{Wonwoo and Seokmin spend a rainy night together.}
The sound of sudden rain outside his window woke Seokmin from his rather deep slumber. He groaned and blinked a few times. When he came to, and left dreamland fully, he was greeted by a familiar face. Seokmin smiled and the face smiled back.
"You've always liked the rain at night." Wonwoo noted, watching Seokmin fondly.
Seokmin let out a contended hum. "The pattering against the window is relaxing." He agreed.
He shifted in the bed ever so slightly so he could stare out the window. The rain was coming down in sheets now, but the patter of raindrops against the window was slow and consistent. It almost lulled him back to sleep, but he saw Wonwoo's face once more and found he wanted to stay up and talk.
"You know what's better than listening to the rain?" He asked.
Wonwoo looked at him expectantly and hummed in question.
"Cuddling." Seokmin answered, settling himself into Wonwoo's waiting arms.
His boyfriend held him close and let the other lean against his chest. Seokmin noted his warmth and let the drumming of Wonwoo's long fingers on his back relax him. The scent of fresh linen and Wonwoo's scent that was so uniquely him engulfed him. Wonwoo's other hand, that wasn't patting Seokmin's back, carded through his hair, further relaxing Seokmin.
"Has work been stressful?" Wonwoo questioned, breaking their peaceful silence.
Seokmin shrugged. It had been stressful. His coworker took unexpected leave and he was the one left with all of her work. Now he was doing two people's workload, trying to cram it all in an eight hour work day. It was near impossible and Seokmin felt he was drowning, but he didn't tell Wonwoo so. He was enjoying their quiet time. He didn't want to ruin it by complaining. Regardless, Wonwoo knew him better than anyone. He could tell there was more than Seokmin was saying, but being the perfect boyfriend that he was, he didn't push. Only continued his motions to comfort the other.
"You need to start taking care of yourself." He lectured. "That means all three meals."
Seokmin groaned against the older's chest. "Hyung, I'm not a kid."
"No, you're not." Wonwoo agreed. "But I still worry about you. Allow me that."
Seokmin stayed quiet, a silent agreement. "Have you spoken to Mingyu lately?" Wonwoo asked next.
Seokmin was silent for a moment. "Yeah, we met up last week." He said finally.
"How was it?"
"The same. We talked, drank a bit. That was it."
"How is he?"
Seokmin shrugged, trying to not to jostle them in their comfortable position. "Better, I think."
"Good. You told me he was struggling for a bit."
"Yeah." Seokmin breathed out.
"What about you?" Wonwoo asked. "How are you?"
It was a hard, weighted question to answer. There were so many things to consider, so many answers, but none of them rose to the surface. Instead, Seokmin curled further in his boyfriend's hold.
"I'm good, like this, in this moment." He answered instead.
Wonwoo's hands stopped their movements. "And after?"
Seokmin froze and swallowed hard. "I'll do like I always do."
"Baby," Wonwoo breathed in his ear.
Seokmin grasped him closer to him. "Allow me that. You couldn't even possibly begin to understand."
Wonwoo's hands resumed their movements. "I suppose not." He agreed.
They were silent for a long while. Wonwoo providing comfort, Seokmin absorbing it. The rain continued steadily on outside, the raindrops providing a steady rhythm. Their heartbeats were in sync with one another, product of years spent next to one another. Their breathing was nearly even and Seokmin almost allowed himself to fall asleep, but he couldn't. He kept a tight grip on Wonwoo's soft shirt instead, not wanting to let go.
Their quiet moment was interrupted by a flash of lightening followed seconds later by a particularly loud clap of thunder. The gentle rain was now a thunderstorm. Seokmin pulled away from Wonwoo and sat up in bed. He watched with wide eyes as the cycle repeated out his window. The sleepiness had vanished from his system. He felt wide awake now, aware and alert. Wonwoo watched him observing the rain. He had a fond smile.
"You've always liked the rain at night." He repeated.
Instead of agreeing like he had before and resuming cuddling with his boyfriend, Seokmin felt a chill run down his spine. The statement felt wrong, eerily off even. He slowly turned back to Wonwoo's smiling face, the other not sensing that something was wrong. Another clap of thunder roared and Seokmin shook his head with tears brimming in his eyes.
"No. No I don't," He refuted. "Not anymore."
Wonwoo's smile faded, just a bit. "Seok..."
Tears were falling freely now. "I hate the rain. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it." He repeated over and again until the words turned into whispers.
He looked up and met Wonwoo's eyes. They reflected his knowledge and pain. He knew it and could feel it.
"I hate the rain." Seokmin whispered into the quiet room. "The rain took you from me."
Wonwoo's smile turned bittersweet. "But it brings me back." He countered.
"Only to rip you away from me again."
"Seok-ah."
Wonwoo's hand stretched out, as if to caress his cheek, but as always, Seokmin woke up. The tears were flowing freely as they streamed past his face, ears, and eventually staining his pillow underneath him. He tried to ignore the familiar ache in his chest. He had seen Wonwoo again. He was able to talk to him, hold him, hear him, touch him, but it was never enough. It would never replace him. It would never heal the fact that his boyfriend died two years ago in a car accident and could now only exist in his dreams. When it rained at night, Wonwoo would appear and it would be like always, but then Wonwoo would be gone again and Seokmin would be all alone, like always, stuck with an empty gaping feeling where his heart should be.
Instinctively, Seokmin reached over to the other side of bed where Wonwoo had been and when he found that the sheets felt warm, he nearly sobbed, but instead, he let the patter of the rain lull him back to sleep. When it rained at night, he would be with him, and for now it had to be enough.
