Jisung could only describe what he was feeling as empty. His warm exterior dimmed to a cold, unstable interior as he closed the door to his room with a shaky breath. His knees sunk to the floor, feeling the decreasing temperature prick at him for his actions. His throat was completely dry, his eyes unrelenting without tears no matter how much he tried to let it out, crashing onto the floor with a heart that was wrecked with guilt.

“You’re nothing but a visual Hyunjin, face it already!” Han could distinctly remember the tense silence that followed, played back in his mind like a broken record that he desperately wanted to stop. The way Hyunjin’s eyes widened, covering up the pieces that were shattering beneath the scowl he had. He could even remember how a single tear fell from his eye after storming off, how Hyunjin didn’t even utter a word of response; he knew he had cut deep into a once healed wound. What he didn’t recall was what the fight was about, other than the fact he had completely torn his hyung’s heart into pieces.

“Ji? Open the door please.” The authoritative command from his leader rang shrill into his ears, a demand in tone but comforting to his pained body. Stumbling for the door, he swung it open lazily, refusing to meet eyes with the older. However, Chan was having none of it, pulling him back by his shoulders and forcing Jisung to meet his gaze. Eyes that were strict, disappointed and worried all at the same time struck through him, instantly bringing tears to his eyes. It felt wrong to cry, did it not? He had caused the damage, yet the waterworks were starting up for him, what about Hyunjin?

“You know what you’ve done, right? How badly you’ve hurt Hyunjin?” Chan whispered, not wanting to worsen the situation than it already has. Every second that passed cut deeper into Jisung’s already sunken heart, imagining what Hyunjin was doing. He couldn’t help but cry, couldn’t help but let himself feel the wrong that weighed heavy on his shoulders. The older pulled him into a comforting embrace, he can’t stand to see them all so upset. Cradling a hand through the younger’s hair, he felt his shirt stained with tears as broken sobs rang throughout the room, a trembling Han clinging onto him for dear life.

“I-I’m sorry…so sorry…” The ace repeated himself shakily, despite knowing that Chan wasn’t the person he should be apologising to. Rubbing soothing circles onto the younger’s back, the leader tried his very best to calm the roaring cries that came from the ace, all to no avail as his breakdown only came back stronger; thinking that Hyunjin was left all alone without comfort. The older could barely even move Jisung an inch off his shoulder, pathetic cries that rang throughout the room echoed loudly.

“If you wanna apologise, I could bring you to Hyunjin’s room…” Chan had never seen Han’s eyes light up so fast, instantly lifting his head from Chris’s now soaked shoulder. An eager nod came from the younger, glistening and pleading eyes that no one could ever resist following behind.

And that was how he ended up at Hyunjin’s front door to his room.

“H-Hyung?” Jisung’s voice echoed through the seemingly empty room of the artist that once resided, now dark and gloomy without a splash of colour in sight. The blinds were pulled down completely, making Han frown in the obvious poor state his room was in. Just then, he heard the sheets of the bed loudly ruffling, a shadowy figure of a ferret in plain sight.

“What, I know what I am, you going to rub in some more?” Hyunjin hissed from the bed, even from afar the younger could feel the daggers that stabbed into his heart from the glare he was sent. It pained his heart that throbbed when Hyunjin clearly thought that Jisung was here to rub salt into his open wound, but he couldn’t say there was wrong in what he thought; that made it hurt even more than it should’ve, didn’t it? A lump in Han’s throat formed as he contemplated what to do, he didn’t want to risk scaring Hyunjin away or making him aggressive, his heart sank in guilt in the quiet aircon that fulfilled his shameful expression in the darkness.

