salvageable | does a sick backflip

[ 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. ]

[ HELLO?

Dokja lets out the most undignified squawk of surprise when the covers are ripped from him. What the hell? He was using that?? ]

Joonghyuk?

[ What wrongs has he committed NOW to be mistreated this way. ]

Take off your clothes.

[ This sure is a demand. This is fake domestic au, but Joonghyuk is still himself which is either insane or majorly incorrigible.

Sometimes they’re the same thing. ]

[ Huh? 😵‍💫 HUH?? WHAT..... ]

Are we...? Right now?

[ His voice anxiously pitches higher and higher with every word. There is clearly a misunderstanding happening here and he does Not move to take off his clothes.

"Why have we never had sex" asks Kim Dokja who is pre-panic attack at being told to undress. ]

[ WHY IS DOKJA INSANE?Joonghyuk’s eyebrows furrow as Dokja squirms. He doesn’t get why he’s acting this way?

There is a big misunderstanding here. ]

What? Are you going to go back to work?

[ Since you’re STILL wearing your smelly work clothes?? This is a warning before Joonghyuk will take it upon himself to undress Dokja. He isn’t embarrassed—they’re both guys, even if he’s written to be gay for him. ]

[ There is a weird garbled noise coming from the back of Dokja's throat that sounds an awful lot like a suppressed scream as he panic grabs Joonghyuk's hands to stop them. ]

I-I'm tired! I have a headache!

[ What is this?? This atmosphere isn't even romantic or sexy? His head is SPINNING as he searches for every excuse in the book... ]

We... we... we don't have condoms!

[ Just…

This face? What the fuck? He’s speechless. ]

[ Oh No, is Joonghyuk mad about being blueballed... 😔 ]

We... can buy some tomorrow?

I have condoms—[ Wait. That isn't the point and he shakes off that logic?

He drags Dokja closer by the ankle. ]

You thought I wanted to have sex?

[ After Dokja told him he has a migraine? ]

[ UuuUUMMMMmmm there's a lot going on. He doesn't know where to start.

For now, he grabs his shirt to keep it from riding up when he's pulled closer, and his expression darkens at the question. So. He's starting to realize that he may have been thinking Stupidly. ]

... You told me to take off my clothes.

[ And they had just been talking about sex not too long ago........ ]

That's right. You shouldn't nap in your work clothes.

[ Dokja really thought stupidly. Now that he has pulled him closer, basically having dragged him to the edge of the bed... Let him clarify. He should have done this earlier, but he thought Dokja understood. ]

They're uncomfortable.

[ Ah.............. you know what..... that. that makes a lot of sense.

He can't even say anything, can't even make eye contact as he sits up and starts unbuttoning his shirt.

Why is he allowed to exist? He heavily contemplates asking Joonghyuk to knock him unconscious to free him from this moment of embarrassment. ]

[ Dokja can be awkward as hell about it. Joonghyuk is brushing it off, even if this was embarrassing to him, too. He can cover it up, better.

CONCEAL, DON'T FEEL. As he undresses, Joonghyuk fetches and throws some pajama-adjacent clothes at him. I'm not going to curse Dokja into matching pj set. ]

Here.

[ Matching pjs could have been so cute, though. ]

Thanks.

[ He sounds distracted as he takes the now assigned shirt and sweatpants and starts changing into them. As embarrassing as this is, Dokja has another very pressing concern at the forefront of his thoughts.

Condoms.

When had Joonghyuk bought them? Were they carried over from a previous relationship? No, wouldn't that make them too old? They've been dating for a while now...

He is Deep in thought as he finishes changing and moves back up the bed. Could he make this easier on his brain and ask? Yes, but also no. ]

I’ll set an alarm for an hour.

[ It takes a couple of taps on his phone to cement that.

Joonghyuk collects Dokja’s dirty work clothes and thinks about how he’s going to separate the laundry, but catches Dokja deep in thought. That is… A worrying look. How is it that he has to worry about so many of Dokja’s mannerisms and expressions…?

They really are not in the same wavelength. He cocks an eyebrow, curious but also dread. ]

What now?

[ He tosses the articles into the laundry basket. ]

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