plats de resistance

normally, sooyoung minds her business.

scratch that, usually sooyoung minds her business. she keeps away from office gossip, stays out the sights of the interns who flirt too much, the girls on the prowl for a victim, the people who always get caught in the break room. she keeps her distance because she can get distracted fairly easily, and when she’s resigned to a task she likes to finish it.

since she’s almost always given a task of some sort at the company, it’s not hard for her to stay focused. she misses out on juicy gossip of course but it’s not too big a deal. the scraps of the gossip get to her sooner or later and even if she’s late on the news, sometimes it’s just as sweet to be in the loop at some point.

even if it’s in the end and it’s a small chuckle or a gasp.

a ‘hyerim is dating who?’, ‘who’s the new intern’ or ‘whose on a warpath today’. things like that. but she always makes sure that she stays out of it, and if she’s apart of it, it doesn’t last long. there’s never much to say about her because she’s really always working, or smiling and avoiding any type of misconceptions.

it’s been - significantly harder since everything changed on that retreat with dylan way back when - but she manages to keep herself far away from his floor in order to keep her eyes from giving her away. truth of the matter is, dylan’s proven he could care less who was around if he wanted to show his affections - he would.

still, the occasional word passes on how he’s nicer to her than others, how he often brings up her propositions when her director mentions them, and he’s one of the few higher ups to request her assistance. talk as they may - sooyoung knows her work ethic makes it easy to discredit rumors. 

all this is said to say - she has a reputation, one that’s very carefully crafted so that she has no trouble getting where she wants - especially if it’s a chair right opposite director cho. the thing is - in order to keep it crafted and clean, she has to have her moments. these aren’t slip-ups, nor are they simple things like midnight face masks or loaded fries after a long week. 

sooyoung is human, and sooyoung has steam to let out. 

that steam, gets burned to the max at a certain club at a hole in the wall in hongdae. far from the company but apparently not far enough from her colleagues. she frequents latin night, has been going since an old friend introduced her and she found she had a flair for the environment, the dance, the hustle, the let go and let loose without a care of the next morning. she’ll often play songs from curated playlists in order to get her through the day and remind herself that she’s going to the club that night.

thing is - she’s often checked to make sure none of her colleagues frequent this club, it’s closed off enough that it’s become something of a secret, but still classy enough that she won’t worry about who catches her for the next song.

she’s never had a concern - throwing her head around, feeling the frills of her skirt tickle her skin, sweat and alcohol alike clogging the air. she’s never worried about getting caught in this little patch of joy she’s found.

so imagine her surprise when she’s stumbling towards the bar, feet only sore from the amount of songs she’s done without stopping and not the alcohol. the bartender who’s come to know her hands her a glass immediately and sooyoung is downing it, the red one her lips starting to stain the rim. 

it’s been a hard week, and an even harder day, this was exactly what she needed, she’d even dressed up a bit to get into it. she’s got many more songs in her, many more steps before she needs to retire, and a late start to the next day so she’s feeling the adrenaline kick right back in.

before she can step back out, a couple things happen at once.

her watch pings, indicating a message to her phone. the bartender slides her a drink - knowing she doesn’t drink when she’s ready to dance, and points in a specific direction in the club. 

she’s used to getting drinks, used to declining and even now, more used to declining dances when she thinks they’re getting too friendly and there’s already someone reserved for that. she’s halfway into checking her watch, and looking for the culprit when her eyes read the text and then move on auto-pilot.

msg: look up.

the first that startles her, is that the message is rom dylan. the second thing that startles her is that - the direction she’s looking is the same direction the bartender had pointed in - all to confirm that he’s here. dylan is here - in the very club that she thought was too hidden away for her to run into anyone.

and of all people - he’s here.

and she’s looking like this. sweating like this and suddenly sooyoung is struck with the thought that he might’ve seen her dance like this.

‘yes i saw you dance.’ the proximity makes the words cut in through the club music and her thoughts and sooyoung nearly jumps in her heels. naturally, dylan is right behind her to keep her steady, his chuckle heavy and low against her skin as she steadies herself by the bar. 

“i said that out loud didn’t i—-”

all the confidence the adrenaline gives her in times like this fades, replaced with the silly butterflies that fly through her chest each time he so much as opens his mouth to laugh. not even to speak - just to laugh and she’s a mess.

‘i didn’t know you could dance.’ “i didn’t know you knew this place.” ‘came for a business deal, they picked te place.’

dylan’s moved to take his place beside the counter and sooyoung thanks the heavens the bartender knows her usual order when she’s getting a little jittery. these were times well before dylan, when it was normal to have jitters about dancing with strangers, or even talking to one she found attractive at the bar. she lets her fingers play with the straw and her body take a breath before actually regarding dylan.

he looks great ( of course he looks great ) and she’s suddenly reminded of what she has on.

‘you look gorgeous.’

she feels like mush. it’s a good feeling no doubt - but it’s overwhelming still. the sooyoung he’s used to, is definitely not the one in short sun dresses, heels and red lipstick, shaking her hips to latin music in the middle of a club. regardless - she’s never thought of how to prepare for this because she never saw it coming. dylan, seems to pick up on it, because there’s a hand on her waist, a squeeze to stop the panicking that she knows is unnecessary. there’s a clink at the end of the table almost immedaitely and she’s reminded that the bartender knows this sooyoung and nothing of her outside of this establishment.

so he’s worried and giving her the signal that he’s here to help.

and god sooyoung nearly laughs.

