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Yunho doesn’t know when it started, but somewhere along the way, he discovered that he liked to read aloud. It helped him retain the words better and it's usually to himself. He’ll mumble the passages of books as he’s sitting on the couch reading. Or the ingredients to whatever recipe he’s making, as he’s cooking. It’s just something that he does. No one else notices because he’s never exactly had a reason to read around them, at least not like this.
He’s so used to it that he doesn’t even know he’s doing it anymore. So when he’s sitting in the living room reading from one of his favorite history books, while Hongjoong works on his latest sketch, he doesn’t think about it. At least not until he goes to turn the page and realizes he can no longer hear the sound of pencils scratching against paper. He glances over to find Hongjoong watching him, looking a little dazed.
Yunho doesn’t want to draw attention to the fact his friend is staring. He just smiles to himself and continues reading. And if he reads for longer than he'd initially planned to, just because he likes the way Hongjoong relaxes back into the armchair and his eyes drift closed, well that’s his business.
It keeps happening after that. He makes a point to read aloud whenever Hongjoong is in the room. He never misses the way Hongjoong seems to finally let himself relax, all the tension he carries falling off his shoulders.
It quickly becomes a habit. So much so that sometimes when Yunho isn’t reading, Hongjoong will glance at whatever book Yunho has left sitting on the table and that’s all he needs to know what Hongjoong wants.
Hongjoong starts sitting closer after a while, no longer putting up the pretense of working on something else, while Yunho reads. Yunho doesn’t say anything about it. He likes that he can help Hongjoong, even in this small little way. He knows why he likes it so much. He can’t deny how the thought of his voice being the one thing that soothes Hongjoong to sleep, makes his stomach flutter. Or how he finds himself watching him sleep sometimes, taking in how peaceful he looks sleeping like this. Yunho knows what the feeling is. He’s just not sure if he should do anything about it.
Sometimes it feels like Hongjoong is interested in him too. His eyes will linger on Yunho a little too long and the way he’ll look at him… Yunho has never seen Hongjoong look at anyone else with such open affection before, at least not without hastily putting a mask back in place or brushing the other person off.
Yunho can understand it. It’s been a while since he was able to let his walls down and let someone fully in. It’s getting easier with everything, but the person that he finds himself feeling the most comfortable with is Hongjoong. He knows no one would expect them to be so soft around one another, but they seem to bring it out in each other. They understand each other in a way no one else probably ever could.
Yunho looks up when he hears footsteps padding down the hall before Hongjoong appears in the living room. He’s wearing one of Yunho’s sweaters and a pair of basketball shorts with his feet bare. That had been something new for both of them too. To be so comfortable around another person, they can be their authentic selves.
“You’re not reading?” Hongjoong asks, settling down on the couch next to Yunho. He’s close enough their sides are touching and Yunho has to fight the urge to reach out and take his hand.
“I was about to,” Yunho tells him. “Just got a little lost in thought.”
“Oh?” Hongjoong grins, nudging his shoulder. “Were you thinking about me?”
Yunho knows better than to try and deny it, not that he really wants to. “Yeah. I was thinking about how safe and happy I am here. With you.”
Hongjoong’s mouth drops open in shock, before he closes it and clears his throat, “Yeah well, you look happy. With the whole stealing my t-shirt thing.” he gestures to the black oversized graphic print shirt Yunho is wearing.
“You’re one to talk,” Yunho snorts, pulling at the sleeve of the sweater Hongjoong is wearing. “You look comfortable.”
Hongjoong grins and settles back against the couch, his head coming to rest on the arm Yunho has thrown across the back of it. “I am. I’m happy here too.”
“Good,” Yunho says, giving him a soft smile. “You deserve to be happy, Hongjoong.”
“So do you,” Hongjoong says.
“I am,” Yunho tells him. “It took awhile for me to get to a place where I thought it was okay for me to be this happy, but I am. And you’ve helped with that.”
