NCT Oneshots {ot23} | open

Bay: JaeWoo

▹prompt: can't remember oops
▹word count: 1885
▹genre: angst and fluff
▹warnings: n/a

ˑ༄ؘ ۪۪۫۫ ▹❀◃ ۪۪۫۫ ༄ؘ ˑ

The golden sand shimmered beneath their bare feet, but the warmth was welcomed as the grains flowed to make space for their footsteps, a gentle massage. Rays of afternoon sunlight forced both to squint or use a hand to shield their eyes. They should have invested in some sunglasses, although the weather was never usually this tropical. When they reached a more shaded part of the beach, a tall cliff cast a cooling shadow across the bay to protect them for a few minutes. They continued to pad across the beach in a comforting silence. Soon enough, the sand became darker and more solid beneath their feet from where the waves chased after each other, a foamy race that could engulf them at any moment but was soothing all the same.

Jaehyun stopped to roll up the bottom of his shorts. He dipped his toe into the remnants of a wave. The water was unusually warm, no doubt due to the intense sunlight beating down. Jaehyun took another step, waded into the sea. His bones relaxed at the familiar sensation of water rippling around his thighs, and at the scent of fresh, salty air. He rolled his shorts up a bit further, noticing how Jungwoo seemed to have disappeared from his side. He wasn't left to worry for more than a few seconds because an excited squeal gave him his answer. Jungwoo skipped through the water towards Jaehyun and gripped his hand, beaming.

"It's been ages since I last came to this beach, Hyunnie!" He exclaimed, splashing Jaehyun in the face. Jaehyun quickly turned away and laughed from his belly as he prepared to retaliate. Jungwoo was already somehow drenched from head to toe. His hair dripped, the brown turned to jet black, and his t-shirt clung to his skin. Jaehyun tried not to stare.

"The boat's waiting for us." Jaehyun reminded his boyfriend. Jungwoo followed the small tug on his hand.

Bobbing idly on the surface of the water was Jaehyun's family sailboat, attached to a post by a rope to root it on the beach. They always kept it tied up and in the mornings the sea level didn't reach far enough to carry it away, but by mid-afternoon it was already lifted up by the waves. Sailing in the evenings was much more fun anyway and Jaehyun secretly hoped they'd be able to watch the sunset together.

Jungwoo pulled himself up onto the deck according to Jaehyun's instructions, balancing his weight out to ensure he didn't tip it. Jaehyun followed once the younger had settled. The boat wasn't big, just a modest fishing boat. There were two benches, one either side of the sail, and when they sat down their long legs easily intertwined. But it was comfortable, not cramped. Jaehyun untied the rope. The boat drifted away from the post and Jungwoo gripped the sides, his knuckles turning white.

"Hey, it's okay. Don't worry. My parents wouldn't have let us out together if they weren't confident in my sailing skills." Jaehyun reached out to rub his hand over Jungwoo's, and the younger took the opportunity to link their fingers. "I've been practising a lot recently." He offered a smile which helped Jungwoo relax.

Jaehyun adjusted the sail so the fabric harnessed the breeze and pulled them out of the bay, slow and easy. Jaehyun loved to chase the waves on days with more agitated wind, but also didn't want to scare Jungwoo, so was content drifting over the surface of the water. It was his boyfriend's first time out at sea.

A sudden gust of wind tipped the boat. Jungwoo screeched, arms flying out to grip the side again until the air stilled, then the elder coaxed him to sit beside him so he edged his way around the sail and slid onto the bench, shoulder tight against Jaehyun's.

"Steady." Jaehyun warned. "It's fine. Don't worry, baby."

"I couldn't see your pretty face from behind the sail anyway." Jungwoo said. Jaehyun didn't even need to look at his face to notice the pout. He cooed, receiving a weightless glare from Jungwoo, who then leaned over the edge to run his fingers through the water as his confidence grew and encouraged excitement to bloom across his face.