MONTAGE. - g.st + c.ym

five.

From upon the made bed Youngmin's ears could pick up on the splashing of water against tiles in the en suite bathroom, the low hum of cars passing beneath his apartment's window, the TV those above had on at a high volume and the static of white noise within his skull. Youngmin was worn out, still damp from his shower and naked, strewn across his bed in waiting for Seungtak's arrival, for him to come and hold him and make his head finally stop hurting, kiss his neck until he could finally sleep.

The water shut off, the man's glazed eyes drifted from their bleak fixation on the white ceiling to the bathroom door, wordlessly calling out the name of his lover until it opened and Seungtak stood there, a hand still towel drying his hair whilst his bare body glimmered with remaining trails of water.

Tak looked to the other, arched a brow and gave a fond, even if laced with mirth, smile.

"What's got my cuddle bug still awake? A lot on your mind?"

Youngmin gave a hum of affirmation, sight briefly drinking in the expanse of skin and the dips at his boyfriend's hips before his lashes fluttered shut and his face was once more looking ahead.

"Cold," Is all he murmurs, voice groggy, and Tak gives the last rub to his hair prior to tossing the wet towel over the back of the desk's chair.

No words were shared, there was no space for them in the air brimming with longing and love. Youngmin felt the mattress dip and peeked through the thickness of his lashes to see his partner laying down beside him, a smile tugging on his lips and right arm up and welcoming the older into his embrace. Youngmin did just so, sloppily throwing a leg over Seungtak's thighs and wrapping an arm around his waist, clinging so needily despite his weary limbs.

A second, two, and Youngmin breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the buzz in his head die out and the weight on his shoulders dissipate. He tucked his face deeper into the crook of Tak's neck as the latter placed delicate kisses to his own, knowing Youngmin loved the touch of lips across his nape.

The whir of an engine down the street and the cool shock of a drop of water from Seungtak's hair splashing onto Youngmin's cheek, travelling along his skin until it disappeared into his parted mouth. The sole source of light was that of the yellow-toned lamp by the bed, dancing shadows being cast across the walls and behind pieces of furniture, but Tak only watched as they swirled across every hill and valley on Youngmin's toned body, highlighted every curve and bump with a delicacy achievable in no other way.

Their skins were warm, rubbing against one another, cocks limp and grazing and chests pressing nearer with every inhale. It was intimate and comfortable, the type of feeling you can only experience past midnight, on a plush mattress and in a secluded room, with nothing but dim lighting and the breath of your lover across your collarbone.

Youngmin nuzzled further into Tak.

"You smell good."

The brief chuckle in response was automatic and Seungtak could feel the rise of Youngmin's cheeks against him at the sound.

"We used the same soap, babe."

"It's different on you."

A minute of silence, legs entangled and arms coiled tightly, and Seungtak split the quiet with a whisper.

"Are you feeling warmer now?"

Youngmin hummed, Tak pulled the sheet over them anyway.

"You should sleep, Min-ah."

He goes to move but the mere noise of the shift and the parting of heat was enough to alert Youngmin and make him reflexively panic, hands clutching tighter to the male in urgency.

"No, stay," He pleads, and his partner lets out a breath in amusement, so fond and endeared that his heart felt to be holding a fragment of the sun within it.

"Dummy, I'm not going anywhere," Tak assured, using his fingers to delicately comb back the twirling, damp strands of hair off the older's forehead, "I'm just grabbing my phone."

Youngmin watched with dazed eyes as Tak did as promised, picking up his phone and earphones from the bedside table near him and untangled the wires as best as he could with one hand, making sure to keep his second arm hooked behind his boyfriend's back. Youngmin's mouth gave a twitch of a concerned frown.

"You can't sleep."

Not a question but a statement; the pair knew each other well enough.

"I'll manage eventually," Seungtak replied, attention returning to the partly glowing face of his lover, close enough to see every crevice and each lash, "Want to listen with me?"

Youngmin gave a tepid nod and burrowed back into Tak's chest, shutting his eyes as the latter set an earphone into one of each of their ears and returned to fully embracing him.

"Goodnight, cuddle bug."

And as the smooth rhythm of soft indie tracks lulled his mind to sleep, Youngmin couldn't help but drown in the warmth that encased him and think, in his then eased mind, how nice it was to be held by his love at the end of a tiring day.