[fic] a special kind of ideal
Title: a special kind of ideal
Length: 5,601 words
Pairing: Kim Sungkyu/Nam Woohyun/Jang Dongwoo
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nothing here is mine except for the plot and the writing.
Summary: Dongwoo is coming back after being away on a trip for months and to say Sungkyu is stressed is the understatement of the year.
A/N: Thank you so much, pixy_polly, for the last minute pitch-in for the beta. You're my life saviour, girl.
originally posted here as part of 2013 Infinite Secret Santa in infinitesanta, who requested a fic involving 2woogyu in a disgustingly-fluffy, full-of-domestic-bliss sort of relationship. I hope I delivered it.
Sungkyu hates Wednesday; the kind of day that passes far too long from the first working day of the week, but yet too far away from the weekends, the kind of day that he has to be the first to wake up and the last to come home so late he wouldn't have a chance to see the other half of his housemates, the kind of day that everything sucks more than usual. Sungkyu really really hates Wednesday.
Being in corporate field is nice when you're looking for consistency and routine, but at nine in the evening, still stuck at the office with some oldie tunes from the sixties drifting from the janitor's radio on his cart as his only friend, Sungkyu wonders why he decided to go into business management in the first place. Woohyun is all eye-rolling and half-hearted pats on the back nowadays.
Dongwoo is due back next week, after having been gone to god knows where for three whole months; three long whole months of crappy Skype connection and far-in-between random snap shots from Dongwoo's smart phone. Woohyun would have exasperatedly whispers South Africa, Sungkyu. Dongwoo's in South Africa. for the nth time. But Woohyun's not here, so Sungkyu will commit himself to brooding as much as he'd like.
Sungkyu's unconsciously tapping his foot to the beat of the old Make Your Own Kind of Music drifting closer now that the janitor's clearing the room next door. Mama Cass Elliot is too cheerful in the dead of the night, Sungkyu muses tiredly. All he wants to do is driving home, taking a hot shower and planting himself face first on his own mattress- the last two are orderly negotiable.
Wednesday. Dongwoo is going to be back on Tuesday. Another agonizing six days until Sungkyu will be able to see him, be able to touch him, hear him for real. He's not sure if he can take all the waiting.
Woohyun is planning to throw Dongwoo a welcoming party―a party where Sungkyu promised to help organize but can't because he's stuck at the office, finishing the company's report on their first quarter. Wednesday. Sungkyu curses inwardly and bangs his forehead softly against his office table. Wednesday. Another six days. Sungkyu hates Wednesday with a burning passion.
+
The light in Woohyun's room is still on when Sungkyu keys open the front door and walks in. The cartons of leftover Chinese are thrown haphazardly in the bin, and the cut-out paper letters of W-E-L-C-O-M H-O-M-E are scattered across the dining table. Sungkyu takes note to remind Woohyun that welcome has another e in it while toeing off his shoes and walks swiftly across the wooden floor, hoping to reach the bathroom undetected. But of course, Nam Woohyun's going to choose to be psychic today of all days and gives Sungkyu a heart attack by suddenly poking his head out of his room.
"Did you just get back?" Woohyun asked dryly and Sungkyu heaves a sigh before answering, "yeah, just a minute ago." His voice cracks at the last syllable and Sungkyu winces. He hopes he's not coming down with flu. He can't afford to get sick in the time like this.
The light in Woohyun's room is off, leaving only the light from his computer screen the only source of illumination. The shadow of his room retreats when Woohyun reaches blindly beside the door and turns the light switch on. He looks like someone whose dictionary doesn't have a word razor because, damn, there's a tropical jungle growing on his face.
"Man, have you washed your face? At least you did brush your teeth, right?" Sungkyu grimaces and Woohyun's eyes turn into a slit.
"Of course, I brushed my teeth. Why kind of a person do you think I am?" Woohyun huffs, lips pouting attractively. Sungkyu has the sudden urge to bite them with his teeth and pull. It has been way too long since he has had any quality time with Woohyun. "I know the importance of hygiene, seriously."
Sungkyu has been staying late at the office to finish the report and came home so late three nights in the row. But the problem is, they aren't just these three nights; he's been working overtime and running himself rack for weeks now. This is the first time since forever that Woohyun's got the clean look at his boyfriend. By the time Sungkyu got back from work, Woohyun was already asleep. And when he got up, Woohyun was just a bundle of blanket on the left side of the bed. Sungkyu takes a good look at Woohyun and thinks that, between them, Woohyun looks more like someone who works the nine-to-five job, not a best-selling author working from the luxurious of his home.
"Baby, there's this thing called electric razor. It's a really great invention. You should try it, you know?" Sungkyu teases softly.
"Fuck you, hyung. I know how to shave. I'm just too lazy to care." Woohyun takes a peek at the clock hanging on the wall and grimaces. "It's two o'clock already? Fuck, why did they make you stay at the office so late. Fucking slave driver."
Woohyun slowly walks out, closing the door behind him quietly, before reaching out to untie the knot on Sungkyu's tie. "Why would anyone wants to have this thing around their throats all day?" Woohyun huffs in irritation while busily pulling said clothing article off like it offends him somehow. Sungkyu's hand shoots out to clasp loosely around Woohyun's, and Woohyun's hands go still.
"I'm fine, baby," Sungkyu says, voice soft. "I'm more concern about you, you know?" His hand comes up to scratch lightly on Woohyun's stage-three beard. "And by the way, you're one e short on the word welcome."
"I know," Woohyun moans with feeling, "We're out of that green glittering paper that he likes so much. We're going to have to go shopping soon. We also need decorating supplies. And ingredients for the food. And-"
Sungkyu tunes out the rambling of Woohyun and makes the mental note to go shopping with him soon least he'll most certainly face an even longer groceries list. Fucking Wednesday. Why can't weekend come sooner?
+
Woohyun is a critically acclaimed best-selling novelist, or so he and the whole bunch of websites say. His first break through was the story about a group of teenagers involved in the cold ritualistic murder in the distant village. He is the most sought after bachelor according to StyleM magazine, and the embodiment of sex-on-legs incarnation. But the reality might leave the majority of girls (and guys alike) disappointed since all Woohyun really does at home are lounging around in his dirty underwear, sporting eight o'clock shadow on his face, and pondering about the best way to kill off people.
That's why Sungkyu is practically escalated when Woohyun decided to finally shave off that offended forest of his this morning; his cheeks and jaw finally smooth to Sungkyu's touch. They go shopping on that day. Woohyun clutches the grocery list in his right hand and the other's holding tight to Sungkyu's. It makes driving really difficult to tell the truth. Sungkyu's not complaining though.
Braving a supermarket on Saturday is a lot like going into wars where soldiers are more prone to shove you aside for the discounted products and you might get run over by small children trying to push their parents' shopping carts from random point A to random point B. Woohyun develops a permanent patient smile when he gets hit, yet again, by a plumb lady's full basket, and Sungkyu's face sports a permanent scowl.
Shopping is not really on their list when there's no Dongwoo around distracting them with his innocent smile. Sungkyu misses Dongwoo more than he can put it into words.
"Where the fuck is the noodle isle?" Woohyun whispers fiercely, mouth is still forming a smile but his eyes are becoming more and more murderous.
Sungkyu's left eye ticks so bad he looks demented. The family on their right decides to drop the can of pineapple once they see Sungkyu eyeing it with contempt. He doesn't want pineapple; he just wants to look at something that's not constantly in motion because his head is starting to hurt.
