Fine {DoTae} | complete

Twenty-One

The first thing Doyoung's mother says when she opens the front door is, "What's that on your arm?"

Doyoung widens his eyes, not expecting such a greeting, then looks down at the fully exposed tattoo and bites back a smile. There's nothing his mother can do, but the possibility of her being angry about it still sparks unease. Taeyong shifts his weight between his feet beside him.

"A tattoo?" Doyoung replies. "We got... we got matching tattoos."

There's silence, a car passes the street outside, then more silence. Doyoung peers past his mother down the hallway, yearning to be inside and back home even if her eyes are beady behind her glasses.

"Can we come in?" Doyoung asks. He wonders what they would even do if his mother were to send them away in disgrace but she softens, releases a sigh that ages her another ten years, and steps aside.

"Of course, honey. Welcome home."

Home. Doyoung is home. With his family. His parents, and his little brother Jeno. He hugs his mother, nose prickled by her strong perfume, then is pleased to detect the aroma of a stew coming from the kitchen, famished from not having eaten properly in weeks. He'll give in, he knows he will. He'll devour everything on the table and then dessert, and he'll feel good about it, savour every flavour and fall asleep happy.

"It's lovely to see you," his mother says, bringing Taeyong into a hug. "I hope Doyoung has been looking after you, hm?"

Taeyong chuckles, sheepish with rosy cheeks and a stiff frame, eyes searching for his boyfriend to save him from the awkwardness as he gets more fuss that Doyoung.

"Yes, Doyoung looks after me well. I look after him, too." Taeyong is finally freed and helps Doyoung move the suitcases upstairs.

"My dad's at work," Doyoung explains between pants, stopping halfway up the stairs to shift his grip on the case. He wants to drop it, or to let himself fall, but closes his eyes and catches his breath instead. The books and stuffed toys he gained on their travels suddenly seem to double in weight. "But Jeno should be here."

They make it upstairs and Taeyong heads into Doyoung's room, remembering exactly where it is. Jeno's bedroom door flies open before Doyoung can follow.

"Doyoung! You're back!" Jeno smashes into Doyoung's chest to crush him with a hug. "I missed you so much."

His hair is platinum white, messy and overgrown but shining as bright as his eyes, and Doyoung is endeared by it all. Doyoung hugs him back harder than ever. Jeno squirms with excitement. He then gives Taeyong wide, questioning eyes, until Taeyong laughs and offers a hug.

"I saw your concert videos. I watched the online one, too!" Jeno tells him. "It was really cool."

"Jeno." Doyoung gives his brother a nudge, covering his face with his hand.

"Sorry," Jeno says, giving the couple space to move into Doyoung's room. He follows them anyway and lingers in the doorway to chatter about his favourite parts of the setlist.

Doyoung opens his suitcase and pulls out a stack of shirts to hide the grin on his face. His mother shouts up to say she hopes Jeno isn't pestering them and Doyoung rolls his eyes. He decides to let Jeno stay as long as he helps sort the washing. Clothes all crumpled from poor packing, Doyoung himself struggles to remember which shirts he recently washed.

"You know she's going to take them and iron them all anyway," Jeno says. He watches Doyoung struggle with the two piles, sat back on his haunches in amusement. Doyoung knows he'll get scolded either way and ends up throwing it all into the washbag. He adds Taeyong's laundry for good measure.