It had been a month since everything returned to its strange version of normal.
Seokmin was still in LA, and Joshua floated between spending his days and nights at Seokmin’s place or retreating to his own apartment when the quiet became too suffocating.
There was a delicate balance to their routine, a fragile peace that settled over them like a thin veil.
They were finally together in a way that felt real—no more running, no more hiding.
Seokmin and Joshua faced their fears together, no longer flinching away from the shadows that once haunted them.
It was an uneasy kind of beautiful—dark, soft, and eerily comforting in a way that only they understood.
The nights were different now. There was no more pretense, no more pretending they didn’t crave the solace of each other’s presence.
Joshua would lie sprawled across Seokmin’s bed, the dim light casting shadows over his delicate features, his eyes closed as if savoring a peace he never thought he deserved.
Seokmin would watch him, always at the edge of sleep but never quite resting, like he feared this moment might slip away if he dared to blink.
Their conversations were quieter, words exchanged in whispers that never needed to be loud.
Joshua would talk about the little things—the taste of morning coffee, the way the city never seemed to sleep, and Seokmin would listen, his dark eyes tracing every movement, every breath.
In those moments, Seokmin’s usual sharpness softened, just enough for Joshua to see beneath the surface.
There was something hauntingly serene about the way they navigated their days, tiptoeing through the cracks of their past.
When Seokmin’s nightmares clawed at him in the dead of night, Joshua’s presence was a quiet anchor, grounding him without saying a word.
And when Joshua’s own fears crept in, Seokmin was there, a silent reassurance that they were in this together.
It was imperfect, raw, and far from what anyone would call normal—but it was theirs.
A twisted sanctuary built on broken edges, but somehow, it fit them perfectly.
“Okay, lover boy, I get it! Seokmin loves you…” Jeonghan, teased over the phone, his voice dripping with mischief.
Joshua couldn’t help but laugh, the sound escaping in soft giggles that slipped past his plush lips as he pressed the phone tighter to his ear.
Jeonghan had called to collect his usual dose of gossip, demanding every juicy detail of Joshua’s life, because of course, Jeonghan always thought he deserved to know it all.
“I’m not a lover boy…” Joshua mumbled, though his cheeks flushed as Seokmin’s face flashed in his mind. Who was he kidding? He was every bit the lover boy—Seokmin’s lover boy.
“Don’t lie to me, kid,” Jeonghan shot back, his voice laced with playful mockery. Joshua rolled his eyes at the older boy’s antics.
“We’re the same age, Hannie…” Joshua grumbled, but Jeonghan just giggled, his laughter bright and unapologetically smug.
Jeonghan was the kind of friend who would tear the world apart if it meant protecting those he cared about. Bitchy, nosy, and with zero boundaries, he never hesitated to call Joshua out or pry into his business.
But beneath all the sass and snark, he was fiercely loyal, always there when it counted. Jeonghan was the friend who didn’t just see Joshua’s darkest moments.
YOU ARE READING
Arrange Devotion | SS
FanfictionBOOK #2 They say love heals scars, but Seokmin's scars were lessons-bitter reminders that twisted him into a creature of darkness. His life was a series of brutal lessons that shaped him into someone who burns with an unquenchable fire. Protecting...
