word count: 1600. Tags: soft, fluff, comforting, stargazing, romantic

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Nicholas dropped his keys into the bowl by the door, the faint clink echoing louder than it should have in the quiet apartment.

“Juju?” he called out, shrugging off his jacket.

No answer.

That wasn’t unusual on its own—but the silence felt… off. Too still. The lights were on, his shoes were by the rack, his bag was on the chair. Everything said Euijoo should be here.

Nicholas walked further inside, brows knitting slightly. “Euijoo?”

Nothing.

A flicker of unease crept up his spine. He checked the kitchen—empty. The living room—no sign of him. The bathroom door was open, lights off. His chest tightened, thoughts starting to spiral faster than he could control.

Did something happen? Did he go out? Why didn’t he text?

“Nichol, relax,” he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair—but his feet were already moving faster, checking every corner like he might’ve missed something.

Then he saw it.

A small folded piece of paper on the bedside table.

Nicholas froze for half a second before grabbing it quickly, fingers slightly trembling as he unfolded it.

“On the terrace.”

His grip on the paper tightened slightly.

It wasn’t just today.

He had noticed it—over the past few days, maybe even longer if he was being honest. Euijoo had been quieter. Not in an obvious way, not enough for anyone else to point it out. But Nicholas knew him too well for it to slip past.

The pauses that lasted a second too long. The smiles that didn’t quite reach his eyes. The way he’d brush things off with a soft “I’m fine” before changing the subject.

Euijoo was the type to tuck everything away neatly, like his feelings didn’t deserve space. He never said when something was wrong.

And Nicholas… wasn’t the type to push.

Not directly, anyway.

So instead, he paid attention. Stayed a little closer. Let his presence say the things he didn’t know how to ask.

Back in the present, Nicholas glanced toward the terrace door, then instinctively toward the window.

It was cold.

The kind of cold that settled into your skin if you stayed out too long.

His brows furrowed slightly. “He’s going to freeze out there…” he muttered under his breath.

He knew he should probably just go out, call him in, act normal.

But something in his chest told him this wasn’t one of those moments.

Maybe Euijoo needed space.

Maybe he didn’t.

Nicholas didn’t let the thought sit long enough to turn into hesitation.

He moved.

Grabbing a hoodie from the chair, he pulled it on quickly, then reached for another one—Euijoo’s—and draped it over his arm. He paused for a second before grabbing a pair of earphones, just in case silence felt too heavy. Then, almost as an afterthought, he picked up a couple of snacks from the kitchen counter.

Small things.

Easy things.

Things that said I’m here without making it a question.

Taking a quiet breath, Nicholas headed toward the terrace.

Nicholas slowly pushed the terrace door open, careful with the movement.

The cool air slipped in immediately, brushing against his face—but his eyes were already on Euijoo.

He was sitting on the bench near the railing, shoulders slightly hunched, gaze fixed somewhere far beyond the city lights. The sky stretched above him, quiet and endless, but Euijoo didn’t seem to really be looking at it.

He was somewhere else.

Still. Breathing slow. Present, but not really there.

Nicholas paused for just a moment, taking that in.

Then he stepped forward and set the things down—not too quietly, not too loud. Just enough.

Enough so Euijoo wouldn’t get startled.

The soft sound did its job.

Euijoo blinked, like he was being gently pulled back, and turned his head.

“Nichol?” he asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Nicholas softened instantly at that. “Yeah, baby. It’s me,” he said, already walking over.

He sat down beside him, close—but not crowding.

“It’s really freezing out here,” Nicholas added, holding out the hoodie. “Thought you’d need this.”

Euijoo rubbed his hands together, like he was only just noticing the cold now. “Yeah… right,” he murmured, a small, almost sheepish breath leaving him. “It actually is. I didn’t realise.”

He took the hoodie from Nicholas, fingers brushing lightly against his.

“Thanks, Nichol.”

Nicholas shifted slightly, then lifted the hoodie.

Euijoo started to take it, but Nicholas was already moving closer. “Wait,” he murmured softly.

Not that Euijoo couldn’t do it himself—but Nicholas wanted to.

Carefully, he helped him slip his arms through the sleeves, tugging it into place and adjusting the hood lightly at the back. His touch lingered for just a second longer than necessary before he pulled away.

They settled back onto the bench.

Silence followed.

Not uncomfortable. Not quite heavy. Just… there.

Nicholas stared ahead, mind running faster than he wanted it to. He wanted to say something—something like I’m here, you can talk to me. But the words stayed stuck somewhere in his chest.

What if it was too much?

What if Euijoo didn’t want to talk?

He didn’t want to push.

So instead, his feelings slipped out the only way they could—through small, restless movements. His fingers fidgeted in his lap, rubbing against each other, picking at nothing. A habit. One he couldn’t quite control when his thoughts got too loud.