“it’s fine! he’s good! he’s my - he’s…we’re…he’s not bad!” ‘i’m hers - for the rest of the night, if she’ll have me.’

could the earth swallow her?

her gaze switches between the bartender’s smug but concerned look, and dylan’s confidence.

“do you dance?” ‘no, but i won’t miss the chance.’

sooyoung actually laughs this time. dylan’s smiling so easily, like there’s really nothing to worry about and she’d almost forgot that when she’s here - there’s really nothing to worry about. and with him, there’s never anything to worry about, especially when it’s just them. 

and tonight, that’s all it really needs to be. 

she laughs and he looks at her like she’s crazy when she decides to down her drink finally and reach up to pat his cheek.

“try to keep up?” the smile is shy but the words carry ever bit of confidence that she pulls out when she’s on the dance floor. she leaves him for a few seconds to go request a song and then is pulling him with her to a corner of the dance floor. she’s suddenly giddy, very giddy and all previous worries or stress start to fade as the music picks up and the people around them do the same. sooyoung fastens his hands on her hips, breathes out all her worries in one last exhale before looking him in the eye. he looks determined but also he’s observing the people around them, and his hands start to squeeze the more he sees the movements around them.

sooyoung is more aware of things, the lack of space between them, necessary for the dancing and partially because of how packed the dance floor is. she’s aware once again of what she’s wearing but each time she catches dylan watching her, waiting for her orders, or her movements, she doesn’t feel shy, she feels every bit of the compliment he’d said earlier.

she feels just as gorgeous as she does when she comes to let loose, and even more so when her hips start to move and his eyes struggle to focus on her guidance, her movements, or her eyes. it makes her smile, it makes her laugh, it makes her want to keep going.

so she does. so they do. 

it’s awkward, of course it is, it’s obvious that this is new to him but all jokes aside - there’s not much the guy has to do when the girl wants to show off. and sue her, she wants to show off a little. she’s wants to move her hips so fast that when the edge of her dress flies along, it’s less of the air around her and the fabric that reminds her dylan’s right behind her. she wants to hold him close that he has no choice but to move with her, against her and match her.

she wants to give him just a bit, just a taste of this version of her, even if she’s not always this - it’s a part of her and it makes her happy, free and feeling free like this, with him is important to her. 

dylan - he takes it all. he keeps his grip firm, he lets himself be freer as the songs change, as he gets comfortable, as he experiments. he lets his hands wander, she lets his lips fall where they wish, she lets him grip, tug, knead around all the parts of this version of her that he’s not used to. she lets him learn and she lets herself be open to it. she moves with all the openness that office her couldn’t quite muster, but with all the desire that she carries every day. she moves for the things she’s often too shy to say or get out, she lets each shake, each rock, each slip of skin, pass of lips, say all that she’s wanted to.

she’s almost surprised at how easy it is. 

when her hair falls out the ponytail and his lips move from her neck to her ear. when he’s whispering things that make her giggle and stick to him. things that make her forget the rhythm and the music, things that make her turn the color of the drink she’d had earlier and not care one bit. she makes out a few of the words, when his hands haven’t stopped tugging on the frills of her dress and her response is a tug of her teeth against a collarbone and then giggles as a hand in hers is tugging her off the dance floor. 

it’s hot, it’s sweaty, it’s everything a night like this should be and all she can see is the outline of his shoulder where his button up has started to ride low, a few buttons undone. a little peek of red shows the true damage she’d done without realizing and it’s the promise for the rest of the night.

sooyoung is beside herself with joy, thrumming with it when the car pulls up, when his hands can barely stay off her when they’re inside. when her fingers play around the very marks she can’t take her eyes off on his neck.

it’s so unlike her - and yet it’s completely like her. 

he’s focusing on the road, making the mental decision between her place and his.

“mine is closer.” he gives her a look like he doesn’t know what she means. ‘are you in a rush?’ and two can play at that, so sooyoung leans over, chin on his shoulder. “aren’t you?” there’s a squeeze to her thigh at that and she stifles her laughter when she hears the engine accelerate. 

‘are you off tomorrow?’ “i think i can be.”

maybe it’s the magic answer, they reach her place in record time. and the way he can barely keep his hands off her - if someone sees - persona be damned. 

it’s new to her.

it’s new for them.

so it’s not something she knows how to approach, hanna ever the affectionate person with jamie finds herself a mixture of shy, giddy and impatient. shy to ask for it, giddy to approach it and impatient to get it. hanna, who sometimes sputters when her dad asks for a cheek kiss before running off to class, hanna who might groan or even the hanna who gives him all the hugs and kisses a father could hope for. hanna, who is always attached to jamie’s side in some way, who’d opened up to the affection when she’d realized how well it was received and easily it was given.

hanna who toys with affection based on the people around her, finds herself struggling how to figure out where it fits with minsoo, and how she can make it fit. there’s no denying she likes it and there’s no denying that these days she’s craving it more and more.

that’s why it comes in many forms right now. 

for hanna it might come as a sudden thing, in minsoo following her for inspiration for her newest projects, in him not saying much other than a nod from his head and a glance to her hand that hovers by his. sometimes he smiles knowingly and sometimes just as confused as she is about approaching it, he’s as confused about when he’s asking without asking. but, if her hand is there he’ll hold it, and if she dances around the topic he’ll pull it out.

it’ll go like:

‘what’s wrong?’ “nothing.”

there’s a blink after that, a few seconds and she’ll feel her teeth dig into her lip. she’ll whisper it first, typically when he’s close enough to hear and not sitting across the table from her.

