🌙

felt like writing about love again. i believe in it. other love languages: day6 

sangyeon

acts of service 

at first, it’s wordless. just the happenstance that he remembers that you do your laundry every thursday evening and shows up at your doorstep with extra fabric softener. just the coincidence that he brought over that comfort food you mentioned craving a day or two ago.

but then, it becomes a welcomed understanding. he is going out of his way to pick you up from your late shift, even though he’s got practice in the next two hours. he is carrying that extra heavy delivery the postman left three doors down. 

“i’m doing this because i chose to. i’m doing this because i am accommodating and compromising and sacrificing and even hindering myself knowingly for you. without annoyance, without the idea that you owe me anything in return.”

sangyeon is extremely bond orientated - once he’s with you, he’s with you. in many ways, you come before he does.

you try to assure him that you can clean that up later or grab those groceries after work, but why should you? he’ll do it.

“you live in the opposite direction of where i’m going.”

“so?”

“won’t it be annoying to drive back and forth twice?”

“no, because while i’m driving you there - we’ll be together. how could that ever be annoying?”

sangyeon moves you closer to him, puts his hands on yours and then wraps them around his torso so that you can press as close as possible to his chest

you never tell him when you need a hug like this, he just knows to do it 

jacob

quality time 

simplicity is his favorite thing in the world, and there isn’t anything more simple then showing up

it can be a soft and comfortable silence, you sit against the pillows on his bed and read, the bookmark he brought you back from tour waiting for you to pick a spot to pause. jacob sits at his desk, tuning his guitar and scrolling through samples of songs the company sent over. halfway through the list he notices you humming that one tune in particular and a smile curls at his lips.

it can be a get together with everyone, almost rehearsed in the energy of the room. you and jacob where you both belong, enveloped in your bubble. he pats his knee and you lean against it as you watch the chaos of his members unfold around you. his hand is around your waist, you press a small kiss into his hair every now and then between laughs. 

jacob just wants you around

he wants your presence, the shift of the air in the room when you move around, the smell of your body wash on his clothes, the comfort in knowing he can reach out into a direction and touch your warm skin

although he’s a homebody who likes his alone time

he’s come to love you so much that being alone together is the only option he even considers anymore 

younghoon

words of affirmation 

it doesn’t matter that his job comes with the perk of being showered in constant comments and screams and declarations, both digital and inperson, of love. 

younghoon needs to hear you say it everyday. 

it can be any form of “i love you”, it can be “i’m proud of you.” or “i care about you.” or “i see how hard you’re working, i see how much you try.” 

it has to come from you and you have to be clear about it.

either in a whisper against the shell of his ear right after you two wake up or a bright exclamation when you return home and he rushes to gather you in his arms 

younghoon can sometimes fall into the hole of equating his worth to the praise that he hears from others, and you gently try to coax him out of this, but you still understand that it’s who he is - so you’ll remind him as much as he needs that you love him for him

for the version of him on stage, off stage, in public, in private.

but also, that his worth is his own. you know the work he puts in. 

your voice calms him down, it centers him, and sometimes he can get a little too head over heels with his emotions so having you talk him through it helps a lot

younghoon falls asleep on the phone with you almost every night that you two aren’t together, “say it again please….” his voice dips an octave as he floats between consciousness and sleep, “we’ll see each other soon, you know i like you, but you know i love you too.”

hyunjae 

physical touch

surprise, surprise - but no really, it is physical touch

there is a longing inside of hyunjae that feels a little like grasping, he’s always reaching out to be held. that grasping finally finds a purpose when he meets you.

kissing you is natural, having you run your hands down his back is natural, pressing his face into the crook of your neck is natural.

and when he isn’t close to you, he feels like a part of him is unnatural. kind of like a phantom limb.

there’s a reassurance in his heart that everything will be ok, but it’s only true when you’re holding each other - and hyunjae isn’t the type to shy away from that. no hyunjae tells you this, tells you that the skin to skin contact is that important to him. 

you are that important to him.

yes it can be a little clingy, but there’s something so endearing of having to use both your hands to do the dishes and hyunjae offers his help but you wave him off and yet he insists on sticking onto you, happy to watch the repetitions of your hands

there’s something endearing about his body even seeking you out in its sleep, wrapping you up - regardless of how sticky and sweaty you two get - hyunjae kicks the blankets off and pulls you close, eyes still shut 

juyeon

acts of service 

to be more precise, it’s more like acts of gratitude….acts of an answer. juyeon always wants to repay your choice of loving him with an action, something tangible that isn’t just a physical gift

he’s like a cat in the sense that he could bring you twigs and scraps but instead he chooses to do something more, well, helpful

nothing makes him happier than spending a night out with you, blissful happiness, then making sure to wake up earlier so he can make you your favorite kind of breakfast - or get an early start on your cleaning - or even just fix that loose screw on your bathroom’s mirror

because when you notice the little act, you thank him with a small surprised but beautiful happiness that makes him feel like you can understand just how much he adores you

showing the well of his love can be hard, doing these little things makes it easier

sometimes when you don’t even really notice the little things he’s done (brought your slippers in closer from where you kicked them off in the other room, wiped the table down before you set dinner) 

he still feels that swell in his heart

“i’ll do it because i love you.” 

“won’t it be hard to do?”