The noodle isle is on their right, three rows ahead, according to the ever so helpful shop assistant who is probably on crack because no one should be able to be earnestly helpful in the time like this. Sungkyu takes hold of Woohyun's shopping list and realizes that they are only about one-third done. They really need to focus on finding all the items and get the hell out of this place soon.
That noodle isle, that's where they run into a certain Lee Howon out looking for buckwheat noodles. Now, Howon is a friend. He's Sungkyu's underclassman back at the university, and they keep tab on each other ever since. Howon is a good kid, hardworking, passionate and honest. But he also shares the same publishing as Woohyun. While Sungkyu has no problem being a friend with his boyfriend's career rival, Woohyun on the other hand, expresses on many occasions that he would want to rip Howon's guts out for simply being Howon. Talking about testosterone.
"Hi, guys," Howon says good-naturedly. Sungkyu gives him a one-arm hug because, hey, he likes the kid. Woohyun makes that face―the one he thinks Sungkyu knows how to decipher but actually doesn't so Sungkyu mostly pretends it means Woohyun needs to go pee real bad―and excuses himself to go find item number six on their list: celery.
Howon looks after Woohyun before turning his unamused eyebrows at Sungkyu. "I remember vaguely that you ensured he would stop being a total asshat one of these days."
Sungkyu just sighs. "Sorry. He doesn't want to face you yet, because he still can't decide whether to congratulate you or strangle you. I'm sure the congratulate part will win out in the end." He gives Howon a tense smile before excusing himself to go find his idiot of a boyfriend.
The thing is, not only Howon is a writer; he also writes mystery and managed to snatch that one award that supposed to go to Woohyun from under Woohyun's rug. Howon was a former paralegal so his main characters tend to be somewhat of an authority figure, while Woohyun solely writes normal people as the protagonist. Their style crashes severely to say the least. That's why when Howon suddenly found his calling in writing two years ago, he has since become Woohyun's bane of existence (as Woohyun's lovely put.) They would have gotten along so well, Sungkyu mused silently, if there would be less ego involved.
Sungkyu catches up with Woohyun at the snack isle. Woohyun dumps ton loads of Snickers into their cart, which Sungkyu only takes out about half and puts them back at their former place because he's a good boyfriend who can tell when his lover is in a bad mood.
Dongwoo wouldn't eat Snickers anyway. He's more of a Twix person.
+
Sungkyu met Dongwoo in his last year of university. He was in this on-again-off-again roller coaster of a relationship with Woohyun, who was at that time the jerk underclassmen from liberal arts that shared an art history class with him.
Sungkyu was in finance. He didn't understand why history was a compulsory course so he procrastinated taking it until the last semester. Dongwoo was a photography student sharing the same building. And Sungkyu ran into Dongwoo setting up slides for their professor one too many time to count as an accident because Dongwoo had been sneaking glances at Sungkyu and didn't even bother to be discreet about it.
Woohyun found it overly endearing that Sungkyu got himself a secret admirer. Sungkyu grumbled and punched him hard on his thigh while giving him a blowjob.
So it came as no surprise when it was Woohyun who made the first move―striking a conversation with a caught-in-the-headlight Dongwoo one morning before their class; Sungkyu loitering behind with a scowl on his face because Woohyun you fucking shameless lout and so he could insert some damage control if needed be. It was mostly to insert damage control if you asked Sungkyu.
Dongwoo, to his surprise, smiled really wide while introducing himself with small laughter. Shit! Sorry I didn't know you two are together, Dongwoo said while laughing shyly. Sungkyu still doesn't understand how a relationship could blossom from a corny hi, stranger but somehow it did. It doesn't have to be just two, right? Woohyun said and Sungkyu remembered thinking yeah, maybe he's right while watching the brush spreading across Dongwoo's cheeks when they took him out for a coffee after class.
Their relationship started slow, with more trials and even more errors. But they hung tight―Woohyun being the most stubborn person Sungkyu has ever met and Dongwoo even more so―and somehow, they'd made it. It's been years and they've still made it.
Sungkyu has never been more grateful for his luck than when he landed himself both Woohyun and Dongwoo. Sometimes Sungkyu can't see why someone like them would stick around with someone like him. Sungkyu works in business, for christ sake. He's the most boring person as boring can get.
Dongwoo is a national geographic photographer. He always travels to different places photographing different interesting things. Sungkyu is so boring compared to his vibrant colorful life. Hyung is the only constant part of my life, hyung and Woohyun. That's way I can have a home to come back to, Dongwoo said this the first time he left for his adventure. So maybe, being boring works for them.
Sungkyu takes a look at the last message he got from Dongwoo two weeks ago for the hundredth time- a short Isn't it beautiful? and a picture of the sun rising above the vast orange field of a deserted Africa. Sungkyu looks up and manages to catch the last ray of the setting sun before the tiny orange dot disappears behind the concrete building of a callous city of Seoul; Woohyun comes up and holds him loosely from behind, breathe hot and comforting.
+
They forgot to buy the green glittering paper that Dongwoo likes; Sungkyu suddenly jolts with a surprise realization. They're still an e short in welcome home.
"Damn," Sungkyu curses silently, "we still need to go for another shopping trip."
Woohyun lifts his eyebrow before adding, "yeah, about that. It seems like we also forgot to buy squid. We can't make Jjampong without squid." He buries his face at the crook of Sungkyu's neck and exhales slowly. And Sungkyu panics.
"How are we ever going to finish this? What in the world possessed us to even think we can throw Dongwoo a surprise party in the first place when we can't even do the simple grocery shopping to save our life?" Sungkyu says hotly while Woohyun licks his way down the hollow of his throat.
"Are we really doing this right now?" Woohyun looks up, action paused, and Sungkyu uses the opportunity to flip him on his back.
"No." Sungkyu starts, but then he lets out a frustrated sigh and says, "Yes. Maybe? I don't know! I mean this will be the worst party ever and he's going to hate us and-"
Woohyun rolls his eyes and yanks Sungkyu down, covering Sungkyu's mouth with his own. He feels Sungkyu still trying to say something so he deepens the kiss and grunts irritatingly because, hey, he's trying to make out with his boyfriend. Sungkyu tries to get into the mood again but the nagging feeling of the disorganized party and the huge empty space of an absent figure throws him off his game.
Woohyun heaves a sigh before flopping down on his back, hands covering his face. He looks really tired of all the sudden. Sungkyu cards his fingers through Woohyun's unstyled hair and the uninvited panic ceases a little bit.
"We're not really good at this when he's not around, are we?" Woohyun mumbles. It's not that Sungkyu doesn't want to do it with Woohyun because, fuck, he loves this idiot, too. But somewhere along the line, it has become wrong with just the two of them. Sungkyu hopes he could make Woohyun understand; he hopes he doesn't make Woohyun feel like he's being rejected, that he's not important. Because, damn, they both are really important to him, damnit!
"Woohyun, I-" Sungkyu starts to say but Woohyun interrupts him with a quiet voice.
"I miss him, too. You know. I can't even fucking write because no one makes tea like him and I'm craving fucking earl grey at two in the morning every day, and," Woohyun pauses before throwing his arm around Sungkyu's body. "Hyung, why does he have to be away for so long?"
And Sungkyu realizes with a pang that it's not just him that misses Dongwoo so dearly; Woohyun is also missing him like hell. He pulls Woohyun closer and holds him tight, all the while cursing at himself for being an insensitive neglecting jerk―how could he forget how much Woohyun loves Dongwoo?
