↱TOUCH↲ ⇾seongjoong⇽

스물

Shock rippled through Hongjoong like a wave, tying his tongue and leaving him speechless as Seonghwa's whole body was wracked with sobs.

For a moment, he was frozen – could only watch as Seonghwa cried – but then Hongjoong let his hand slide down from Seonghwa's jaw, moving to cup the side of his neck instead and gently pulled him forward.

Seonghwa collapsed into his arms.

As though he didn't have the strength to hold himself up anymore.

Soft, quiet murmurs of wordless comfort fell from his mouth, whispered into Seonghwa's soft hair as he hid his face against Hongjoong's neck.

His hands, which before had been covering his face, fisted tightly in Hongjoong's shirt.

"It's okay, Hwa," he breathed, a gentle ache settling inside his chest.

"It's okay, you're okay."

He could feel the way Seonghwa was shaking, feel the wet slide of his tears against his neck.

Hongjoong shifted slightly so that Seonghwa could lie more comfortably on his chest as he held him tightly.

The material of Seonghwa's jacket – well, Hongjoong's jacket – had bunched uncomfortably under his arms, but Seonghwa didn't seem to have noticed.

He just pressed himself closer to Hongjoong, trembling under the weight of his tears.

Eventually, Hongjoong freed his left hand so that he could run his fingers through Seonghwa's hair.

By that point, Seonghwa's crying had eased slightly – Hongjoong could only hear his hitched breathing, and the occasional sniffle.

Seonghwa's head was resting on his shoulder, face still hidden, but Hongjoong could feel the cold slope of his nose pressed against his neck.

But the rest of Seonghwa's body, pressed against him from neck to thigh, was a warm and welcome weight.

His bright pink hair was soft and smooth, tangling unhappily around Hongjoong's fingers on each soothing stroke.

Once, he paused to run his thumb over the smooth shell of Seonghwa's ear, carefully avoiding his piercings, and felt the tension in his body slightly unwind.

Hongjoong did it again, gently.

When Seonghwa finally spoke, his voice was rough – scratched raw by his heaving sobs.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, and Hongjoong felt the words as a huff of air beneath his chin.

He hummed, playing with a strand of Seonghwa's hair.

"You don't have anything to apologize for."

Seonghwa absorbed that without saying anything, his breathing still unsteady.

He was quiet for a long time, until Hongjoong thought he might have fallen asleep, but then he shifted slightly on top of Hongjoong and released his hand from the soft material of his shirt.