“c’mere….” it’ll take him a few seconds to hear her but he’ll appease her. the first few times he’d lean over, confusion written on his face, but everything was so new to them that he’d taken to learning everything day by day with her. it’s when he leans close, whether across a table, or lending his ear down to her, she’ll either go for it, or whisper it again. 

if he leans close enough hanna will go for it. by this method it’ll just reach his cheek. but with this method he’s usually laughing, a quick chuckle when she moves away as quickly as she came. minsoo placates her then, takes the hint and gives her two more for measure, usually on her cheek and if there’s a book in her hand, one of her lips behind the pages.

if he doesn’t lean close enough and she whispers it again he’ll just stare. stare out of amusement on his part and torture for her. enough trials of this and minsoo has picked up on the hints, and hanna being shy is something new for the both of them, she’s sure he’s milking it for what it’s worth. and she’s sure her face betrays her when she tries her best not to look so flustered. still - after a few seconds he’ll lean forward and do it himself and all the stress of the moment breathes out her shoulders and melts.

she’s not sure where it comes from, the shyness, or how he knows hiding her behind his books, or the cover of her tablet does the trick but he does. 

and hanna takes all that she can in those moments. she sticks closer, pushes forward when she wants more, slips her hands to whatever part of him she can hold to keep him close and the occasional giggle when little sounds slip out that makes him smile between the kisses.

and yeah, there are a lot of kisses. they’re always tasting of coffee, chai, something warm and sweet, and gentle on her lips. minsoo’s more charming than he realizes.

so they navigate how they usually are, around this new development. around minsoo just being there, being a calming presence, around how his calm helps him to read when she’s not, and how her bouts of energy sometimes ignite the same in him. they bounce off each other, they balance each other and even new things like this are starting to fit as they learn about each other.

bonus.

there are times when the roles switch. it’s when she’s in her comfort zone, seated on one of her dad’s favorite cars, hours after a race, and hours after everyone’s gone home. there are times when minsoo might have the hint of shyness blooming on his cheek and hanna is all smiles and all open arms and bold words.

she’ll sit on the trunk of the car, night starting to creep in and all her adrenaline showing in the kick of her legs and the arms that call out to him as he wanders around. 

‘hanna.’

the fields are always empty after a race, her father’s kept her bodyguards quite the distance ( and they’ve sworn not to say anything either way ) but there’s something about how free she gets that catch him off-guard, or maybe it’s about how vulnerable she is when she truly feels free in spaces like this. 

minsoo likes to tuck their kisses in quiet moment for them and hanna likes to take all the chaos of her life and find the pockets to make it fit.

like now. 

“c’mere.” it’s said with more enthusiasm, with little wiggles of her fingers and the thrum of the car engine under her thighs. he always comes, doesn’t leave her for more than a few seconds of asking, and fits right between where her legs kick against the trunk. when he gets there she doesn’t ask, she doesn’t say much, just holds the edges of his shirt and gives him a look, a smile that he reads anywhere and she’s found out might be her secret weapon. 

there’s nothing inherently special about it. as most artists come to realize, they’ll let other people assign their ideas and their thoughts to their pieces. the same can be said for tattoos, they don’t always need meanings, they don’t always have occasions. they’re just spurs of the moment, needs, urges, little places to feel and sometimes an itch to scratch. 

but jamie, jamie’s somehow found a way to give new and better meaning to the most insignificant of things. so when she’s perched on his lap, legs crossed and more interested in him than the movie they’d been watching - he wants to indulge her. he has to. 

it’s become something of a game, one that started when she’d been leaning against him at first, her hand in his and she’d asked about the words wrapped around his wrist. ‘do what you love, love what you do’. sam had had a sour pop in his mouth when she’d traced a thumb over the ink and raised it up with the question in the air. 

“that’s a reminder to keep doing art when others have shit to say.”

he’d said it simply, the relaxation of the day finally getting to him and causing his words to slip out slow and sweet. it’s how he wants anytime with jamie to go by and it’s how he lets himself truly relax. head thrown back, the sounds of the tv moving to the background as her own questions come to the forefront. sam feels a little drunk like this - whenever her fingers start to trace and her voice starts to bleed through. 

as the memory comes back to mind, so does the lazy smile as he answers her.

‘did it hurt?’