"It's okay. He's coming back in two days. We'll see him soon enough, right? Just hang tight. We'll be okay," Sungkyu whispers fiercely while Woohyun whimpers quietly in his arms.
+
Woohyun is in the midst of preparing breakfast when he picks up the house phone and gets requested by Sungkyu's Satan-reincarnation of a boss to relay the message, asking (demanding) Sungkyu to be the representative of their division at the company's annual whatever conference on Monday because, apparently, the guy who's supposed to deliver the report fell sick all of the sudden. Sungkyu is still in the shower so Woohyun takes the liberty and slams the phone back on its receiver with feelings. Sungkyu is fucking stressed enough already he literally pulls at his hair. He's going to fucking flip when he hears of this new development.
Sunday is supposed to be a slow relaxing day, not the whirlwind of Sungkyu gathering papers, yelling at the phone and practically ripping off the head of the other guy on the other side of the conversation.
"You fucking idiot, why can't you do your job properly, goddamn it!" Sungkyu screams at his phone and Woohyun physically and mentally winces. "Just get me the goddamn ticket!" Sungkyu yells some more before hanging up the phone, breathing long and hard.
"I can't believe they're doing this to me," Sungkyu whispers fiercely. "I told them time and time again that they should at least have a backup speaker or something but no, they're going to have to put all the work into one person and now that he drove himself sick, all the responsibility becomes mine." Sungkyu rubs at his face harshly. "Gosh, I don't even have the material."
Woohyun rubs the soothing circle on Sungkyu's back while using the other hand to throw in last minute toiletries. Sungkyu told Woohyun with a grave face that the conference will be held at their headquarter in Hong Kong so he'll have to leave this evening. Sungkyu can't even pack properly under all the pressure he's under.
"Just go do your job, okay? I'll handle everything. Don't worry," Woohyun says while driving Sungkyu to the airport. Woohyun knows Sungkyu also feels bad for leaving Woohyun alone to do all the preparation for the party when he himself has promised to help. But really, this isn't Sungkyu's fault, is it?
"I'll bring back souvenir," Sungkyu says with conviction, trying to make amend by the looks of it, and Woohyun snorts.
"No, you won't. Because you'll be too busy to remember that. But it's okay. I don't want anything anyway," Woohyun says and squeezes Sungkyu's hand. "Just don't go on a mass killing spree and come home in one piece, okay?"
To his credit, Sungkyu only weeps a little when Woohyun hands him his baggage at the gate entrance.
+
Woohyun has a lunch date with his editor on Monday, whom he complains relays all his worries about everything to. And Sungjong, being a wonderful life-long friend that he is, hardly gives a damn. Woohyun also suspects that Sungjong always likes Sungkyu a lot better than he likes Woohyun.
"I don't care if you're stuck under a collapse building or missing a limb or being eaten by a kraken. I have to hand in your manuscript first thing tomorrow so the deadline is tonight. Either give me a manuscript or we'll push the publishing date of Howon-hyung's new book up and I know you're not gonna like it," Sungjong says with the practiced indifference he didn't sport when they first got to know each other. Sungjong used to be such an innocent adorable kid, Woohyun mourned sadly.
"All right, all right, all right!" Woohyun all but throws the napkin in his plate. He's going to finish that abomination of a manuscript even if it kills him. Sungjong pays the bill (because hey, he's the one who initiates the lunch date anyway) and shrugs when Woohyun asks why he's following Woohyun home.
"You probably make a mess of everything trying to decorate the place for the welcoming party. I'll help clean it up since Sungkyu-hyung won't be coming back till later tonight," Sungjong says, matching his pace with Woohyun's. "It's the least I can do, right?"
Woohyun just mutters what a brat under his breath while ruffing on Sungjong's carefully styled hair and only winces a little when he gets an elbow in the ribs in return.
+
Sungkyu comes home on Monday evening to Sungjong, Myungsoo and Sungyeol taking over their living room. He puts his bag to the floor slowly while trying to comprehend the situation; Woohyun is nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, hyung, welcome home," Myungsoo says when he walks past Sungkyu to the bedroom, laundry in both hands. "Woohyun-hyung's deadline is tonight and if he doesn't finish his first manuscript, his evil editor is going to eat his first born. So he's banned from the living room," he adds while dodging a pillow thrown by Sungjong who's yelling I'm not evil! It's not like I'm the one setting the date. It's the company!
"We did your laundry because when Dongwoo-hyung is back you're gonna have an even bigger and dirtier clothes to deal with," Sungyeol says from the kitchen. He seems to be putting things inside the fridge. "I labeled everything in the tupperwares. You can just take them out when you cook tomorrow. Red is for making Jjampong, blue is for making Japchae, and green is kimchi, other prickled vegetables and banchan. Meats are in the freezer."
Sungjong has switched off the vacuum cleaner and now is putting up the last piece of the heart garland above the television. The color red clashes with the green welcome, now with a complete e, giving off the celebratory atmosphere when it isn't even Christmas, yet.
Sungkyu is so floored and so grateful he doesn't know what to say.
"I call for the reinforcement because Woohyun-hyung is hopeless and I can't do everything by myself, either." Sungjong hands Sungkyu a feather dust before moving on to collect his things. "You can thank us later by making sure Woohyun-hyung finish his manuscript tonight and doesn't forget to e-mail it to me."
Myungsoo is Dongwoo's fellow photographer and Sungyeol works at the same publishing as Sungjong. Somehow their circle of friends expands when he doesn't realize it.
"Guys, thank you. Really. It's been stressful for the both of us and, well, thanks so much for helping out." Sungkyu has never been good with expressing his emotion, let alone his gratitude. But he really hopes they all know how much this means to him. Sungyeol just laughs while heading for the door, Myungsoo hot on his heel. Sungjong makes sure Sungkyu knows how important it is to finish the manuscript before he, too, heads home.
Sungkyu cracks open Woohyun's study before poking his head in. Woohyun slumps over his desk, papers and cups everywhere. Sungkyu feels bad all over again so he treads quietly, trying to clean his path while he's at it.
Woohyun stirs and when he sees Sungkyu, he smiles slowly. "Hey, you're back," Woohyun says drowsily, and the guilt is really strong Sungkyu can't help the frown forming in his face. He's about to open his mouth to apologize but Woohyun seems to sense it so he sees the need to shut Sungkyu up.
"Oh, come on. It was your job, okay? It's not like you deliberately ran away so you don't have to help preparing the party." Woohyun rolls his eyes, but his smile is fond and teasing. "Now fix me some tea, would you? I'm going to have to deliver this baby or I'll be permanently sterilized."
Sungkyu brews him tea, and brews him some more because godfucking Woohyun and his ability to be completely selfless when he's normally so selfish about everything. Woohyun doesn't go to bed until four in the morning; Sungkyu knows because he stays awake to keep Woohyun company right to the moment Woohyun clicks send on his e-mail.
+
Sungkyu wakes up the next morning and, instead of getting out of bed, calls the company and takes a sick leave much to Woohyun's amusement. He doesn't wait to hear what his boss has to say before disconnecting the call and getting back in bed.
"About time," Woohun murmurs while snuggling closer for warmth. They don't have to get out of bed until later. They can prepare the food in the afternoon and go pick up Dongwoo in the evening. Everything is perfect.
