So sweet on you

We're too old for....Secrets can't always be kept

The television played in the background, white noise to the noise going on in Nichkhun's head. The war between himself over how involved in the Junho/ Wooyoung situation he should or shouldn't be. After all he wasn't even close to an expert, barely a week into the new relationship that he and Taecyeon were rushing head first into. Remembering the desperate exhausted Junho he couldn't help but look towards the closed door of the guest bedroom. He was in the middle of preparations for a concert in Japan, and the pressure had to be intense.

Barely any of them had seen him lately, although none of them really saw each other lately. The dorm was afterall more of a formality, or a nearby place to crash between schedules when they couldn't go home. Wooyoung too had been busy writing new music to release in Korea, and had been spending a lot of time in his recording studio. Like him and Taec they had always communicated well, and stayed in close touch as close friends...until Wooyoung had finally confessed to them it seemed.

Nichkhun leaned his head back against the couch, and closed his eyes. The sound of movement made him open his eyes, and found himself staring straight as Junho as he leaned down toward him. He didn't think but instead moved, shoving a hand up and over Junho's mouth as he practically jumped off the couch.

"Stop....," He began as he pulled his hand away.

"...I wasn't.."

Awkward silence filled the room as Junho flushed red, and looked decidedly embarrassed. Leaning against the couch he reached up and ran a finger through his hair, and tried to look nonchalant.

"Uh...Uhm... How long did I sleep?" the attempt at small talk fell flat between them.

" Only 2 hours..did you...do you have a schedule today?" Khun tried hard to push away the awkward feeling, and tried to get back into the comfortable atmosphere he and all the members had always had. The effort today was overwhelming, and impossible to accomplish.

"So this...uh...shit," Junho mumbled after a deep sigh, and half-leaned half-collapsed on the back of the couch,"Strangers have better conversations than this!"

Hearing the exasperation and amusement in Junho's voice made Nichkhun relax a little bit more, he could practically see their normal connection hanging there like a plug half yanked out of the socket.

"You want to talk about it?

"Yes..No...I probably should I just...holy fuck hyung!?"

Junho ran his hand through his messy hair roughly, and looked up finally seeing Nichkhun without a thousand things running around in his mind. Sickly colored purple and green bruises knotted around golden skin, and ran down into his shirt. And just like that everything felt like normal as Junho herded Nichkhun into the bathroom to apply medicated ointment to the raw bruised skin.

Nichkhun watched in the mirror as Junho busied himself in the bathroom going through all the drawers for what he needed. Affection bloomed through him as he watched they younger member concentrate on applying the ointment as gently as possible. Feeling a little more confident, and a lot more comfortable he decided to address the elephant in the room.

"Sooooo... you want me to give up on Woo huh?"

The hands on his back stilted, and he watched as a grimace flitted across Junho's face. The humor had obviously missed it's mark, and Nichkhun immediately regretted his words. He watched as Junho continued to apply the ointment, but all the ease had drained out of him as he avoided making eye contact with Nichkhun in the mirror.

He wanted to say something but nothing would come out, he was startled when instead Junho spoke behind him.

" I wish I could say I didn't mean that...wish I could say I was drunk...but..but I can't." a grim smile stretched across his face before disappearing altogether, " You don't have to worry about me hyung I..."

"We're not dating!" Nichkhun winced at the near shout that had left his lips, and found the younger's gaze locked on him in the mirror.

Ahem, he cleared his throat and tried again.

"What I'm saying is we have never dated, and never will," He watched as Junho struggled not to hope,his heart aching for him, and the all to familiar inner fight.

They had been so caught up in the moment neither had heard the front door open, and seen the bemused Taecyeon watch them from living room. He looked his fill at his best friend standing there in the warm light of the bathroom wearing only his jeans, and talking to Junho. What little he had overheard clued him in that Wooyoung may not be alone in his feelings.

However, right then and now the only one he truly wanted to think about was standing right in front of him. In such a short amount of time he had managed to dominate his thoughts, and his heart. He laughed at himself inwardly, he'd never been one to wax poetic but Khun had a way of making even him think in prose.

He watched as Nichkhun realized they weren't alone, and the look he gave him alone made everything he'd done that day worth it. The wattage of his personal sun was bright, and warm. He didn't even try to hide his response, and joined the two of them at the entrance of the bathroom. He was so busy being caught in the rays of his own personal happiness he barely registered the pointed poking in his stomach.

" Ugh...yes your highness?," He teased Junho affectionately turning to his friend and fellow member.

"Something you'd like to share with the rest of the classroom?" The raised brow made the both of them smile sheepishly.

"Well I'm not dating Woo cause ..." Nichkhun began.

"Because he's dating me." Taecyeon finished as Nichkhun spoke.

They watched as he paused to process, and then looked back at them both.

"Then what the hell is with that kiss you gave Woo?!" Junho pinned them both with a pointed stare.

Taecyeon huffed a sigh as Nichkhun offered to explain in the living room, it seemed his relaxing night wasn't going to start anytime soon.