↱FORBIDDEN COLORS↲ ⇾seongjoong⇽

pretend

Their final concert was in the big city itself, Tokyo, Japan.

Hongjoong was reluctant to say it went on without a hitch, strictly speaking from the simple notion that he didn't really remember much of it.

The final location in the five part series left him exhausted beyond what he could usually handle.

It didn't stop him from pressing on, fighting forward, putting on (what he hoped was) a good show, one that wouldn't serve to disappoint their loyal fans.

But Hongjoong was whipped.

Horrifically so.

As they left the stage, waddling back to change and head to their final hotel destination for their stay in Japan (one they would have for one more day, with one talk show segment scheduled and nothing else, which meant Hongjoong could just sleep almost all day tomorrow if he wanted), Hongjoong was only dimly aware of Seonghwa next to him.

If there was anything that was going to make Hongjoong aware, it was probably the sweet boy with the most amazing smile in the whole world.

Seonghwa walked closer to him, arm slipping between Hongjoong's own and his side to hold him as the younger boy laughed softly at him.

"You look like you're going to keel over."

"I feel like I am," Hongjoong mumbled. "Sleep," he added, which he more or less thought summed up all of his hopes and desires at the moment.

Seonghwa pressed the softest of kisses to his cheek, "Soon," he assured.

Hongjoong blinked more into consciousness at the small gesture, quickly darting his gaze around to make sure everything was still fine.

The others were walking ahead.

No one was looking back.

No one was around them.

If there was a camera in the hall it would've just looked like Seonghwa leaned in to say something in his ear, right?

Yeah, for sure.

Only after Hongjoong had gone through a groggy checklist in his head was he able to actually let the fact that Seonghwa — Park Seonghwa— just kissed him on the cheek like they were young lovers or a sweet couple one could come across at a coffee shop or at the beach — not what they actually were which... Hongjoong wasn't sure what it was, but it wasn't that.

He was staring.

Hongjoong wasn't even vaguely aware of the fact, but he was just staring at the younger, and he couldn't even be sure if it was in shock or just the steady thrum of absolute softness he felt for the young boy.

Either way, it had Seonghwa laughing softly as he turned his gaze away.

"I made sure not to get caught with that kiss, but if you keep ogling at me like that, you'll blow it for sure."

Hongjoong blinked, snapped out of his reverence.

"You just surprised me is all," Hongjoong said even as he reached to curl his hand around where Seonghwa's rested in a fist in the juncture between Hongjoong's own arm and body, holding it in place, but also rubbing softly over the boys knuckles.