Work Text:
Hee Joo had been putting off finishing a work report.
It was Sunday, and she'd been home alone for days, something she hated ever since those six long, miserable months she spent by herself. Every time she was in the house, there were reminders of Sa Eon everywhere: his scent on the sheets, their photos, memories that felt even more vivid when he wasn’t around. All of it made it hard for her to focus on work. He wasn’t supposed to come back until Tuesday, after being away for 14 days. It was a longer trip than usual since he was in Europe, and the distance was seriously starting to drive her crazy. With the time zone difference, they barely managed to talk on the phone, just a few quick calls he made during his early mornings, because he refused to let her stay up late or wake up in the middle of the night to talk, even though she kept saying she didn’t mind. Still, Sa Eon never failed to send her messages during the day, asking if she’d eaten, how she was doing, how work had gone.
She was answering one of those texts while sipping some water in the kitchen, when she heard the beeping of the door code being punched in. Her heart jumped for a second, no one besides her and her husband knew that code. Her fingers were shaking as she opened the caller screen to dial the police, but when she saw the man standing at the door, she froze. He couldn’t be home… could he?
“Hey, love,” he said gently, smiling as his eyes scanned her face. “Did I scare you?”
Sa Eon was in casual clothes, a plain white T-shirt and relaxed black pants. He held a jacket in one hand, probably just taken off because of the nice weather. He looked tired, but still just as handsome as ever. Hee Joo kept staring at him, stunned, wondering if she was imagining him because she missed him so much. He wasn’t supposed to be back yet.
“Hong Hee Joo?” he called again, a hint of worry on his face as he stepped in and closed the door behind him.
His voice seemed to snap her back to reality, made her realize he was actually there, real and solid. She ran into his arms, jumping on him. He staggered a little from the surprise but quickly caught her, holding her close with one arm around her back. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her hands cradling his face.
“You’re here? You’re really here or am I dreaming?” she asked, happiness pouring out of her voice. She could feel tears forming in her eyes. Having him close again just made her realize how much she missed him.
“You’re not dreaming,” Sa Eon said, brushing her cheek with his thumb. “We managed to wrap things up earlier than expected. And I couldn’t stay one more second away from you.”
She hugged him tighter, burying her face into the curve of his neck. Back when they were in a fake marriage, she used to tell herself the way his scent made her feel didn’t mean anything, that it was just because he had a strong scent, and she’d react that way to anyone. But deep down, she knew it was because it was his. Only his.
She laughed when he started walking — still carrying her — and sat down on the couch. She had to look down a bit to talk to him like that.
“You should’ve told me! I would’ve picked you up at the airport,” Hee Joo complained, pouting.
“It’s over an hour drive and it’s rush hour,” he said, running his fingers through her hair. “I didn’t want you getting stressed in traffic. Besides, can’t I surprise my beautiful wife?”
Her heart skipped a beat. Just like all those times before, she could never get used to hearing that word from him. Wife. Every time he said it, something fluttered inside her, that feeling in her stomach that made her feel like a lovesick girl. “Say it again.”
She saw his face change. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, he definitely knew what it did to her, but she didn’t care.
“What? What do you want me to say?” he teased, clearly enjoying this.
She just stared at him, eyebrows raised, refusing to say it out loud. Luckily, Sa Eon’s heart had always been hopelessly devoted to this woman, and he probably couldn’t deny her anything even if he tried.
“My beautiful wife,” he whispered, giving in. “Only mine.”
She started planting kisses all over his face — his cheeks, his eyes, the corners of his lips, his jaw. The sound of his laughter echoed in her chest, and she stopped for a second to just look at him. God, she loved him so much.
“You must be really tired,” she said with a soft smile. It had been a long trip, and now that she was this close, she could see the dark circles under his eyes, like he hadn’t slept in days. “You should get some rest before lunch.”
Sa Eon shook his head. “Not even a little. I’m never tired when I’m with you,” he said, and even though he didn’t sound super convincing with that exhausted face, she chose to believe him, because she missed her husband.
