Thankfully after that talk, things got better between Hobi and you. He could save himself the hurt if he spoke up before letting it get that far, but he didn't seem to be able to help it.

Things were left unsaid, you still had to have a serious talk about what he couldn't say over the phone. It also got you thinking that maybe you should explain yourself as well, so many things came up.

Many assumptions were made not only by him, but also by you. It was going to be one uncomfortable conversation, but you had no choice but to dig deeper. It didn't sound any good.

These last nearly three months with Hoseok as more than a friend had been some of the happiest you had had in a while. He was loving, affectionate and thoughtful.

For once you felt supported and comforted, like the weight of everything wasn't solely on your shoulders. You were reliable and were always there for everyone else. You'd learned to fend for yourself and that's why you took charge of your life.

Maybe you'd been prone to partners who were dependent on you, who were a little immature in a sense. Those who needed a safe space, who needed someone to be there for them, always brought something out of you. Like Mirae and Miyoung.

Having lacked that kind of support after your childhood, you ended up wanting to cover for everyone who needed some love and attention. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, you'd always been a kind and friendly kid and liked helping others.

Yet that left you feeling emotionally drained and no one was there to care for you. Not that your past partners hadn't been present, but you were always the stronger one, the one who could truly sustain the other.

Hoseok was different to them and the same in a sense. He was not childish, but there was a certain charm to his ourbursts of happiness and silliness. You were drawn to his fun-loving nature and positive outlook on life.

At the same time, he was supportive himself. He listened to you, offered reassurance and comfort when you needed it and made you feel safe and appreciated like no one before him had.

Regardless, he still needed your love, validation and affection. This is when you got to fulfill your own need to provide and care for another, make them happy.

Tonight was finally the day you'd be back home and for once you were actually excited about it. Usually your time away was more satisfying, but this time round someone was waiting for you.

There were promises of better sleep, cuddles and company during the night and in the morning. Not to mention you had a whole weekend ahead of you to do whatever you two pleased before he went back to work.

You walked into your apartment late at night to grab a fresh pair of pyjamas and took your bag of toiletries out of your suitcase leaving the rest untouched for now. After checking on Boa, you headed to Hoseok's unit.

When you opened the door and turned on the lights, you found a bouquet of flowers on the little table at the entrance and smiled. They were neatly wrapped with shiny cellophane and waiting in a vase already filled with water.

As you passed by the kitchen, you saw a bag of takeout on the island and, when you walked in the living room, you found Hobi passed out on the couch. You figured he had probably been waiting for you. The bad weather had delayed your arrival a couple hours.

You turned on a lamp to the side and saw the dining table was set beautifully on the far right of the room. Had he been planning a whole date? It seemed like it, specially when you looked down at him.

He wasn't wearing his usual loungewear, instead he had a crisp white shirt* on with a few buttons undone. A thin chain with a colorful pendant accentuated his open collar. He wore suspenders and cream slacks.

So handsome, definitely dressed for a special ocassion. Your return. You squealed filled with excitement. It was so moving, you weren't expecting anything, but this whole thing was so sweet of him.

"Hobi, baby" you shook his arm and he merely shifted.

You held his cheek and stroked it with your thumb and after a bit he slowly opened his eyes and a smile spread across his lips. You poked his cute dimples and he wrapped his arms around yours and pulled you down on top of him for lack of space.

"Naekkeo~" he mumbled cutely and hugged you with a tight squeeze, closing his eyes again.

"Hi baby" you replied pecking his lips and he unexpectedly held your face and kept you close to keep kissing you sleepily.

"I've missed you, aein" Hobi murmured raspily in between soft kisses.

"So have I, baby. Let's go to bed, mm?"

"Noo" he whined with an endearing pout, "I got us dinner and I was supposed to welcome you with flowers at the door."

"I'm tired, I was honestly planning to go straight to bed. Looks like you could use the sleep too" you pointed out.

Hoseok opened his eyes again and looked at your face. Even with the dim light and the shadows on your features, he could tell from the color under your eyes that you'd not been sleeping well on your own at all.

He sighed and stretched before sitting up and bringing you with him so that you were now sat on his lap.

"Fine, but I'll try again tomorrow" he mumbled disappointed rubbing one of his eyes and you thought he looked adorable with his new honey blonde hair all messy from sleep.

"You look so handsome and cute at the same time" you pointed out and he laughed softly.

"I feel like my father dressed like this, but I wanted to make it special for you. ARMY loves this, so I trusted you would too" he commented and you chuckled.

"They are not wrong" you said softly as you fixed the collar of his shirt and ran a finger down his neckline tentatively. Hobi shuddered at your touch, he was hyperaware with how long he'd been without it.

Getting off of him, you took his hand and pulled him up to lead him to his bedroom. You left him to change for a moment and headed back to put the food in the fridge quickly. When you were done, you found him face down on the bed still fully clothed.

"Hobi, you need to get into your pyjamas" you pulled from his arm but he purposely made it difficult for you.

"Want some help?" you offered and he reluctantly agreed.

You opened his closet and grabbed a neat pile with a black t-shirt and pink pants*². The first set you saw when you opened his sleepwear drawer.

"Roll over, baby" he followed your request and after pulling his suspenders down his arms, he unbuttoned his pants and let you pull them off for him.