“Please, can we talk?” If he was allowed to, he’d go right on his hands and knees onto burning coal if it meant he would be given the chance to speak, feeling tears already welling back into his eyes; curse his stupid emotions tugging at his heartstrings, he felt so pathetic. Under Hyunjin’s gaze he was small, nothing but his prey and he knew that, the towering height difference noticeable as the older inhaled deeply, the fresh scent of his paints intoxicating him with its fumes. It was a battle between heaven and its oceans, a storming rage within the waves that the ones above couldn’t soothe, and he knew it well. However, the waves crashed calmly into the ocean, seeing the heaven’s frail wings that failed to flutter, inviting Jisung to sit next to him on the bed.

“Spit it out quickly if it’s something to insult me.” Hyunjin sighed, dropping his head into his elbows in defeat, knowing that he couldn’t resist the quokka’s charm. Jisung couldn’t believe what he was hearing from the artist, the fact that his first impression was thinking that he had come back just to pour more gasoline into the fire made his heart sting, but he knew he couldn’t blame the older, remembering their history. With tears once again falling from his face like a never ending waterfall, he pulled the ferret in for what felt like the tightest hug he ever gave, apologies tumbling from his mouth faster than the older could comprehend.

Hyunjin’s eyes widened, not expecting the sudden action as his hands froze in place, so did his entire body. He knew that Jisung’s lachrymose tears were dripping in guilt, but yet he couldn’t bring himself to say anything, his throat had run dry for words. Eventually as he swallowed his grudge, he pulled the younger in for a hug silently, his eyes brimming with tears as well as he embraced his own fear. It felt wrong, their puerile silence that lingered instead of talking things out, but it felt better than anything else. The seas had calmed their waves, now becoming calm tides that brushed against the shore gently as their pounding hearts came to a slow.

“Please, can I do something to make it up to you?” A breathless whisper caressed Hyunjin’s ear, desperate for forgiveness as he was, the older felt himself sigh at Jisung’s plan. He knew that Han’s ways of comfort were so fatuous it was rare he ever agreed, but seeing the puppy eyes he was being flashed with he couldn’t help but agree. Like a child who had gotten the present they wanted for Christmas, Jisung’s smile popped right back up, glistening eyes crinkling as he set his plan into action at last.

Now laying on his back against the cool sheets of his bed, he felt his arms being pulled up gently by the younger, tied against the bed frame with a leftover sweater that he was using to wipe his tears; too upset previously to even go outside to grab any tissue. Although the process was quite simple, the older felt himself being pestered with questions of concern from the younger every few seconds, puffed cheeks that were trying to ensure that Hyunjin was comfortable with everything; it was cute as much as annoying at times.

“What are we doing- HEHEY!” The ferret tried to question before fingers were rapidly squeezing his sides, blanking his thoughts out with a harsh crash as he squealed. The quokka immediately retracted his hands, a shy smile peeking upward at him as if he was innocent, earning a glare in his direction. Hesitantly, Jisung placed his trembling hands back onto Hyunjin’s sides, looking at him tentatively as his eyes sparkled under the dim lighting. With a lump in his throat, he knew what was happening, falling under the rapper’s charm was nothing new to him, nodding his head slowly in giving permission to proceed.

“You’re more than just a visual. And I’ll show it to you.” Hands slipped under his tank top onto his bare stomach, the ferret squeaking as nails scribbled and scratched the surface gently. Sweet giggles began to pour out from his mouth like a melody that soothed the younger’s ears, keeping up with the delicate touch as he leaned down to coo at the reddening cheeks he saw on the taller.

“Aren’t you just so cute? You see these muscles, hard work from all the dancing you do yea?” Jisung mumbled, squeezing his sides once harshly to earn a sharp shriek from Hyunjin before travelling to his ribs, tapping at the bones teasingly. The ferret giggled in giddy anticipation, shaking his head in a fruitless attempt to stop Jisung from his determination to tickle the older into pieces.

“Ji plehehease don’t! I-I’m behehegging- AHAHAH!” Hyunjin tried his very best to persuade Han not to go to town on his very hypersensitive body, even throwing in a nickname to sweeten the deal. But it was all in vain, narrowing eyes locking onto him like a target before fingers dug into his ribs aggressively, pressing into the flesh between the bones as they went up and down like an accordion. A shrill shriek was let out into the artist’s room before he bursted into high pitched laughter, digging his heels into the bed as he begged for release.