“no more than the others.”

it was as she asked that she’d changed her position then, from facing the television to facing him, to sitting up and looking focused on this. 

summer’s are hot and sam will always prefer her pressed this close and compromise by wearing a tank top, or an open button up. he’s recently got an addition to his chest piece so while it heals he’s got nothing to hide, nothing to cover. jamie’s gotten used to it but there’s always a slight flush to her face when she remembers, one that brings a smile to his lips and a kiss to hers if he can manage.

he doesn’t do it this time because he watches her eyes wander, watches the questions and the fascination build up in her eyes. he watches the heat die down from her cheeks to her neck and her hands moving to break her out her stupor. her fingers are feather-light barely padding across his skin, following the lines of every tattoo she sees and questions with her eyes before she can get the words out. sam lets her, watches her, dares not to move if only to squeeze his thumbs into her hips to hold her steady.

‘sammie.’ “hm?”

she outlines one in particular, going around his right shoulder and a little into his chest, it’s dragon scales that wrap halfway down his arm and his undearm. there’s the question in her eyes as her fingers linger.

“video game character i played had it. my buddy was getting his certification so i let him do it.”

she keeps moving and he keeps answering. the small ones, tinier designs that he just fit where he could, some of things he likes, some of things he dreamed of. he opens up more of his days before moving here the more she moves across his skin. from art exhibits he’s frequented, to favorite animals, mythical creatures and even cartoon characters, sam’s arms are little pieces of him that he doesn’t think about until now. 

‘this one?’

her fingers trace lightly, across the beginning of his chest piece and up the side of his neck where it begins. it’s his favorite one and she touches it so gingerly he has to take a second to breathe and focus to answer.

“my mom’s favorite flower - and her birthday.” her lips part into an ‘oh’ quiet fascination still swimming in her eyes, fingers still reaching, searching as they slip behind his ear and try to trace where she knows the other tattoo is. sam’s eyes close shut on reflex, jamie’s fingers a soft and gentle reminder of all she is to him and how easily she has him in her grasp, how easily he wants to lean into the touch and just fall into the couch. ‘behind it?’ “the sun and the moon together - to remind me to relax.” he has to clear his throat a bit, ground himself as he tries to answer. focus less on the heat that follows her fingertips, the tingles through his skin that he can still map from where it started to where she. the smell of her, the jasmine perfume, the feel of her, weighted and soft and something to curl into, to pull to and fall into.

jamie’s hands still play around, curiosity in every touch, like she’s trying to find every line, every stroke that made each piece what it is. her hands flit behind his ears, behind his neck and sam - breathes through it all. 

“jay.” ‘hm?’

she sits back at that, maybe from the sound in his voice, the obvious strain, but her fingers slide forward just as easily as she moves and he exhales again.

“gettin’ kinda hard to focus.” ‘oh - does it make you sleepy?’

quite the opposite.

she sounds disappointed, almost like there’s more she wants to learn and more she wants to ask, but sam doesn’t know how many more questions he can answer. and he breathes out a laugh at the sound of her voice and fixes her with a stare, a stare whose meaning she misses because her eyes land on another, on the side of his ribcage.

‘is this new!’ there’s so much excitement, he has to smile and regard which one she’s referring to. it’s jasmine flowers up the side of his chest, under his armpit and wrapping close to his pec muscles. there are words along it and a date along the stems. she focuses on it longer and sam watches the words repeat softly on her lips. ’are those - that’s one of my poems.’

“that’s the day i went to your open mic.” ‘when you asked if i minded someone getting a tattoo of my poetry…’ “yeah, i had joon do it for me.”

her thumb graces over the words, still covered in second skin for healing and the sensitivity is enough to push him over the edge.

‘sorry - does it still hurt? what’s it feel like?’ there’s a tug of her teeth against her lips at that, and sam uses that second, that split second to breathe out a final resolve before he’s pulling her close, stories and memories be damned. lips on hers and laughter at how sudden it is. 

“i’ll show you.”

sam’s fond, drunk on it and so in love that he lets every memory, every sensation that’s still flowing in his veins start to multiply on her. for every breath her couldn’t get out, any sound just to let her continue asking, learning, he hears it with every nip, every kiss and every bite. just as her fingers did, her travels about, taking in the giggles and the gasps and the wiggles of jamie closer, further, gentle, animated. he takes it all in until he thinks he’s sated and then he takes some more. 

over and over until pink isn’t the only color blooming on her skin. 

later, when she’s flushed and pressed against him again, when the television is background noise again and sam’s arms are wrapped around her, he gets the chance to answer.

1. 

with bo it’s the subtlest of things, the sweetest of things. it’s a gentle brush out of respect for who he is and who she will soon be. it’s nothing outwardly spoken but it’s something so treasured and so viewed that it means more to the people around them when they see it.

it’ll be on the back of her hand, the softest of touches, from the rub of his thumb to the brush of his lips before uttering a good morning, or asking for another impromptu dance. its paired with a hello gorgeous in his language or hers, and a smile for the way her cheeks apple upon contact and grow redder with the more he just has to plant afterward. 

it’ll be on the side of her cheek, another good morning coming along but the scenery is always a corridor or the study rooms, always early and in the midst of daily activities. their rooms are far apart for the nature of what to become of them and traditions, but he manages to sneak by to whisper a hello and to drop by a flower or two.

or three.

bo’s mornings start earlier than joy’s, and he can’t seem to get by them without seeing her face and if she’s up early to stroll with his mother, he can’t say he’s bothered about details why. 

it’s for courtesy, it’s for image, but it’s also because of the way he sees her. not as delicate but treasured, adored, something to cherish and to be grateful for. it’s the tenderness in which bo delivers the most subtle of kisses, that when they do reach her lips, when they’re secluded and a little giddy, nothing can quite sum up the feeling. 

that’s why, try as he might he’s holding her a little closer, breathing her in a little better for how quick the moment must be and how quick she must go. for how long he can hold onto the feeling, of fingers in his shirt and an eagerness returned in the places they can have to themselves.

