NCT Oneshots {ot23} | open

Bad Day: Jungwoo + Y/N {Request}

▹request acc: nxghtlmp
▹prompt: jungwoo has a bad day and y/n takes care of him
▹word count: 1704
▹warnings: n/a

ˑ༄ؘ ۪۪۫۫ ▹❀◃ ۪۪۫۫ ༄ؘ ˑ

Jungwoo was supposed to arrive home an hour ago. You check the clock on the kitchen wall again, then your eyes shift nervously around the room. Your phone remains silent, no new messages from your boyfriend, and the silence is static, far too loud even though you're the only one in the apartment. I'll just give it five more minutes, you think.

Those five minutes turn into ten.

And you're just about to reach for your phone to send for a search party when luck seems to be on your side, because the front door swings open.

"Y/N? I'm home." Jungwoo calls out through the hallway. Your spring up from your seat to greet him, letting out a sigh of relief.

But you hesitate at the sight of his unkempt hair, red eyes, and his downturned lips and slumped shoulders. He looks nothing like the usual, chirpy Jungwoo.

"Woo, baby?" You call out his name in a soft voice and your heart shatters when he croaks out a small response, a non-descript noise that tells you that he's in pain. "What's the matter?"

Jungwoo shrugs his coat off. His blond hair doesn't bounce in its usual animated way as he moves to slip off his shoes and inspect his face in the mirror. The light hanging in the hallway doesn't do his exhausted eyes any favours, and you watch him rub his hands over his cheeks, nibble on his lip. You softly prise his hands away and intertwine your fingers.

"Let's cuddle on the sofa. I'll get the blanket." Your suggestion manages to bring a smile onto Jungwoo's lips, if nothing else, and he trails after you.

He lets out a tiny grunt when he sinks into the sofa, eyes fluttering shut, then you give his hand a reassuring squeeze before rushing to grab the blanket. It always helps to soothe Jungwoo when things get bad, the baby blue fabric the softest you've ever felt.

"Thank you." Jungwoo whispers, voice scratchy from lack of energy, and he clings onto the edge of the blanket until his knuckles turn white.

You slide into the space next to him and Jungwoo covers you both with the blanket. When his head drops to rest on your chest, your wrap your arms around his shoulders to pull him closer, hearing how he breathes in your perfume and whimpers a little.

Despite how adorable it is, you can't help but frown with deep concern. It's been months since Jungwoo came home from work this late, and in this state, and you're desperate to get to the bottom of it. His body radiates warmth, yet all his muscles are tensed as he curls up tighter.

"Was it just a bad day?" You ask, then press a kiss to the top of his head. You rub circles into his back to attempt to release some of the tension from his frame. "Or did something else happen? You can tell me."

You continue to rub circles into his back, massaging him as best you can, and Jungwoo just shakes his head. You breathe out long and slow. There's always a bit of difficulty in trying to get your boyfriend to open up, to reassure him that there's no shame in struggling, or in asking for help. Jungwoo keeps his cheek resting against you so his hair tickles your chin, and you're content to just hold him for now. Even if he doesn't tell you everything tonight, you can at least find some reassurance in the fact that you've provided him comfort.

"Would you like some food?" You ask a few minutes later. The room is silent apart from your steady breathing, and you haven't missed the way Jungwoo struggles with an inhale here and there, the sound of his breaths catching in his throat encouraging you to squeeze him tighter.