“not if it’s for you.” 

changmin

physical touch

changmin’s own pride has everything to do with his body. his dancing makes up a part of his life that he would be lost without, so having you get to experience this body he has put so much work into really couldn’t be more of an authentic way of showing his love

and sure, intimacy and touching and caressing, but more than that it’s the attention and care

you massage his shoulders absentmindedly, trace lines on the lean muscle of his forearm, press yourself comfortably in-between his legs as the warmth wraps you two up closer

changmin takes great pleasure in knowing that you trust how strong he is, how lithe he can be in his movements, how that’s a trait of his that gets you going 

even little squeezes of his palm in yours are enough to get you a little bit excited - it electrifies changmin’s heart even more

“do you want to hold my hand?”

“we’re in line at the grocery store.”

“still, it feels nice to hold it right?”

chanhee

receiving gifts 

yes, in part the expensive and flashy and finer things in life are just chanhee’s preference but it’s not the act of spending money that’s the love language 

it’s the proof that you know him so well. that you pay attention.

because chanhee is hard to actually shop for, he has always assumed he knows himself best and something can cost a lot but not be in his taste at all (this has been a common occurrence over his past relationships)

but you just get it. you get him. you get his tastes and his preferences and sometimes it’s almost like you can read what he needs before he really even knows it himself

so even if it’s something small and cheap or big and fancy - chanhee cherishes each and every one - because when you give it to him it reminds him:

this person really understands me, they listen, they love me.

and chanhee spoils you in return

he will never admit it, but part of him is playing catch up to just how amazing you are at giving him gifts

he hopes he can read you like you can read him, because apparently he’s been an open book ever since you two got together

kevin

quality time + physical touch

his language is here’s this experience i want to do, but we have to do it together or else it isn’t worth it

most of the times - this experience is outdoorsy, sporty, and most of all - fun

kevin’s love of live music events means he’s willing to splurge big on your favorite artists and then hold you close the entire time you’re both there - singing at each other and kissing and grabbing your hands like you’re kids again and this is your first concert ever

it’s also sometimes just a fancy rock climbing gym where kevin gets to hoist you up on his shoulders 

or a all day pass at some new resort or theme park where kevin is happy to indulge in all the thrilling rides and yummy treats and matching souvenirs with the agreed upon “never let go of my hand or you might get lost” and water breaks that end with kisses

it’s the constant need to make memories, but kevin loves you so he wants those memories to always have you front and center

naturally extroverted, his love is big and proud and jumping into something new with the person you trust the most just seems to be the best way to prove that 

haknyeon

quality time

similar to jacob, he enjoys his time alone and is a bit more of a homebody but the one thing about haknyeon is that he is very precise in the people he allows close to him

and by close, i mean exactly that, who gets his time is very important and he doesn’t just give it out without meaning

so the fact that he can justify spending all 24 hours, all seven days a week with you is a testament to just how much he loves you 

haknyeon is quick to shut down situations he doesn’t want to be in. he doesn’t compromise just to make others in the room feel like he isn’t being rude. 

he has lots of hobbies and he has passions that he’d rather devote himself to

but you - you are the exception. you are allowed everywhere, all the time, all at once.

and haknyeon wants to share what he does with you. he picks you over his solitude without question. it nearly shocks the rest of tbz just how much haknyeon goes out of his way to include you in his time.

“every minute is precious to me, my life is so busy i feel like i barely get to live it sometimes - but if doing nothing meant i could do it with you forever, i would.” 

sunwoo

words of affirmation 

idol or not, sunwoo has a bad habit of finding the negatives - so sometimes all he really craves is someone who can tell him the truth without fail. that truth is a fact he sometimes forgets: sunwoo, you are always worth it and you are always loved.

eric calls him gloomy when he gets like this, but one phone call from you or even a text can change sunwoo’s whole day around

his heart grows three sizes when you pat his cheek and tell him he’s the cutest boy you’ve ever seen 

in a funny way, sunwoo gets embarrassed when you’re too straightforward about it

he gets all hot at the neck and tries to stutter out a “d-don’t say that.” when you get really impassioned, proclaiming that he’s the one you want to be with forever and there isn’t anyone else on this planet that could the one for you but him 

but it makes his head spin with that feeling - that feeling of love, a love that is almost on par with godly infatuation because how is it real that you, you - YOU!!! feel that way about him!!! the way he feels about you!!!

sunwoo is still pretty young, but he can’t help it - declaration like that make him believe that that love he watched on tv or read about in comics, it’s real.

it’s you. 

eric

acts of service + physical touch

so for eric, the above two are the same thing

smothering you with love, with his hands in your hair and his lips on yours and the entire world melting away into nothingness - that’s touching, yes, but that’s also a service

making you feel appreciated and loved makes eric feel appreciated and loved

the best way to do that is to be physical, everything must be tangible to eric for him to really feel it at full force

of course, he can be a little overwhelming sometimes, but it comes with being with him 

the answer to any of your lifes problems (in eric’s opinion) is having him show up at your front door with whatever you need, but more importantly with himself and his pretty face and strong hands and dedicated on track state of mind

you sometimes assume this honeymoon need will fade as you are together longer, but it never does

eric’s energy is poured into actions and transferred from his palms onto your skin

eric describes it to people like this: 

sikpang on X: "If you continue to support K-pop unconditionally without boycotting the aggressive misogynistic attitudes of Korean men, the problem will not change. A new handsome male idol may emerge in the future, and you might end up liking him. However, the deep-rooted misogyny in Korean" / X

Woman of Leisure (@WomenLeisure) / X

(i'm sorry idk how to properly embed the links)

^^^^

cat is another sk feminist on twitter who posts about the ongoing misogyny and crimes related to in sk:

