Finals
Title: Finals
Pairing: Yesung/Ryeowook, Eunhyuk/Donghae
Wordcount: 2647
Rating: R
Summary: University AU. The stress of finals week begins a bit early for Ryeowook. Jongwoon is lucky if he even remembers to study at all.
Notes: For dreaminginside. We made it this far! We can do it for another semester! I love you lots bb, never forget that! I’m sorry I smutted. ;;
The first time occurs three weeks before finals. Jongwoon comes home from having a few end of semester drinks with friends and finds their shared room empty. He first finds it strange when he doesn’t trip over Ryeowook’s shoes walking in, but then he sees that Ryeowook’s keys are not on the hook and his laptop is missing. He checks his phone but he has no new messages or missed calls and flies into panic mode.
His first instinct is to ask their roommates, Donghae and Eunhyuk, but their door is locked and there is a suspicious looking sock lying in the hallway. Jongwoon backs away and grabs his keys, deciding to look for Ryeowook himself. He drives to the music building, because that is where Ryeowook has his last class on Fridays and sometimes gets too caught up playing the piano or writing lyrics to realize how much time has passed. When he enters Ryeowook’s usual haunt, however, he finds the lights off and no Ryeowook. Jongwoon starts to worry, at this point, so he sends out a distress message to all of their mutual friends asking if anyone had seen his little lost boyfriend. He also sends one to Ryeowook asking him to please, please respond because he’s got Jongwoon worried sick. No response comes by the time he reaches his the front door so he decides to keep searching.
He walks a little ways across campus to the student union, where there are all kinds of restaurants and little nooks and crannies Ryeowook could have been distracted. There are fewer people milling about after hours than normal, so it only takes Jongwoon a couple minutes to comb the entire building. He comes up empty-handed and near hysterical. He’s halfway to his car, having resolved to go back to the apartment and wait, when he receives a text from Jungsu advising him to check the library. Jongwoon spins on heel and takes off to the library.
The campus library has four floors. The first two are always loud and full of students socializing while attempting to keep up the appearance of studying. The third floor is almost all computers and reference books, making it the ideal place to write term papers and dissertations. He remembers Ryeowook’s missing laptop and decides that, if Ryeowook is here at all, he would be on the fourth floor, which is comprised mostly of shelves of books and enclosed study desks with outlets every ten feet. He huffs and puffs up the stairs and begins searching the desks, neck craning. He finally comes to the back wall and sees a familiar bag leaning against a chair leg. With a relieved sigh, Jongwoon jogs the short distance to the desk and reaches out to pat Ryeowook’s back. He stops, though, when he realizes Ryeowook’s fallen asleep on his laptop, arms hanging lifelessly and limp by his sides with his cheek pillowed by his keyboard.
Jongwoon can’t help the smile that creeps onto his lips. He gathers Ryeowook’s belongings, the books and pens and notebooks scattered around the area and puts them neatly into the bag before shouldering it and standing up again. He places his hand on Ryeowook’s back and rubs in small circles.
“Ryeowook,” he calls softly, still mindful of the people studying around them. “Wake up. I’m taking you home.”
Ryeowook shifts a little, then peels his face from the laptop, reaching up to rub at where they keys had dug little groves into his face. He blinks up at Jongwoon, confused, then looks out the window beside him and sees how dark it has become. Before he can get flustered and begin to do that thing where he apologizes a thousand times for things that don’t matter, Jongwoon shuts his laptop down and stows it away in his bag.
“Come on,” he says just as quietly as before. “It’s time go to home.”
Ryeowook looks up at him almost nervously, as if he’d done something wrong, and takes Jongwoon’s hand before standing. Jongwoon gives him a little smile and runs his thumb over the back of Ryeowook’s hand.
“I’m sorry if I worried you,” Ryeowook says as they walk out, finally checking his phone and seeing the missed messages from not only Jongwoon but the ten or so friends that Jongwoon dragged with him into his panic.
