#crytalstellar

“Saeyoung…” she sighed.

“I know I know, I said I’d clean it up today, but I’m almost done!  Give me another half hour and then I’ll get to it.

“Where have I heard that before?”  Ji-ae grumbled under her breath.  “You know what, forget it, I’ll take care of it myself.”  With that she scooped up the haphazard tower of dishes in her arms and turned on her heel, walking briskly out of Saeyoung’s work room.

Moments later he was out of his chair and scurrying after her, wastebasket in hand.  He stopped at the garage to empty the trash before making his way to the kitchen where the angry sound of of clinking dishes and running water could be heard.  Ji-ae was scrubbing furiously at one of the plates, muttering to herself.

Saeyoung paused in the door, his eyes settling on the pile of work she’d abandoned on the table to clean up after him, no doubt also planning on throwing dinner together for the two of them afterward and he felt guilt gnaw at him.  With a sigh he approached Ji-ae, rolling up his sleeves to help.  She glanced at him as he started drying dishes but didn’t speak, her shoulders set stubbornly as they worked together in silence.  Saeyoung kept stealing glances at her, trying to decide what to say by way of apology but each time he opened his mouth to speak he’d shake his head and shut his mouth with a click.

Finally finished, Ji-ae drained the sink and reached for the towel to dry her hands, but Saeyoung was faster.  Snatching the towel before her he caught her hand in the fluffy dry fabric, rubbing it for her.  While he had her in his grasp he fixed her with an apologetic stare and Ji-ae had to brace herself, her pulse jumping.

“Ji-ae, honey.  I’m sorry I didn’t take care of my mess earlier.  I’m…” he hesitated, frowning.  He was about to say he was so used to having Vanderwood take care of the house that he’d forgotten how, but that was stupid.  “I… really don’t have an excuse.”

Ji-ae bit her lip, her eyes flitting away from his sincere gaze.  “I know you have the tendency to get caught up in your work,” she said in a soft voice, “and I love that about you.  I do,” she insisted.  “It’s just… frustrating sometimes,” she growled, pulling her hand and the towel from his grasp, quickly wiping her other hand before thrusting the damp towel back at Saeyoung.  He watched her, stunned as she strode to the cupboard and yanked it open to rummage through its contents.  

She had to rise up on her tiptoes to see inside and Saeyoung had to bite back a sudden grin.  He had seen her expression soften momentarily when he apologized and he knew what that meant.  Ji-ae could never stay mad at him for long, but she was trying to cover that fact now, and Saeyoung found it incredibly cute.

Stepping up behind her as she reached above her head he took the opportunity to snake his arms around her waist and press a kiss to the back of her neck, smirking against her skin as he felt her shiver.  

“Can you forgive your foolish husband?” he asked, his voice muffled.  Ji-ae froze in Saeyoung’s embrace, every muscle in her body wanting desperately to give in and hold him while her brain screamed at her to stay strong.  “I should have cleaned up after myself before you even asked,” he murmured into her hair, squeezing her tighter.  When she hesitated he continued.  “Ji-ae are you still mad at me?”

With an exasperated huff she finally spun in his arms to face him.

“You know I can’t stay angry at you for long!”  She snapped, and Saeyoung grinned as she poked him in the side.

“Lucky me,” he murmured, squirming away from her finger while at the same time leaning in towards her face.

“Yeah, lucky seven-zero-seven,” she grumbled back, but didn’t pull away.

“Please let me make it up to you?” he asked.

“How?”  Ji-ae’s voice was skeptical, but she eyed her husband with longing.

Saeyoung pressed his lips to hers and kissed her tenderly, stealing her breath away.  “Let’s get something delivered… and eat it in bed.”

Wrapping her arms around his neck Ji-ae gave in and let herself smile.  “I won’t argue with that.”