new heroes // jaeyong

𝑨𝑳𝑳 𝑶𝑭 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑷𝑨𝑰𝑵𝑺

─ · · ୨୧ · · ─

With the sunlight streaming through parted curtains, two arms wrapped loosely around Taeyong's waist and a head buried into his chest, he flutter opens his eyes. He blinks a few times, eyelids pushing away the sleep collected in the corners. He tilts his head down, smiling slightly at the soft blonde hair tickling his nose.

Waking up to Jaehyun curled around his body with his head upon his chest was something Taeyong thought he'd never experience. Looking at Jaehyun now, asleep, content, he looks like a child again, the boy Taeyong had once yearned for, the boy he had once loved.

Taeyong gently cards his bony fingers through the younger's soft hair, hearing him sigh in bliss. He buries his nose further into Taeyong's chest, the sensation sending shivers of delight rocketing down his spine. It was pleasant, it was sweet.

Jaehyun may be taller than Taeyong now, with the handsome face of a man, but internally, he was still a child. He was still the boy who used to look up to Taeyong, who's dark chocolate eyes shone with innocent adoration. Taeyong rests his hand against the younger male's rounded cheek, letting his thumb stroke smooth circles into his soft skin. Taeyong leans his head back further into the pillow, staring up at the ceiling.

Why did he have to leave for so long, so suddenly? It marvelled Taeyong, and it always made him think just what has happened in his life and why it all played out the way it has. Perhaps it was not the way Taeyong, or Jaehyun, had wanted it, but clearly fate had other plans. Taeyong wonders what kind of life he lived in those five years overseas, away from everything he knew, away from everything he loved.

I hate him, really. He left Taeyong broken-hearted, and since then he put up walls to keep others out during those long years Jaehyun was gone. To move on, to find someone new; he never did, but he tried. Taeyong would go out and try to find someone new to replace Jaehyun's place in his heart, but he never did find anyone who came close. He always thought of it as a silly crush—but he guesses it was something more, despite the two year gap between them that felt hundreds of years apart when they were younger.

Then, Jaehyun comes back, and in such a small amount of time, he has already infiltrated Taeyong's impenetrable defences and broken apart his barrier. He really is special, and Taeyong hates him for that—for always staying so important to him despite wanting to move on.

Taeyong gently unlocks Jaehyun's arms from around his narrowed waist, carefully pushing him back. Taeyong's body felt lighter now that the asleep male's bodyweight was gone, and Taeyong quietly slides out of bed. Pins and needles pricked his muscles, chest heavy with the memory of Jaehyun's head pressed against it. He glances back at at the soundly asleep male, standing at the door with his hand on the frame.

Jaehyun lays peacefully on his side in the messy bed, arms reaching out for what once would have been Taeyong, long fingers tangling themselves into the fabric of the sheets. He buries his nose into the sheets, curling in on himself. His soft blonde hair falls across his forehead, the thin strands clumping together messily. The tips of his hair catch in his long eyelashes, the sunlight glowing in golden rays across his skin.

He looks stunning, without even trying.

Taeyong sighs, turning and walking out of Yuta's room. He walks past his own bedroom, glancing inside. The bed was empty, and the pills on the bedside table were gone. Taeyong tilts his head in confusion, then he hears a loud crash from the kitchen. He jumps in retaliation, dashing into the kitchen, prepared to face an intruder.

Taeyong exhales loudly in relief when he sees it was just Yuta in the kitchen trying to cook.

Wait.