“Don’t worry about it. I found you.” Jongwoon drops their hands in favor of wrapping his arm around Ryeowook’s waist and holding him close as they walk through the dark parking lot to the car. Ryeowook snuggles closer and promises quietly to text him next time he goes to the library by himself.
…
The second time is a week later. The four of them are crowded on the couch watching TV while shoveling the food Ryeowook had prepared for dinner into their mouths. Ryeowook’s crammed between Donghae and Jongwoon as he pecks at his sweet potato and the gentle elbowing that comes from eating so close together rocks him back and forth. They’re watching some sort of ballroom dance documentary that Donghae claims is for his class and the droning commentary coupled with the dramatic, sweeping music has Ryeowook’s eyelids drooping. Before he even makes a real dent in his potato, he collapses backwards against the sofa, mouth hanging slightly open in his doze.
“Whoa!” Donghae exclaims. “How late did he stay up last night?”
Jongwoon sighs and takes Ryeowook’s plate and sets it on the coffee table. “One or two, I’d guess. He’s so stressed out about finals. He’s been making flashcards for his anthropology class for days.”
“He does know finals aren’t for another two weeks, right?” Hyukjae asks, leaning over Donghae to peer at Ryeowook.
“Yup. Says it’s not enough time. Do me a favor and put his plate in the fridge, will ya?” Jongwoon collects Ryeowook in his arms and heaves him up. He transports Ryeowook to their bed and tucks him in tightly. He sits on the side of the bed for a few minutes, petting his hair gently and singing softly. Ryeowook looks so worn out, he has dark circles under his eyes and his normally clear face is blemished. Jongwoon wishes his words would get through to Ryeowook, but no matter how many times he assures the boy that a couple days is plenty, Ryeowook will always start studying way too early. He eventually gets up and rejoins the other two to finish his meal, shaking his head and clucking his tongue at his studious boyfriend.
“He almost makes me feel bad about not studying,” Hyukjae comments. Jongwoon frowns when he realizes it’s Ryeowook’s plate Hyukjae is eating from, but lets it slide. “But then I remember I don’t care.”
…
Jongwoon comes home around noon on a Thursday, finished with classes for the day. He groans aloud when he steps into the living room and finds Ryeowook sprawled across the floor. His laptop’s low battery window is flashing and the flashcards he’d been writing are hanging loosely from his hand. With a final sigh, Jongwoon sets upon the task of cleaning up after Ryeowook. He shuts off the laptop and kicks Ryeowook’s books aside before kneeling down and rolling Ryeowook onto his back. He’s got an arm under both Ryeowook’s knees and around his shoulder when Ryeowook stirs.
“What?” Ryeowook mumbles, squirming a bit when he realizes how close he is to Jongwoon.
“You fell asleep studying again. I’m taking you to bed.” Jongwoon drops Ryeowook’s knees and pulls him to his feet instead. If Ryeowook is conscious, Jongwoon is not about to sacrifice his back just to be a good boyfriend.
“It’s too early for bed. Just let me go back to work.” Ryeowook wriggles in his grasp again, trying to sink back to the floor and his books.
“No,” Jongwoon says sternly, taking him by the shoulders and steering him down the hallway. “You’re going to take a nap, and then I’m driving you to your class at three, picking you up at four-thirty, and taking you to dinner. When we come home you’re going straight to bed. No studying.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ryeowook argues, but as his knees hit the mattress he goes limp and flops onto the sheets.
“You’re the ridiculous one,” Jongwoon hums, smoothing Ryeowook’s hair back after pulling the blanket up to his chin.
…
The Saturday before finals, Jongwoon has had enough. Ryeowook’s been grumpy and sleep-deprived for far too long and Jongwoon has decided to put a stop to it. He waits until Hyukjae and Donghae leave to hang out with friends (neither of them are keen on studying or being around a cranky Ryeowook either) before entering the bedroom and shutting the door behind him. Ryeowook doesn’t even look up from his piles of notes that he has strewn about the bed.
