salvageable | does a sick backflip

[ Good to know that even in an au they continue to misunderstand each other despite knowing each other the best? The trend continues. Joonghyuk instantly realizes Dokja took it the wrong way, but he doesn't catch him in time before the man and their shared dog escapes to the room. ]

Dokja—[ Is...

Is the door locked? He quickly follows after and checks the knob. ]

[ i didn't think that far ahead but yah you know what it IS locked.

Meanwhile Dokja sits in bed and ignores the rattling of the doorknob as he holds Biyoo up to stare at her. She's so cute... Just wiggling in his hands as her tail happily wags at the attention. ]

You're the only one I have, Biyoo.

[ Her and that voice in his head, apparently. ]

Dokja. Open the door.

[ This is with his Commanding voice? You can’t just lock him out of their room??? He continues to jiggle the knob only for a little longer before stopping. ]

[ Time for the petty awakening. ]

Why? Did you forget I'm in here? If you're not careful, you might have to actually see me.

[ At least... this feels familiar? Whatever the heck this is. ]

[ This little shit—Joonghyuk is going to share the same exact migraine Dokja has. ]

If I didn’t want to see you, then I wouldn’t have dated you in the first place.

[ How can he be with someone SO STUPID? How did he suffer this so long? Why… Does it feel like he has dealt with this for longer? Standing in front of the door with his arms crossed, he glares at it like he can bore a hole through and to Dokja. ]

Now open the door.

[ Would it be crazy if he jumped out the window to further avoid this confrontation.

..... Yeah. They're kind of high up and he doesn't think he'd survive that fall.

Dokja sets Biyoo on the bed so he can flop down with his arms outstretched. He's tired and cranky and his boyfriend blames him for their sexless relationship. ]

Chew through the door, you jerk.

[ Dokja!! Doesn’t know anything! But also Joonghyuk is awful with words. His eyes widen, livid that he’s being mistreated over Dokja not having a Braincell.

The worry that maybe his partner needs rest is Gone. ]

You can open this door or I can use the spare key.

[ One will end with Joonghyuk less mad? Please consider this. ]

[ Hm. When has Dokja ever picked the path of least resistance...

He hadn't given thought to the spare key, but now?? Fear sits in the pit of his stomach and the window is looking very tempting. But also, Dokja doesn't even know where their spare key is? Surely that means Joonghyuk also does not know? This could be an empty threat.

Why does it feel like his life is on the line.

... But it's his stubbornness that wins out in the end.

And the door remains locked. ]

[ There’s silence… A waiting period, until the sound of footsteps can be heard. They taper out only to return, then a metal sound with the shift to the door knob. Seems like there was always a spare key, in the case that either of these idiots locked them both out of the room.

The door flies open to unveil the devil himself. Joonghyuk is here, but doesn’t move away from the doorframe. He has suspicions that if he drew closer, Dokja would try to evade him and escape. ]

You will talk to me.

[ THE SPARE KEY WAS REAL???

There is no safe haven in this damn apartment.

......................

......

His eyes go to the window. ]

What were you thinking?

[ Genuinely, he wants to at least assuage whatever doubts the other man has, dispel any doubts and the like. They’ve had their arguments before, but their miscommunication—all of their misunderstandings were the worst like some heterosexual soap opera levels.

That window won’t save you, Dokja. Don’t stare at it while Joonghyuk is watching. ]

What were you thinking?

[ When in doubt, just turn the question right back around. Actually, he hates the start of this conversation very much. It's not so much that they've never had sex, but more that... they don't seem right together.

Not like this.

But he's already dug this hole, so. ]

What am I supposed to think when you tell me something like that?

[ Joonghyuk legitimately hates it when Dokja turns around the conversation and Dokja does that so much. His frown deepens much like his leer, but the frustration and anger isn't entirely pinned on the other man. The intense expression stays for a moment longer before it melts away with a sigh.

He rubs his neck awkwardly, unlike himself. ]

You were always skittish when the moment became more intimate than usual. [ This is so awkward. ] I thought you didn't care for it.

[ He just assigned Dokja asexual despite how... He has a niggling feeling that isn't true? Why does he feel like there is a story he's missing here about Dokja's deviance? Well, that strange feeling is put aside. He's worried for his partner and his pitiful self-worth. ]

[ you ever think about how this could have been solved in seconds but then they went and did it the hard way

Communication is most definitely their weakest point, and Dokja feels like shrinking in on himself. He hadn't been... that skittish... Well, maybe he had but it's normal to feel nervous?? Especially when he's never done it before and also Yoo Joonghyuk is... gestures to all of him.

A lengthy silence follows while Dokja struggles with his response. He's not sure how to put this into words. ]

... It's not just that, [ he finally admits. ] Something about us doesn't feel right.

[ Nervous, sure, but each time? Without even telling Joonghyuk how he's feeling? He has to read him and interpret since the man himself won't drop him a single word. With the answer he's given, he isn't sure... How to feel. Relieved that Dokja is opening up to him about this?

