Work Text:
When Jaehyun comes to, he finds himself squinting at a bright light overhead.
He groans, the ache in his head making itself known immediately upon consciousness. He feels... disoriented, to say the least, and maybe a little confused. He attempts to move around, but his body feels far too heavy for him to even try shifting in place, the numbness in his legs adding to the difficulty.
He lifts his gaze to look around instead, spotting the white walls of what was obviously a hospital room, complete with a machine next to his bed beeping every now and then. He notices the tubes next, some small and some a bit too big for comfort, connected to different parts of his body underneath the covers, though he doesn’t feel their very presence quite yet.
Before he could even begin to think of what landed him in such a situation, he found that his movement had apparently alerted someone nearby and that he wasn’t alone. Something, or someone, moves from the corner of his eye, and a soft voice suddenly breaks the silence of the small hospital room.
“Jaehyun?”
Turning to the source of his name, Jaehyun was met with a brown haired man standing nearby, looking at him with wide and surprised eyes. He seemed reluctant in stepping closer, and it almost alarms Jaehyun: the way this stranger’s eyes were so filled with concern.
Jaehyun couldn’t quite recognize the man, but...
“Yes?” Jaehyun rasps out, and frowns at the odd tone of his voice. Huh.
The man bites his lower lip, only to suddenly turn around and rush towards the doorway, calling out, “Nurse!”
A reasonable response. Jaehyun, on the other hand, stayed confused, watching as the man made his way back beside his bed. The man still hovered by, and Jaehyun almost felt bad for being the cause of the anxious vibes coming from the stranger.
Voice still soft, the man asks him, “Do you know where you are?”
Jaehyun takes a glance at the white walls. “Hospital?”
“And… and why you’re here?”
Jaehyun frowns, staring straight ahead. If he musters enough effort to recall his memories of whatever happened, he somewhat remembers a sharp, excruciating pain.
A flipped perspective. Blinking lights against the pavement. Yells in the distance, and a blurred sight of flashing reds and blues. Suddenly, his side aches, enough to make him wince in pain, and a sense of dread fills him.
“I crashed... my car.”
“Yes,” the man confirms, tone a bit somber. Jaehyun thinks that talking about it may have been unearthing bad memories of whatever happened while he was out, and he almost feels bad, though he’s more curious of why the stranger seemed so affected. “I thought I almost lost you.”
“Lost me?” Jaehyun repeats. His side aches once more, and it’s enough for him to huff out and sink further against the bed. “I’m sorry, I feel a bit…”
The man stands up. “I’ll go call for a nurse,” he says, turning to leave, this time fully exiting the room to call for staff.
Jaehyun rubs at his temples when he’s alone. He looks around at the tubes, listening to the machine’s soft and steady beeps. He could guess by the equipment and by feeling alone that his accident wasn’t such a simple one. He only remembered bits and pieces, but did he really want to remember the entire ordeal?
After all, he felt more curious about something else at the moment...
When the man returns, a nurse following right behind him, Jaehyun decides to blurt out, “Who are you?”
The man freezes in his tracks, fear suddenly seeping into his features at the words.
The only other person in the room, the nurse, walks past him and stands by Jaehyun’s side to examine the monitor by his bed.
“His vitals are fine,” she notes. “Do you know what year it is?”
Jaehyun knew the question was for him. “2021?”
“What month is it?”
Jaehyun wasn’t sure. “April?”
Nodding, she turns around and faces the other man.
“It’s not permanent memory loss, don’t worry. He most likely only remembers a few things that happened pre-accident. It’s the post-trauma effect,” she explains. Jaehyun basks in the relief that floods the stranger’s face. “I’ll be calling the doctor over so we can talk about running more tests now that he’s awake. Just call again if you need anything.”
At the man’s nod of understanding, the nurse gives them a slight bow before turning to leave the room and leaving Jaehyun with the stranger.
The stranger was spaced out and staring off to the side, all antsy-looking. In turn, it made Jaehyun nervous.