2. 

with hyuncheol it’s never a dull moment. 

it might come with petnames, with a babe in the form of whines from behind jinsoo’s head. with a honey, or a sweetheart for the proverbial tick mark to appear on her temple before she turns around ready to hurl the nearest book at his head.

it never makes it that far because he catches her there, hold her there with a smile only after he’s gotten one or two in. because try as she might, jinsoo can never hide the way the kisses manage to catch her off guard and hyuncheol cannot ignore the triumph he gets whenever she visibly stumbles over words, her arms stutter mid-throw and he can get a good few in before she’s raging after him.

or when he’s calling her over, something low and mischievous and when she’s hunched over to ask what he needs help with - he’s stealing another. and another. and another. 

with hyuncheol sometimes he says it and sometimes he just does it. sometimes it’s for him because he needs it, misses it and craves it and sometimes its for her. sometimes its for the little moments of tension he picks up on but doesn’t say anything about. for all that’s developed between them there’s still things they might hold onto, both a little too stubborn to bother the other, but both homing beacons for the other’s stress.

where jinsoo might come over and sit herself in his lap, he’ll grab her hand and drag her for a ride on the bike. he’ll assign no meanings to the way her hands curl in his shirt or her face digs into the back of his jacket. 

but for hyuncheol, these kisses are reminders of freedom so he takes as many as he can get. because there’s comfort in knowing he can and there’s trust in knowing he can. 

3. 

with yongguk, it’s sweet. it’s always something sweet.

chungha’s often warned him about going out of his way to be this good to her, but it’s something he can’t help. as his sphere’s grown smaller and smaller over the years, the span of his affection has grown for those around him.

for his sister, his brother, ex-members now brothers as well.

and her. 

so it’s usually over a dinner, or on the way home from a dinner, hand in hers, sometimes it’s over the head of a bouquet of flowers, and sometimes behind the clasp of a necklace. it’s always gentle, it’s always something that leaves her chasing and him with a huge smile and fondness that’s visible in every exhale as he laughs, as he holds her close.

there’s an intensity to it, as there often is with anything he does carefully. it makes the moments flow like molasses but sweet like it should be never-ending and there’s no other way for it to be. it’s meant for the moments they can’t see each other and meant to make the moments they do all the more worth it. 

it’s meant to keep some normality to this, to dating, to loving and to being allowed to, in gentle ways, in ways that remind the person that’s what they are.

loved.

enjoyed.

cherished.

yongguk makes sure each kiss says such.

4. 

with taeyang. it’s subtle. so subtle that he’s often lost as to how hyunshik picks up on the cues. but hyunshik does and he does it in a way that makes it sudden for everyone else, but right on time for the person it’s intended for.

for the one who matters the most. 

with taeyang it’s always something a little grounding, a little sought out without him knowing. 

sought out when his elbow starts to slide on coffee tables and his eyes remain unfocused but zeroed in on his boyfriend. when the coffee isn’t helping and he’s just waiting for them to walk home. when hyunshik slips over, slips a kiss in between seconds that taeyang can only smile into and believe as a dream.

until hyunshik’s co-working are ooh-ing and ahh-ing over it and he’s burying his head in his arms.

it’s sought out when they’re walking, hand in hand and taeyang’s eyes are barely open and the summer heat makes him want to crawl into a blanket rather than soak in a pool. when it makes him want to curl into his boyfriend like a cat and hyunshik reminds them they have tasks, grocery shopping and what-not. taeyang who nods through it, eyes barely open and hyunshik who kisses him because he can, a fondness taeyang can’t see but he can almost feel against his lips. 

it’s especially sought-out in the mornings, a coffee mug ready to slip from his fingers and hyunshik asking what they should have for breakfast. hyunshik’s taking to doing the talking when taeyang is too tired to function, or when he’s not quite all there yet and he prefers to listen to coffee beans grind and his boyfriend’s voice, rough in the morning to snap him awake. taeyang follows the voice, his head moving as hyunshik moves about the kitchen, but his eyes don’t open and when hyunshik asks if he’s listening: he smiles.

“can i help?”

sam doesn’t know why, or what came over hime really, all he knows is he’s been watching, he’s been quiet and before he could realize the words had already left his lips. jamie had been sitting by the edge of the bed, near the vanity he’s had set up for her for when she’s getting up to leave. sometimes he’s content just watching her, gentle touches along wherever he can reach, trying to coax her back into bad. other times he’s completely still, propping himself up, going through his duties for the day and getting distracted by every move she makes.

it’s hanna’s influence, it has to be. it’s that or just a new hobby of hers, nothing too serious, but as the vanity came, so did the accessories to accompany it.

and sam’s if anything, fascinated as hell.

he doesn’t expect an answer after asking, he expects the weird look, the pause, but not much of an answer. he really expects nothing to come out of it, but jamie’s shrugging and holding out the cushion she’d been applying powder with out towards him. 

there’s a pause, then a look to make sure she’s serious.