AND! if you guys have a moment to report this youtube account. they've been doxxing and harassing women in sk who have spoken about the telegram situation or have posted support for the feminist movement in their country:

fawk im sorry but you know i have to go back to my hottopic employee!au because im nothing without my mall!aus

but yuta who doesn't do any of his 'responsibilities' at work because this job doesn't mean dick to him, it's just a paycheck to add onto his aspirations to be a star. everyone is huffing and puffing to organize the store and he's texting you on his phone like what are you up to and you're like baby i'm at my big job. my 9-5, i have three meetings and a presentation and yuta is like that's hot send me a photo before your meetings meaning you know what.

he gets away with it though because he's hotter than any other person in this stupid mall and his coworkers are all obsessed with him and they don't understand how he's dating you. you with your business casual attire, blue light glasses, dress shoes - slick and thin laptop with *gags* microsoft teams on it. isn't yuta supposed to be a free soul? living against conformity? rejecting the likes of you for the....stereotypical goth emo fantasy or whatever?

it doesn't matter, you get off work at 5 and drive to the mall to meet up with him, sipping from your reusable waterbottle as yuta rings up someone's purchase of belly button rings and lord of the rings blind boxes and then he floats over to you, hearts spinning above his bleach blonde long hair, nearly falling out of his mouth - up and over his lip piercing and snake bites.

you let him give you a chaste kiss before you he pulls you in close, arms tilting you toward him, black nail polish on his fingertips as they weave up and into your perfectly combed hair. his coworkers snarl and roll their eyes - but you ignore them as yuta purrs into your ear about how bad he misses you and needs you and wants to just get back to your place when his shift ends. you flick your eyes up to the people who think that they even have a chance, giving them a innocent little grin.

you get into your car, the seats still a pristine leather, a fancy air freshener hung up, and stick your keys into your color coordinated console. yuta throws his worn pair of converse into the back seat and lulls his head towards yours in the passenger seat, heavy makeup making his eyes stand out as he looks at you, "can we stop by taco bell?" you pull out of the mall driveway and nod "sure, princess." he chuckles at the nickname and stare down at your lap - then travels up to your face - "you know i'll repay you when we're home, right?"

changmin is your cute, sweet little date to jacob's pool party. oh he's such a sweetheart - he picks you up from your place and walks with you, hand-in-hand, talking about whatever you want to in the sticky, setting sun. he looks adorable, white shirt pulled over his swim shorts, cap on backwards. his free hand has a pool noodle tucked under it and a case of beer for the party. he opens the front gate for you - who says chivalry is dead? jacob is all smiles when he greets you two, taking the beer and ushering you both toward the pool where the party is already noisy and messy. somehow changmin shoos sunwoo off a beach chair for you, spreads out your towel, and tells you to call him if you need anything. you watch as he shrugs the shirt off and throws the hat somewhere. glistening under the sun - he jumps into the water and you enjoy the view, watching him play water volleyball - long and athletic arms reaching over the net and dunking eric's head under the water when he tries to cheat. he gets up out of the pool whenever you beckon though, leaning over you - body all wet, sopping onto yours as you make a sound at the sudden cold water on your bare skin - to kiss you, short and soft in front of the cheering crowd of his friends. you feel him smirk against your lips, but you think nothing of it. i mean - he's just your......cute, sweet, this-means-nothing date to the pool party........right?

you turn and he rolls down the hem of his sweats to show off the band of lighter skin. you nearly knock over everything on the shelf where the aloe is but you swat at him with your other hand to stop. with the pout still on his face, hyunjae lazily grabs your wrist and tugs you closer - the smallness of your bathroom trapping you into his personal space before you can really register it.

"look - touch it, it doesn't even burn when you touch it so it's not like an actuaaaaaal sunburn babe." your hand meets the rock hard plane of his stomach and he nudges your fingertips down, down, a little more down - but you yank your hand back and try hard to not let your voice falter - "still, you need to be careful -"

hyunjae bats his eyelashes, big and beautiful brown eyes pouring over into yours. you can tell just by looking at him that the only thing swirling around in his brain is the momentary contact of your hand so close to a spot that makes him get all hazy. "hyunjae." you say - warning tone apparent, but it's too late - his gaze has softened into pliant need - "what?" he says the word all airy, you aren't even doing anything and he is already down bad. you roll your eyes - "at least let me put the aloe on before we-"

juyeon or jooheon (i miss him)

hehe ok but you know i gotta do surfer!juyeon.........sunny disposition with lazy happiness, shirt always off, pucca shell necklace his little brother made for him. the board is so big and heavy, but he carries it with no effort. he got a fake tattoo right on the dip of his hip, you can see the top of it over his swim shorts. sometimes he gives lessons for free, but no one ever pays attention to what he says because wow he is hot. got an undercut for the summer heat and now you can see the three golden earrings he has pierced on his right side.

you like getting to the beach early to collect seashells from the night tide, plus there's not as many people around and you like the slight breeze of the morning. juyeon's there - he always is - he's doing his morning workout and jogging up toward the rocks at the end of the beach. you guys casually nod or wave every now and then, but this morning juyeon stops to come over to you. you blink, confused but he smiles - fishing something out of his shorts pocket.

kinda cliché but line cook!jeno at the shitty little dinner you go to when you are a little broke and a little lonely but he's always so nice to you when you're there......no matter if you show up in just a big tshirt and your crocs........no matter if it's past midnight ........... no matter if the waitress as the front grunts at you for being out this late and throwing your youth away and jeno get them their hamburger god who eats a hamburger at this time of day?

