late nights || minjoong

- three -

the fifth night mingi came into the cafe it was around twelve fifteen and hongjoong was drying off some now clean mugs. the younger had brought his laptop and was staring, or rather glaring, at the screen. the older had a fond smile playing at his lips while he watched the other think. mingi would chew at his lips, and his cheeks would puff out while he glared quizzically at the screen, almost like he was expecting the words to type themselves for him. hongjoong wouldn't lie to himself that he had grown quite fond of the other, and stayed specifically so he could keep the taller company while he stressed. 

the older didn't pry too much on the other's personal life because beside the fact that he couldn't sleep, and was struggling with a paper he still about three weeks to do, he seemed alright and his smile seemed to light up the rest of the dim cafe. the dark haired boy was clumsy, and silly, stressed but still a ball of sunshine and hongjoong felt more fond of him every time they met. this time he had a plan and made mingi, the special coffee per usual and got himself just a regular black coffee and cut them both a slice of cheesecake. 

he placed them on the coffee table in front of the love seat that was in the back corner facing a small electric fire place near the back. either mingi never noticed the much more comfortable seating area or he just preferred to sit in a stiff wooden chair that was probably going to give his back a terrible pain. hongjoong walked over to where the other sat at his usual table and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. if mingi wasn't so zoned in on staring at his blank document he would have been startled and jumped but he didn't seem to notice the other there. "mingi" the older's tone was soft and caring as he spoke. "mhm" mingi nodded his head clearly unaware of much that was going on, all he seemed to register was that hongjoong was speaking to him. 

the older couldn't suppress the small giggle that left his lips. "mingi i made coffee and cheesecake and i turned the fireplace on it's starting to get cold and that hoodie of yours isn't going to cut it." the younger seemed to come into reality and he let out a small laugh. "yeah...wait did you say fireplace!?" mingi turned around to face the other confusion written on his face. hongjoong nodded to the direction of the cozy set up that had always been there and he laughed again when the taller groaned. "am i really that unobservant...don't answer that"

the two were seated at opposite ends of the couch with a blanket thrown over them both. mingi's laptop was on his lap and hongjoong played with a rubber band attempting to form some sort of a beat but finally just sling shotted it to somewhere in the room. "okay um so no art...ya like sports?" "even if i did they said it was to be something that like is important, or means something. it has to be something special i guess. i just don't really ever think all that much so." mingi played off his low self esteem with a nervous laugh but hongjoong only frowned. he pushed his red hair out of his face and blew the stubborn strand out of his eyes. the older gazed into the fire trying to think of some other suggestion but his mind was drawing a blank. 

the younger removed his eyes from the screen and over at the smaller. he admired his side profile and let himself get distracted by the other's features. he found himself growing less stressed as he gazed at the other but he forced himself to look back at his laptop. he's stressed over paper's and assignments before but he's never had this much trouble even with his awful lack of a sleep schedule and his procrastination. but those were different usually he had to pick from a set of topics or a specific think was given to him. or there were just reading and answering. basic stuff, he made sure to just get the education he needed out of the online courses. but apparently he was looking to fail this one.

"hey i don't like that look" hongjoong was now facing the younger an accusing look on his face. "sorry...i just-" "no need to apologize, do you wanna try and nap or something?" mingi looked blankly at him clearly confused on the situation. "i mean, it's one but i don't need to be anywhere. literally ever so you can use me as a pillow if you need." mingi seemed nervous about it but tried not to let it show on his face not wanting hongjoong to think he was some loser . 

"come here" hongjoong beckoned him over and mingi scooted closer to him. hongjoong sat criss cross applesauce now and removed the blanket so that mingi could cover up with it. "i don't think this will work, i'm telling you i just...can't" "couldn't hurt to try, and if anything even if you don't sleep you need a break from trying to work on your paper so this will be good" mingi nodded knowing the other was right, overworking wasn't going to do anything other than stress him out more. hesitantly mingi layed his head on the shorters lap and hongjoong covered him with the blanket. "you sure you're okay with this-" "mingi, i mean this in a loving way, but shut up" the younger laughed sleepily and just went with it and closed his eyes. 

hongjoong wasn't trying to be overbearing or weird, but the two had grown increasingly close and he cared about the other. the red haired male gently placed a hand in the other's curly hair and ran his fingers through the dark locks. he felt mingi physically relax at his touch, this calmed hongjoong's nerves as well knowing the other was finally relaxing, even if it would only last for a little bit. but nonetheless, it was way better than nothing. "thank you joong" "joong huh, well if we're doing nicknames then you're welcome cutie"

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