Jongwoon crosses the room in a few quick steps and grabs Ryeowook by the hips and flips him onto his back. Before he can say anything, Jongwoon leans over the bed, one knee propping up on the mattress, and kisses him hard. Ryeowook squirms and struggles beneath him but his lips part willingly. Jongwoon crawls onto the bed himself, settling one leg on either side of Ryeowook as he deepens the kiss. Ryeowook’s hands trail up his arms and lock behind Jongwoon’s neck, drawing him in closer as Jongwoon’s lips leave his own and draw a sloppy line down his throat.
“What’re you doing?” Ryeowook gasps. Jongwoon’s hand makes it up his shirt and splays across his ribs.
“Helping you relax. You’ll feel better.” Jongwoon trails his kisses to the collar of Ryeowook’s shirt. His hand pulls up the edge of Ryeowook’s shirt and he shifts lower, pressing his lip against the warm flesh of Ryeowook’s belly.
“I’d feel better if I didn’t have a spiral digging into my spine,” Ryeowook complains and Jongwoon can hear the crinkle of paper when Ryeowook shifts to allow him between his legs.
“Just stop thinking. I’ll help you relieve some of that stress.” Jongwoon lays kisses all over Ryeowook’s stomach, then skips up to his lips while his hand trails up and down Ryeowook’s thigh. He finally brushes higher and feels Ryeowook already becoming hard. Ryeowook shudders beneath him, lips stilling for a brief moment before moving again with a new vigor. His hips stutter into the pressure Jongwoon’s hand brings and a frustrated sigh leaves his lips. Jongwoon gives in and palms him through the thick material of his sweatpants. The heel of his hand grinds down and Ryeowook begins to make little pleading noises against his lips.
Jongwoon pulls back and sits up. Ryeowook shivers at the loss and fidgets, hips squirming and hands reaching out to drag Jongwoon back down. Jongwoon bats his hands away and takes Ryeowook’s sweatpants by the waistband. He slides them down his thighs, dragging Ryeowook’s briefs with them. Jongwoon pins Ryeowook’s hips down, shushing him gently as he trails his lips up one thigh. He stops as near to Ryeowook’s cock as he can be without actually touching it and glances up. Ryeowook’s gaze is locked on him, eyes dark, face flushed. His chest heaves with the restraint it takes not to scream in frustration. Gaze still kept, Jongwoon takes Ryeowook’s cock in hand, allows it to lie loosely in his grip, and licks a wide stripe up the side. Ryeowook flings his head back at the rough texture of his tongue and groans low in his throat, a deep virile sound so unlike his usual self. Jongwoon lets his teeth scrape ever so lightly across the head and digs the tip of his tongue into the ridge on the underside of his cock. Ryeowook’s cries out, hips jerking uselessly up into Jongwoon’s tight grip as Jongwoon takes the head completely into his mouth and begins to suck gently. He bobs his head a little, tongue swirling the head, and allows one of his hands to release Ryeowook’s hip and wrap around the base of his cock instead. He squeezes gently, reveling in the garbled moan of his name he receives in reply. One of Ryeowook’s hands fists in his hair and the other curls in the sheets. Lifting his cock a bit, Jongwoon pulls his lips off the head and trails teasing licks down to his balls. He tongues over them briefly before moving back up. He can feel how hard Ryeowook is trembling and hears the keening tilt his moans begin to take and knows that means he’s close. He wraps his lips around the shaft once more and sucks until Ryeowook’s entire body tenses up and he comes on Jongwoon’s tongue. He shakes, hips jerking on their own accord into the heat of Jongwoon’s mouth. He finally falls limp and watches from underneath heavily lidded eyes as Jongwoon wipes a smear of come and spit from the corner of his mouth.
“Feel better?” Jongwoon asks huskily, drawing Ryeowook’s pants back up his legs and tucking him back inside. Ryeowook can’t find his voice just yet, but he nods and makes a vague motion for Jongwoon’s belt. Jongwoon smiles and presses his lips to the side of Ryeowook’s neck. “Don’t worry about it. You can pay me back after finals are over.”
…
When finals are finished, the four of them crowd around the coffee table, each one with his laptop open and the university’s webpage pulled up to the grades tab. Grades are officially due by midnight that night and they refresh the page anxiously, each praying they don’t have to repeat a class.