Just like that night a few months ago, when she found him in Argan, Hee Joo pressed her lips to his. Maybe it was because this was the first time he’d been away from her for so many days since going back to work, but this kiss felt different, deeper. She wanted to tell him she missed him, but those words didn’t even come close to showing how she really felt. When he was gone, the house — and her heart — felt cold. Time moved slower, like a few days stretched into years. She missed him, yes, but there was also that fear… that something might happen out there, and he wouldn’t come back from one of those trips. Having Sa Eon home meant he was alive, safe, and healthy, and in that moment, that was all that mattered.
When her tongue stroked slowly against his, Sa Eon gripped her waist and slid his hand down to rest on her thigh, his fingers grazing that tiny mole high up on her skin like it was something sacred. At this point, no one knew her body better than he did, maybe not even herself. Hee Joo squirmed under his touch, pressing closer to him as her fingers tangled in his hair. Sa Eon let out a low groan when she tugged at the short strands at the back of his neck. He shifted them on the couch, laying down and moving on top of her. Now, she could feel all the warmth radiating from him, and the weight of his body against hers felt like something she’d never get used to, like he was made just for her.
“I missed you so much,” he whispered against her ear. “I love you so damn much, Hee Joo.”
He was telling the truth. She could almost feel the need pulsing in his veins, she could hear it in his desperate voice, feel it in the hard bulge pressing against her thigh. His lips left warm, wet kisses across her skin. He was everywhere — on her neck, her collarbone, her face. His trembling hands slipped under her shirt, fingers gliding over her stomach and brushing the underside of her breasts. Hee Joo's body shivered at his touch. He kept whispering sweet words to her, telling her how beautiful she was, how much he loved her.
The weight of the last few days came crashing down all at once. She’d been feeling so overwhelmed lately, and now, finally being with him and letting herself relax, felt like freedom. She could stop being Hong Hee Joo the interpreter, who had a million things to handle, and just be Hee Joo, someone loved deeply by someone else. Being loved by Baek Sa Eon was all she wanted that day.
She didn’t even realize she was crying until she saw the worried expression on Sa Eon’s face, and suddenly, he was looking down at her again.
“What’s wrong, my love?” he asked, and there was so much genuine concern in his voice that it made even more tears spill down her cheeks.
“I missed you so much,” she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I missed you so much, Sa Eon.”
Understanding washed over his face, and he gave her a soft smile, wiping a tear from her cheek.
“I’m right here.”
When his mouth met hers again, all the desperation was gone. It was slow, sweet, and full of love—a promise that he was there, really there. When he pulled back, she took in the sight of his flushed face and his lips, swollen and red from their kisses. Hee Joo leaned in for another kiss, but the sound of a work message notification cut her off. She threw her head back with a sigh, and Sa Eon, confused, rolled off her and sat up on the couch.
“What time is it?” she asked, propping herself up on her elbows. He checked his watch and looked at her.
“11:20. Why?”
Hee Joo groaned.
“I have to finish that report,” she muttered, annoyed at herself for procrastinating so much. “It’s due by noon.”
“Is it really that important?” Sa Eon asked, hope flickering in his voice. He shifted uncomfortably on the couch, and she knew exactly why. When she nodded, he cleared his throat and looked away. “Alright then... I needed a shower anyway. Do you need help with anything?”
Hee Joo shook her head as he stood up. “I think I can finish everything in about 30 minutes. You’ll wait for me in the room, right?”
She bit her lower lip—just a nervous habit—but she noticed his eyes lock on her mouth and saw him swallow hard. Sa Eon let out a heavy breath. “You’re gonna be the death of me, Hong Hee Joo.”
She laughed, standing up and planting a quick kiss on his cheek. After days apart, staying away from him was the last thing she wanted, but they were married—she’d have him all to herself later. Her boss, on the other hand, wouldn’t be so patient if she missed another deadline.
“I really need a... cold shower,” Sa Eon muttered to himself, grabbing his bag and heading to their room.
Hee Joo turned back to her laptop, taking a few deep breaths. It wasn’t easy to focus knowing he was finally home, but she wanted to finish as fast as possible. The sound of the shower and her typing filled the house for a while, until she heard the water shut off. She figured he was unpacking or something like that.