Or not. Sometime Sungkyu also forgets what a lousy cook he is. Thank god Woohyun knows how to cook, or else Sungkyu would have burned their place down trying to fry a pajeon.
"I'm just...going to stand here for moral support then," Sungkyu says weakly from a small space between the fridge and the counter; Woohyun glaring dagger at the burned pan.
"Why don't you go wash up? It's almost done anyway," Woohyun dismisses Sungkyu with politeness, and Sungkyu, wounded, goes to take a shower before they have to head to the airport. Sungkyu uses too much cologne; Woohyun uses too much BB cream. They are nervous for some reason, but at least they're being a nervous wreck together.
The traffic is surprisingly thinner than they anticipated and they arrive at the airport earlier than they planned, so they're left with nothing to do but wait. Sungkyu taps his foot away irritatingly while Woohyun paces the hall with the expression of the caged animal.
"Is his flight delayed? It's not delayed, right?" Woohyun asks for the nth time while checking his watch again. Sungkyu tries to answer but he can't form a word so he grunts in respond and hopes Woohyun understands that it means no, it's not delayed. It's another ten minutes. This must be the longest ten minutes in Sungkyu's life.
"Is that- Is that him?" Woohyun points to the crowd walking out from the sliding doors and Sungkyu looks real hard because damn, why can't he see his Dongwoo anywhere?
"Oh, wow, yeah, that's- that's him. That's Dongwoo," Sungkyu says, walking forward without even realizing it. Dongwoo's gotten tanned, like really tan. African sun put the bronze on his skin and the gold in his hair, and gosh, he looks so thin but he's right there! He's right there looking so adorable smiling at them.
"Sungkyu-hyung! Woohyun-ah!" Dongwoo yells really loud. He's obviously really excited and pumped. Normally Sungkyu would have tried calming him down because overly excited Dongwoo means overly everything, but not today. Today he'll let Dongwoo get all excited for all he wants. Woohyun's hand shoots past him and before Sungkyu knows it, Woohyun has pulled Dongwoo towards their body.
Dongwoo is all bundle of sunshine, jumping into Sungkyu's and Woohyun's arms and finally, finally, Sungkyu manages to relax.
"Hyung! Woohyun! I miss you guys so much!" Dongwoo speaks very loud but Sungkyu doesn't care for the well-being of his eardrums right now. All he cares about is Dongwoo is here, in his arms, and he looks healthy and all right. The rest can wait. The rest can hold hands and walks off the cliff for all he cares.
Woohyun chuckles softly behind them, arms holding to both him and Dongwoo so tight Sungkyu loses the feeling in his midsection. It's also been too long since Sungkyu last heard Woohyun chuckles.
"Let's go home, Dongwoo," Woohyun says and Sungkyu nods. He nods while listening to Dongwoo's and Woohyun's heartbeats, the rhythms in sync with each other.
+
They skip the party. Or Woohyun makes them skip the party; the detail is really vague in Sungkyu's mind. He thinks it goes like this, Woohyun pulling Dongwoo straight to their bedroom before coming out to push Sungkyu inside the bedroom as well.
"You're not going to let me wash up for a bit?" Dongwoo laughs while Woohyun's busy tearing his t-shirt apart. Sungkyu goes out while Woohyun is distracted to drag in Dongwoo's luggage. Their place is really clean at the moment; the neat freak side of Sungkyu likes to keep it that way as long as he can.
"No. Who needs washing up? You can wash up later." Woohyun is struggling with Dongwoo's belt so Sungkyu decides to unpack the bags for Dongwoo. He can join in later after Woohyun gets Dongwoo all needy and clingy, saves him the energy.
"But I smell like an airport!" Dongwoo protests weakly, in which Woohyun pays no mind to. He proceeds to wrestle Dongwoo's belt off his pant when suddenly Dongwoo tabs really hard on the mattress. "Oh! I got that mask for you," Dongwoo says when he sees Sungkyu looking blankly at stuffs in one of Dongwoo's bags. He kicks Woohyun aside before crawling to the edge of the bed to rummage through his bag; Woohyun looks after him in disbelief.
"You can hang it at your office so no one would bother you while you're working," Dongwoo hands Sungkyu a colorful mask made of crafted wood and feathers. It looks like some sort of a monster. It really looks intimidating; his coworkers are so going to get intimidated by it, Sungkyu can tell already and he laughs quietly at the thought.
"I also got this for you," Dongwoo says, tossing Woohyun the wrapped package, and he catches it with both hands. "It's a good luck charm so you can beat Howon at the next award."
It's a silver charm with an alligator tooth at the center, crafted with care and precision. Woohyun looks dumbly at it for a second before a dazzling smile breaks across his face. He sweeps over and kisses Dongwoo with renewed passion.
"Thanks, babe," Sungkyu bends down and whispers sweetly at Dongwoo, tongue licking hotly at the shell of his ear, and gets a thumb up as a reply because Dongwoo is otherwise occupied; Woohyun making his way slowly down to his naval. Sungkyu contemplates it's time for him to join in, so he climbs up on the bed and proceeds just as that.
+
Sungkyu decides to take another day off because Dongwoo looks so peaceful sleeping in their bed, and Woohyun, sharing another side of it, has Sungkyu in the tight hold. Morning light shines softly through their curtains. Sungkyu indulges himself by lying in bed for another hour without doing anything before getting up to make coffee when he senses his companions are starting to wake up slowly.
Dongwoo is the first to join him at the table, hair in his eyes and a pillow crease on his cheek. He looks utterly delicious in Woohyun's shirt.
"Good morning, hyung," Dongwoo mumbles while grabbing for Sungkyu's coffee and drinking it in one big gulp. "You're not going to work?" He asks later when he finally finishes Sungkyu's cup. Sungkyu looks at Dongwoo fondly before answering, "I'm taking a day off."
Dongwoo laughs a little before walking behind Sungkyu. "You're overworked. You're overly stressed. You need to relax." Dongwoo massages Sungkyu's shoulders, hands steady and firm. Sungkyu's muscles resist stubbornly for a moment, but then give easily under Dongwoo's administration.
"Gosh, you don't know how much I miss you," Sungkyu says softly while Dongwoo kneads the particularly stubborn kink in his back.
"You tell that one to work a little less. He doesn't listen to me at all," Woohyun speaks from the doorway with a fond smile. He scratches his stomach lightly while making a beeline to the coffee pot. "You save up, like, weeks worth of vacation, really."
And Dongwoo hits Sungkyu softly on the shoulder before saying, "listen to Woohyun, hyung. He's not often right but sometimes he does." And Woohyun says hey! loudly from the kitchen, apparently offended by Dongwoo's remark. And Sungkyu laughs until his stomach hurts.
It's Wednesday. The day he loathes with every fiber of his being. But Sungkyu thinks, looking at Dongwoo trying to help Woohyun reheating the Jjampong they made yesterday, that maybe Wednesday is not that bad after all. Not really. Not when there's Woohyun making face at Dongwoo's failed attempt at getting the gas going and Dongwoo's small giggles when he's trying to be apologetic.
Like this, with Dongwoo smiling softly at Woohyun's commentary on the latest episode of that one soap opera everyone's talking about, his feet tugged neatly underneath Sungkyu's knees, Wednesday is not so bad. Not in the least. Not at all.
Started: 131021
Finished: 131204
It was a bit rushed because I failed at time management and was about to miss the deadline. My fingers itch to fix it but it was already posted so, yeah. Must do better next time! Also, I fixed the spelling. What's with me and all the misspelling idk OTL
Length: 5,601 words
Pairing: Kim Sungkyu/Nam Woohyun/Jang Dongwoo
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nothing here is mine except for the plot and the writing.