Jongwoon’s are the first to appear. He manages the semester with average grades and a lukewarm GPA. He pats himself on the back and leans back on the sofa, content with himself and his easy ride to his Bachelor’s.
Donghae’s and Hyukjae’s grades arrive almost simultaneously. They’d scheduled to have the same classes for the last two years to save money by only buying one set of books. When their grades load on the screens, they both jump up, yelling and hooting and clapping each other on the back for a job well done, but when Jongwoon leans over and peeks he sees they’ve both managed to scrape by with the lowest possible passing grades in everything but their dance classes. Nevertheless, he congratulates them both and agrees to make good on his previous promise to provide them with booze for their celebration.
Ryeowook’s grades come in during Hyukjae and Donghae’s ruckus. Jongwoon turns his attention to Ryeowook and finds him looking at his computer with a satisfied little smile.
“All As?” Jongwoon asks.
“Yup. Told you all that studying was for a reason. With this I can hopefully get another scholarship for next semester. Make paying rent a little easier.” Ryeowook gets up from the floor and falls into Jongwoon’s arms on the couch. He snuggles into his embrace for a second before turning his head up for a quick kiss.
“That’s always helpful, but I think what we need to worry about right now is celebrating.” Jongwoon nuzzles into Ryeowook’s jaw.
“I guess I do have a favor to return,” Ryeowook agrees, grinning up at him. Jongwoon pecks him on the lips again before standing and dragging Ryeowook up with him.
…
For the next week, Ryeowook goes to bed early and sleeps in until noon, much to Jongwoon’s displeasure. Between Ryeowook’s sleeping schedule and his part-time job, he barely sees the younger boy. However, when he stumbles in after his post-work shower and sees Ryeowook fast asleep and looking more rested than he has in a month, he decides he can put up with it.
So he climbs in bed and wraps Ryeowook up tight in his arms and enjoys the beginnings of a return to normalcy, at least until the next round of exams begins.
Pairing: Yesung/Ryeowook, Eunhyuk/Donghae
Wordcount: 2647
Rating: R
Summary: University AU. The stress of finals week begins a bit early for Ryeowook. Jongwoon is lucky if he even remembers to study at all.
Notes: For dreaminginside. We made it this far! We can do it for another semester! I love you lots bb, never forget that! I’m sorry I smutted. ;;
The first time occurs three weeks before finals. Jongwoon comes home from having a few end of semester drinks with friends and finds their shared room empty. He first finds it strange when he doesn’t trip over Ryeowook’s shoes walking in, but then he sees that Ryeowook’s keys are not on the hook and his laptop is missing. He checks his phone but he has no new messages or missed calls and flies into panic mode.
His first instinct is to ask their roommates, Donghae and Eunhyuk, but their door is locked and there is a suspicious looking sock lying in the hallway. Jongwoon backs away and grabs his keys, deciding to look for Ryeowook himself. He drives to the music building, because that is where Ryeowook has his last class on Fridays and sometimes gets too caught up playing the piano or writing lyrics to realize how much time has passed. When he enters Ryeowook’s usual haunt, however, he finds the lights off and no Ryeowook. Jongwoon starts to worry, at this point, so he sends out a distress message to all of their mutual friends asking if anyone had seen his little lost boyfriend. He also sends one to Ryeowook asking him to please, please respond because he’s got Jongwoon worried sick. No response comes by the time he reaches his the front door so he decides to keep searching.
He walks a little ways across campus to the student union, where there are all kinds of restaurants and little nooks and crannies Ryeowook could have been distracted. There are fewer people milling about after hours than normal, so it only takes Jongwoon a couple minutes to comb the entire building. He comes up empty-handed and near hysterical. He’s halfway to his car, having resolved to go back to the apartment and wait, when he receives a text from Jungsu advising him to check the library. Jongwoon spins on heel and takes off to the library.
