"Between the spotlight"
The corridor behind the stage was dim, lined with crates and old banners, humming with the muffled sounds of celebration outside. Jihoon leaned against the wall, fingers still trembling from the performance. Sweat clung to his skin, but his heart wasn't racing from dancing-it was from the man slowly walking toward him, hands buried in the pockets of his tailored jacket.
"Congratulations," Doyoung said, voice low, smile soft but tired. "You killed it out there."
Jihoon laughed quietly, brushing a hand through his damp hair. "You watched?"
"Always," Doyoung replied, stopping just a few feet away. "You shine more every time."
There was silence. The kind that fills the space between people who've said everything through glances but never words. Jihoon looked up, eyes catching Doyoung's in the dark.
"Then why do you always walk away before I can say thank you?" he asked.
Doyoung's expression faltered. His jaw clenched slightly before he stepped closer, the warmth of his presence brushing against Jihoon like static.
"Because if I stayed..." Doyoung whispered, voice cracking with something unsaid, "I wouldn't be able to stop myself."
Jihoon's breath hitched. And in that moment, between the echoing silence and the distant screams of fans, he reached out-and Doyoung didn't pull away.
Pairing: Jihoon (Treasure) × Doyoung (NCT)
Genre: Slow burn, fluff, light angst, secret relationship
Setting: Idol universe, post-award show, backstage moments