Safe and Sound

November

"You never formally asked me out," Sehun blurts out.

"What."

Sehun scrunches his nose, face turning pink. "Just saying. Like, what are we?"

"Sehun. We rearranged our room so that we could push our beds together. We sleep together. What do you think we are?" Jongin deadpans.

"Technically, we sleep next to each other. And we did that before, but you were my best friend then," Sehun remarks. He sticks the pen cap into his mouth but Jongin slaps it away before he can chew. "So what are we?" He looks down at his shopping list and adds eggs.

"Do you need me to spell it out for you? It's been three months, Sehun." Jongin resumes his carrot cutting but huffs when Sehun corrects his knife-holding form for the nth time. "You're a nerd, figure it out yourself."

"Well, it's been three months, but we haven't gone further than casual handholding when we're comfortable and forehead kisses. Isn't that something kids do with their parents?"

Jongin hisses through his teeth when the carrot slips from under his finger and he nearly chops his index finger off. "Sehunnie, I really can't do this."

"Well you either do that or go grocery shopping." Sehun waves the paper around and Jongin snatches it out of his hand.

"I'll do shopping."

Sehun sticks his tongue out. "When are you ever going to learn how to cut vegetables? You're a third year in college and you're too scared to even hold a knife."

"Well I have you to do that. I'll do the physical labor," Jongin says as he rinses his hands. "Give me money?"

Sehun rolls his eyes as he takes up the space Jongin previously occupied. His fingers are skilled and the carrot that Jongin failed to cut is already halfway to being done. "Wallet's in my backpack, left side pocket.

Jongin slinks out of the kitchen and into the bedroom. He rummages around Sehun's backpack before pulling out Sehun's wallet like a trophy. He takes more than is necessary, like always, and stuffs it in his pocket. The list is tucked securely under his fingers against his phone when he emerges from the room. He looks over the list again one more time as he leans on the counter.

Sehun glances at him from the carrots and raises an eyebrow. "What?"

"Wait, how many eggs do you want me to buy?"

"Jongin, they only come in dozens. You can't just buy one egg, what the hell?"

Jongin shrugs. "I didn't know that." He makes a note with the pen Sehun left on the counter. "And why do we need more carrots exactly? We didn't even finish that."

Sehun sighs. "Stop questioning me and just buy. And I know you took more money than you need, you dick." Sehun places a well-aimed kick to Jongin's shin. "Can you check the eggs this time to make sure none of them are cracked?"

"Yes sir!" Jongin fake salutes and backs out of the kitchen. "See you in a bit! Love you!"

Sehun feels his face warm up at the words and his stomach fills with tingles.

Jongin is spearing a piece of chicken with his fork and popping it in his mouth when Sehun suddenly says, "Hey, will you be my boyfriend?" He nearly chokes on said piece of chicken.

Sehun snorts as he slides a glass of water over to Jongin. "What? You never asked, so I did it."

"But it was already established that we're a thing?" Jongin coughs some more, pounding his chest. "And why did you have to choose that exact moment to ask?"

Sehun shrugs. "I want it to be official." He blinks curiously. "Wait, you knew that."

Jongin did. Sehun was always the one to go the extra mile and make sure everything was official. He drafted up stupid contracts and hung them in the living room, making sure that Jongin would never forget that he oversaw sweeping and mopping the house on Fridays and other stuff of that caliber while Sehun cooked and figured out the bills. Jongin can't help but cringe when he remembers that Sehun had once made him sign a contract – while he was drunk out of his mind – stating that Jongin would give him ten percent of each paycheck. Needless to say, that one's been recycled.

"I never felt the need to ask." Jongin stabs a carrot with his fork. "Please don't make me choke again," he mumbles before taking a bite of the stir fry. "And besides, does it really matter? Everyone who cares to pay attention already knows."

Sehun clicks his tongue in annoyance. "Yes, but I want to be able to officially say that I'm dating someone and no longer in the single people club."

Jongin grins and reaches over to grab Sehun's cheeks. "Fine. Say hello to your first ever boyfriend."

Sehun has a lot on his mind. The amount of homework on the coffee table is daunting and does nothing to relieve his mentality.

"Dude, that is an essay due two weeks from now. And the project is due in a month. Why are you freaking out?" Jongin asks. He's staring at Sehun upside down from his position on the couch. His long legs are slung over the back and his head hands off the seat cushion.

"Because it's a really big project and a really important essay!" Sehun defends. He's helplessly staring at his laptop and textbooks like they are the answers to his salvation.

"That's what you say with every project and essay, and guess what? You still get at least a B+ on all of them." Jongin reaches his arms out across the table and push Sehun's laptop lid down. "You need to calm down. Take a nap or something."

Sehun fidgets in his seat on the floor. "Actually, Jongin, can I talk to you?" Jongin has a slight suspicion is has something to do with the email Sehun had been typing instead of writing his essay and the phone calls he takes in which he locks Jongin out of the room. "I was thinking of not telling you, but you're kind of my boyfriend now, so I feel the need to tell you."

Jongin slides off of the couch in one fluid motion and scoots over on his butt to Sehun. "Hey, you're never obliged to tell me anything. If you want to, then you do. If you don't, then don't. Just because we're together doesn't mean that I'm suddenly privy to all of your thoughts." He nuzzles his nose into Sehun's sweater paw – actually his sweater that Sehun nabbed from his closet two days ago – and leans his head onto Sehun's arm.

"I'm sure you'd love that though. You wouldn't have to spend half the time guessing what's making my face twist up."

"Sehunah, it's one of two things. You're either stressing about homework, or you're remembering things you shouldn't be."

"Or you're pissing me off."

Jongin smiles cheekily as he lays his head in Sehun's lap. "That too, I guess." He looks up at Sehun with concerned eyes. "But what is it?"

Sehun bites his lip in hesitation, fingers jerking nervously as they come down to comb through Jongin's black locks. "After having a good talk with my psychology professor, I think I should be getting counseling for my PTSD." Sehun's voice is soft and laced with uncertainty. "I'm having all these breakdowns pretty often and I'm actually terrified of cars. It's obviously going to take a toll on me... and our relationship." He scratches softly at Jongin's scalp as he tilts his head slightly to the left. "And I think it's time I tried to face all of those fears. You know, especially now that I have you."

Jongin pushes himself up and props himself on his elbows as he pulls Sehun into a gentle kiss. "You've always had me."