Summary: Dongwoo is coming back after being away on a trip for months and to say Sungkyu is stressed is the understatement of the year.
A/N: Thank you so much, pixy_polly, for the last minute pitch-in for the beta. You're my life saviour, girl.
originally posted here as part of 2013 Infinite Secret Santa in infinitesanta, who requested a fic involving 2woogyu in a disgustingly-fluffy, full-of-domestic-bliss sort of relationship. I hope I delivered it.
Sungkyu hates Wednesday; the kind of day that passes far too long from the first working day of the week, but yet too far away from the weekends, the kind of day that he has to be the first to wake up and the last to come home so late he wouldn't have a chance to see the other half of his housemates, the kind of day that everything sucks more than usual. Sungkyu really really hates Wednesday.
Being in corporate field is nice when you're looking for consistency and routine, but at nine in the evening, still stuck at the office with some oldie tunes from the sixties drifting from the janitor's radio on his cart as his only friend, Sungkyu wonders why he decided to go into business management in the first place. Woohyun is all eye-rolling and half-hearted pats on the back nowadays.
Dongwoo is due back next week, after having been gone to god knows where for three whole months; three long whole months of crappy Skype connection and far-in-between random snap shots from Dongwoo's smart phone. Woohyun would have exasperatedly whispers South Africa, Sungkyu. Dongwoo's in South Africa. for the nth time. But Woohyun's not here, so Sungkyu will commit himself to brooding as much as he'd like.
Sungkyu's unconsciously tapping his foot to the beat of the old Make Your Own Kind of Music drifting closer now that the janitor's clearing the room next door. Mama Cass Elliot is too cheerful in the dead of the night, Sungkyu muses tiredly. All he wants to do is driving home, taking a hot shower and planting himself face first on his own mattress- the last two are orderly negotiable.
Wednesday. Dongwoo is going to be back on Tuesday. Another agonizing six days until Sungkyu will be able to see him, be able to touch him, hear him for real. He's not sure if he can take all the waiting.
Woohyun is planning to throw Dongwoo a welcoming party―a party where Sungkyu promised to help organize but can't because he's stuck at the office, finishing the company's report on their first quarter. Wednesday. Sungkyu curses inwardly and bangs his forehead softly against his office table. Wednesday. Another six days. Sungkyu hates Wednesday with a burning passion.
+
The light in Woohyun's room is still on when Sungkyu keys open the front door and walks in. The cartons of leftover Chinese are thrown haphazardly in the bin, and the cut-out paper letters of W-E-L-C-O-M H-O-M-E are scattered across the dining table. Sungkyu takes note to remind Woohyun that welcome has another e in it while toeing off his shoes and walks swiftly across the wooden floor, hoping to reach the bathroom undetected. But of course, Nam Woohyun's going to choose to be psychic today of all days and gives Sungkyu a heart attack by suddenly poking his head out of his room.
"Did you just get back?" Woohyun asked dryly and Sungkyu heaves a sigh before answering, "yeah, just a minute ago." His voice cracks at the last syllable and Sungkyu winces. He hopes he's not coming down with flu. He can't afford to get sick in the time like this.
The light in Woohyun's room is off, leaving only the light from his computer screen the only source of illumination. The shadow of his room retreats when Woohyun reaches blindly beside the door and turns the light switch on. He looks like someone whose dictionary doesn't have a word razor because, damn, there's a tropical jungle growing on his face.
"Man, have you washed your face? At least you did brush your teeth, right?" Sungkyu grimaces and Woohyun's eyes turn into a slit.
"Of course, I brushed my teeth. Why kind of a person do you think I am?" Woohyun huffs, lips pouting attractively. Sungkyu has the sudden urge to bite them with his teeth and pull. It has been way too long since he has had any quality time with Woohyun. "I know the importance of hygiene, seriously."
Sungkyu has been staying late at the office to finish the report and came home so late three nights in the row. But the problem is, they aren't just these three nights; he's been working overtime and running himself rack for weeks now. This is the first time since forever that Woohyun's got the clean look at his boyfriend. By the time Sungkyu got back from work, Woohyun was already asleep. And when he got up, Woohyun was just a bundle of blanket on the left side of the bed. Sungkyu takes a good look at Woohyun and thinks that, between them, Woohyun looks more like someone who works the nine-to-five job, not a best-selling author working from the luxurious of his home.
"Baby, there's this thing called electric razor. It's a really great invention. You should try it, you know?" Sungkyu teases softly.
"Fuck you, hyung. I know how to shave. I'm just too lazy to care." Woohyun takes a peek at the clock hanging on the wall and grimaces. "It's two o'clock already? Fuck, why did they make you stay at the office so late. Fucking slave driver."
Woohyun slowly walks out, closing the door behind him quietly, before reaching out to untie the knot on Sungkyu's tie. "Why would anyone wants to have this thing around their throats all day?" Woohyun huffs in irritation while busily pulling said clothing article off like it offends him somehow. Sungkyu's hand shoots out to clasp loosely around Woohyun's, and Woohyun's hands go still.
"I'm fine, baby," Sungkyu says, voice soft. "I'm more concern about you, you know?" His hand comes up to scratch lightly on Woohyun's stage-three beard. "And by the way, you're one e short on the word welcome."
"I know," Woohyun moans with feeling, "We're out of that green glittering paper that he likes so much. We're going to have to go shopping soon. We also need decorating supplies. And ingredients for the food. And-"
Sungkyu tunes out the rambling of Woohyun and makes the mental note to go shopping with him soon least he'll most certainly face an even longer groceries list. Fucking Wednesday. Why can't weekend come sooner?
+
Woohyun is a critically acclaimed best-selling novelist, or so he and the whole bunch of websites say. His first break through was the story about a group of teenagers involved in the cold ritualistic murder in the distant village. He is the most sought after bachelor according to StyleM magazine, and the embodiment of sex-on-legs incarnation. But the reality might leave the majority of girls (and guys alike) disappointed since all Woohyun really does at home are lounging around in his dirty underwear, sporting eight o'clock shadow on his face, and pondering about the best way to kill off people.
That's why Sungkyu is practically escalated when Woohyun decided to finally shave off that offended forest of his this morning; his cheeks and jaw finally smooth to Sungkyu's touch. They go shopping on that day. Woohyun clutches the grocery list in his right hand and the other's holding tight to Sungkyu's. It makes driving really difficult to tell the truth. Sungkyu's not complaining though.
Braving a supermarket on Saturday is a lot like going into wars where soldiers are more prone to shove you aside for the discounted products and you might get run over by small children trying to push their parents' shopping carts from random point A to random point B. Woohyun develops a permanent patient smile when he gets hit, yet again, by a plumb lady's full basket, and Sungkyu's face sports a permanent scowl.
Shopping is not really on their list when there's no Dongwoo around distracting them with his innocent smile. Sungkyu misses Dongwoo more than he can put it into words.
"Where the fuck is the noodle isle?" Woohyun whispers fiercely, mouth is still forming a smile but his eyes are becoming more and more murderous.
Sungkyu's left eye ticks so bad he looks demented. The family on their right decides to drop the can of pineapple once they see Sungkyu eyeing it with contempt. He doesn't want pineapple; he just wants to look at something that's not constantly in motion because his head is starting to hurt.
