Eclipsed Ink | TaeJin

Straight(?)

The light in Taehyung's studio was soft and diffused, spilling through the large windows to rest on his meticulously arranged art supplies and stacks of blank canvases. Hoseok was already there, sprawled on a sofa, legs crossed, chewing noisily on some leftover snacks as he casually flipped through a magazine. His eyes lit up with a wide grin as Taehyung stepped in.

Taehyung tossed the snack he had picked up for him, and Hoseok caught it with one hand. "Wassup, man? Thought you were gonna bail on me," Hoseok teased, taking a playful bite. "How you been?"

Taehyung shrugged, a reserved nod. With a focused expression, he started gathering his materials, slipping on a simple but well-worn canvas apron and adjusting his glasses. His blond hair, tousled from the day, fell messily over his forehead; he pushed it back in one smooth motion, fingers brushing through with practiced ease.

"You're not eating?" Hoseok asked, eyeing him with a slightly offended look. "You literally said to wait for you but I had to start on my own as you came late."

Taehyung, his voice measured, replied, "Didn't tell you to eat first, did I?" He set down an empty palette and began selecting colors with quiet precision. His eyes, sharp and intense, were solely focused on his work as he dipped his brush, creating the fluid rhythm he seemed to fall into every time he painted. Hoseok, unbothered, popped open his snack, continuing to munch with great enthusiasm, but watching Taehyung curiously.

"Hey, you're way too serious right now," Hoseok said, gesturing with the half-eaten snack. "I'm telling you, just take one bite. This serious mode of yours is freaking me out."

Taehyung gave only a halfhearted "hmm," barely reacting. Focused, his brush moved across the canvas with graceful precision, each stroke translating the essence of Hoseok's profile onto the canvas. Hoseok sat up, staring in shock as he slowly realized Taehyung was painting him.

"Is... is that supposed to be me?" he murmured to himself, rising from his seat and stepping closer, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. Taehyung worked swiftly, his movements fluid and calculated. Every brushstroke was intentional, capturing the slightest details in mere moments, until he finally pulled back.

With a slight tilt of his head, he examined the piece, arms crossed. "Just needs a bit of paint to finish it."

Hoseok was visibly touched, his gaze flickering from Taehyung to the painting and back. He gave a small gasp and enveloped Taehyung in a hug, his excitement bursting forth in a spontaneous squeeze. "You really are something, you know that?" Hoseok whispered in awe, but after a few seconds, Taehyung pulled back, stiff, his face unreadable.

"Okay," Taehyung said, his voice returning to a gentler tone, "now I'll eat."

He took off his apron and pulled his glasses down, settling at the small table as Hoseok watched, a grin still tugging at his lips. "You know, you get so... intense when you're working," Hoseok commented, still absorbing the details in the painting. "Like, I know you're nice and all, but when you're focused, you turn into this cold, intense... stranger."

Taehyung, unfazed, barely glanced at him as he took a bite, letting out a simple "Hmm." Hoseok continued to talk, partly to himself, admiring the painting while Taehyung finished his meal in silent concentration.

After a few bites, Taehyung spoke up. "That's your birthday present," he announced, gesturing to the canvas, his voice as casual as if he were discussing the weather.

Hoseok's jaw dropped. "Oh my god... you remembered my birthday?"

Without looking up, Taehyung gave a slight nod. "You can hang it up in your room when it's done."

"Dude!" Hoseok exclaimed, practically bouncing in his seat. "You're really sweet, you know that? Terrifying when you're in work mode, but... still sweet." Taehyung's expression didn't change, though the corner of his mouth twitched, hinting at a suppressed smile.