When she finally hit “send” on the file, the clock on her screen read 11:58. It had taken a little more than thirty minutes, but she’d made it. Hee Joo definitely wasn’t proud of the likely typos she left behind typing so fast, but who could blame her for being distracted?
She stood up and stretched her arms over her head. The house was completely quiet now. She walked down the softly painted hallway lined with photos of them—on the walls and in frames. This place was nothing like Sa Eon’s old apartment. From the colors to the decorations, everything here felt warm and happy. It felt like home, not a gray, lifeless shell. That’s why they made sure to choose everything together when they moved in.
“Babe?” she called softly, opening the bedroom door slowly, her heart speeding up with anticipation. She looked around and saw Sa Eon lying on the bed. His hair was damp, and now he wore a soft blue shirt and gray sweatpants. Her heart melted at the peaceful expression on his sleeping face. So Mr. "I'm not tired at all" needed a nap after all. She tried to be as quiet as possible, closing the door and tiptoeing to the bed. But he noticed when the mattress dipped beside him, and he turned toward her, eyes fluttering open.
“Hey,” she smiled at him as his gaze focused on her. “How was your nap?”
Sa Eon let out a soft laugh. “I didn’t even realize I passed out,” he said, his hand gently brushing her cheek. “Did you finish?”
She nodded, placing her hand over his.
“Then you can go back to sleep now.”
Sa Eon propped himself up on one elbow. “What? No. I wanna stay up with you. I’m fine.”
She gave him a skeptical look. "You just got off a twelve-hour flight. The only thing you need to do is sleep for the next twenty-four hours.”
“But—”
“Sa Eon,” she cut him off with a look. He might’ve been the best negotiator in all of Korea, but in their house, he’d lose every single argument to her. Hee Joo smiled as he lay back down with a defeated sigh and pulled her into his arms, letting her rest her head on his chest.
“I promise I’ll make it up to you when you wake up... if you promise to get some rest,” she whispered, and he chuckled, kissing the top of her head.
“Anything you want, my love.”
She absentmindedly traced patterns on his chest over his shirt, while his fingers brushed gently over her shoulder.
“That flight must’ve been rough if you passed out like that,” she said, just before he started to drift off again.
He took a few seconds to answer, like he was thinking. “Yeah, it was... but I don’t think that’s why. I mean, I’ve had long flights before. I think I fell asleep fast because you were close.”
Hee Joo lifted her head a little to meet his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve had other exhausting days on trips. I come back to the hotel, completely wiped out, but I can never sleep right away. And...” he hesitated, then looked away, smiling sadly. “I usually have to take something to help me sleep.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me that, Sa Eon?” she snapped, her voice laced with frustration, because that’s exactly how she felt. She hated the idea of him not sleeping well and relying on meds. His job was already stressful enough, losing sleep only made it worse.
“And worry you for no reason, like now?”
He had a serious expression, and she wanted to argue and say it wasn’t a “no reason,” but what mattered most now was that he rested.
“I’m okay, love,” he reassured her, guiding her head back to his chest. “Just stay with me, before I fall asleep. I’ve hated sleeping without you. Every time it happens, I remember those three years... and that time in Argan... and it always feels like a nightmare to wake up without you. Even now, I’m scared this might just be a dream, and you’ll disappear when I open my eyes.”
It was rare to hear Sa Eon open up like this. Even now, with their relationship stronger than ever, she still saw how he tried to hide his struggles to be strong for her. It hurt to know he might be suffering in silence, but she also knew this wasn’t something she could fix overnight. It would take time for him to fully let himself be vulnerable, and she’d wait as long as it took.
Eventually, she was going to talk to him and ask him to tell her everything about how he was really feeling and suggest him see a psychologist or psychiatrist. But for now, she’d stay right where she was, with the man she loved.
“I’ll still be here. You can sleep, and I’ll still be here when you wake up, Sa Eon,” she said firmly. Her fingers laced with his, and she pressed a kiss to the back of his hand. “My heart and my mind will always be with you, even if you’re on the other side of the world.”
He nodded seriously, hugging her close. Hee Joo waited a few more minutes until his breathing evened out. She wasn’t usually the kind of person who napped in the morning, but in the arms of her first and only love, she closed her eyes and slowly drifted into sleep.