By The Window | YeonBin

twenty one

Yeonjun walked into his room after a long day, the familiar weight of exhaustion pressing down on his shoulders. He was about to collapse onto his bed when a movement by the window caught his eye.

Soobin was sitting there again, framed by the fading twilight, his legs casually swinging off the ledge. The sight was almost comforting, something Yeonjun had come to expect— Soobin's quiet presence in the space where Yeonjun often felt most alone.

"Hey," Yeonjun said, trying to sound casual as he approached.

Soobin turned, a lazy grin spreading across his face. "Hey. Thought I'd stop by again. You look like you've been through it."

Yeonjun huffed a small laugh, dropping his bag to the floor. "Yeah, it's been... a day."

There was a pause, the kind of pause that used to feel awkward, but now it was just easy. Soobin's presence had become something Yeonjun leaned into more than he would like to admit.

As they settled into conversation, it wasn't long before Soobin's curiosity kicked in.

"Oh, by the way..." Soobin's voice trailed off before he continued, as if testing the waters. "The other day... I saw you with that wrapped kimbap. Was that... your mom?"

Yeonjun blinked, taken aback by the question, but he could see the genuine curiosity in Soobin's eyes.

He shifted on his feet, his hands fidgeting as he sat on the edge of his bed. "Yeah. It was... a bit weird, honestly. She's been making more of an effort. Not much, but it's something."

Soobin nodded, his smile softer now. "That's good though, right? It's like she's trying."

Yeonjun hesitated, the words catching in his throat before he let out a quiet, thoughtful sigh. "Yeah... I guess I didn't expect it. It's... nice to know she's paying attention, even if it's not much. I still appreciate it."

Soobin's expression grew more thoughtful, he sat beside the quiet boy. "You deserve that, Yeonjun."

Yeonjun wasn't used to hearing things like that, and the sincerity in Soobin's voice made his chest feel tight.

"I don't know about that," he muttered, a little embarrassed by how vulnerable he was starting to feel.

But Soobin wasn't letting it go. He leaned in slightly, his voice softer now. "No, I mean it. You're always doing stuff for other people—Taehyun, your mom... even me." He chuckled lightly.

"Maybe it's time someone took care of you too."

Yeonjun swallowed hard, his eyes darting to the floor. Soobin's words were hitting closer than he expected, unearthing emotions he wasn't sure how to handle.

Soobin, noticing the shift in Yeonjun, reached out gently, his fingertips brushing against Yeonjun's cheek, just above the bandage that had been plastered for a couple of days now.

"You've been through a lot," Soobin said quietly, his voice sounded more tender and smoother than his usual cheery one.

Yeonjun froze at the touch, feeling the warmth of Soobin's hand against his skin. He hadn't realized how much he craved that contact, that simple gesture of care. For a moment, all the walls he'd built around himself felt like they were crumbling.

His eyes lifted to meet Soobin's, and the space between them felt suddenly charged with something they both couldn't really describe, something that had been building for quite some time now.

Soobin's thumb traced a slow, careful line along Yeonjun's jaw, his eyes flicking down to Yeonjun's lips, then back up. "Is this okay?" he asked, his voice low, seeking permission.

Yeonjun's heart raced, his usual restraint slipping away as he realized that, for once, he didn't want to hold back. He nodded, barely trusting his voice. "Yeah... it is."

It was all the invitation Soobin needed. Slowly, gently, he leaned in, closing the distance between them. Yeonjun found himself leaning forward too, his breath hitching as their lips met in a soft and gentle kiss.

For the first time in a long while, Yeonjun wasn't thinking about the consequences, about what will come next. He let himself be in the moment, allowed himself to feel the warmth of Soobin's lips, the quiet reassurance in the way Soobin's hand stayed on his cheek, grounding him.

They moved slowly, leaving sweet small pecks on each other's lips. Yeonjun's hand found its way to one of Soobin's cheeks. He wanted to feel the warmth too, also giving the same sensation that Soobin is giving him. That made Soobin let out a little smile through the kiss.

When they finally pulled away, the air felt lighter, though both of them were breathless. They stared into each other's eyes, trying to make out what the other is thinking. Only, they could only see the subtle shine from the moonlight that is seeping through the sky.

"I... I didn't mean to..." Yeonjun started, pulling his hand away from the other's face, feeling that familiar instinct to retreat into himself again.

But Soobin shook his head quickly, instinctively grabbing Yeonjun's hands in his, a nervous laugh escaping him. "No, don't apologize. You did nothing wrong— a-and I'm sorry if that was— was too much."

He scratched the back of his head, a little sheepish. "I just... I don't want to mess this up, whatever this is."

Yeonjun looked at Soobin's hands on his and back to his eyes for a long moment, feeling the lingering warmth of the kiss still on his lips. "Me neither," he admitted, his voice quieter, but steadier now. "And... that wasn't too much."

Soobin smiled, a little more relaxed now, and the awkward tension began to dissipate. "Maybe... we just take it slow?"

"Yeah," Yeonjun agreed, feeling a small smile tug at his lips. "Slow sounds good." He continued as he returned the touch, intertwining his fingers with Soobin.

____________

a.n.

FINAALLYY!! I MADE THEM KISS!!