‘i’ve gotta go sammy.’

so he shuffles towards her, legs thrown over the edge of the bed so he can sit up and get closer. 

“look at me,” his finger’s coaxing her chin before he really gets the words out, and jamie’s a little startled, though there are several things that can contribute to that. sam’s eyeing the canvas, eyeing her in the way he always does really, but with more purpose, with more attention to all the colors that make her who she is. all the reasons why light pinks and subtle oranges look just as good as blue shimmers and highlights. all the reasons why gloss with pink sparkles look even better than a nude that blends right in.

“do you want eyeliner?” ‘you can do eyeliner?’

he ignores the question in favor of deciding how he wants to play this. there’s so many colors and so many decisions to make. not to mention she does have somewhere to be and he’d gotten a little distracted painting the gloss on her lips.

just a little. until she’d swatted his arm and told him the point of lip gloss was not to be used up because he kept kissing her. and to that he did it again for good measure.

“close your eyes.”

there’s something strangely calming about this that he hadn’t expected. maybe it’s the proximity, sam’s always a little more at peace when he’s got jamie this close to him, when she’s got this much trust. not just in doing her makeup but in seeing her like this, in trusting him enough to be here, be him as much as she trust herself to be her. it’s a little overwhelming really.

the minute her eyes flutter shut and a little of the eyeshadow dusts off her lashes. the way the highlight on her cheeks start to shine because she can’t stop grinning each time her gives orders, and how her teeth bite at the gloss each time his finger maneuvers her face to observe his work.

everything about her, highlighted for him to see, to admire, smoothing into the softest of colors and focuses for sam to lose himself in day after day.

“i’ve made a mistake.” ‘what is it - how do i look?’ “like i don’t want to let you out.” ‘sam.’

he relents, the thumb that’d been passing over her cheeks, her lips and all his handiwork pausing before he gets carried away. there’s a sigh and he’s leaning back until the sheets catch his body in a thud, the sound as comical as the unnecessary groan that leaves his lips.

“all done then.” ‘really?’ he can almost hear the anticipation in her voice, peeks just a little to watch her observe herself in the mirror. ‘wow.’ he hears her shuffling next, and uses what reach he has to tug on the sleeve of her shirt, midway into her fastening the band around her fingers. “leave your hair down.” ‘it’s hot.’ “artist’s orders.”

‘is that like a thing - are artists just good at makeup?’ he hears her more adubily now and deduces she must’ve gotten up, hears the shuffling around to indicate she’s getting her things. sam takes another look, gets a glimpse of how he’s matched it perfectly to her outfit, how it all comes together and the sun seems to be mocking him with the little trickles of light that bounce off her skin. jamie catches him - she always does and he struggles to remember the question.

“sometimes. it’s the model that matters more.” ‘are you gonna draw me like your french girls?’ “depends - do you want to be on time today?”

she’s groaning his name and leaving him with the briefest of kisses before heading out.

@principalles / 

‘i want a kiss.’

1.

with jaesun he’ll either just say it or do it. he doesn’t really have to announce it and their relationship has reached a level where haeri just knows. for some there’s fear in that, for jaesun there’s comfort in having someone that knows him enough to know a look, or a slump of his shoulders. these days its from finishing up from his finals, his studies drawing to a close and his concentration waning. between that and a new place his affection comes in short spurts or full bursts. sometimes its all he can do, throw his arms around her and let the stress slip like that, with kisses littering her neck.

other times its in him slumping against his desk and trying to finish up essay after essay. those days he doesn’t say anything, those days he’s cooped up until he finishes and those days haeri calls it his ‘i need my girlfriend’ days. they’re less intense than the days she would cradle his knuckles when they’d be bruised and angry, or when she’d press her lips to the wrinkles in his brow and watch the anger bleed from his shoulders. 

it’s less intense these days, but still just as important. jaesun would be blinking to a bright screen before she’d settle in his lap, block his view and give him all the strength he needs with exactly what he needs. a few to his cheeks, a few to his nose, and a few to his forehead. 

sometimes its easy for him to fall back into his work after that and sometimes its easier to just fall into bed and ignore it for a few minutes. either way, its easier when he’s got someone like haeri that knows him down to the bone. 

and he’d have it no other way.

2. 

with sam, he’ll do. he’ll always just do. but for him there’s a look that precedes it. there’s never a specific place for it either or a specific reason, he’s just hit with the urge as he’s hit with the reminder. it’s reminders of affection that rush over him and for sam there’s no other outlet than to go ahead and act on it. 

it might be more for himself than he realizes, and it’s come across in the most domestic of moments. and jamie, she’s caught on for sure, and he can’t get enough of the way the realization flows across her face in pinks and peaches. she’s been wearing glitter eyeshadow lately too so that hasn’t helped. 

there’s the shine she normally has, the one where he wants to paint her for ages and ages, and there’s the actual shine that starts sparkling whenever the sun hits her right on their dates. or the twinkle in her eyes when its morning and she’s going over her notes by the kitchen counter. when she’s pulling up her hair and trying to get ready when she’s not even out of bed. when she glances up at him as she’s ranting about a movie choice to ask if he’s even paying attention. when she’s telling him about recent things, interesting things, anything really, practically leaning over a cafe table in excitement because they’ve been planning to visit there for ages.

sam’s caught in moment like this. 

he’s caught and when she catches him, there’s a split second, maybe a ‘sam don’t you dare’ in her eyes but shy mischief in her lips when he leans forward and does it anyway. 

in bed where they’ll fall back over and she’ll be a little late. in the cafe where she’ll swat him with a menu after and the waitresses will smile at them. during the movie until it’s forgotten in favor of the squeaks she makes and in the morning, by the counter before she just accepts it and goes back to talking.

with sam its just the comfort of knowing he can.