“Look at that laugh! It’s so precious, don’t ya think~? How about we give those vocals some more appreciation!” Jisung exclaimed enthusiastically, earning quite the objection from under him. Deep down, the younger couldn’t help but still feel the weight of his guilt pulling him down at the look of the older’s smiley expression, one that he himself had previously ruined. And now he was definitely going to put it back together.

“ARGHAHAHA! NOHO NO NO! JISUNG PLEHEHEASE!” The taller begged hopelessly, practically screaming his lungs out when the moment his eyes managed to get a peek through his boisterous laughter was met with the sight of Jisung’s head lowering towards his stomach. He twisted, pulled at the sweater, kicked out his legs on his plush bed, nothing worked to avoid the pair of soft lips that were about to descend onto his poor stomach. The shorter simply shot him a cheeky smile, diving his head under Hyunjin’s shirt before simply placing his lips there. No action, no breathing, just…living there; it got a scream from the older regardless.

“P-Please! Sungie h-have mercy!” The ferret whimpered as the fingers too, came to a slow stop, settling for drumming a rhythm onto his bare sides gently, teasingly to rile his nerves up, cruel. Even if Han couldn’t see it, he could practically feel the nervous gaze that bore through his soul as his warm breath grazed the older’s stomach, waiting like a predator about to pounce onto their prey. The muscles under him twitched and quivered in anticipation, soft giggles spilling from Hyunjin, the anxiety in him was not at all repressible with the delicate touches on his smooth skin.

“Who’s the cutest dancer? Who has a great English accent?” Jisung cooed, nuzzling his head into Jinnie’s stomach like he would with a baby. The silky hair that brushed along his stomach along with the stiff stubble that Jisung was adamant on not shaving, due to recording schedules being held back for break along his waist was too much overwhelming, Hyunjin letting out the loudest squeal he could muster before hollering with cackles, shaking his head rapidly from the sensations that quickly spread throughout his body.

“NAHAHAHA! I CAHAHAN’T! I CAHA- EEHAHAHAHA!” Hyunjin babbled mindlessly through his booming hysterics, words barely coherent anymore with the laughter that didn’t fail to interrupt him. It didn’t help when pesky fingers came to his hips, grabbing the bones aggressively before kneading it like pizza dough, sending the older into another frenzy. He felt Jisung take in a short breath, still writhing from the fingers that were dipped into his hollows like glue.

“I said, who’s the cutest dancer with the cute english accent?” The quokka repeated sternly, blowing another long and buzzing raspberry onto Hyunjin’s belly, earning another scream. He slammed his back against the bed, squirmed as much as he could, almost feeling the sweater tear a string or two from the sheer strength he was pulling at.

“MEHEHEHE! P-PLEASE I CAHAHAN’T!” The taller shrieked, followed by lots of repetitions of the word ‘me’, tears of mirth welling up in his eyes fairly quicker than Jisung thought, mentally noting to tell the older to get a thicker shirt. With reddened cheeks that spread to his ears and neck, tears that stained the pillows and a sweater that was pleading to break, Han let up with a soft smile, watching the mess he’s created of the older.

“Ahaha..ehehe..s-so ticklish..” Hyunjin snickered breathlessly, unable to help but stammer as his arms twitched from being untied, falling to his sides like jelly. Pulling himself out of the older’s shirt, the quokka climbed onto the ferret for a warm cuddle, arms wrapping around his waist as his head struggled to snuggle into the taller’s shoulder, earning a warm chuckle. Feeling his cheeks die down of their cherry red colour, he turned to face the younger with a wide smile of gratitude, silently intertwining their fingers in an unshared moment of tranquillity. They both knew no words needed to be shared, insecurities and guilt lifting off their shoulders at last as their eyes closed for slumber.