Hug | SeongJoong OneShot

🫂

Seonghwa was always watching him.

He knew the younger was a little unsteady sometimes.

A little insecure and sad.

Mostly drowning in self-pity.

They've made it their own little ritual to just stay in Seonghwa's room when Hongjoong was feeling down.

To just sit there, on Seonghwa's bed and revel in the calm silence or talk about what's been pulling him under.

Seonghwa always knew when Hongjoong would come to him late at night, always could tell just by watching him all day.

And somehow, today seemed worse.

He seemed sadder than usual, eyes seemingly more dull and missing their usual spark.

The fact that their tour would be coming up soon didn't help at all, he believed.

But honestly, seeing him sit on his bed, small and weak, so vulnerable, made Seonghwa's heart hurt more than anything else ever did.

But he couldn't say anything because Hongjoong would come to him himself.

If he asked too much, Hongjoong would close off, would build those walls around him that he used to have years ago.

He was better off just staying silent until Hongjoong opened up.

So, they just stayed there.

Seonghwa watched Hongjoong, brows furrowed and eyes searching for any reason in his weak figure.

And Hongjoong just sat there, crosslegged, hands limply on his thighs and eyes watery but he didn't let out any tears just yet.

It's never been this bad, Seonghwa thought. He never cried.

And honestly, he'd lie if he said it didn't make his own eyes sting with unshed tears.

Seonghwa swallowed, standing up from his seat opposite him and went to grab a bottle of water from the small fridge in his dorm.

He took it out, closed the fridge and opened the bottle to hold it in front of Hongjoong's face.

And honestly, the pain and sadness in Hongjoong's eyes as they met his own shattered his heart into pieces.

"Thanks," Hongjoong mumbled and weakly took the bottle from his hands.

He was shaking, Seonghwa noticed.

The elder didn't leave his side, stood there until the younger was done with drinking and then gently took the bottle back, closed the lid and placed it on his nightstand.

He made his way to sit back down but before he could do that, Hongjoong's small voice reached his ears.

It was fragile, so, so small and Seonghwa could've overheard it if it wasn't in such a pleading tone.

His name.

Hongjoong pleaded out his name and it felt like he was talking through pain.

Seonghwa turned to him and Hongjoong slowly made his way to stand.

His head was hanging low, not looking at him but Seonghwa kind of wished he did.

Because his heart skipped a beat and broke in half simultaneously at the whispered question.

"Can I hug you?"

Seonghwa didn't answer, he never said anything.

But that might've been a mistake when Hongjoong's fiddling hands parted and he made his way to turn around, mumbling something about how stupid that request was.