NCT Oneshots {ot23} | open

Talk To Me: Jaehyun + 127

▹prompt: idk I just felt like writing soft, cuddly Jaehyun so enjoy <3
▹word count: 5856
▹genre: hurt/comfort, fluff
▹warnings: n/a

ˑ༄ؘ ۪۪۫۫ ▹❀◃ ۪۪۫۫ ༄ؘ ˑ

"Hyung?"

Doyoung glances up from his painting by numbers with a small hum and smiles at the sight of Jaehyun curled up on the sofa in his oversized pyjamas and fluffy slippers. The younger pulls his knees tighter to his chest, focussed on the movie, but his round glasses accentuate the way his eyes seem to quiver as he worries his teeth over his bottom lip, so many words hanging off the tip of his tongue. Doyoung drops his paintbrush into the glass of murky water.

"What's up?" He asks, voice adopting the welcoming tone he uses when talking to the younger members. Jaehyun shakes his head with a short whine.

"Nothing, hyung." Jaehyun scrunches his nose to shift his glasses back up and draws mindless circles into the red fabric of his pyjama bottoms.

Doyoung knows there is in fact something on his mind.

"You can tell me." He reminds Jaehyun, who only continues to avoid his gaze, fingers now digging into his knees until his knuckles turn white.

"It's stupid. Forget I ever said anything." Jaehyun mumbles in a voice that's somehow small and timid, despite being so baritone.

"Hey. It's not stupid if it's worrying you. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I'm here if you decide you do want to talk." Doyoung picks his brush up and wipes it with a tissue before returning to his painting, filling in all the tiny segments printed with the number eight.

The movie is the only thing to be heard in the living room. The other 127 members all headed out for dinner, but Jaehyun turned down the offer, claiming to want to rest instead, and Doyoung's concern grew enough for him to insist to stay back and keep him company. He hasn't missed the way Jaehyun's been quieter recently. His playful side has only been appearing during filming, and even then it's for a few short minutes before he seems drained again, clearly retreating back into his thoughts.

Jaehyun has never been one to speak his mind, but Doyoung hopes he'll open up tonight.

Doyoung continues painting. He sneaks occasional glances at the younger. Jaehyun is still hugging his knees to his chest, looking soft in his grey t-shirt, but there's an aura of discomfort surrounding him. The elder is just about to pack away to give him some space when Jaehyun speaks up again.

"Do you like me?"

The words are so quiet that Doyoung swears he misheard them, until he turns to face Jaehyun again and notes the paleness of his face, the downturn of his lips, the bags under his eyes, and realises that he did in fact say what he thought he did.

"Of course I like you, Jae." Doyoung murmurs as he puts the brush back down and moves to join Jaehyun on the sofa. The younger flinches away but Doyoung ignores it, eyebrows sunken in concern. "What makes you think that I don't?"

Jaehyun shakes his head, but it's panicked as though he's about to burst into tears. He hugs his knees even tighter and stares at the tv. Doyoung reaches out a hand to rub at the back of his knuckles, the contact visibly loosening Jaehyun's fingers so they're not sore after gripping his pyjamas so hard.

"I..." Jaehyun trails off before he gets any further. Doyoung keeps his hand resting on his, and Jaehyun uses his other to wipe his eyes under his glasses. When the elder hums for him to continue, Jaehyun takes a shaky breath. "I guess I feel like... like I'm not lovable. I'm not worthy of being loved."