The noodle isle is on their right, three rows ahead, according to the ever so helpful shop assistant who is probably on crack because no one should be able to be earnestly helpful in the time like this. Sungkyu takes hold of Woohyun's shopping list and realizes that they are only about one-third done. They really need to focus on finding all the items and get the hell out of this place soon.
That noodle isle, that's where they run into a certain Lee Howon out looking for buckwheat noodles. Now, Howon is a friend. He's Sungkyu's underclassman back at the university, and they keep tab on each other ever since. Howon is a good kid, hardworking, passionate and honest. But he also shares the same publishing as Woohyun. While Sungkyu has no problem being a friend with his boyfriend's career rival, Woohyun on the other hand, expresses on many occasions that he would want to rip Howon's guts out for simply being Howon. Talking about testosterone.
"Hi, guys," Howon says good-naturedly. Sungkyu gives him a one-arm hug because, hey, he likes the kid. Woohyun makes that face―the one he thinks Sungkyu knows how to decipher but actually doesn't so Sungkyu mostly pretends it means Woohyun needs to go pee real bad―and excuses himself to go find item number six on their list: celery.
Howon looks after Woohyun before turning his unamused eyebrows at Sungkyu. "I remember vaguely that you ensured he would stop being a total asshat one of these days."
Sungkyu just sighs. "Sorry. He doesn't want to face you yet, because he still can't decide whether to congratulate you or strangle you. I'm sure the congratulate part will win out in the end." He gives Howon a tense smile before excusing himself to go find his idiot of a boyfriend.
The thing is, not only Howon is a writer; he also writes mystery and managed to snatch that one award that supposed to go to Woohyun from under Woohyun's rug. Howon was a former paralegal so his main characters tend to be somewhat of an authority figure, while Woohyun solely writes normal people as the protagonist. Their style crashes severely to say the least. That's why when Howon suddenly found his calling in writing two years ago, he has since become Woohyun's bane of existence (as Woohyun's lovely put.) They would have gotten along so well, Sungkyu mused silently, if there would be less ego involved.
Sungkyu catches up with Woohyun at the snack isle. Woohyun dumps ton loads of Snickers into their cart, which Sungkyu only takes out about half and puts them back at their former place because he's a good boyfriend who can tell when his lover is in a bad mood.
Dongwoo wouldn't eat Snickers anyway. He's more of a Twix person.
+
Sungkyu met Dongwoo in his last year of university. He was in this on-again-off-again roller coaster of a relationship with Woohyun, who was at that time the jerk underclassmen from liberal arts that shared an art history class with him.
Sungkyu was in finance. He didn't understand why history was a compulsory course so he procrastinated taking it until the last semester. Dongwoo was a photography student sharing the same building. And Sungkyu ran into Dongwoo setting up slides for their professor one too many time to count as an accident because Dongwoo had been sneaking glances at Sungkyu and didn't even bother to be discreet about it.
Woohyun found it overly endearing that Sungkyu got himself a secret admirer. Sungkyu grumbled and punched him hard on his thigh while giving him a blowjob.
So it came as no surprise when it was Woohyun who made the first move―striking a conversation with a caught-in-the-headlight Dongwoo one morning before their class; Sungkyu loitering behind with a scowl on his face because Woohyun you fucking shameless lout and so he could insert some damage control if needed be. It was mostly to insert damage control if you asked Sungkyu.
Dongwoo, to his surprise, smiled really wide while introducing himself with small laughter. Shit! Sorry I didn't know you two are together, Dongwoo said while laughing shyly. Sungkyu still doesn't understand how a relationship could blossom from a corny hi, stranger but somehow it did. It doesn't have to be just two, right? Woohyun said and Sungkyu remembered thinking yeah, maybe he's right while watching the brush spreading across Dongwoo's cheeks when they took him out for a coffee after class.
Their relationship started slow, with more trials and even more errors. But they hung tight―Woohyun being the most stubborn person Sungkyu has ever met and Dongwoo even more so―and somehow, they'd made it. It's been years and they've still made it.
Sungkyu has never been more grateful for his luck than when he landed himself both Woohyun and Dongwoo. Sometimes Sungkyu can't see why someone like them would stick around with someone like him. Sungkyu works in business, for christ sake. He's the most boring person as boring can get.
Dongwoo is a national geographic photographer. He always travels to different places photographing different interesting things. Sungkyu is so boring compared to his vibrant colorful life. Hyung is the only constant part of my life, hyung and Woohyun. That's way I can have a home to come back to, Dongwoo said this the first time he left for his adventure. So maybe, being boring works for them.
Sungkyu takes a look at the last message he got from Dongwoo two weeks ago for the hundredth time- a short Isn't it beautiful? and a picture of the sun rising above the vast orange field of a deserted Africa. Sungkyu looks up and manages to catch the last ray of the setting sun before the tiny orange dot disappears behind the concrete building of a callous city of Seoul; Woohyun comes up and holds him loosely from behind, breathe hot and comforting.
+
They forgot to buy the green glittering paper that Dongwoo likes; Sungkyu suddenly jolts with a surprise realization. They're still an e short in welcome home.
"Damn," Sungkyu curses silently, "we still need to go for another shopping trip."
Woohyun lifts his eyebrow before adding, "yeah, about that. It seems like we also forgot to buy squid. We can't make Jjampong without squid." He buries his face at the crook of Sungkyu's neck and exhales slowly. And Sungkyu panics.
"How are we ever going to finish this? What in the world possessed us to even think we can throw Dongwoo a surprise party in the first place when we can't even do the simple grocery shopping to save our life?" Sungkyu says hotly while Woohyun licks his way down the hollow of his throat.
"Are we really doing this right now?" Woohyun looks up, action paused, and Sungkyu uses the opportunity to flip him on his back.
"No." Sungkyu starts, but then he lets out a frustrated sigh and says, "Yes. Maybe? I don't know! I mean this will be the worst party ever and he's going to hate us and-"
Woohyun rolls his eyes and yanks Sungkyu down, covering Sungkyu's mouth with his own. He feels Sungkyu still trying to say something so he deepens the kiss and grunts irritatingly because, hey, he's trying to make out with his boyfriend. Sungkyu tries to get into the mood again but the nagging feeling of the disorganized party and the huge empty space of an absent figure throws him off his game.
Woohyun heaves a sigh before flopping down on his back, hands covering his face. He looks really tired of all the sudden. Sungkyu cards his fingers through Woohyun's unstyled hair and the uninvited panic ceases a little bit.
"We're not really good at this when he's not around, are we?" Woohyun mumbles. It's not that Sungkyu doesn't want to do it with Woohyun because, fuck, he loves this idiot, too. But somewhere along the line, it has become wrong with just the two of them. Sungkyu hopes he could make Woohyun understand; he hopes he doesn't make Woohyun feel like he's being rejected, that he's not important. Because, damn, they both are really important to him, damnit!
"Woohyun, I-" Sungkyu starts to say but Woohyun interrupts him with a quiet voice.
"I miss him, too. You know. I can't even fucking write because no one makes tea like him and I'm craving fucking earl grey at two in the morning every day, and," Woohyun pauses before throwing his arm around Sungkyu's body. "Hyung, why does he have to be away for so long?"
And Sungkyu realizes with a pang that it's not just him that misses Dongwoo so dearly; Woohyun is also missing him like hell. He pulls Woohyun closer and holds him tight, all the while cursing at himself for being an insensitive neglecting jerk―how could he forget how much Woohyun loves Dongwoo?
