Stumbling Backward(JOOKYUN✔️)

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Lee Jooheon's apartment is not as nice as Changkyun had expected, considering the part of Seoul it was located in. But truly, Changkyun cannot complain much after several weeks of sleeping in the back of an old sedan from the nineties. So he only makes a few dissatisfied noises as Jooheon leads him through the entryway of the home, a grimace on his lips.

"I know it's not much," Jooheon admits quietly upon seeing Changkyun's face. "But it's all I can afford right now. But my lease is up in a few months, and my degree program ends in July so-" He stops rambling, realizing that Changkyun isn't paying him even the slightest attention. The younger has paused in the entryway, staring down at the single pair of slippers resting there, though Jooheon has already donned his own upon entering.

"Who's are these?" Changkyun points down to them, his dark brow furrowing in confusion. He is not so good at hiding questions, his mind always working towards answers that never seem to come. Jooheon glances down at the old stained slippers, wondering why he hasn't just thrown them out already.

"They're for guests," he lies, hoping Changkyun cannot tell. The darker man cannot, never so great at reading people or their emotions. "You can use them if you want."

Changkyun grimaces down at the pair, the left one donned with a little hole in the toe. Shaking his head, Changkyun decides he definitely does not want the filthy slippers. "No thank you. I'll just stay in my socks." He peeks up through his lashes at the older, the head of pink nodding in understanding.

Jooheon pretends it isn't wholly adorable to see Changkyun staring up at him like that, his long lashes shielding the whole of his dark eyes from view. The pink-haired fellow watches as Changkyun steps into the kitchen, removing his hat as his father had always requested upon entering their home. Long, thick hair falls into the dark man's face, a black so deep it must've been melted from the feathers of ravens.

Jooheon gulps as he gets his first full view of Changkyun's face, almost surprised at how young he seems. Just twenty-four, yet his cheeks are still soft and his skin is still pocked with old acne scars that never healed quite right. His eyes, larger when not hidden beneath the brim of the cap, regard Jooheon carefully beyond lengthy lashes. Shifting in his place, Changkyun is entirely uncomfortable stood still in the kitchen, but he doesn't want to ask Jooheon to give him a grand tour- that might just be too intrusive.

Jooheon can sense the younger's unease, and attempts a small smile to soothe Changkyun's mood for the moment. "Want anything to drink? I only really have water but I think I have some tea bags in one of the cupboards-"

"Water please." Changkyun does not want to cause more trouble for the older and requests only the bare minimum. Glancing to his left, Changkyun can see the den, all hard wood floor and sparse furnishings. There's only one thing hanging on any of the visible walls, but Changkyun cannot tell from his place what the photo is of.

"You can go sit," Jooheon says as he regards the younger from his spot at the fridge, two bottles of water in hand. "It's been a long day, I'm sure."

"A long few weeks," Changkyun quips, his attempt at humor not taken lightly by Jooheon. When the older doesn't laugh, Changkyun's cheeks flush, embarrassed at how silly he can be sometimes. Moving into the den, the pair shift their gazes awkwardly as they realize that the sole sofa in the room isn't quite big enough to keep them an acceptable distance from one another. A distance suitable for near strangers.

Changkyun's body sinks into the surprisingly plush cushion of the sofa, jolting upright when he tips back. Jooheon chuckles at the sight, trying not to grow too endeared when Changkyun's scowl returns and his cheeks flush. "Sorry, this thing is older than me and way too worn in. If you catch my drift."