but yeah no, jeno sees you from the window that leads into the kitchen and he's got on his white tshirt with the sleeves rolled up and his favorite pair of levis hanging low on his hips and his hairs a little greasy from this twelve hour long ass shift but you do not care because he looks like a statue. he looks like a god. you can see his shoulders flex and the veins on his arm pop slightly even from where you're sitting at the counter and you do not want this fucking hamburger you want jeno to just get a clue

the waitress steps out for her mid-shift cigarette and there's no one else, save from someone asleep in one of the booths and so jeno comes out of the kitchen, towel over shoulder, plate with your burger and fries (you didn't even order fries, he's just giving them to you) and hand delivers them to you himself. he asks you if you'll be able to "get home safely after you're done, it's dark out and who knows whose walking the streets" and you chew on the same fry as you stare at his perfect and unblemished face as you just go "uhhuhhhh" to whatever he's saying

of course you don't even touch most of your food, and the waitress tells jeno he can go soon because his cover is here and as she goes in the back to get something - jeno comes out again. this time he's got his motorcycle helmet under one hand and you're still sitting at the counter, kicking your feet a little as he approaches you. he turns the stool so you're facing him and asks - with a cheeky smile - if you are one hundred percent sure you'll get home ok alone. because if not, he'll give you a ride.

actually been thinking about banished prince!au and seonghwa fits so well actually......because he's banished up in an ivory tower (literally) and you're the only person that visits him because his family don't care if he lives or dies but you're like i need to make sure he's surviving up there. you bring meals and books for him and you try to talk to him about possibly running away but seonghwa doesn't even entertain the idea because you assume he thinks he deserves this because his family said so but turns out it's really because he knows if he does escape - you won't go with him. and if being stuck in solitude like this is the price to pay for the ten minutes of your company everyday then this is paradise for him.

you bring it up one day, setting down a clean hair brush and change of clothes, before pulling the dangling keys to the bars that separate the both of you out from under. "i can get you out of there, my prince, please let me help you." seonghwa's eyes widen for only a moment before he steps backwards and refuses again. you don't understand and press him again, even going so far as to start unlocking the door when seonghwa's hands extend through the openings to stop you. "no, don't. i won't leave this place - if it means leaving you." the words tumble around in your mind, the once shining light of this country - a beloved prince to all, and the man of your secret phantasies, is saying that to you. and you stumble over your words in response. the keys fall from your grip, but the door pushes open slightly from where you've unlocked it and you end up in front of him without a barrier for the first time since his banishment and well.

you're not sure when it starts

maybe the day you get silver in, the skinny grey tabby who skittishly avoids every patron, settling into a small ball of fur on the top perch of one of the cat trees

the only human allowed to handle her is juyeon, who talks to her quietly and soothingly and who can hold her in the palm of one hand

maybe it's the weekend you get a whole group of university girls - colorful and loud - flirting endlessly over cat treats and milk tea with juyeon because he's nice and doesn't know the difference between friendly and a little too friendly

or maybe there isn't a way to pinpoint the beginning of your feelings because they've just been inside you for so long that the root is impossible to trace

you look at juyeon from over the register, watch him pick up cat toys and empty glasses from customer ordered drinks

you notice him stop for a second to let silver take a tentative few steps toward him before she's nudging against his ankle with her small head

and you just............feel.................warmth

he turns to call out to you, and your eyes drop down to the counter because ever since it - whatever this is - started

you cannot fathom ever letting juyeon know

"do you still want me to go out and buy litter today?"

you glance at the clock on the wall, shaped like a cat, tail swinging languidly

"it's almost nine so i'll just do it tomorrow when i open."

"sure." he smiles and your chest gets all toasty with adoration "don't pick anything too heavy."

✧

on your way home, you scroll aimlessly through your photos to check which brand to get in the morning when your finger stops on one photo in particular

your first week at the cat cafe

the owner is posing next to you with a big grin, to his left is eric who is doing an enthusiastic v-pose, and then to your right is juyeon

he's wearing a white tshirt underneath his apron, black hair pulled back under a baseball cap, blue jeans and sneakers

he doesn't even try and still manages to be the most handsome man i've ever seen

the train jolts and your finger leaves the photo, scrolling up to some other photo

this one is just you, taken by a friend at some outing

does he look at me at all? does he look at me the way i look at him?

you lock your phone and sigh, these feelings inside of you can continue to grow but you are sure you won't ever let them bloom into anything. especially not something juyeon can ever see.

the next morning, you find yourself in a match with the twenty-five pound bag of litter

you had lifted it at the nearby store and thought to yourself, incorrectly, that you would make the trek back to the cafe with no issues

half a block you had been puffing - dropping the bag as carefully as possible to the sidewalk

"one of the cats is twenty five pounds, why does this stupid bag feel like it's a hundred?"

you catch your breath as a long shadow suddenly obscures your own

"i knew you would overdo it."

you straighten up and see juyeon

"juy- your shift doesn't start till three in the afternoon?!?"

he surveys the bag and the little beads of sweat on the side of your face.

without a word, he picks up the bag and throws it over his shoulder like it's absolutely nothing

"i'll help you bring this in." he outstretches his free hand to you as if to ask if you need help getting stable

you shyly shake your head and he waits as you adjust

the walk to the cafe is quiet.

it's early, and the start of the weekend, so shops are opening but there isn't a crowd yet

"don't be scared."

you freeze - don't be scared? did i mishear him?

"sorry?"

juyeon's expression is unreadable when you look at him for confirmation

his clean skin and pretty eyes radiate calmness. his lips in a slightly upturned curve.

"don't be scared to ask me for help. you've been at the cafe for a while now, the cats like you and i-"

you......like me..........too?