The campus library has four floors. The first two are always loud and full of students socializing while attempting to keep up the appearance of studying. The third floor is almost all computers and reference books, making it the ideal place to write term papers and dissertations. He remembers Ryeowook’s missing laptop and decides that, if Ryeowook is here at all, he would be on the fourth floor, which is comprised mostly of shelves of books and enclosed study desks with outlets every ten feet. He huffs and puffs up the stairs and begins searching the desks, neck craning. He finally comes to the back wall and sees a familiar bag leaning against a chair leg. With a relieved sigh, Jongwoon jogs the short distance to the desk and reaches out to pat Ryeowook’s back. He stops, though, when he realizes Ryeowook’s fallen asleep on his laptop, arms hanging lifelessly and limp by his sides with his cheek pillowed by his keyboard.
Jongwoon can’t help the smile that creeps onto his lips. He gathers Ryeowook’s belongings, the books and pens and notebooks scattered around the area and puts them neatly into the bag before shouldering it and standing up again. He places his hand on Ryeowook’s back and rubs in small circles.
“Ryeowook,” he calls softly, still mindful of the people studying around them. “Wake up. I’m taking you home.”
Ryeowook shifts a little, then peels his face from the laptop, reaching up to rub at where they keys had dug little groves into his face. He blinks up at Jongwoon, confused, then looks out the window beside him and sees how dark it has become. Before he can get flustered and begin to do that thing where he apologizes a thousand times for things that don’t matter, Jongwoon shuts his laptop down and stows it away in his bag.
“Come on,” he says just as quietly as before. “It’s time go to home.”
Ryeowook looks up at him almost nervously, as if he’d done something wrong, and takes Jongwoon’s hand before standing. Jongwoon gives him a little smile and runs his thumb over the back of Ryeowook’s hand.
“I’m sorry if I worried you,” Ryeowook says as they walk out, finally checking his phone and seeing the missed messages from not only Jongwoon but the ten or so friends that Jongwoon dragged with him into his panic.
“Don’t worry about it. I found you.” Jongwoon drops their hands in favor of wrapping his arm around Ryeowook’s waist and holding him close as they walk through the dark parking lot to the car. Ryeowook snuggles closer and promises quietly to text him next time he goes to the library by himself.
…
The second time is a week later. The four of them are crowded on the couch watching TV while shoveling the food Ryeowook had prepared for dinner into their mouths. Ryeowook’s crammed between Donghae and Jongwoon as he pecks at his sweet potato and the gentle elbowing that comes from eating so close together rocks him back and forth. They’re watching some sort of ballroom dance documentary that Donghae claims is for his class and the droning commentary coupled with the dramatic, sweeping music has Ryeowook’s eyelids drooping. Before he even makes a real dent in his potato, he collapses backwards against the sofa, mouth hanging slightly open in his doze.
“Whoa!” Donghae exclaims. “How late did he stay up last night?”
Jongwoon sighs and takes Ryeowook’s plate and sets it on the coffee table. “One or two, I’d guess. He’s so stressed out about finals. He’s been making flashcards for his anthropology class for days.”
“He does know finals aren’t for another two weeks, right?” Hyukjae asks, leaning over Donghae to peer at Ryeowook.
“Yup. Says it’s not enough time. Do me a favor and put his plate in the fridge, will ya?” Jongwoon collects Ryeowook in his arms and heaves him up. He transports Ryeowook to their bed and tucks him in tightly. He sits on the side of the bed for a few minutes, petting his hair gently and singing softly. Ryeowook looks so worn out, he has dark circles under his eyes and his normally clear face is blemished. Jongwoon wishes his words would get through to Ryeowook, but no matter how many times he assures the boy that a couple days is plenty, Ryeowook will always start studying way too early. He eventually gets up and rejoins the other two to finish his meal, shaking his head and clucking his tongue at his studious boyfriend.
“He almost makes me feel bad about not studying,” Hyukjae comments. Jongwoon frowns when he realizes it’s Ryeowook’s plate Hyukjae is eating from, but lets it slide. “But then I remember I don’t care.”
