when it comes to being honest. and something like that is important, he thinks, if he wants this to last. and he does, more than anything else in the entire world. ) so, he's a little shy, but grateful, when hwan offers gentle words of reassurance. and he goes to say thank you again, but stops himself -- hwan doesn't do it to be nice, his brain reminds him. he does it because he cares. because he loves him. and as unbelievable as that is, jay settles into the comforting of knowing. of not having to ask and second guess and run shy. instead, he can just exist in this feeling. and he likes that.

he's about to stand, fingers absolutely pruning from the now luke warm water, when hwan helps him up. and, wordlessly, does he pick him up. jay's lips part on a soft noise of surprise as he's hoisted into the air, and his legs automatically move to wrap around hwan's waist without a second thought. he squeezes, just once, to ensure that he won't fall. his arms easily loop around hwan's shoulders, too, one hand sliding up to rest in the damp hair at the nape of his neck. ❛ you're full of surprises, aren't you? ❜ he teases, a twinkle in his eyes as he looks down to meet his boyfriend's gaze. ( because jay is not small by any means, but hwan never seems to find any difficultly in hoisting him around like he's weightless. it makes something stir in his stomach, but jay pushes it down. for now, anyways. )

❛ i'll take full responsibility if you melt away, ❜ he presses on, dropping a soft kiss to the top of hwan's forehead. ❛ but i think you're gonna make it. and thank god, too -- i don't think i can take another one of those looks from your manager. ❜ it's said with a hint of humor, but the blush that spreads across the bridge of his nose says otherwise. because yes, it's a good joke between them, but sometimes jay has to wonder just how far they can push it before there's an inevitable punishment. he pushes the thought away with a shake of his head, and jay holds steadfast onto his boyfriend until he can be lowered onto the bed, the comforter soft against his skin. ❛ and we don't ... have to get dressed, right? ❜ he adds on, the same glint in his eyes swirling as his lips tug into a smug grin.