𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 jaeyong

9: lights out

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After closing their apartment door and chucking his keys in their usual spot, Jaehyun felt his phone vibrate through his pocket. It was a message from Johnny, saying he was still with Chittaphon and asking if Jaehyun was alright.

The boy messaged back that he was fine and that Taeyong was with him, so Johnny could stay with Chittaphon. He then placed his phone on the kitchen bench and turned to stare at Taeyong, who was standing idly by the couch, staring off into space.

It was only then that Jaehyun truly took in his outfit in all its glory - the way the fishnets that showed through the rips in his jeans accentuated his legs perfectly.

He found himself wishing that Taeyong had left just one or two more buttons on that blouse undone. He soon snapped out of his daze after realizing that Taeyong also had small cuts and scratches.

All over him.

He rushed over to him, startling the other a little as he took his hands and started examining them for injuries.

"What the hell happened to you? Did you do this to yourself? Did I cause this? Oh my god please tell me you didn't-"

Jaehyun rambled worriedly as he scanned over Taeyong's arms and chest; trying not to linger too long over any part in particular as he hung his head in shame. But Taeyong was quick to cut him off before he could come to any conclusions about the various little injuries.

"No no! I promise, it was just an accident! A few people knocked me around when I was making my way over to the bar, you know some people wear really long acrylics. Even with the added height these boots gave me, it wasn't quite enough to make me bulletproof. But I'm fine Jae, I promise."

But Jaehyun wasn't convinced, especially not after he accidentally brushed his shoulder against Taeyong's and the latter winced. The boy tried to smile at him hopefully, but even Jaehyun wasn't that thick.

"Nice try, but I don't buy it for a second. Bathroom, now."

Taking his best friend's hand softly into his own, Jaehyun led hin to their shared bathroom, instructing him to sit up on the bench as he rummaged through the cupboards, looking for the first aid kit.

After a celebratory little clap, he pulled it out from underneath the sink, immediately searching for gauze, bandaids and various ointments.

"Seriously Jae, I'll be fine. You really don't have to- OW, WHAT THE FUCK JAEHYUN!"

Jaehyun, who was carefully removing Taeyong's shirt, had lightly ghosted his hand over his shoulder as a test - and sure enough, it proved everything he needed to know.

Damn Taeyong and his infinite stubbornness.

After successfully removing the blouse, Jaehyun suddenly lost the ability to think straight - literally.

He didn't even realise he was staring until Taeyong cleared his throat hesitantly, the latter a blushing mess while Jaehyun smirked softly.

"Just let me do what I have to do, okay? It will hurt less if you stop resisting. Seriously, relax it's just me."

Pouting a little, Taeyong continued to wince and whine every time Jaehyun treated a different cut, though they were all rather small.

Taeyong was just... incredibly sensitive.

After a lot more complaining and a lot of blushing - mostly on Taeyong's end but even Jaehyun couldn't keep up his confident façade the whole time - Jaehyun was finally finished.

"About bloody time, I'm exhausted." Taeyong grumbled, his pout soon morphing into an undeniably flustered expression as he tripped over his own feet and almost landed on top of his best friend, who was putting the first aid kit back under the sink.

Taeyong decided to act like nothing had happened, and so the two did their nightly routines and got into their respective beds.

It wasn't long before Taeyong was out for the count. Jaehyun however, was still buzzing from their interaction in the bathroom earlier. He wasn't sure how long he lay there, thinking things over as he stared at the ceiling.

It must have been about halfway through the night before Jaehyun finally began to doze off. Yet Taeyong would not stop tossing and turning, becoming so restless that not only did he wake up, but Jaehyun did as well.

"Jae?" Taeyong whispered into the dark of their bedroom. "Did I wake you?"

"Yeah but it's okay, I haven't been able to fall asleep properly all night. What's wrong? You were tossing and turning heaps."

"Nothing, guess I'm just having trouble sleeping too." He replied sheepishly, still feeling guilty for interrupting Jaehyun's sleep.

"Taeyong?"

"Mm?"

"Come here. Don't protest, just do it. I know exactly what's wrong and I won't let you suffer because of your own stubbornness."

Even with the lights out, Jaehyun just knew that Taeyong was alternating between thinking, pouting and blushing - maybe even doing all three at once. He wished he could see it for himself, but he gathered enough from the tension that hung like a cloud above them.

That all evaporated though, as Taeyong sighed before he rose from his bed and wandered over to Jaehyun's, slipping under the sheets beside him as the latter automatically buried his face in Taeyong's neck, while his arms wrapped around his waist.

"Listen to me, Tae." he breathed tiredly, the action sending shivers down Taeyong's spine, yet comforting him all the same. "You're safe. You're home. I've got you and I'm not leaving you. I'll be right here, whenever you need me. Now sleep."

And as if the other had cast some sort of spell, Taeyong felt his eyelids become heavy and soon enough, he was back in the dreamlike state he had entered earlier in the night.

Jaehyun sighed contentedly, enjoying their small moment of skin-ship with every fibre of his being, knowing very well that when they woke up, he would have to put on the 'best friends' act again.

Because that's all they were - just friends.

But something inside of him continued to water the seedling that never really died. Because this scenario was so very similar to their first sleepover, when they were just innocent ten-year-olds.

Except this time, Jaehyun was the one holding Taeyong. And therefore Jaehyun was the one who needed to take the lead now.

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