Desire (ATEEZ Boy x Boy Oneshots Book II)

F/A/M | Opposites Pt. 2 | Hongjoong x Jongho

"Sweetheart?" Hongjoong shook the boy. Jongho lifted his head, eyes catching on the lone town they reached. San, Wooyoung, and Mingi were just a few feet ahead, talking and deciding what to do next.

"How was it?" Hongjoong asked the younger boy. Jongho pushed his lips.

"It's good."

"Yeah? I'm glad." Hongjoong wrapped an arm around Jongho's waist and kissed his temple. Jongho felt all fuzzy inside, sure, but his stomach also begged for food.

"The guys said there's an abandoned place nearby-"

"Hongjoong..."

"Hm?"

"I'm hungry."

Hongjoong bit his lip, looking around. "Let's go find a place to eat then, hm?" he casually offered, as if it currently wasn't the very early hours of dawn.

"Yeah.. if there's something open, though." Jongho took Hongjoong's hand. He followed Hongjoong to tell the others where they would go.

"We'll go scout the subway, okay?"

Jongho raised an eyebrow at that. The subway?

"Sounds good. Don't have fun without me," Hongjoong said with a grin. Then he turned, walking with Jongho back to his bike.

Jongho curiously looked over Hongjoong's shoulder as they drove down the dim-lit streets of the ghost town. At first glance, it might've looked like an abandoned place, the way buildings appeared crumbling, and house yards were dried out and unkempt. But as they closed into the main square, Jongho noticed flyers for annual music festivals and town meetings. He saw old banners hanging from windows and chalk decorating the sidewalk with children's drawings. There was a community here.

Hongjoong slowed down at a place with a large blue neon sign reading Diner with smaller words saying 24 Hours hanging at the bottom.

The faint smell of burgers and fries welcomed the two as they stepped in. A muffled voice told them to have a seat and that they would be served soon.

"Not a bad place." Hongjoong looked around as they sat down at a booth. It was your standard diner: Red barstools along the front of the place, pink and blue lights hanging on the walls, and portraits of happy people enjoying their food.

"It's cute," Jongho smiled, swinging his legs.

Hongjoong felt the younger take his right hand, playing with the silver rings. Jongho's favorite was the snake one wrapping around his ring finger. It was silver with jaded, interrogating eyes staring at whoever dared to look.

"Hi! Grabbing a little late-night bite?" The waitress smiled at the two. "What can I get you two?"

Jongho read the small menu. "Strawberry milkshake and the burger combo, please."

Hongjoong suddenly pulled his hand away to pull out his vibrating phone. "Sorry... Uh, the same as him, please. I need to take a call."

Jongho watched his boyfriend excuse himself towards a corner. He mumbled a thank you to the waitress while staring at him.

Hongjoong had been acting a little... distant recently. Jongho couldn't help but wonder if it was because of him. For example, if Jongho suggested going to dinner after band practice, Hongjoong apologized and said he was too worn out to go anywhere. Jongho tried to understand, but it was hard to accept it sometimes. At this point, they seldom spent time together, just the two of them.

"Sorry," Hongjoong muttered. "That was Woo."

"Oh..." Jongho whispered. "He said subway earlier?"

"Mhm. It's practically empty. Perfect for spray painting it."