He had a question that needed an answer, but perhaps the stranger wasn’t in the right headspace to respond. So, he waits a bit. He stares at the stranger a bit more. The longer he did, though, the more he noticed how...
“Hey,” he called out, careful. “You’re really pretty.”
The stranger’s head snaps up, eyes wide and brows furrowed, clearly confused.
“Huh?”
Jaehyun is still feeling fuzzy around the edges, but he tries to focus, feeling his cheeks slightly heat up at the attention.
“I mean,” he starts, clicking his tongue and fighting the slurring of his words. “I just noticed. You have really nice hair. Are you single?”
At first, the man continues to give him an odd look. Jaehyun almost feels guilty. Maybe this wasn’t the right time.
Then the man lets out a short huff of a laugh, eyes clearly starting to tear up.
Jaehyun immediately feels the panic surge through him, overcoming the fuzziness in his head when he sees the stranger start to wipe away tears.
“Oh, god. I’m sorry. Are you not single? Should I not have said that?”
Through a sniff or two, the stranger laughs. Jaehyun watches, flustered and confused, as the stranger shakes his head and takes a seat on the chair next to the bed. This way, he comfortably leans over the bed’s side to look directly at Jaehyun with a small and wobbly smile.
“Iʼm Jacob,” the stranger, Jacob, says.
“Jacob,” Jaehyun repeats. Ah. A pretty name for a pretty boy. He canʼt decipher the feelings through the slight numbness quite yet, but the name somehow had a feeling of familiarity to it. He doesn’t dwell on it for now.
Jaehyun has no idea what kind of drugs they knocked him out with to give him a side effect of bravery and boldness, but he decides to look straight at Jacob, feeling confident.
“You’re pretty even when you cry, Jacob.”
At that, Jacob visibly blushes, quickly wiping away the rest of his tears. Fuzzy feelings nearly forgotten, Jaehyun feels an ounce of pride having lessened the heavy load of the situation, until he catches himself.
“Ah. Iʼm sorry, I did it again.” He sighs, wanting to slap himself on the forehead. Probably not a good idea right now. “Wouldnʼt be shocked if you were taken, though.”
Jacob grins at that. Jaehyun feels a pang in his heart at the sight.
“I am, actually.”
Wow. Jaehyun feels his heart break into a million pieces and it’s almost funny. He’d laugh, if it weren’t for the constant pain on his side that worsened whenever he felt such a thing coming.
“I’m with someone.”
“Oh,” Jaehyun says, voice steady. Jacob watches him, almost as if he were studying his reaction. “Good for him. I mean. For them. They’re lucky to have you.”
“He always says that, too.” Jacob glances off to the side, at the monitor showing Jaehyun’s vitals. “Jaehyun, your heartbeat…”
Jaehyun slightly shakes his head, the best that he could do in his position in order to seem dismissive.
“Iʼm fine, just a little sad.” Jacob laughs at that, and Jaehyun would have probably commented on Jacob laughing at his embarrassing misery, if it werenʼt for the other man’s blinding smile holding him back. Beautiful. He looks beautiful. “I hope he treats you well.”
“Oh.” Jacob smiles, as if a specific memory came into mind. “He really does.”
Rub it in, why donʼt you, Jaehyun thinks, suddenly wanting to go back to sleep. Not back to a coma, god no, but maybe just a nap to forget this shameful event ever happened to him. Maybe that way, future Jaehyun who gets his memories back won’t remember this.
“In fact,” Jacob continues, and Jaehyun internally wallows in his suffering as he listens to the other man talk. “We’re married, actually.”
Jaehyun feels the air leave his lungs. “Oh!” He feels his mouth open in shock. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. I didnʼt even notice your ring.”
Jacob chuckles, and Jaehyun ignores the warm feelings in his chest at the heavenly sound. He’s a married man, he’s a married man.
“Jaehyun, it’s fine.” Jaehyun does like it when his name comes out of the other man’s mouth. He’s got a nice and calming voice, and married man or not, Jaehyun can’t deny that. Jaehyun watches as Jacob raises his hand up, fingers clearly empty of any sort of ring. “I havenʼt been wearing our ring, anyway.”