"It's okay. He's coming back in two days. We'll see him soon enough, right? Just hang tight. We'll be okay," Sungkyu whispers fiercely while Woohyun whimpers quietly in his arms.
+
Woohyun is in the midst of preparing breakfast when he picks up the house phone and gets requested by Sungkyu's Satan-reincarnation of a boss to relay the message, asking (demanding) Sungkyu to be the representative of their division at the company's annual whatever conference on Monday because, apparently, the guy who's supposed to deliver the report fell sick all of the sudden. Sungkyu is still in the shower so Woohyun takes the liberty and slams the phone back on its receiver with feelings. Sungkyu is fucking stressed enough already he literally pulls at his hair. He's going to fucking flip when he hears of this new development.
Sunday is supposed to be a slow relaxing day, not the whirlwind of Sungkyu gathering papers, yelling at the phone and practically ripping off the head of the other guy on the other side of the conversation.
"You fucking idiot, why can't you do your job properly, goddamn it!" Sungkyu screams at his phone and Woohyun physically and mentally winces. "Just get me the goddamn ticket!" Sungkyu yells some more before hanging up the phone, breathing long and hard.
"I can't believe they're doing this to me," Sungkyu whispers fiercely. "I told them time and time again that they should at least have a backup speaker or something but no, they're going to have to put all the work into one person and now that he drove himself sick, all the responsibility becomes mine." Sungkyu rubs at his face harshly. "Gosh, I don't even have the material."
Woohyun rubs the soothing circle on Sungkyu's back while using the other hand to throw in last minute toiletries. Sungkyu told Woohyun with a grave face that the conference will be held at their headquarter in Hong Kong so he'll have to leave this evening. Sungkyu can't even pack properly under all the pressure he's under.
"Just go do your job, okay? I'll handle everything. Don't worry," Woohyun says while driving Sungkyu to the airport. Woohyun knows Sungkyu also feels bad for leaving Woohyun alone to do all the preparation for the party when he himself has promised to help. But really, this isn't Sungkyu's fault, is it?
"I'll bring back souvenir," Sungkyu says with conviction, trying to make amend by the looks of it, and Woohyun snorts.
"No, you won't. Because you'll be too busy to remember that. But it's okay. I don't want anything anyway," Woohyun says and squeezes Sungkyu's hand. "Just don't go on a mass killing spree and come home in one piece, okay?"
To his credit, Sungkyu only weeps a little when Woohyun hands him his baggage at the gate entrance.
+
Woohyun has a lunch date with his editor on Monday, whom he complains relays all his worries about everything to. And Sungjong, being a wonderful life-long friend that he is, hardly gives a damn. Woohyun also suspects that Sungjong always likes Sungkyu a lot better than he likes Woohyun.
"I don't care if you're stuck under a collapse building or missing a limb or being eaten by a kraken. I have to hand in your manuscript first thing tomorrow so the deadline is tonight. Either give me a manuscript or we'll push the publishing date of Howon-hyung's new book up and I know you're not gonna like it," Sungjong says with the practiced indifference he didn't sport when they first got to know each other. Sungjong used to be such an innocent adorable kid, Woohyun mourned sadly.
"All right, all right, all right!" Woohyun all but throws the napkin in his plate. He's going to finish that abomination of a manuscript even if it kills him. Sungjong pays the bill (because hey, he's the one who initiates the lunch date anyway) and shrugs when Woohyun asks why he's following Woohyun home.
"You probably make a mess of everything trying to decorate the place for the welcoming party. I'll help clean it up since Sungkyu-hyung won't be coming back till later tonight," Sungjong says, matching his pace with Woohyun's. "It's the least I can do, right?"
Woohyun just mutters what a brat under his breath while ruffing on Sungjong's carefully styled hair and only winces a little when he gets an elbow in the ribs in return.
+
Sungkyu comes home on Monday evening to Sungjong, Myungsoo and Sungyeol taking over their living room. He puts his bag to the floor slowly while trying to comprehend the situation; Woohyun is nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, hyung, welcome home," Myungsoo says when he walks past Sungkyu to the bedroom, laundry in both hands. "Woohyun-hyung's deadline is tonight and if he doesn't finish his first manuscript, his evil editor is going to eat his first born. So he's banned from the living room," he adds while dodging a pillow thrown by Sungjong who's yelling I'm not evil! It's not like I'm the one setting the date. It's the company!
"We did your laundry because when Dongwoo-hyung is back you're gonna have an even bigger and dirtier clothes to deal with," Sungyeol says from the kitchen. He seems to be putting things inside the fridge. "I labeled everything in the tupperwares. You can just take them out when you cook tomorrow. Red is for making Jjampong, blue is for making Japchae, and green is kimchi, other prickled vegetables and banchan. Meats are in the freezer."
Sungjong has switched off the vacuum cleaner and now is putting up the last piece of the heart garland above the television. The color red clashes with the green welcome, now with a complete e, giving off the celebratory atmosphere when it isn't even Christmas, yet.
Sungkyu is so floored and so grateful he doesn't know what to say.
"I call for the reinforcement because Woohyun-hyung is hopeless and I can't do everything by myself, either." Sungjong hands Sungkyu a feather dust before moving on to collect his things. "You can thank us later by making sure Woohyun-hyung finish his manuscript tonight and doesn't forget to e-mail it to me."
Myungsoo is Dongwoo's fellow photographer and Sungyeol works at the same publishing as Sungjong. Somehow their circle of friends expands when he doesn't realize it.
"Guys, thank you. Really. It's been stressful for the both of us and, well, thanks so much for helping out." Sungkyu has never been good with expressing his emotion, let alone his gratitude. But he really hopes they all know how much this means to him. Sungyeol just laughs while heading for the door, Myungsoo hot on his heel. Sungjong makes sure Sungkyu knows how important it is to finish the manuscript before he, too, heads home.
Sungkyu cracks open Woohyun's study before poking his head in. Woohyun slumps over his desk, papers and cups everywhere. Sungkyu feels bad all over again so he treads quietly, trying to clean his path while he's at it.
Woohyun stirs and when he sees Sungkyu, he smiles slowly. "Hey, you're back," Woohyun says drowsily, and the guilt is really strong Sungkyu can't help the frown forming in his face. He's about to open his mouth to apologize but Woohyun seems to sense it so he sees the need to shut Sungkyu up.
"Oh, come on. It was your job, okay? It's not like you deliberately ran away so you don't have to help preparing the party." Woohyun rolls his eyes, but his smile is fond and teasing. "Now fix me some tea, would you? I'm going to have to deliver this baby or I'll be permanently sterilized."
Sungkyu brews him tea, and brews him some more because godfucking Woohyun and his ability to be completely selfless when he's normally so selfish about everything. Woohyun doesn't go to bed until four in the morning; Sungkyu knows because he stays awake to keep Woohyun company right to the moment Woohyun clicks send on his e-mail.
+
Sungkyu wakes up the next morning and, instead of getting out of bed, calls the company and takes a sick leave much to Woohyun's amusement. He doesn't wait to hear what his boss has to say before disconnecting the call and getting back in bed.
"About time," Woohun murmurs while snuggling closer for warmth. They don't have to get out of bed until later. They can prepare the food in the afternoon and go pick up Dongwoo in the evening. Everything is perfect.
Or not. Sometime Sungkyu also forgets what a lousy cook he is. Thank god Woohyun knows how to cook, or else Sungkyu would have burned their place down trying to fry a pajeon.