"and i appreciate anyone who is fond of cats like i am."

oh. right.

you laugh awkwardly, covering your mouth out of habit.

"ok, i will. sorry to bother you before your shif-"

juyeon's long fingers wrap around your wrist and you stop in the middle of the street

gently, as if he's handling a kitten, he pulls your hand from your face

"you should never hide your laughter."

it's random, uncalled for even - people don't just say things like that in the middle of a conversation

but juyeon does it as if it's the most normal reaction

and he just blinks when you stare back at him - heart hammering in your chest

"r-ri-right, i won't. but um - will you go back home since you're not scheduled till three?"

juyeon shrugs and you two resume walking

the store is on the next block and when you get to the door, juyeon shifts the bag from one shoulder to the other

"do you need any help opening?"

you fumble with the key, the feeling of his gaze makes you a little dizzy

"n-no i think i have it. you should go back home and get some more sleep."

he nods and follows you inside, placing the litter by the door

without another word to you, he enters the part of the store where the cats are

you pretend to busy yourself with organizing the little chairs in the cafe section, but secretly you watch as he heads right toward the little corner that silver has made her home in

he stands there - seemingly checking if she's awake - and you see him outstretch his hand

always so patient, no wonder she picked him as his favorite. i would too.

you shake your head at the thought, as if to get it out of your head, busying yourself with the usual duties

juyeon emerges a couple of minutes later and waves at you as he opens the door

"i'll be back at three."

"ok!"

and nothing else.

you realize only after it's quiet and you're all on your own again that you didn't get to ask juyeon what in the world he was doing here so early

was he jogging around the neighborhood? did he get up early to go to the same pet store...for a pet he doesn't have? or ........ or........ had he been thinking about you?

you bite back your lip, wondering if its selfish to even have the thought

the thought that juyeon, perfect juyeon, everyone's crush juyeon - could possibly have been laying in his sheets this morning and thinking about going out to check on you

as if to answer you, you hear a loud and annoyed meow

"right. breakfast."

you mumble and let your thoughts about what could or could not have happened this morning find a shelf in the back of your mind

✧

three o'clock comes by even faster than you expect

juyeon comes in, followed by always energetic eric

before you even get a chance to greet them - eric comes bounding toward you with shining eyes

"i heard you totally couldn't even lift ten pounds of litter this morning!"

you deadpan at him, "it was twenty-five pounds."

he shakes his head, hands on his hips, "job requirement says you have to lift fifty pounds or more! i'm telling the boss!"

an obvious joke, you roll your eyes, but juyeon furrows his eyebrows as he joins you

"eric - don't tell the boss that. i don't want them to get in trouble."

you and eric both look at him a little dumbfounded, trying to find a hint of sarcasm in his tone

but juyeon is completely genuine. as he always is.

eric burst into laughter, "dude! i was just playing, teasing!"

he shoves into juyeon's shoulder, who just sways with surprise

"oh."

you giggle, lifting your hand up to your mouth again, but stopping - remembering juyeon's soft voice in the morning

you should never hide your laughter

juyeon's eyes waiver for a moment, from your awkward hand to your lips, or maybe you just imagine it

because he turns and lets you deal with eric's presence by yourself as he lets himself into the cat enclosure

as eric talks a million miles a minute and you help a group of new customers, you second guess the events of the day in your head again

there's no way he would go out of his way to see me this morning. it was just a coincidence. it has to be just a coincidence. juyeon has never shown any kind of interest toward m-

"oh shit!"

the exclaimed voice belongs to eric, who pushes past the register and approaches you with big, sparkling eyes

which can only mean one thing

"can you cover the rest of my shift? pleaaaaaaaase!"

you huff, "why?"

he tries to make himself all cute and sweet, "it's an emergency! for reaaaaaaal! i promise, i'll owe you!"

you don't know how much you believe this 'emergency' - and you've been here since the early morning.

you're tired, you don't even have tomorrow off, and you were looking forward to catching the latest episode of a drama you've been into

but

the cat enclosure opens, and juyeon walks out. behind him is a customer that's clearly starstruck by him.

"let me go get the adoption form." juyeon tells them and the big, fluffy orange cat in his hands purrs

the customer nods and as juyeon passes you and eric, he lifts the cats paw in acknowledgement

how is he the cutest person ever.

"so will you do it? i'm sorry to ask but i gotta go like now if you can!"

another...what....four hours with juyeon? till closing?

"fine. but you're taking my early morning next week."

"deal!" eric is already undoing his apron and rushing toward the back for his stuff

✧

juyeon only registers that you're still here about an hour later.

busy with the adoption procedure, when he waves off the customer with their new pet, he turns and his eyes widen innocently

"i thought you left?"

"eric had an emergency."

concern overtakes the look of shock

"have you taken a break yet? did you eat?"

you remember the sad excuse you had for lunch and shake your head

"sit down, i'll take care of everything till closing."

the way he says it - the words are clear, calm like midday waves

"it's ok -"

juyeon is already pulling a chair from the cafe area behind the register

you sit only because juyeon doesn't seem to look like he's going to move if you don't

"we need to clean before we clo-"

"i can do it." he leans down and for a second the world stops. his face gets so close you can smell whatever detergent he used on his tshirt.

picking some lint from your apron strap, he straightens up.

you feel like your head spins back into a moving world

cutest person ever, with no sense of personal space. great. i pick the best ones.