…
Jongwoon comes home around noon on a Thursday, finished with classes for the day. He groans aloud when he steps into the living room and finds Ryeowook sprawled across the floor. His laptop’s low battery window is flashing and the flashcards he’d been writing are hanging loosely from his hand. With a final sigh, Jongwoon sets upon the task of cleaning up after Ryeowook. He shuts off the laptop and kicks Ryeowook’s books aside before kneeling down and rolling Ryeowook onto his back. He’s got an arm under both Ryeowook’s knees and around his shoulder when Ryeowook stirs.
“What?” Ryeowook mumbles, squirming a bit when he realizes how close he is to Jongwoon.
“You fell asleep studying again. I’m taking you to bed.” Jongwoon drops Ryeowook’s knees and pulls him to his feet instead. If Ryeowook is conscious, Jongwoon is not about to sacrifice his back just to be a good boyfriend.
“It’s too early for bed. Just let me go back to work.” Ryeowook wriggles in his grasp again, trying to sink back to the floor and his books.
“No,” Jongwoon says sternly, taking him by the shoulders and steering him down the hallway. “You’re going to take a nap, and then I’m driving you to your class at three, picking you up at four-thirty, and taking you to dinner. When we come home you’re going straight to bed. No studying.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ryeowook argues, but as his knees hit the mattress he goes limp and flops onto the sheets.
“You’re the ridiculous one,” Jongwoon hums, smoothing Ryeowook’s hair back after pulling the blanket up to his chin.
…
The Saturday before finals, Jongwoon has had enough. Ryeowook’s been grumpy and sleep-deprived for far too long and Jongwoon has decided to put a stop to it. He waits until Hyukjae and Donghae leave to hang out with friends (neither of them are keen on studying or being around a cranky Ryeowook either) before entering the bedroom and shutting the door behind him. Ryeowook doesn’t even look up from his piles of notes that he has strewn about the bed.
Jongwoon crosses the room in a few quick steps and grabs Ryeowook by the hips and flips him onto his back. Before he can say anything, Jongwoon leans over the bed, one knee propping up on the mattress, and kisses him hard. Ryeowook squirms and struggles beneath him but his lips part willingly. Jongwoon crawls onto the bed himself, settling one leg on either side of Ryeowook as he deepens the kiss. Ryeowook’s hands trail up his arms and lock behind Jongwoon’s neck, drawing him in closer as Jongwoon’s lips leave his own and draw a sloppy line down his throat.
“What’re you doing?” Ryeowook gasps. Jongwoon’s hand makes it up his shirt and splays across his ribs.
“Helping you relax. You’ll feel better.” Jongwoon trails his kisses to the collar of Ryeowook’s shirt. His hand pulls up the edge of Ryeowook’s shirt and he shifts lower, pressing his lip against the warm flesh of Ryeowook’s belly.
“I’d feel better if I didn’t have a spiral digging into my spine,” Ryeowook complains and Jongwoon can hear the crinkle of paper when Ryeowook shifts to allow him between his legs.
“Just stop thinking. I’ll help you relieve some of that stress.” Jongwoon lays kisses all over Ryeowook’s stomach, then skips up to his lips while his hand trails up and down Ryeowook’s thigh. He finally brushes higher and feels Ryeowook already becoming hard. Ryeowook shudders beneath him, lips stilling for a brief moment before moving again with a new vigor. His hips stutter into the pressure Jongwoon’s hand brings and a frustrated sigh leaves his lips. Jongwoon gives in and palms him through the thick material of his sweatpants. The heel of his hand grinds down and Ryeowook begins to make little pleading noises against his lips.
