jaeyong ✧ skindeep

Twenty-seven

The house was utterly spotless as Taeyong stayed up the whole night cleaning as he couldn't fall asleep. The raven-haired paced back and forth through the kitchen, his eyes constantly drifting to the oven's clock and the kitchen tile. His footsteps clicked against the floor as the clock's number continued to shift, resulting in an anxious state.

After what had seemed like forever, a key being interested in the door's keyhole from outside became audible. Almost immediately after the door was pushed open, Jaehyun walking in, his bags hanging over his legs. He set his duffel bag down before closing the door and his eyes meeting with Taeyong's.

Taeyong moved away from the kitchen island, his hand tracing the marble. He stood few feet away from Jaehyun, just gazing at the latter before abruptly hugging him. Jaehyun slightly stumbled before starting, his voice soft and comforting,"Taeyong, it was only three days-"

"Hug me," Taeyong stated, his tone becoming brittle and wobbly as his arms grasp tightened.

Jaehyun slid his arms around Taeyong's waist, embracing him in a tight grip. Only when the two pulled back from each other did Taeyong notice the compression wrap wrapped around Jaehyun's right ankle and left knee.

"What happened?"

"I just got a little too excited during the fourth quarter. I'll be fine," Jaehyun moved his hand down to Taeyong's right cheek, leaning forward and planting a few seconds long kiss,"I'm sorry for forgetting to call, everything just worked me up."

Taeyong delicately nodded in response. It wasn't that Jaehyun didn't call; his absence just made Taeyong realize how much he misses him.

"Semi-finals will be held only twelve miles from here so, I won't have to leave again."

"Mhm."

Jaehyun picked up his bags and began approaching the staircase, a slight limp present in his walk.

"Jaehyun, I can take your stuff ups-"

"No, it's fine. I got it."

Jaehyun stumbled over his own footing before Taeyong turned to him and tugged the bags out of his grip, heading up the stairs. He shortly returned downstairs, meeting Jaehyun's gentle gaze.

Taeyong diverted his line of sight from Jaehyun's eyes and walked past the latter over to the kitchen island,"You should rest."

Jaehyun limped over to the couch, heavily exhaling once his body landed on the cushion. Taeyong went over to him, handing the brunette an ice pack. Jaehyun's fingers grasped the plastic pack and placed it against his ankle, a delicate hiss escaping his lips on contact.

As Taeyong turned his back and began to walk away, Jaehyun's voice interrupted.

"Uh, Johnny told me you cried when he was over yesterday."

Taeyong's body halted at the eleven words, his head slightly tilted back, just enough where he could see Jaehyun in his peripheral vision,"It was nothing."

"If it's you, Taeyong, it's not nothing."

Taeyong's fingers clutched the cloth of his black sweatpants, a minute lump forming in his throat. Jaehyun pushed himself off the couch, half leaning as his muscles ached. The younger remained at a close distance from Taeyong, pulling the latter's shoulder the opposite way, forcing Taeyong to face him and pulled him into an embrace.

"I know when you're not okay, Taeyong. I'm not just going to ignore it."

Taeyong's eyes began to heavily water, his arms hesitantly tracing up Jaehyun's back and his tears now flowing down onto the cloth of Jaehyun's shirt.

His voice muffled and broke through Jaehyun's shoulder,"It was only three days but, I missed you so much and it hurt."

"I'm sorry. I won't leave you again. I promise."

Jaehyun's hand traced up Taeyong's nape, the two remaining this way for nearly two minutes as Taeyong's breathing calmed.

~~~~

Jaehyun held the ice pack against the compression wrap. His body couldn't stay still as he was practically itching to go practice. Of course, with a slightly injured knee and ankle, practicing was out of question.

The brunette sat listlessly on the bench under the kitchen island, waiting for Taeyong to finish whatever it was the latter offered to cook for him. Eventually, Taeyong turned his back towards the stove, placing a porcelain plate loaded with food in front of Jaehyun.

Jaehyun stared down at the plate before gazing up at Taeyong,"You made this?"

Taeyong barely nodded,"Yeah. Why?"

"No reason. Just this is the first meal you've cooked me and it looks like fancy restaurant shit."

Taeyong delicately smiled at comment.

"You're not eating?"

"I ate a lot before you came back." Well, it was half of the repetitive story.

Jaehyun picked up the pair of chopsticks set beside his plate and holding them between his slender fingers, did he then begin to pick up the food and eat.

Taeyong looked down for a few seconds before diverting back up and being met with Jaehyun holding food in front of his face.

"Just one bite."

Taeyong's eyebrows nervously furrowed, accepting the food into his mouth as he bit it off from the metal. The older chewing for a prolonged amount of time, a napkin in one hand and once Jaehyun's attention shifted elsewhere, he spit it out into the napkin and disposed of the cloth.

"I'm gonna go take a shower really quick," Taeyong dryly stated before running up the stairs.

By the time Taeyong returned downstairs, he was met with a sleeping Jaehyun on the couch. The raven-haired moved down to Jaehyun, pressing his ear against his chest and hearing the calming sound of his beating heart. He adjusted his body onto the minimal space on the couch, his hands resting against Jaehyun's chest while he lay there like a scared child.

Feeling a pair of arms tighten around his shoulders and waist, Taeyong flinched, his head tilting up towards the latter,"Jaehyun, I didn't know you were awake. I'll move."

His grasp grew tighter, his words laced with fatigue,"I was asleep. And don't move. You're not the only one who missed their boyfriend."

Once again, Taeyong's heart exploded.

~~~~