"the cats were good today. it won't take long."

you make yourself a cup of water and take one of the candy bars from the front to nibble on as you wait for the last party of people to finish playing with the cats

juyeon floats back and forth between helping inside and making the odd drink order

you get up to help and he just points at the chair without a word

stuck there, all you can do is observe

usually you do it in secret, only flinging little peeks over at him when you think he's too distracted

but today - you just watch. and juyeon let's you.

whenever he catches you, his lips curl into just the smallest smile or he asks if you're ok and need him for anything

it's oddly intimate

finally, with the crowd gone, you tally up the cash in the register and juyeon wipes down the tables

he disappears for a moment only to come over to you with a small ball of fluff in his hands

"silver?" you ask, looking at the familiar white stripe down her back

juyeon nods and use one finger to caress her, she mewls and tucks her head into his skin

"she doesn't trust me yet." you say with a sad smile "i think you're the only one she likes right now."

he steps closer and outstretches his cupped hands

"she might hiss-" you start, but juyeon shakes his head as if he's well aware that she won't

"she's comfortable with you." he states like it's a fact "the person she's still timid around is eric because he's......"

juyeon pauses like he's embarrassed to say something mean about another person

"he's loud." you finish his sentence, adding a - "but he's just born that way."

you take in a small breath and lean closer, silver wiggles in juyeon's hands and turns to face you, big blue eyes borrowing into your own

when you let the pad of your finger grace the top of her head - she blinks slow

and then tucks herself back into juyeon

"see, she doesn't mind it." he looks at her with a fondness juyeon seems to reserve only for animals

his usual look of soft uninterest is gone, his eyes are full of care and love

you hate to admit the pang of jealousy that circles around your heart as he takes silver back to the other cats

is there a person in your life that you look at with those eyes? are they the luckiest person in the world?

✧

juyeon waits as you lock the door, and he's still waiting when you're done and start your walk toward the train

"don't you live in the other direction?"

you start and then realize that that might sound weird, but, as always, juyeon seems unaffected

"it's dark out so i'll walk you to the train. you worked almost twelve hours so i'm worried."

you shake your head, stopping on the sidewalk

"no - it's ok, really! i don't want you to have to make the walk there and back-"

juyeon blinks at you slowly, for a second he looks just like sleepy and comfortable silver

"i'll walk you. i don't mind."

you resume your steps just because you think protesting more won't get you anywhere

as calm and serene as juyeon is, you can never really win against him. like a rock - unnervingly silent and impossible to move.

half way to the train the silence makes your nerves bubble up to the surface and you spit out the question that's been nagging you all day

"wha- what were you doing near the pet store this morning?"

you hold the strap of your backpack tightly as the words come out

"were you on a morning run or-"

juyeon tilts his head from the night sky to match your gaze

"i was looking for you."

for a second time you bring yourself to a full halt

"so - you went there on purpose?"

juyeon's confusion is as clear as day on his handsome features

"of course? i knew you'd pick something heavy and so i got up early to meet you. isn't that what you do? when you care about someone?"

"c-care about someone?"

possibly one hundred thoughts race through your mind at once and a hot feeling starts to crawl up your neck

care? as in ...... as in care about me as a co-worker? as a friend? as a silly person in his life that he assumes (correctly) will make silly decisions - what in the world is he talking about?

juyeon puts his hands in his pocket and, for the first time in your life, you see him bashfully drop his eyes to the ground

"i - i care about you because i like you." he lets himself after a moment find your gaze "isn't it obvious?"

"........obvious........"

the word drops from your lips in stunned disbelief and juyeon gives you a smile that you commit to memory forever

"y-yes? aren't i always being obvious around you?"

you try to think of the time that you've know juyeon - that you've known the soft spoken, considerate, polite, a little dense but otherwise incredibly smart, perfect man you know and no. no not once has he shown any "obvious" interest toward you

"i mean, no? i'm the blubbering idiot that's obviously in love with you!"

it comes out on reflex and juyeon's eyes go wide to match the moon that hangs above you two

"oh- oh! you - you also like me? i mean...love me....?"

clamping your hands over your mouth - you lurch forward in a run

juyeon calls your name in surprise, but you can't even turn to face him

you wave your hand above your head

"i'll see you tomorrow! sorry!"

juyeon does the kindest thing possible and doesn't follow after you

you spend the entirety of the train ride home staring at your phone screen completely zoned out

aren't i always being obvious around you?

"we're both just dumb.....that has to be it......"

✧

eric is smiling from ear to ear when you come in and you know that means one thing: juyeon told him everything

the second you put your things down, eric is pushing you toward the storage room and shutting the door right behind you

"you can't come out until you're dating!"

the words are swallowed up in your mind to the sight of juyeon standing there

he looks at you and his long fingers tap against each other behind his back

"i-"

"i-"

you both start and then immediately bristle like a pair of newly introduced cats

"i didn't know!" you blurt out, heart starting to pick up a racing pace in your chest, "i didn't know you also liked me so if it's ok with you-"

juyeon, to no ones surprise, wears his heart on his sleeve

"if it's ok will you go out with me?"

he bends down at the waist, as if he's thanking you and not asking you to date him

you were about to ask the same thing, but the absurdity of the situation just elicits a hiccupping laugh from you

"y-yes" you say, repeating it through giggles "yes, i will!"

you are about to cover your mouth again, when juyeon's fingers wrap around your wrist delicately

and you look at him, as he starts to laugh too

when you open the door - eric gives you two an expectants

"well?"

juyeon opens his mouth, but nothing comes out - so you put your hands up

"you said we couldn't come out till we started dating and well...."

eric's shout of happiness makes all the cats stir, soft meows and pads of their paws against the glass

well...i'm here to give you cute little chef taeyong....and um......doing......chef stuff in the kitchen.....

usually, taeyong is alone at the end of the night. he's ok sending the line cooks and busboys home early, so he can close up and organize how he wants to. spend his time in the kitchen in silence, except for the sound of water from the sink or the clank of pots. but today, you're here.

