jaeyong ✧ skindeep

Forty-six

Three years, seven months and eighteen days.

Three years, seven months and eighteen days which consisted of hours of therapy sessions, hours of nutrition education and hours of either stress or pride in his actions, but few hours in those three years consisted of Jaehyun and Taeyong spending time before getting admitted to another inpatient. Hours in which Jaehyun began to get used to walking into an empty apartment and cooking enough only to feed himself.

Taeyong zipped up his bags, sharply exhaling in the familiar room. He tightened his grasp around his bag, the thought processing over him; It's over.

He walked out of the room, excitedly stumbling over his own steps. He approached the front desk where the nurse instantly recognized him and smiled,"Congratulations. The doctor already signed your forms and you're free to go."

Taeyong softly nodded, his fingers tightening around the bag,"Thank you."

He exited the hospital building, sitting outside on the bench perched behind the border of the sidewalk. He gazed at the passing cars in the parking lot, kicking his feet up as he waited.

Taeyong focused his gaze down at his lap, silently fidgeting with his hands.

That deeply familiar, soothing voice called out,"Taeyong."

The raven-haired boy instantly perked his head up, his body leaving the bench as if it was instinct. His eyes panned Jaehyun's figure, which never seemed to change as he was perfect as always. The golden sunlight kissed his soft skin as his stoic expression broke into a delicate smile.

Taeyong rushed towards Jaehyun, both boy's arms tightening around the other's body. He pressed his fingertips against Jaehyun's nape, tears instantaneously flowing down his rosy cheeks.

The brunette's breath tickled Taeyong's neck as he rocked the boy from left to right,"I'm so proud of you."

Jaehyun's eyes slightly watered as he pulled back and kissed the latter. Taeyong rested against Jaehyun's chest, his senses focused on how fast his heart was beating.

"Let's go home now."

~~~~

Taeyong walked alongside Jaehyun in the still familiar hallway. Jaehyun unlocked the door of the apartment, leading Taeyong in the room which looked like it hadn't been touched since the first time he left.

Once he entered the room, almost instantly was the feeling of Jaehyun picking him up felt. With a soft 'thud', Taeyong fell back onto the couch, Jaehyun climbing over his body afterwards. He held against Taeyong's body, which was something that Taeyong was embarrassed to admit he missed.

Taeyong ran his fingers through Jaehyun's chocolate-colored locks, swallowing the thump in his throat,"When you caught me in the bathroom that day, what were you thinking?"

Jaehyun perked his head up and sat back up. His eyes bored into Taeyong's gaze,"I just felt that I failed you as a boyfriend. That I failed to tell you continuously how beautiful you are and that I was terrible for never catching on quick enough."

Taeyong frowned, grasping his counterpart's hand and laying against his shoulder,"You didn't."

Jaehyun pitifully smiled, his hand tracing under Taeyong's chin and pecking his lips.

"Are you cooking tonight?"

"Why would I not when my boyfriend's finally home for good?"

Taeyong bashfully glanced away only for the doorbell to ring.

Jaehyun sighed as he got up from the couch and walked over to the front door, swinging it ajar.

"Is he here?"

"Yeah."

Doyoung pushed past Jaehyun once he saw Taeyong, running into the apartment, grabbing one of the pillows and repeatedly hitting Taeyong with it.

Taeyong put his hand up to block the pillow,"Doyoung-"

The latter gritted his teeth,"This is your welcome back gift."

Doyoung continued for few more seconds before Jaehyun walked over and pulled him off of Taeyong,"Doyoung, you're gonna break him."

Doyoung 'hmphed' as the pillow was pulled from his grasp,"Anyways," I'm glad you're finally better, Taeyong."

Jaehyun intervened,"He's not gonna admit it to you, but Doyoung missed you a lot too."

Doyoung glared at the brunette, sighing afterwards,"It's not like you didn't talk about Taeyong everyday and spend your free time rewatching videos of him," he changed the direction of his gaze to Taeyong,"Some girl tried to get with him because she thought Jaehyun and you had split. In the end, she gave up because of how much he blabbered on about you."

Jaehyun crossed his arms as he looked over at Doyoung,"That's called 'being in love' things."

"Uh-huh. Anyways, I mentioned the fact that you were here in the group chat so, everyone is coming over."

"When did you have tine? When I opened the door, you asked 'is he here'?"

"It's called intuition, Jaehyun."

Repetitive knocking and doorbell spamming interrupted their conversation.

Taeyong sauntered past the two,"Um, I'll get it."

Taeyong grasped the doorknob, opening the door and being met with the familiar faces of Johnny, Ten, Mark and Donghyuck.

The tallest male cheekily smiled, hugging Taeyong,"I'm glad you're back."

Ten reached in for a delicate hug,"Me too."

Taeyong gazed over to Mark and Donghyuck, the first thing he noticed being Donghyuck's healthier state. He smiled at the pair,"You two still look like babies."

He moved aside, allowing all of them to comfortably enter the apartment.

Johnny began,"I brought my speaker so like-," he finished his sentence physically by winking.

Jaehyun sighed, knowing none of them would be able to stop Johnny,"Just no mosquito dude, please."

Johnny turned the speaker,"You guys still remember that?"

Doyoung glared at the taller male,"Please. That was trauma for my ears."

Johnny shrugged, playing Cocky Af by Megan Thee Stallion.

Jaehyun ran his fingers through his hair as he turned away,"Guess I'm cooking more than I thought I would be."

Taeyong wrapped his arm around Jaehyun's,"I'll help you."

"You don't wanna relax?"

Taeyong looked back to see Johnny throwing it back, then looked back at Jaehyun,"I'm pretty sure relaxing is the last thing I'll be doing tonight, nevertheless."

~~~~
a/n : jaehyun and taeyong did see each other throughout the three years, but taeyong got readmitted shortly after which is why the characters reacted as if he was gone for years
if that didn't make sense or sumn 😐