Jeonghan was on edge and Seungcheol could tell. The nervous energy radiating out of the man was palpable as he found more and more excuses to hang around the recording studio and Jihoon grew increasingly frustrated with him. "We've been over it a hundred times Jeonghan. It's perfect. Let's get out of here."

They'd met with the head of marketing and set a schedule starting with releasing the teaser photos tomorrow. Jeonghan also planned to release the video of his self choreographed dance but the bosses didn't need to know that. They weren't going to stop him from growing up his image.

His new public persona might be confident and sexy but here in private he was just inexperienced and quirky Jeonghan and he was scared of not living up to what he wanted to be for Seuncheol. He wanted to be alone with him but his insecurities were driving him crazy.

"Dinner!" Jeonghan announced loudly to the others waiting to leave. "Let's have dinner!" Jihoon eyed him curiously and looked over at Seungcheol's worried expression and then back to Jeonghan pretending to pack and repack things into his backpack. "Okay," he said slowly, "we can all go out for dinner..." he grabbed his things and followed the others out of the building and down the hidden stairwell inside the storage room.

"I don't like this." Jeonghan scooted a little closer to Seungcheol but didn't cling to his hand. "It's dark and scary." "I'm getting lighting installed," Seungcheol answered but couldn't turn around. "It's much safer than taking you out through the lobby." When they made their way down the narrow staircase and out the door into the carpark Jeonghan was obviously upset. However, to Seungcheol's surprise, he clung tightly to Jisoo as they walked over to the Manager's car to head to their favourite restaurant.

Jeonghan didn't sit next to Seungcheol in the car like he usually would. Instead, he stared silently out the window the whole ride, and when they arrived at the restaurant Seungcheol got out the vehicle first. He quickly made his way to the other side to help Jeonghan out but to his surprise and irritation the other man was already standing beside the car. "You're supposed to wait for me to let you out." Seungcheol couldn't hide his irritation at Jeonghan's blatant ignorance of the rules but all he got in return was a teary-eyed stare and a trembling bottom lip. "Let's just go inside," he sighed heavily and put his hand on the small of Jeonghan's back and felt the other stiffen awkwardly immediately.

To his relief dinner with Jihoon was a much more tame affair than dinner with Soonyoung and they mostly ate engaged in a quiet conversation. Jeonghan was unusually subdued and heavy handed with the wine as he stared down at his plate and the other three stared at him curiously. Finally, Jihoon had enough and between the main and dessert, he got up and dragged Jeonghan to the bathroom.

"What is wrong with you? How can your mood swing so quickly from elated to miserable in like an hour? People complain about my bad moods but at least I'm consistent." Jihoon stared at Jeonghan until finally he cracked and a single tear rolled down his cheek. "I'm scared. I asked Cheollie to stay with me tonight, I really want him with me, Jihoonie I think I love him." Jihoon opened his mouth but before the words could come out he was cut off. "But I'm scared he'll want to, you know, do stuff and I've never done stuff, I've never done any of the stuff and I want to do it, I mean maybe not all the stuff but at least some stuff, but I'm scared. That he'll expect it. If he comes and stays with me tonight then he'll expect all the stuff and, I don't know....." Jihoon started to laugh and Jeonghan pushed him in the chest. "Don't laugh at me,' he said angrily but it just made Jihoon worse.

"Jeonghan you're so clueless." Jihoon chuckled loudly as he watched Jeonghan try to clean his tears up with some paper towel. "He's so whipped for your innocent ass. You could set up a whole teddy bears picnic when you get home and he'll just grab a teacup." The mental picture of Seungcheol seated on his living room floor cuddling a teddy and drinking tea triggered something inside Jeonghan's alcohol soaked brain and he began to laugh too. It started out as a giggle but soon turned hysterical and he doubled over as he laughed and gasped for air.

"He's not going to push you into anything you don't want to do and he's definitely not expecting anything other than your usual weird self." Jihoon smirked at Jeonghan as he walked over to the door. "Just act normally or you'll be sleeping alone tonight for sure. Just let things with Seungcheol happen naturally Jeonghan. And stop being so scared of everything or life will pass you by."

The two men came back from the bathroom to find two plates of ice cream slowly melting in front of their empty seats. Jeonghan picked up his wine glass and downed the rest in one mouthful before loudly announcing that dinner was over and it was time to go. Jisoo put his spoon down but Seungcheol quickly scraped his around the bowl and stuffed the last of his chocolate dessert into his mouth. While Jeonghan liked to drink his feelings from the bottom of a wine glass Seungcheol had always preferred to his in chocolate form.

To his immense relief as they approached the doors of the restaurant Seungcheol felt a cold hand slip inside his. He looked to the side and saw Jeonghan smiling sheepishly at him and he squeezed his hand tighter. "Wait," he said softly before going ahead. He opened the front doors of the restaurant and looked around quickly. There were a few fans standing back from the doors with cameras and Jisoo's car was waiting with the valet. Seungcheol opened the doors and held his hand out signalling safety and Jeonghan took it and walked out.

Cameras flashed and the fans squealed loudly at the sight of Jeonghan clinging to his handsome bodyguard's hand. His hair was still covered by the obligatory beanie but that wouldn't be necessary after the photos were released tomorrow. He clutched Seungcheol's warm hand tightly until the car door was opened for him and he was ushered inside. This time when the doors closed behind them he tossed the beanie onto the floor before clambering across to the middle seat. He clicked his seatbelt before snuggling into Seungcheol's chest and letting out a small sigh of content at the sound of the other's heart beating rhythmically in his ear.

Jihoon said he still had work to do so Jisoo drove in the direction of the company building. As streetlights flashed outside and the big car rolled along the smooth city road Jeonghan pushed his body closer into the warm embrace of his bodyguard. It was soothing and comforting and he just wanted to close his eyes and stay like this forever. When he felt the gentle sensation of Seungcheol's fingers running softly through his hair he rolled his eyes at himself and how stupid he'd been acting.

Jeonghan's first ever moment of self-awareness was a revelation as he considered how ridiculous his behaviour was in contrast with what he knew about the man who held him in his arms. He knew Seungcheol was gentle, kind and caring, and anything but pushy. He also knew Seungcheol was just as scared as he was. He could feel it in the slight tremble of the hand running through his hair, he could hear it in the rhythm of the heartbeat a little too fast next to his ear, he could see it when he looked up to be met with dark eyes full of sincerity and warmth.

Suddenly Jeonghan didn't feel scared anymore. He felt strong and brave and most of all he felt wanted. "Drop us off at my place," Jeonghan murmured to Jisoo in the drivers seat, "I want to go home,"