3. 

with hyungwon, there’s always a peculiar silence around it. he’ll never just do no matter how many times andrei entertains the thought, no matter how many times he’ll joke and tell him to just go for it. 

that’s the kind of boldness he’s never quite had and that’s why he and andrei complement each other so well. where andrei will saunter up and fit into his space, hyungwon will hover around, take quiet steps reminiscent of the kitten that’s now grown and finding ways to make their apartment his own. where andrei is content just reaching over, hyungwon mid-sentence or midway into an assignment and press a kiss wherever he wants, hyungown’s still somewhat shy to the thought.

he knows he can, they have their own place, he’s comfortable in his affection he’s just never been that affectionate, it’s just how he is. 

that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to be. and it especially happens after long bouts of working, a the end of a successful collection when he’s worked himself a little too thin and the adrenaline’s worn off. it happens when the parties have ended, the celebrations and the cameras gone, andrei either helping him tidy up their apartment from the aftermath of his workspace and stress.

it happens with hyungwon pacing around the apartment, following close behind andrei but not really helping, not really doing anything really.

‘you’re following me’, andrei will mention it sometimes, other times he’ll let it happens. he’ll wait until hyungwon just grabs something, an edge of his shirt, an end of his sleeve, his hand. the adrenaline’s gone by now and he doesn’t have to tug hard, or say anything, the touch is enough. andrei will pull him closer, sweep him up and give him all he needs without a word leaving his lips.

hyungwon gives the inch and andrei seems to know when to make it the mile, and that’s why he loves him.

4.

with jae, she’ll say it. she will always say it, she’s rather forward about it as she is about everything.

it’s really a matter of hayeon indulging her or not. it might depend on where they are, on what eyes could be on them and then it would depend on what they’re doing. usually it’s just a matter of where they are, as jae has no care for things such as tact or manners as hayeon’s often told her. 

so, it leaves them with jae in the middle of handing out the beers and the trays to some of her recent hires, and stopping mid-sentence to ask hayeon for one. the new hires are busy staring with wide eyes and flushed cheeks as jae leans over the hayeon, who was admittedly minding her own business, to ask for one. 

jae has no reason for asking nor does she have a big need for one, knowing when the bar closes she’s free to indulge in as many as she wants, but it’s in her personality to play games like this. and it’s in hayeon’s nature to decide if she’ll indulge her or not. 

around the new kids she almost never does. or days when hayeon barely gets a foot in the door of the tavern and jae’s forgetting about a customer, bounding over to ask for one. she does it often and everyone around the tavern is used to it by now but she’s more importantly intrigued by people who hear of the place by word of mouth and are surprised at how free-spirited she can be. 

in these spur of the moment situations hayeon always maneuvers away from her. it’s either by sidestepping or going about her business. more often than not it’s when they’re in public. jae is not to insecure that she’ll say it’s about titles or about shame, she’ll merely laugh it off and continue about her day. things like this will roll off her shoulders because these aren’t the important ones. 

what’s important is knowing the intention behind everything. what’s important is that she knows hayeon past how she’ll act in the tavern or walking around town. she knows hayeon past short phrases and furrowed brows. she knows hayeon who helps tidy up the back when she’s running a longer shift in the front. she knows hayeon who is quick to shoo her towards her room for a break when she insists the newbies can handle it. 

she knows hayeon who would never deny her, when the day’s done and she’s less mischief and more want. she knows hayeon who doesn’t hesitate to meet her on the bed, wrap around her before she can even get the words out. that is what matters.

5.  

with soohyuk, it’s never said but it’s a routine now. it’s had to become a routine so when it’s missed he makes sure to grab hold of it. 

literally so.

they’ve never really been allowed a break from what they do, their passions requiring that they’re kept busy whether it’s perfecting their craft or looking for more work. there are times when their schedules don’t align despite trying their best so what’s become important has been waking up to say bye to one another and coming home to one another.

whichever one they can manage is a blessing and the time is coveted.

the times when they could wake up and eat together, make coffee and have a few moments before schedules kicked in, they were hard to come by. the times when soohyuk had enough time to leave his schedules and pick her up, often choosing to find a place to eat out together after, were also hard to come by. time with the two of them was always precious but it was always understood as hard to acquire, a product of their respective jobs and something they’ve long past accepted.

due to that they’ve found ways around it. 

