Conversations; All In Blue

Six

T/W: there is a description of a panic attack so please if this is triggering for you skip past the whole beach scene after what I like to call the 'chocolate cake storm'

Merry Christmas to all of you and to Wonhui who blessed us with some beautiful selcas.
Chapter Text

"the food smells delicious," Wonwoo said as he put the cat carrier down in the corner of the living room. It was warm and welcoming, the fire blazing and popping softly, warm tones of lighting casting gentle shadows around on the walls.

"I'm just learning to cook," Junhui replied. He was suddenly so nervous. What was he doing? How could he have this man in his home, albeit temporary, and hide any of who he really was from him. He had so much baggage to unpack but he really needed to do it. He needed to get it all out in the open.

Luckily, Wonwoo was right there with him, beside him at every step.

"I don't have any wine," Junhui broached the subject carefully, tentative in his first awkward steps.

"I don't drink," Wonwoo stared at him in the middle of the kitchen. "Ever?" Junhui was a little shocked. He'd never met a man that didn't at least enjoy a few beers on the odd occasion. "Never. I had a bad experience when I was younger and I haven't touched it since."

"A bad experience?" Junhui was curious. His whole life was just a series of bad experiences and he led Wonwoo to the table and indicated for him to sit. He opened a bottle of coke and filled a glass with ice and Wonwoo nodded enthusiastically at the offer of the soft drink.

"I had a friend a long time ago. A best friend."

He took the glass Junhui put down in front of him and sipped at the cold drink. Junhui watched his Adams apple, large and prominent, bounce as he swallowed the drink and wiped his mouth with his hand.

Junhui sat across from him and waited for him to continue. He was learning that getting to know Wonwoo was a lesson in patience but a rewarding one. He was learning so much just sitting and watching and waiting.

"I fell in love with him. I didn't even know it, what love was or what it meant, or why.... Why him? Why not one of the girls that used to follow me around at school. Why did it have to be him?"

Junhui sat in silence as he waited and wondered. Wondered what went wrong, how long ago was a long time ago, who was this man? It couldn't be Mingyu, they were still best friends, but obviously this was a part of why the man was so protective of his best friend. Wonwoo had been hurt.

"He always made me feel.... More? Does that make sense? More than friendship. He was always so touchy, so...." Junhui nodded. He knew how it felt to be on the end of someone's intense affection to the exclusion of all sense and sensibility. He knew people like that, people too friendly for their own good, he knew how casual affection could be misconstrued.