Yeosang held Wooyoung's hand in his, fingers laced with the youngers and his other hand rubbing Wooyoung's back. They were laying in bed after two glasses of wine, and Wooyoung couldn’t help the sigh that escaped his lips.

"Some tea would be so comforting right now," Yeosang yawned, pressing Wooyoung's head in his neck. The younger asleep against him snuggled on his chest with a slight pout on his lips.

Yeosang traced that bruises on his lover's back, careful not to hurt him more than his father did but couldn't help the anger towards that man. He was the reason Wooyoung didn't like being touched, some nights, yes, but mostly no physical touch or whatever.

Tonight's, though, they had their first time after dating for a year almost, and Yeosang made sure Wooyoung felt comfortable through it all. Now they laid in bed, skin to skin, Stull careful to not overwhelm Wooyoung with too much affection. The weight of their shared intimacy was both a relief and a heaviness, a spectrum of emotions that swirled between them. Yeosang felt a swell of affection for Wooyoung, knowing how far they had come. He was proud of the progress they made together, even as shadows of the past lingered like whispers in the night.

"Yeosang?" Wooyoung mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

"Yes, love?" Yeosang replied softly, adjusting his position to better support Wooyoung's head, brushing back a few strands of hair that had fallen across his forehead.

"Can we stay like this for a bit longer?" Wooyoung opened his eyes just enough to peek at Yeosang, a small, vulnerable smile dancing on his lips.

"Of course," Yeosang smiled back, his heart warming at the trust Wooyoung showed him. They had spent so many moments in silence, both comfortable and otherwise, but this—this cocoon of warmth and safety felt different, filled with promise and healing.

With his fingers still gently tracing the edges of Wooyoung's bruises, Yeosang felt the anger settle into a heavy stone in his chest. It pained him to think of the cruel hands that had marred Wooyoung's skin, tainted what should have been just warmth and affection. A sense of protectiveness surged within him, a desire to shield his lover from that which hurt him.

"I wish you knew how perfect you are," Yeosang said softly, breaking the silence that wrapped around them. Wooyoung’s eyes blinked open fully, meeting Yeosang’s gaze, the sincerity in his partner’s voice stirring something within him.

"I don't feel perfect," Wooyoung confessed, frowning slightly. "I feel broken sometimes."

"You're not broken," Yeosang reassured him, cupping Wooyoung's cheek with his palm. "You're healing, and that takes time. Every moment we have together can help you rebuild what’s been lost."

Wooyoung leaned into the touch, the warmth of Yeosang’s hand grounding him. "You make it easier," he whispered, vulnerability etched in every word. "Your patience, your understanding… it means the world to me."

Yeosang's heart swelled again. "I’ll always be here for you, Wooyoung," he promised, leaning in to place a gentle kiss atop his lover's head. The room was quiet except for their breathing, the world outside forgotten.

"I should probably get up and make that tea," Yeosang said after a moment, but he knew getting out of bed would mean breaking this beautiful spell of intimacy.

"Five more minutes?" Wooyoung’s eyes were now pleading, his lips curving into a soft smile.

Yeosang chuckled softly, "Okay, five more minutes." He allowed himself to sink back into the moment, wrapping his arms around Wooyoung and holding him close.

The flaws and bruises didn’t matter in this cocoon of love and safety. All that mattered was the warmth of their bodies pressed together and the way their hearts found solace in each other.