What is... This? So many things Dokja has been saying doesn't make sense, but in a way they do. All of this feels odd and yet—his heart sinks, anyway. His own emotions he can understand. Stoic as he usually is, Dokja should be able to tell when Joonghyuk decides to distance himself with his cold gaze. ]

... If you wanted to separate, you could say that.

[ They really are like this. ]

[ Literally made for each other with how dramatic they are.

Dokja's startled gaze snaps to Joonghyuk, his fingers anxiously twisting at the sheets under him before he opts to pull a content Biyoo into his lap. There's no question of who would take custody of their dog should they separate, right? ]

That's not what I mean.

[ The mere thought has his heart racing uncomfortably and the doubt comes back. Stronger than ever. He clearly likes Joonghyuk if this is how he's reacting, if the thought of not being together is bothering him this much, but...

He turns his shaking gaze to his hands. ]

Is it just me...?

[ As long as Dokja doesn't disappear, he may keep Biyoo, but let us consider his track record. He has the mind of making just leaving and going to their guest room to sulk, but... He's more reasonable than Dokja (sometimes, he had a wife once) and apparently has more emotional intelligence.

Joonghyuk closes the distance and brushes some of Dokja's hair away before pressing his lips against his crown. ]

... Get some sleep. We can talk about this tomorrow.

[ It is... The weekend. ]

[ Tomorrow... By tomorrow, Dokja will have made up a laundry list of excuses on why they should talk about anything and everything but this.

Maybe if they ignore it, it'll go away on its own. Maybe it's just this stupid headache, or his lack of proper sleep, or the anxiety of hearing that strange voice in his head.

He grabs Joonghyuk's wrist to stop him from pulling away. How to make everything okay again... ]

I'm sorry. I think I'm just... stressed.

[ Where would Dokja escape to? Joonghyuk would make sure to corner him. What a nice thing to look forward to when the sun rises on this fine, but freaky weekend. He stays close then, having no intentions to pry Dokja's hand off of his wrist.

Of course he worries. Everything feels—off, despite how this has been their lives for a couple of years now. It gnaws, fraying the edges of his mind. It has his nerves burn alight, rushed with uncomfortable pricks and chilly waves. Joonghyuk schools his expression. ]

... You're not going crazy. [ Hopefully, that's enough. ] I'll sleep in the guest room.

[ So Dokja can have. Well. Space. Biyoo looks up at both of them, whining. Puppy will stay, too. ]

[ Ah, to be separated from Joonghyuk is the last thing he wants, and Dokja's fingers tighten around that wrist in a silent bid not to go. He could say it in words, he supposes. He could ask for them to stay together, to make it so that he doesn't feel so alone and out of control of his very mind.

All he has to do is ask.

... ]

Okay.

[ There's a heavy reluctance in his voice, but he eventually releases the hold he has on Joonghyuk. Maybe... maybe some space apart will be good for them. It's only for one night. The guest room is just down the hall. Anything, anything at all, to convince himself this is right. ]

[ Usually, Dokja can hide it well from so many people. Joonghyuk less so and it's nigh impossible to ignore the tone of Dokja's voice. It's uncertain—different form his usual overly obnoxious self, but this is a side of Dokja, too.

His fingers twitch, tempted to touch him. Something simple like brushing his bangs aside, but he doesn't. ]

You can tell me to stay, fool.

[ Another chance that Joonghyuk feels like Dokja doesn't deserve sometimes. Maybe he's just annoyed seeing him this way. ]

[ Imagine asking for help. Imagine just being able to do that.

Instead, Dokja's brain goes into overdrive coming up with the stupidest excuse to get Joonghyuk to stay. It's like he deliberately chooses to complicate matters for the sake and benefit of absolutely no one. ]

It would probably be more comfortable for you to sleep where you're used to sleeping.

[ And that's not the guest room, so. ]

[ Here it is… Obnoxious. This helps him relax, though it agitates him like it should. Routine is… Nice, though it stirs those strange feelings again. Something is off about all of this.

Joonghyuk hyper-focuses. ]

There’s no one here you can con. Even Biyoo can see through you.

[ Why are you being difficult? Again? Always? Joonghyuk does at least sit on the bed now. ]

No staying up late reading webnovels.

I wasn't going to, [ he says very much like a petulant child.

But he's telling the truth (for once). As much as he'd like to ruin his eyesight staring at a bright screen while lying in the dark, his headache won't allow for it. Also it's still relatively early? He's still in his work clothes and he hasn't washed up yet either...

A thirty minute nap should be enough to recharge him. Just a quick snooze and then he'll actually get ready for a deep night slumber. No way his exhaustion will knock him out. Yeah.

Dokja moves to take up his side of the bed, pulling the covers over himself. ]

I'm just going to close my eyes for a bit. Can you wake me up in half an hour?

[ You NAP in your work clothes? Purposely? Joonghyuk is right here and he watches Dokja commit to this in front of him. Sure, Joonghyuk doesn’t really need to wear stiff salaryman clothing for work, but he knows how uncomfortable they are.

He glowers at him the whole time, waiting for Dokja to catch his glare and Realize that he’s committing domestic crimes.

It doesn’t work.

Before Biyoo can go settle against Dokja and protect him from his wrath, Joonghyuk rips off the covers. ]

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