Jaehyun lets curiosity get the best of him. “Why not?”
“Something happened to him recently,” Jacob answers, “and it just felt… wrong to be wearing it. It just made me sad, I guess.”
“Did he do something to you? Did you fight? Did he hurt you? I’ll talk to him. Iʼll fight him.”
Jacob laughs. Jaehyun’s completely serious.
“Not sure if you can do that much right now, Jaehyun,” Jacob jokes. “But, no. He got into an accident, and it was really bad, so they had to... put him into a coma. It got lonely without him around, you know?”
“Oh.” Jaehyun feels genuinely bad this time around. Jacob must have been suffering alone. “I’m sorry about that. I hope heʼs okay.”
“He is.” Jacob nods. “He woke up today.”
“That’s good.” Jaehyun means it.
Then, Jacob stares. Like he’s waiting for something. It almost makes Jaehyun squirm in his spot.
“I mean it,” Jaehyun mumbles. “That’s good. You probably missed him a lot, huh?” It makes him wonder why Jacob was here instead of tending to his husband in some other hospital, or some other room.
“Yeah,” Jacob answers, voice soft. Jaehyun thinks he’s feeling emotional again, but he understands why. It’s the next few words Jacob says that brings back the confusion in Jaehyun. “I’m glad I’m finally talking to him right now.”
“Oh,” Jaehyun says.
Then, he blinks.
“Huh?”
Jacob gives him a smile.
Jaehyun feels the world spin, or maybe it was just his injury playing its tricks on him. It all clicks. “Wait. We’re… together? Me? Itʼs me?”
“Yes,” Jacob says, “we are. It’s you.”
“Huh,” Jaehyun mumbles, leaning back and looking forward. He thinks for a moment. “You’re with me? Really?”
“Do you think so low of yourself?” Jacob teases. “You’re charming, Jaehyun. Among other things.”
“How did I… that’s crazy. You’re beautiful,” Jaehyun says in clear disbelief, and Jacob shies away a bit at that, clearing his throat. “You’re not joking? This isn’t a prank? I think I hit the jackpot. I can’t believe you’d settle with me.”
“Why wouldn’t—”
“Wait,” Jaehyun interrupts. It finally dawns on him. “We’re married?”
“Yes,” Jacob says, gentle. Even when Jaehyun was starting to piece things together, Jacob obviously didn’t want to overwhelm him. “We got married a few months ago, in February. Do you remember?”
Jaehyun tries his best to think and dig into his blurry memories. Something like a sunny day. Lots of nervousness. Lots of crying. God, he cried a lot. He tries to think deeper, but his mind’s all weird, and all he could recall beyond his own perspective of events was Jacob’s ethereal smile at the altar.
He feels his heart ache. “I’m… I’m sorry. I don’t know why I can’t remember.”
“Hey, hey.” Jacob touches his arm, and Jaehyun looks down at it. Jacob gives him a comforting smile. Jaehyun feels something bloom in his chest, something close to familiarity and comfort. “It’s okay. You were out for a long time. Itʼll come back eventually.”
“But,” Jaehyun tries, tone weak. “You’re so good to me. I feel bad. Do I treat you well? I’m sorry if Jaehyun from the past sucks,” and he’s rambling now. “Sometimes I canʼt express things well. I canʼt even say I love you to my own parents without feeling like it’s a big deal. Oh god, have we said that yet? Have I said that yet?”
“Slow down,” Jacob says, but not in a mean way. He’s more amused than anything. “Yes, we have. We’re married, remember?” He reminds him, lighthearted in tone.
“Oh, right,” Jaehyun mutters. It still feels unreal. Jacob looks like the perfect guy. “I just canʼt believe it.”
Jacobʼs holding his hand now, his thumb brushing over the back of Jaehyun’s hand as a comforting gesture.