"chef-" you start, really pressing into the title. taeyong feels like a mouse in a trap. "should i wash these for tomorrow, or prep something for the morning shift? i just want to help - you know?"

taeyong is aware it would be impolite to call you out on your bluff. but he's also not the kind for confrontation. also, as much as he knows you don't want to do any of that he can't tell exactly why you're still here. hovering.

you shrug off the top white coat that everyone in the kitchen wears, and underneath is a thin strapped shirt, clinging to every curve you have. taeyong turns to scrub the perfect metal top of his station.

"it's- you - you c- it's fine you can-"

"but chef, i don't want to leave you here without anyone. c'mon, tell me what to do."

you ask for a command like the worlds worst subordinate. taeyong takes in a breath and tries to coach himself into some ill found confidence, but when he turns around you're closer than before. he can see the beauty marks on your skin. the sweat that forms slightly at the edge of your neck.

"tell me what to do taeyong, c'mon. you spend all those hours yelling out orders - you can tell little old me the one thing you need most right now."

the wires in his brain malfunction, and he's well aware that he's the color of a tomato. and even in this moment of suspended stupor - he suddenly gets why you're still here and what you're actually asking him to say.

"we can't." he barely squeaks, cutely like a prey animal "this is the kitchen. we can't do anything here."

your smile curls into a smirk.

"the pantry then? or out at the bar? or on one of the tables in the dinning room - i don't mind."

taeyong is at a loss for words, his long fingers try to find the table behind him, but at the same time he finds himself unable to look anywhere but your mouth. your lips are such a pretty color, and they look soft. they'd be wonderful on him - in multiple places.

you cage him suddenly, hands on either side of his.

"but the kitchen just has the most comfortable surfaces, just lean here and let me take care of you."

your let one hand run down the front of his chef's coat, bumping over each button with intention. the strings from the apron he has on his waist come undone without him registering it. you toss it off to the side.

"yes?"

"a- are you - a-"

his words die in his throat as you blink at him.

"yes, chef?"

oh im just throwing him right into pirate!au wooo

you intend to rob hoshi blind, but when he willingly tells you where all his treasure is - much to the dismay of his crew (tied in a neat circle to the main mast) - you are just left confused.

"you do know i'm going to throw you all overboard after this right?"

hoshi looks at you with the goofiest grin you've seen on a captain in all your years traveling the sea.

"sure, whatever - what did you say your name was?"

somewhere someone groans, "this loser is flirting while our entire livelihood is being snatched away and we're just awaiting death. this is why we should have made seungcheol captain."

you ignore them and the question, tugging hoshi after you by the makeshift handcuffs you crafted out of rope.

"whatever, which room is it?"

he leads you like a pet would to a feeding bowl, even telling you how to open the locks and which keys fit which trunks. as you collect whatever has real value into your bag - hoshi sits still and watches. you turn around and decide you need to figure out what his problem is. so you do that the best way you know how, by irritating him.

you pluck the captain's hat from his head and put it on yourself instead - "i'm going to take your ship too by the way."

he nods, eyes melting a little - "you look cute in my hat."

narrowing your gaze you wag your finger in his face - "it's not your hat anymore. everything that belonged to you is now my property."

you don't see the shiver that runs up hoshi's spine, but that look on his face just gets more...weird.

"oh, ok. it's all yours. of course. you can have it all."

"that's not the response i usually get."

he takes in a breath and dreamily lets it out, "really? but you're so.......you're so charming."

you huff out a fake laugh - "charming? i'm robbing you. get a grip."

this doesn't have any effect on him. actually the reality of his situation seems to go into one ear and out of the other. he doesn't try to escape or run or threaten you. instead he leans against one of the walls and lets you keep pillaging.

"these handcuffs are really well made, where did you learn to tie people up?"

you look over your shoulder with an arched eyebrow.

"all sailors know how to tie a decent knot."

hoshi nods, "it's just tight enough. i like it."

once you've picked everything of interest, you decide one last thing with hoshi. bending down beside him you grab his jaw and tilt his face up - all he does is beam at you. "what would you do if i killed you right here - didn't even give you the pleasure of dying with your crew?" you try to make your voice sound cruel but hoshi swallows, cheeks getting red - "that's ok - if that's what you want."

on instinct, you put your knee between his thighs, "and what? because i want it i can do it?" he nods eagerly and tries to move his hips closer to you.

oh. he's like actually into this.

you look at the captain at your whim again, pretty long eyes with lashes too long for his own good. clear skin. you thumb at his lips and he knows to open his mouth, pretty teeth - too pretty for a pirate. without another thought you ask "want to come with me, i'll keep you like a pet."

you've never seen joy like that spread across a mans face. he ruts against your knee again - "really? really!"

making him a prince. making him a lonely, needy, inexperience prince. poof

it's raining and joshua has nothing better to do than to sit at the expanse of his desk and watch. the trees from the garden grow heavy with droplets and they lean into the window, tapping every now and then and it's the only sound that echoes through the princes' room for a while.

until you come in, with a tray of tea and a stack of books that he'd ordered from town last week.

"prince hong, would you like me to pour the tea for you?"

he looks at you, sleepy eyed - his hair is getting longer and hasn't yet been brushed so it gets in his eyes and curls at the nape of his neck. he didn't bother getting properly dressed, sitting in simple black pants and a flowing poet's shirt. the crest of his family hangs of a silver chain that sits between his clavicles as if it was perfectly placed their by god.