Once you fitted the legs up to his knees, with him taking turns to lift his legs up for you, he pulled them up to his waist. He flopped back on the bed with a groan, annoyed that he wasn't done.

All along his eyes had remained closed, but when he felt you crawl on the bed and weigh it down to either side of him, he opened them to meet your gaze hovering over his.

His smile was sweet and lazy as you sat down on his lap to run your hands up his sides. Your fingers carefully undid the buttons of his shirt and then you pushed it open wide with utmost care.

"Why are you undressing me like we are about to do something other than sleep?" he teased you as he extended his arms away from his sides and let you remove the sleeves to fit the black tee over his head.

"You say you don't like being a baby, just being called one. You are acting like one, you know?" you joked back and he grabbed your arms and rolled on top of you.

"DDAENG*³! Maybe I just like it when you take care of me" he pointed out and you smiled up at him.

"Fair enough. Now let me change" despite your words Hobi didn't let go of you.

Instead, he pulled his t-shirt off his shoulders where it was laying bunched up. To then personally take all of your clothes off until you were left in your underwear.

The harmless moment had been so intimate, just him doing for you what you did for him with the same caring touch.

"Up! Bbuing*⁴!" he said getting off of you and taking your hands so you'd sit up. His little sound effects made you laugh.

Lastly, he put his t-shirt over your head and you pushed your arms out of the sleeves while he pulled it down and fixed it for you.

You skillfully removed your bra from under your top and he pouted exaggeratedly hoping to sway you.

"You could have done that before...or asked me to do it for you" he protested still being too cute and you giggled.

"Good things come to those who wait" you commented booping his nose and he furrowed his eyebrows. Wait for what?

He slid his hands up the t-shirt and grabbed your waist to pull you closer, but that had you giggling uncontrollably.

"Hoseok-ah!" you jumped a little squealing and he grinned delighted by his discovery.

"Oh, you are ticklish, aein?" his devilish tone made your heart race. His hands were still, but surely not for long.

Hobi's fingers grabbed at your sides lightly and you squirmed and cried in between giggles. So much that you were having trouble breathing after a bit.

In an effort to stop him, you held onto his sides to push him away and made him squeal. So he was ticklish*⁵ too, what a risky move that had been, to start this.

"STOP...stop...stop...I'll stop!" he screamed when it was you hovering over him, touching his naked torso everywhere light enough to make his whole body vibrate with laughter.

"Don't mess with me or I'll mess with you" you teased as you finally sat back with a sigh and he sat up panting now that he had a chance to finally breathe. His smile was fixed on his face as he looked at you.

His heart felt so full as you looked up at him attentively and smiled back when he simply stared.

"I'm glad you are back" he was truly grateful not to be alone tonight; truly happy you'd come back to him right away. It all showed him how much you cared about him.

"Thank you for waiting for me and preparing this whole date at home to receive me" you scooted closer and wrapped your arms around his waist while you looked up at him. Chin pressed to his chest.

Cute, you were so cute. It melted his heart how hot you could look one minute but then how you could disarm him making your bottom lip jut out.

Hoseok laid his forehead on yours and nuzzled your nose, only closing his eyes because the proximity made him dizzy. He inhaled deeply, taking in your familiar perfume, playing with the tips of your long hair falling on your back.

"I'll always wait for you if you'll wait for me" he whispered and after that you didn't exchange another word.

Once he got himself another t-shirt, brushed his teeth and got some bottoms for you, he dragged you to brush yours forcefully. There was no excuse to skip your nightly ritual*⁶.

Not long after, you were cuddling in bed, your arms around his waist again as he laid on his back. While he held your arm resting over him, he could feel your fingers caressing his skin and suddenly his eyelids were heavy once more.

You hadn't had a good sleep since you'd left. In the few weeks you'd slept next to Hobi, you'd easily grown accustomed to a proper rest and adapting to being on your own again had proved to be a nightmare.

As he held you close to him protectively, despite all that, you fell right back into your routine like you'd never even left. His heartbeats, the scent of the products he used on his skin, his warmth and soft sleepy breathing were just the right combination to lull you to sleep.

You were not alone, you felt safe and his embrace shielded you from the terrors that crawled out of the shadows at night.

-

* There are many instances, but think Bon Voyage in Malta Hobi or the Butter elevator concept photos. He just looks great with something so simple. The gif above is specifically the look I had in mind though.

https://twitter.com/thejhopeprint/status/1450430969001959425?t=RSvkxdrKNllI5R1qcWXwCw&s=19

*²

*³ Ddaeng is the sound of a buzzer when someone gets an answer wrong on quiz shows.

*⁴ 뿌잉뿌잉/bbuing bbuing is an onomatopoeic Korean expression that doesn't have any actual meaning of its own, but rather vocalizing it is more or less a cute yet boisterous way to "fill dead air".

Source: https://www.quora.com/In-K-pop-what-does-buing-buing-mean?top_ans=167577734

*⁵ Hobi is indeed ticklish:
https://twitter.com/bts_archives/status/754105545431261185?t=4SQXwNmID7v8Ad66_ioDkQ&s=19

*⁶ So random, but Hobi is very clean so I can picture this with his personal hygiene routines as well, haha https://youtu.be/irZynWFndU8