“I mean,” Jaehyun continues, frowning. “We’ve kissed, right? Am I a good kisser? I hope I am. I don’t even wanna think of sex. You look like you deserve the best.”
Jacob bursts into giggles. Jaehyun stares over at him, and maybe he’s a little in love with the man by his side, but he realizes that doesnʼt make any sense. They’re married. They’ve exchanged actual vows.
Oh, Jaehyun thinks. Till death do us part and all that. Oh, this is real.
“If it makes you feel better, you treat me well and you’re a great kisser,” Jacob confirms, and at that, Jaehyun sighs in relief. “You tell me you love me every day. That’s a bonus, but you never seem to forget.”
“Good,” Jaehyun says. “I think you deserve to hear it every day.”
Jacob tries not to laugh anymore. He didn’t really know what to say in response to his husband’s very... fresh views. The situation was, really, hilarious to him.
“I didn’t know my Jaehyun could be such a flirt,” Jacob jokes.
Jaehyun’s heart soars. My Jaehyun. He was Jacob’s.
Jaehyun knows what to say. “And I’m not—I know I don’t remember a lot, and I’m not pre-coma Jaehyun yet, but I want you to know that I love you.”
Immediately, Jaehyun notices Jacob’s shoulders sagging at his words, his smile becoming smaller, and maybe Jaehyun starts panicking a bit.
“Please donʼt cry again,” he quickly says, but it seems to just make the tears flow faster for Jacob, the other man clearly tearing up through a smile laced with relief and disbelief. “I’m so sorry. Did I say something wrong?”
“No, it’s just.” Jacob sniffs, shaking his head. “Itʼs nice to hear that from you. After months of… not having you around. Not knowing when or if you’d wake up.”
Jaehyun frowns. “I... I see.”
It’s starting to sink in. He forms an image of Jacob by his side for weeks, maybe worried to death, taking care of him and watching over him, not even sure whether Jaehyun would wake up or not. Jaehyun doesn’t even know what that would feel like, but he knows how difficult it must have been for Jacob, or for anybody who might have been in a similar situation.
Silently cursing his memory loss, he tries not to move too much when he tries to take Jacobʼs hand, holding it between his own two. Jacob looks up at him, a little startled by the action.
He’s starting to feel fuzzy again, the slurring in his voice having returned from a feeling of sleepiness suddenly taking over, but he pushes through.
“Well,” Jaehyun starts, and he doesnʼt know why, but he’s a bit nervous. “I’m here now. I’m sorry for leaving you. I donʼt know what it must have been like, but... thank you for not giving up on me.”
Jacob frowns at that, but puts his other hand over Jaehyun’s own. “Donʼt apologize for that, Jaehyun. You’re here now, and that’s what’s important,” he says, and a smile slips by his lips. “And I’d never give up on you, Jaehyun. Ever.”
Jaehyun grins, feeling his heart flutter when Jacob’s smile grows. Jacob still feels like such a distant memory, one that’s slowly getting piecing itself together with every glance and every smile he receives, but even so, he thinks this feels right. He’s sure of it: Jacob is home.
“I’m—” Jaehyun begins, but a yawn interrupts his words. “Ah. Sorry.” He suddenly feels like dozing off. Annoyance rises in his chest at the unwelcomed feeling.
Jacob shakes his head. “Do you wanna rest for a bit? Just until the doctor gets here.”
Jaehyun hesitates. Jacob seems to notice this and shoots him a reassuring smile, and Jaehyun immediately feels less guilty about the feeling of exhaustion taking over. He settles back against his pillows, sighing.
He feels Jacob take his hand. “I’ll be here when you wake up,” Jacob whispers, giving his hand a squeeze.
Jaehyun smiles over at him. He feels the sleep taking over too quickly for his liking, but with the warmth of Jacob’s hand seeping into his cold one, he eventually lets it be.
He closes his eyes. “See you,” Jaehyun mumbles, voice low, though his words sound like a firm promise somehow.
Jaehyun falls asleep to the sound of Jacob’s hum, a warm feeling in his chest, and a comforting hand interlocked with his own.