Work Text:
The song finally ended.
Dae-jung heaved. His legs threatened to fold under him as he walked to the back of the room, pressing the off button on the large gray speaker. He swallowed hard, stumbling over to the large mirrored wall across the room and sliding down against it. He sat next to his backpack, closing his eyes and taking a long breath. The air in the room was cool and stagnant, a sharp contrast to the usual vivacious energy he was used to. It felt empty without music.
His eyelids felt heavy as he opened them. Stretching, he took his phone from one of the pockets of his bag, gripping it hard to anchor his shaking hands. He clicked it on, skimming over his notifications: his manager, his father… Ye-jun.
His thumb sat on the words on his screen. Ye-jun was wondering where he was, given he had been gone since sunrise. Dae-jung sighed, too exhausted to type a response.
There was a knock. "Hey, Dae?"
Dae-jung looked over to the doorway of the practice room, instantly recognizing the source of the voice he had heard: Byung-ho. He brushed his light blue hair off the rims of his glasses as he walked over.
Dae-jung scooted towards him as he joined him on the smooth wooden floor, shoving his phone in his pocket. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Byung-ho examined him. Dae-jung was dressed in athletic wear, sweating from head to toe. "Have you been in here all day?"
Dae-jung rubbed the back of his neck. "Mostly, yeah."
"We're supposed to be taking the day off."
Dae-jung felt like a child who had just been caught with his hand in a cookie jar. "I just wanted to get everything perfect."
"I don't know how much more perfect you'd like to be."
Dae-jung flushed, playfully pushing Byung-ho away. Byung-ho continued with a smile, "What I'm saying is our most precious member needs to rest."
"Thank you." Dae-jung let his shoulders fall. "I was going to leave soon, anyway. There's not much more I can do by myself."
"Ye-jun hasn't been with you?" Curiosity was painted on Byung-ho's face.
"Ah, not today, no. I wanted to be alone."
"Why?"
"Is that so surprising?"
"It's just that you two are just usually attached at the hip. It's odd seeing you without him."
"Really?" Dae-jung fidgeted with his hands, lifting his head to the ceiling. "I guess so. We've just known each other for so long…"
Byung-ho hummed. He leaned over to Dae-jung, wrapping an arm over him and nuzzling into his shoulder. Dae-jung reciprocated the touch, letting his head rest on his. They were accustomed to this kind of closeness by now. Byung-ho had always been physical with Dae-jung, even from when they first met. Dae-jung would never admit it, but it always made him feel safe. They stayed like that for a moment. Dae-jung could have fallen asleep.
Quiet, Byung-ho spoke, "Is it ever overbearing?"
"What do you mean?" Dae-jung had to process the question. His brows slowly knit together.
Byung-ho lifted himself up to look at Dae-jung. His features were serious, nothing like his typical bubbly personality. "Ye-jun."
That name carried weight. Realization hit him like ice water over the head. "Of course not."
"I see." Byung-ho adjusted his posture. "How about me? Am I overbearing?"
"I'd tell you if I was ever uncomfortable."
Byung-ho's mouth shyly curved upward. "Good. I'm glad."
Byung-ho returned to his place resting on Dae-jung's shoulder. Confused, Dae-jung cupped Byung-ho's face and forced him to look up. "Why are you asking me this all of a sudden?"
Byung-ho stared at Dae-jung, studying his features — searching for words. He didn't wear his contact lenses that day, letting his natural light brown eyes breath from beneath his lashes. The company wouldn't allow Dae-jung to drop the contacts, not until they changed concepts, at least. Truthfully, Byung-ho preferred his natural eye color, and he always let Dae-jung know that.
"Surely you know."
He did. Byung-ho felt it in the way his palms shifted on his jaw as soon as those words had slipped out of his mouth. All of the stolen looks, the subtle touches, the whispers spoken low so only he could hear… Dae-jung had noticed it all and had put no stop to it. It was likely it had been that way since they met, long before he had ever met Byung-ho. It was something you don't talk about with coworkers, which is exactly what he was.
He silently sucked in a breath, resigned.
Byung-ho glanced at Dae-jung's hands, fresh black nail polish lining his fingertips. He smirked. "Are you trying to kiss me?"
Dae-jung blinked. His mouth went agape as he jumped back so fast his skin could have been taken off his bones. He let go of Byung-ho, scooting backwards and bumping into the wall. He spoke so fast he almost choked: "I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry!"
Byung-ho reached after Dae-jung, chest full with hollow laughter. "I'm joking! Dae!"
"I'm leaving!" Dae-jung hastily turned away.
Byung-ho grabbed him from behind, pulling him into a hug. He whined, "I'm kidding—"
"I can't believe you." Dae-jung squirmed. "I thought you were being serious."
"I was serious!" He leaned to speak into his ear. "Can't I tease you a little bit?"
"No."
"Dae-dae…"
"Don't call me that."
They stayed chest-to-stomach. When Dae-jung finally wrapped his arms over his, Byung-ho released him. He reached for Dae-jung's backpack, lifting it and offering it to the shorter man. Dae-jung took it, keeping his head down. He asked, "What did you really come here for?"
"I just wanted to look after you."
Dae-jung's gazed softened. "I can handle myself."
"I don't doubt that." Byung-ho ruffled Dae-jung's hair, blue locks curling around his fingers. "But if he ever breaks your heart, just call me, alright?"
"Byung…" Dae-jung went red in the face. "It's not like that."
"Whatever you say."
The two walked out of the studio, Dae-jung having found a burst of energy after their conversation. He talked about what songs he had gone over, what he had perfect, where he struggled. At his side, Byung-ho offered his best advice and encouragement. They'd go back to the dorm and meet with the others, the quartet reuniting. And at night, when they'd all return to their rooms, Ye-jun and Dae-jung would sneak off together.
And as they shut the door to Dae-jung's room, Byung-ho would watch from far behind, never able to help himself from letting his eyes linger at their loosely intertwined hands.