Jongwoon pulls back and sits up. Ryeowook shivers at the loss and fidgets, hips squirming and hands reaching out to drag Jongwoon back down. Jongwoon bats his hands away and takes Ryeowook’s sweatpants by the waistband. He slides them down his thighs, dragging Ryeowook’s briefs with them. Jongwoon pins Ryeowook’s hips down, shushing him gently as he trails his lips up one thigh. He stops as near to Ryeowook’s cock as he can be without actually touching it and glances up. Ryeowook’s gaze is locked on him, eyes dark, face flushed. His chest heaves with the restraint it takes not to scream in frustration. Gaze still kept, Jongwoon takes Ryeowook’s cock in hand, allows it to lie loosely in his grip, and licks a wide stripe up the side. Ryeowook flings his head back at the rough texture of his tongue and groans low in his throat, a deep virile sound so unlike his usual self. Jongwoon lets his teeth scrape ever so lightly across the head and digs the tip of his tongue into the ridge on the underside of his cock. Ryeowook’s cries out, hips jerking uselessly up into Jongwoon’s tight grip as Jongwoon takes the head completely into his mouth and begins to suck gently. He bobs his head a little, tongue swirling the head, and allows one of his hands to release Ryeowook’s hip and wrap around the base of his cock instead. He squeezes gently, reveling in the garbled moan of his name he receives in reply. One of Ryeowook’s hands fists in his hair and the other curls in the sheets. Lifting his cock a bit, Jongwoon pulls his lips off the head and trails teasing licks down to his balls. He tongues over them briefly before moving back up. He can feel how hard Ryeowook is trembling and hears the keening tilt his moans begin to take and knows that means he’s close. He wraps his lips around the shaft once more and sucks until Ryeowook’s entire body tenses up and he comes on Jongwoon’s tongue. He shakes, hips jerking on their own accord into the heat of Jongwoon’s mouth. He finally falls limp and watches from underneath heavily lidded eyes as Jongwoon wipes a smear of come and spit from the corner of his mouth.
“Feel better?” Jongwoon asks huskily, drawing Ryeowook’s pants back up his legs and tucking him back inside. Ryeowook can’t find his voice just yet, but he nods and makes a vague motion for Jongwoon’s belt. Jongwoon smiles and presses his lips to the side of Ryeowook’s neck. “Don’t worry about it. You can pay me back after finals are over.”
…
When finals are finished, the four of them crowd around the coffee table, each one with his laptop open and the university’s webpage pulled up to the grades tab. Grades are officially due by midnight that night and they refresh the page anxiously, each praying they don’t have to repeat a class.
Jongwoon’s are the first to appear. He manages the semester with average grades and a lukewarm GPA. He pats himself on the back and leans back on the sofa, content with himself and his easy ride to his Bachelor’s.
Donghae’s and Hyukjae’s grades arrive almost simultaneously. They’d scheduled to have the same classes for the last two years to save money by only buying one set of books. When their grades load on the screens, they both jump up, yelling and hooting and clapping each other on the back for a job well done, but when Jongwoon leans over and peeks he sees they’ve both managed to scrape by with the lowest possible passing grades in everything but their dance classes. Nevertheless, he congratulates them both and agrees to make good on his previous promise to provide them with booze for their celebration.
Ryeowook’s grades come in during Hyukjae and Donghae’s ruckus. Jongwoon turns his attention to Ryeowook and finds him looking at his computer with a satisfied little smile.
“All As?” Jongwoon asks.
“Yup. Told you all that studying was for a reason. With this I can hopefully get another scholarship for next semester. Make paying rent a little easier.” Ryeowook gets up from the floor and falls into Jongwoon’s arms on the couch. He snuggles into his embrace for a second before turning his head up for a quick kiss.
“That’s always helpful, but I think what we need to worry about right now is celebrating.” Jongwoon nuzzles into Ryeowook’s jaw.
“I guess I do have a favor to return,” Ryeowook agrees, grinning up at him. Jongwoon pecks him on the lips again before standing and dragging Ryeowook up with him.
…
For the next week, Ryeowook goes to bed early and sleeps in until noon, much to Jongwoon’s displeasure. Between Ryeowook’s sleeping schedule and his part-time job, he barely sees the younger boy. However, when he stumbles in after his post-work shower and sees Ryeowook fast asleep and looking more rested than he has in a month, he decides he can put up with it.
So he climbs in bed and wraps Ryeowook up tight in his arms and enjoys the beginnings of a return to normalcy, at least until the next round of exams begins.