Euijoo noticed.

“Nichol,” he called softly.

Nicholas turned almost immediately, a little too quick. “Yess??”

Euijoo looked at him for a moment, something gentle in his expression.

“I’m fine. Really,” he said quietly. “It’s just… one of those days where nothing feels right.” He paused briefly, then added, softer, “And no, it’s not about you. We are fine. It’s just me, so don’t overthink, okay?”

Nicholas let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

A small smile formed—relief settling in, but not completely easing the worry underneath.

“Okay,” he murmured.

He shifted a little closer, closing the small gap between them, and gently linked his arm with Euijoo’s. His palm rested against his forearm, thumb moving in slow, soothing circles.

“I’m here, okay?” Nicholas murmured softly. “Even if it’s one of those days… you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. You don’t have to sit through it alone—I’m right here with you. I’ve got you.”

“I know… thank you,” Euijoo said softly, intertwining their fingers.

Nicholas tightened his hold instinctively, like he didn’t want to let go. With his other hand, he gently wrapped it around Euijoo’s, enclosing it completely—almost like he was holding it in a quiet hug.

They stayed like that.

No words, just the quiet night around them, the soft sound of the wind, and the steady warmth between their hands. The silence wasn’t heavy anymore—it felt… safe.

After a while, Nicholas shifted slightly.

“Do you… want to listen to music?” he asked, voice gentle. “I brought earphones.”

Euijoo looked at him, a small smile forming, and nodded.

“Can we… lie down?” he added quietly. “And listen like that?”

Nicholas blinked, a little surprised—but he didn’t hesitate for long. “Yeah. Of course.”

They moved carefully, settling down side by side on the terrace floor. The cold seeped through a little, but Nicholas was already grateful he’d brought the hoodie.

He reached over, placing one earphone in Euijoo’s ear, then the other in his own. With a few taps, he started their shared playlist—the one filled with songs that meant something only to them.

Their hands found each other again, fingers slipping together like it was second nature.

The wind brushed past them softly, not too harsh—just enough to remind them they were outside.

Above them, the sky stretched wide.

Clearer than usual.

“The sky… has more stars than usual, right?” Euijoo said quietly.

Nicholas let out a small breath, eyes still fixed above. “Maybe it’s because they knew you and I would be looking at them tonight.”

He paused, then let out a quiet laugh. “That sounded so lame.”

Euijoo laughed softly beside him.

And just like that, Nicholas felt his chest tighten—not in a bad way, but in that familiar, fleeting warmth that always caught him off guard.

“Maybe,” Euijoo said.

Nicholas hummed softly in response, not pushing the thought further, just letting it exist between them like another quiet star above.

The playlist kept playing—familiar songs weaving through the cool night air. Every now and then, Nicholas would lightly trace small circles over Euijoo’s knuckles, absent-minded but steady, like he was grounding himself there just as much as Euijoo.

Euijoo shifted slightly, settling more comfortably against the ground. The cold was still there, but it didn’t feel as sharp anymore. Not with Nicholas beside him. Not with his hand still held so firmly, so naturally, like letting go was never even an option.

A few minutes passed in silence.

Not empty this time—just calm.

Euijoo exhaled slowly, eyes still on the sky.

He didn’t say much more. He didn’t need to.

For once, his thoughts didn’t feel like they were spilling over the edges of his mind. They were still there, but quieter. Manageable.

And that was enough.

Nicholas turned his head slightly, glancing at him for a moment before looking back up at the stars again. He didn’t ask anything. Didn’t try to fill the silence.

He just stayed.

Euijoo felt it then—the difference.

Not in anything dramatic. Not in a sudden change.

Just in the fact that he wasn’t alone inside his own head anymore.

And somehow, that made everything feel a little less heavy.

A little more okay.

Beside him, Nicholas squeezed his hand once—gentle, grounding.

And Euijoo didn’t tighten his grip out of fear this time.

He held on because he wanted to.

https://x.com/i/status/2005624409021931528

sfw link

IVE SEEN THIS BEFORE BUT OH MY GOD YESSSSS

I love when i can just get inspired by another artist and just apply it on my own art

⌕ atos singelos derretem corações apaixonados

⚠ em caso de inspiração, me credite.

capa adotada por solnoo – “BOY CRUSH”

so just spam me with ideas!! on this post or in my inbox. idc if you’re anonymous.

what do you all want to read? what are yall dying to know in the next part? who do you want to see more of? sfw? nsfw? pure smut? pure lore? 50/50? more smut but some lore? more lore but some smut?

like yes i know some are dying for nicojoo but it’s hard to just jump into it without knowing how the story is going & what leads you to them three 😳😭😭

featuring my new favorite reaction pics