it’s sometimes when he hears her, shuffling around in the morning and he’s willing the sleep from his body. when he knows she’s already been in the shower and she’s back tot he bed to grab all her items before leaving. sometimes he can grab it before she’s out the room, other times he’s got to grab it before she leaves the apartment. that often requires him to leave the bed but it’s worth it, the few steps behind her to wrap his arms around her waist before she reaches the door.

she’s used to it and her laughter is quiet and fond when she turns around to grant him the kiss he seeks out.

it’s the same when he’s up, filing through scripts or his schedule, with her flitting around because she’s meeting some friends for lunch. the times he can be home are very few and if he’s home he’s typically caught up in work. still - he knows the sounds she’ll make before heading to the door, he’ll hear the jingle of her keys and her voice, amused and frantic on the phone. that’s when he does it, catches her hand in his before she flies by.

she knows without even asking now and soohyuk only has to lean forward to catch her cheek after pressing two to her hand. hyuna’s all smiles and giggles before rushing out and promising to see him later. 

taeyang had another habit. it was nothing serious, nothing out of the ordinary either just something he hadn’t taken notice of. it’d fallen into his routine so easily that he hadn’t quite had time to realize it. ever the perceptive one, hyunshik was the one to mention it. it did take some time though. 

there were a few things that had to fall in place for it to get noticed. it was noticed nonetheless though. 

the other habits that fell into place were as follows:

1) hyunshik sleeping over more often, the product of taeyang finishing up his internships with later shifts, them walking home after said shifts, staying up even later because of ridiculous schedules. something that ended in tangled limbs, and their makeshift fort becoming a safe haven when the day had spun on too long. 

2) their fort safehaven and hyunshik’s arms making taeyang’s dreamless nights a little more bearable, insomnia being a dull remember but not a constant. taeyang wasn’t sure when he started to get more hours of sleep but he’s sure hyunshik’s got some magic in his shampoo because burying his head into his neck always does the trick. and so restless nights became more restful.

3) taeyang’s late shifts at the hospital were making coffee shop morning visits damn near impossible, so as his shifts switched and thinned out, so did his time at the coffee shop. late nights turned into mid afternoons or early call-ins where he could barely pull himself out of bed. this ended with instead hyunshik being the one to shake him out of his sleep, especially when he’s started learning the joy of a night’s rest. 

4) taeyang being unable to grab coffee before the morning rush turned into his sister impulse gifting him a small espresso machine, a pre-graduation present. what began as hyunshik groaning at the instrument became mornings with taeyang smelling the coffee before he heard the machine go off.

hyunshik making coffee in the morning led to discovery of the habit in question. the one that gets pointed out one saturday morning. taeyang’s got a later shift so he’s dragging himself out their fort a little late, sleep still set in his cheeks and his eyes. hyunshik is busy with the machine, and the kiss is a lazy one before taeyang uses his palm as a rest for his head.

the mornings are spent like this, the machine more of a humming than a nuisance and his eyes following hyunshik’s hands as they always do.

‘stop that.’

taeyang’s admittedly not awake enough to realize he’s being spoken to, but he blinks and tries to listen again. words don’t quite come out but the look he gives hyunshik conveys the question easy enough.

‘smiling like that, you’ve been smiling - differently.’

oh.

had he? taeyang’s a pretty bright person, he’s not overly excited as he never has the energy for it, but he’s a pretty cheerful guy, more on the mellow side of cheerful. 

“well - so have you.”

the mug that’s on its way to his hands stops midway.

‘i’ve what?’ “you’ve been smiling differently.”

without wanting to elaborate further taeyang is leaning forward to take hold of the coffee calling his name. hyunshik’s been learning to make his regular order with their machine and he’s always overcome with warmth when he tastes it when it’s fresh. something about the freshness of the espresso in the first five minutes - he doesn’t care much. but as he’s touching it, he realizes hyunshik’s hands haven’t quite let go. 

‘i’ve been smiling differently?’ “differently, a lot. i don’t know. your co workers were giggling about it. you’re cute either way.”

that does the trick - or it does something because he’s able to pull the mug free and bring it close to his lips.  it always smells so good, taeyang wants to slip back into bed.

‘why are you smiling like that you haven’t even tried it?’

a blink, taeyang’s mid part into blowing to cool it down.

“well,“ another blow, a softer smile. “you made it that’s why.”

he finally does take a sip and he’s correct - it tastes as good as it smells. taeyang almost slips through the chair, so instead he reaches for hyunshik’s hand, halfway out leaving the stool at the counter.

“let’s nap.”

his hand misses its mark, and his leg barely hits the ground because hyunshik’s around the counter corner, in his space and with his lips pressed to taeyang’s own. it’s not a brief kiss, but it’s not a long one either, it’s enough that he knows the taste of coffee might linger on hyunshik’s lips when they pull apart. it’s enough that taeyang has to grip the mug and set it down to collect his bearings. hyunshik barely gives him time, forehead pressed close and eyes glancing from taeyang’s lips to his eyes.

‘coffee supposed to keep you up right?’

there’s a nod, taeyang is sure he nodded, he’s also sure his feet touched the ground to follow hyunshik to the couch but he feels like he floated there. he doesn’t know when he picked the mug back up but it’s in his hands on the way there. and he tastes coffee again but he’s not sure if it’s on lips, or on the rim of the mug.