"ah - please?"

you nod, setting everything down before him and taking the pot into your gloved hands with refined practice. what's second nature to you, makes joshua feel........different. you move your fingers in a way he doesn't see often. other servants in other palaces don't do things like you do. commoners who tremble as they speak before him never seem to know what to do with their hands either. but you're so calculated, so elegant, you make the prince feel taken care of. safe.

that is your job after all, he muses, watching you fill the cup up to exactly three fourths. he brings it up to his lips and you watch, nodding - holding out a tissue that you conjure from somewhere just when he needs it.

"let me know if you need me, your highness."

you intend to return back to the kitchen, but the prince stops you.

"actually, i wanted to ask-"

embarrassment cloaks his ability to speak. something prickles in joshua's spine. how can he say this - how can openly admit what he's spent the last hour dizzyingly daydreaming about now that you've appeared at his side. ever since the storm came down and he got comfortable in front of it, he had let his mind wander.

your hands were one thing, skillful and knowing, but all of you always seemed so experienced to him. as if you'd lived a thousand times harder than he had - even though you were similar in age. perhaps that was true, you weren't a royal, but still - it made joshua curious. would you ever consider teaching him about the things he just didn't know?

"yes?"

you set the platter down on the desk, expecting that the prince might need some time to articulate his request of you. his doe like yes get wider, and his cheeks look rosy in the dim light.

"nevermind, i don't want to bother."

why he'd brought it up in the first place scares the prince. he'd just been thinking, about how well you did everything. how well you handled him particularly. seemingly aware of the parts of himself he was conscious about - always complimenting them. touching and holding when you had to - either helping him put something on or catching him when he inevitably trips over air.

those things are just part of your duty, but they felt intimate. secret, between you two. and recently, joshua had found himself wanting to do them to you. of course, there was no way to do so. a prince didn't help his attendant get dressed - didn't catch them if they wobbled on their feet.

and all of that was just minutia compared to what he really had been thinking about. your knowing, skillful hands roaming the expanse of his entire body - the warm feeling of safety, as you spoke to him in hushed tones. asking him and guiding him and teaching him how to make himself, and you, feel good.

joshua doesn't know the first thing about desire - he'd been taught to ignore it till later in life - but at his age, and with someone as lovely to look at as you around, desire had hit him like a truck.

"it is never a bother, my prince. what can i do for you?"

joshua looks at the closed door to his room and then back at you. he steps closer, taking your gloved hand in his. if you're surprised, you don't let it read on your face. slowly he slips it off - placing it on the desk and then intertwining his fingers with yours.

"i don't know what i'm doing - or how to do it right - so can you teach me?"

he's only holding your hand, but you see in his shaking voice what he's really asking. you know me better than anyone else, so you can show me what to do to feel good.

you bring your free hand up to your mouth, pulling the glove off with your teeth and making joshua's breath hitch in his throat.

"if that's what you'd like me to do, then of course i will teach you."

when you kiss him, joshua nearly forgets his name, let alone the fact that the door hasn't been locked and the rain outside is getting louder and thunder rumbles through the crevices of the halls.

he lets your hand go, only to bring them up to your face, holding you delicately in contrast to the way you're prying open his lips with your tongue. he moans out loud for possibly the first time in his life.

and you know i WILL beam him. let's go pirate!juyeon....

juyeon is pretty sure he starts bleeding again, and yet you don't seem to notice or care. the taste of iron doesn't deter you either, you kiss him like you always do. like you want to consume him whole - suffocate him with your desire.

he'd been gone for a while, so that's probably why. and when he'd stumbled back onto the ship - doctor jacob immediately having changmin and eric carry him into the quarters for treatment - you had looked terrified.

"someone got him right below his left lung, he's lucky he's alive."

for a straight week you, and the rest of the crew, hadn't been allowed into the room. except for the doctor and changmin who was helping attend. you had nearly broken the door, cutting into the wood at one point - demanding to see him, shouting "what i'm just supposed to wait out here while he suffers in there alone?!?"

finally, you had been allowed to visit. it was supposed to be ten minutes tops and you were expected to sit at his bedside, hold his hand, say a prayer to the sea and then let him rest. your captain, sangyeon, had even made you promise.

but you're you and juyeon loves that about you. so he doesn't protest when you come at him hungry, needy, and a little mad.

"you scared me. you're going to make up for that." you whisper against his mouth and he puts his hands on the back of your thighs as you try to get comfortable on top of him.

"of course, i'm sorry. what can i do?"

for a pirate, he is so damn sweet to you. so pliable and willing. always looking at you with those dark, beautiful eyes and waiting to hear you out. you've only ever seen him harden at other pirates. he gets serious when he fights, but with you - he's just so.......complicate.

"you know." you nip at his neck and down to his shoulder, hands on the sheets below, to avoid his bandaged waist.

"oh, well then you're going to have to come up here."

your neck burns a little, because juyeon takes your hand up to his mouth - motioning that you're going to have to find purchase on the wall behind the bed if you want to steady yourself over him.

for a second you look at the wound, the scratchy material wrapped around his gorgeous tanned torso and think - i'm being selfish.

"actually, you can - we can do that later."

juyeon shakes his head. he helps you closer, inching his back down so he can rest his head flat on the pillow and you have enough room to put your knees near his ears. "no, not later. i need to apologize right now - don't i?"

the question isn't really a question. and you can't help yourself, looking down at him - pretty mouth willing and waiting - big hands supporting you where you need the help.

"they said i only have ten minutes."