"I'm just...going to stand here for moral support then," Sungkyu says weakly from a small space between the fridge and the counter; Woohyun glaring dagger at the burned pan.
"Why don't you go wash up? It's almost done anyway," Woohyun dismisses Sungkyu with politeness, and Sungkyu, wounded, goes to take a shower before they have to head to the airport. Sungkyu uses too much cologne; Woohyun uses too much BB cream. They are nervous for some reason, but at least they're being a nervous wreck together.
The traffic is surprisingly thinner than they anticipated and they arrive at the airport earlier than they planned, so they're left with nothing to do but wait. Sungkyu taps his foot away irritatingly while Woohyun paces the hall with the expression of the caged animal.
"Is his flight delayed? It's not delayed, right?" Woohyun asks for the nth time while checking his watch again. Sungkyu tries to answer but he can't form a word so he grunts in respond and hopes Woohyun understands that it means no, it's not delayed. It's another ten minutes. This must be the longest ten minutes in Sungkyu's life.
"Is that- Is that him?" Woohyun points to the crowd walking out from the sliding doors and Sungkyu looks real hard because damn, why can't he see his Dongwoo anywhere?
"Oh, wow, yeah, that's- that's him. That's Dongwoo," Sungkyu says, walking forward without even realizing it. Dongwoo's gotten tanned, like really tan. African sun put the bronze on his skin and the gold in his hair, and gosh, he looks so thin but he's right there! He's right there looking so adorable smiling at them.
"Sungkyu-hyung! Woohyun-ah!" Dongwoo yells really loud. He's obviously really excited and pumped. Normally Sungkyu would have tried calming him down because overly excited Dongwoo means overly everything, but not today. Today he'll let Dongwoo get all excited for all he wants. Woohyun's hand shoots past him and before Sungkyu knows it, Woohyun has pulled Dongwoo towards their body.
Dongwoo is all bundle of sunshine, jumping into Sungkyu's and Woohyun's arms and finally, finally, Sungkyu manages to relax.
"Hyung! Woohyun! I miss you guys so much!" Dongwoo speaks very loud but Sungkyu doesn't care for the well-being of his eardrums right now. All he cares about is Dongwoo is here, in his arms, and he looks healthy and all right. The rest can wait. The rest can hold hands and walks off the cliff for all he cares.
Woohyun chuckles softly behind them, arms holding to both him and Dongwoo so tight Sungkyu loses the feeling in his midsection. It's also been too long since Sungkyu last heard Woohyun chuckles.
"Let's go home, Dongwoo," Woohyun says and Sungkyu nods. He nods while listening to Dongwoo's and Woohyun's heartbeats, the rhythms in sync with each other.
+
They skip the party. Or Woohyun makes them skip the party; the detail is really vague in Sungkyu's mind. He thinks it goes like this, Woohyun pulling Dongwoo straight to their bedroom before coming out to push Sungkyu inside the bedroom as well.
"You're not going to let me wash up for a bit?" Dongwoo laughs while Woohyun's busy tearing his t-shirt apart. Sungkyu goes out while Woohyun is distracted to drag in Dongwoo's luggage. Their place is really clean at the moment; the neat freak side of Sungkyu likes to keep it that way as long as he can.
"No. Who needs washing up? You can wash up later." Woohyun is struggling with Dongwoo's belt so Sungkyu decides to unpack the bags for Dongwoo. He can join in later after Woohyun gets Dongwoo all needy and clingy, saves him the energy.
"But I smell like an airport!" Dongwoo protests weakly, in which Woohyun pays no mind to. He proceeds to wrestle Dongwoo's belt off his pant when suddenly Dongwoo tabs really hard on the mattress. "Oh! I got that mask for you," Dongwoo says when he sees Sungkyu looking blankly at stuffs in one of Dongwoo's bags. He kicks Woohyun aside before crawling to the edge of the bed to rummage through his bag; Woohyun looks after him in disbelief.
"You can hang it at your office so no one would bother you while you're working," Dongwoo hands Sungkyu a colorful mask made of crafted wood and feathers. It looks like some sort of a monster. It really looks intimidating; his coworkers are so going to get intimidated by it, Sungkyu can tell already and he laughs quietly at the thought.
"I also got this for you," Dongwoo says, tossing Woohyun the wrapped package, and he catches it with both hands. "It's a good luck charm so you can beat Howon at the next award."
It's a silver charm with an alligator tooth at the center, crafted with care and precision. Woohyun looks dumbly at it for a second before a dazzling smile breaks across his face. He sweeps over and kisses Dongwoo with renewed passion.
"Thanks, babe," Sungkyu bends down and whispers sweetly at Dongwoo, tongue licking hotly at the shell of his ear, and gets a thumb up as a reply because Dongwoo is otherwise occupied; Woohyun making his way slowly down to his naval. Sungkyu contemplates it's time for him to join in, so he climbs up on the bed and proceeds just as that.
+
Sungkyu decides to take another day off because Dongwoo looks so peaceful sleeping in their bed, and Woohyun, sharing another side of it, has Sungkyu in the tight hold. Morning light shines softly through their curtains. Sungkyu indulges himself by lying in bed for another hour without doing anything before getting up to make coffee when he senses his companions are starting to wake up slowly.
Dongwoo is the first to join him at the table, hair in his eyes and a pillow crease on his cheek. He looks utterly delicious in Woohyun's shirt.
"Good morning, hyung," Dongwoo mumbles while grabbing for Sungkyu's coffee and drinking it in one big gulp. "You're not going to work?" He asks later when he finally finishes Sungkyu's cup. Sungkyu looks at Dongwoo fondly before answering, "I'm taking a day off."
Dongwoo laughs a little before walking behind Sungkyu. "You're overworked. You're overly stressed. You need to relax." Dongwoo massages Sungkyu's shoulders, hands steady and firm. Sungkyu's muscles resist stubbornly for a moment, but then give easily under Dongwoo's administration.
"Gosh, you don't know how much I miss you," Sungkyu says softly while Dongwoo kneads the particularly stubborn kink in his back.
"You tell that one to work a little less. He doesn't listen to me at all," Woohyun speaks from the doorway with a fond smile. He scratches his stomach lightly while making a beeline to the coffee pot. "You save up, like, weeks worth of vacation, really."
And Dongwoo hits Sungkyu softly on the shoulder before saying, "listen to Woohyun, hyung. He's not often right but sometimes he does." And Woohyun says hey! loudly from the kitchen, apparently offended by Dongwoo's remark. And Sungkyu laughs until his stomach hurts.
It's Wednesday. The day he loathes with every fiber of his being. But Sungkyu thinks, looking at Dongwoo trying to help Woohyun reheating the Jjampong they made yesterday, that maybe Wednesday is not that bad after all. Not really. Not when there's Woohyun making face at Dongwoo's failed attempt at getting the gas going and Dongwoo's small giggles when he's trying to be apologetic.
Like this, with Dongwoo smiling softly at Woohyun's commentary on the latest episode of that one soap opera everyone's talking about, his feet tugged neatly underneath Sungkyu's knees, Wednesday is not so bad. Not in the least. Not at all.
Started: 131021
Finished: 131204
It was a bit rushed because I failed at time management and was about to miss the deadline. My fingers itch to fix it but it was already posted so, yeah. Must do better next time! Also, I fixed the spelling. What's with me and all the misspelling idk OTL