“You’ve helped me too, you know?” Hongjoong says, “I’d probably still be unsure of myself, if it wasn’t for you. It’s like you’ve given me a second chance. You’ve helped me more than anyone else ever did, and you never had to. You didn’t know me. You could have left me on the street that night, but you took a chance and took me in. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Hongjoong shifts until he’s facing Yunho and bites his lip. Yunho doesn’t miss the hint of nervousness when he asks, “Can I…?”
Yunho isn’t entirely sure what he’s asking, but he finds himself nodding and agreeing, “Yeah.” He knows there’s not a lot he would deny Hongjoong.
Hongjoong surprises him by wrapping his arms around Yunho’s waist and hugging him. It doesn’t take long for Yunho to reciprocate the hug, his own arms moving up to wrap around Hongjoong’s back. He just holds him like that for a while, allowing Hongjoong to take all the comfort he needs. Yunho knows what it’s like to crave a simple touch.
“So are you going to read?” Hongjoong asks, his voice quiet and slightly muffled from where his face is tucked against Yunho’s chest.
“I can, if you want me to” Yunho says.
“Please. I like when you read.”
Yunho smiles and picks up the book from the table, doing his best not to jostle Hongjoong too much as he moves. He finds the page he was last at and starts reading, his tone is soft but loud enough for Hongjoong to hear him clearly. He reads, but it’s hard to focus on the words with Hongjoong so close. He can feel his heart beating against his chest and smell the clean, fruity scent of his soap. He does his best to continue reading and he can feel Hongjoong relaxing further into him.
Yunho looks down at where Hongjoong’s resting with his eyes closed. He can tell the boy is still awake. He’s seen Hongjoong sleep enough by now to notice the little changes in him that occur when he’s actually sleeping. He’s close but not quite there yet.
His hand comes up to brush through Hongjoong’s hair, smiling when Hongjoong sighs, pushing into it. It’s that contentment that has Yunho wanting to take a chance. He takes a deep breath and goes for it, "And he was really, really beautiful...especially when he slept."
Hongjoong’s eyes blink open to meet his, “That’s not history.”
“It could be ours,” Yunho tells him. “Something we look back on or tell our grandkids about.”
“Our grandkids,” Hongjoong says.
Yunho’s eyes widen as he realizes just what he was implying. They haven’t even kissed or gone on a first date yet and he’s talking about them having grandkids. Jesus. ”Sorry if I…”
Hongjoong pushes up and kisses him. The angle is awkward at first but it still gets the point across. Then he shifts, pulling closer until he’s in Yunho's lap, his hands on his shoulders as he leans in, bringing their lips together for a slower, deeper kiss. Yunho’s hands find their way to Hongjoong’s hip and around his back as he pulls him even closer into the non-existent space between them.
“I want that,” Hongjoong speaks the words against his lips when they pull back. He lets out a giddy laugh that Yunho just has to smile at, “I want to have all of the things with you, Yunho. I never thought something like this would be possible for me. But if you’re serious…”
“I am,” Yunho assures him. “I mean, I’m not saying I want to go out and get married right away or anything. I think we should probably start with something smaller, like a date, and work our way up. But I know I want a future with you, Hongjoong. Whatever that may bring.”
“I want to grow old with you, reading books to me while I draw,” Hongjoong says. “And doing all the little things you love that no one else knows about. Like cooking and wearing soft sweaters and stealing my clothes. And getting up early sometimes to watch the sunrise from the roof, as you sip your herbal tea. I want all of the things, big and small, because I’m sort of in love with you Jeong Yunho .”
“Only sort of?”
Hongjoong rolls his eyes, “More than sort of. I’m a lot in love with you.”
“I’m a lot in love with you too,” Yunho grins, pulling Hongjoong in for another kiss.
“Maybe one day I can tell you a story,” Hongjoong says, his face bright and happy. “About a lost boy who fell in love with a soft angel.”
Yunho smiles, “I think that one will be my favorite yet.”