.35 Love After War
Title: Love After War
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: PG
Length: Drabble
Summary: I love you even when you give me reasons not to.
A/N: Has been FOREVER since I posted something other than "Midsummer". Hope you like it.
"You really know how to do it don't you?"
"Do what?" Yunho snorted, arms folded high across his chest.
"Making me angry," He tilted his head as he surveyed his boyfriend. "You must practice in your spare time because you have it mastered." JaeJoong rolled his eyes, completely beyond frustration.
"Yunho, what the hell are you talking about?" Their shared two bedroom loft was thick with near palpable tension. It was always like this when they argued. There was yelling, harsh words, and immediate regret on both their parts.
"I asked you not to go out tonight and just wait until I got off of work. The one night out of the entire week that I actually have time for us to be together, and I come home to find you not here," Yunho leaned against the kitchen counter. "Did you even consider how I felt?" This time JaeJoong was the one to snort in indignation.
"Oh, I forgot. This is the Jung Yunho show! Everything Mr. Jung asks for he should get. Honestly Yunho, grow up. I went out with my friends because you were two hours later than you promised you'd be and you didn't even bother to call. "
"My phone died!"
"So why didn't you call from work?! Were the phones dead there too?" Silence fell again and was shortly punctuated by one of Yunho's deep sighs.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore. Lets just go to bed." The taller man turned around and began to leave the kitchen, expecting JaeJoong to be right behind him. That didn't happen though. Instead he heard the distinct rattling of keys and JaeJoong's steps in the opposite direction. He turned and saw JaeJoong reaching for his coat.
"Where are you going?" JaeJoong slipped into his black jacket before sliding his hands though his already mussed auburn hair.
"Out. For a drive or maybe walk to a bar. I don't care, but I can't be here tonight." Yunho frowned.
"Jae, it's cold out and it's late. Come to bed and if we must talk about this, we'll do it in the morning after we've both slept." Defiant, JaeJoong shook his head no.
"I need some time to think and I can't do it here. Just...I'll be back." They had had many fights like this, all varying in degrees of intensity, but neither of them had her walked away from the other. Yunho couldn't understand why this was different.
"JaeJoong, don't go." They stared at each other in a relative state of peril. JaeJoong didn't want to go, but he felt like he had to.
"We should both give each other a little space. If we keep on like this, our relationship...there won't be one to have. I don't want us to end up resenting each other." The door clicking shut was the last thing Yunho heard before he realized that JaeJoong was gone and that he had let him go.
--//--
"So are you guys, like, broken up?" Yunho groaned out an almost indistinguishable answer before thumping his head against the cool bar top.
"You two have had fights before," Yoochun jabbed Junsu in the side before throwing his arm over Yunho's shoulders. "You both just need some time." Yunho closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He and JaeJoong hadn't spoken in four days and it was killing him. They had been a part of each others world since they were high school kids, loved each other for just as long. Being apart like this was unfamiliar and more than just unpleasant.
"I don't know, Chun. He seemed pretty serious. All I know is that I want whatever this is to end and for us to be together again." He was sick of being miserable. Junsu made a choking noise and both Yunho and Yoochun turned to look at him.
"What's wrong with you?" The man in question raised his hand and pointed across the small tavern. JaeJoong and his best friend Changmin were coming in, Changmin's hand on the small of JaeJoong's back as he followed him to a table. Yunho clenched his teeth. Changmin had a bad habit of touching what didn't belong to him, and it irked Yunho to no ends that he couldn't call him on it without having the 'I'm-Jae's-best-friend' card thrown in his face.
"God, I should be over there with him, not Changmin." Yoochun nudged Yunho in the ribs and gave him an exasperated look.
"Well since you know that, make it happen."
--//--
"I really didn't want to come out tonight, Min." JaeJoong resisted the urge to curl up into a ball and close his eyes. Being social was the farthest thing from his mind right now.
"I know you didn't and that's the exact reason why you had to," Changmin waved a waiter over. "Jae, you can't let this little rift between you and Yunho control your life." JaeJoong sighed, but didn't bother to say anything. His friend was right, as much as JaeJoong hated to admit it. When Changmin had barged into his apartment earlier that evening, he knew the self-pity party he had be throwing was over.
"Let's not stay out too late, okay? I've got work in the morning." They both knew it would take one call to have JaeJoong's shift at the hospital changed with someone else, but Changmin didn't call him on it. Instead, he sat quietly, watching as a familiar figure approached. He didn't know whether he wanted to punch Yunho or let him be at that moment.
"JaeJae," JaeJoong looked up, breath caught in his throat. They had seen at each other a few hours ago, but hadn't spoken or really looked at each other. Yunho looked as tired as JaeJoong felt and he wanted to end this...war was it, and let them be together again.
"Hey Yunho." He hadn't the slightest clue as to why he trying to play it cool when he all he really wanted to do was love Yunho and forget he was ever mad. There was a thick silence between them before Changmin cleared his throat and gestured across the room.
"I'm going say hi to Yoochun and Junsu. Be right back, Jae." Set-up. JaeJoong watched Changmin leave and waited a few minutes before telling Yunho to sit down. Yunho sat down across from him, never taking his eyes off of JaeJoong. His boyfriend, lover, best friend, other half. He swallowed thickly and shifted in his seat.
"Can I get you something to drink?" JaeJoong shook his head no, eyes on the table. He didn't want to behave like strangers with the one man he loved more than anything in this world.
"Yunho I'm-"
"I'm sorry JaeJoong." Yunho's eyes were wide and serious as he stared at JaeJoong. The smaller man sat motionless before the words finally came enough for him to speak.
"Why are you apologizing?" JaeJoong had honestly expected Yunho to keep his head up instead of resisting and apologizing first. It was a shock to see that he was actually wrong.
"Because I was stupid. When something goes wrong between us, I never own up to my part in how it happens-it isn't fair at all-and I want that to stop before we end up going our separate way for good," Yunho reached over and ran his fingers over the outside of JaeJoong's wrist. "I love you way too much for something like that to happen." Jaejoong looked at the long fingers caressing his wrist and smiled. Who had he been trying to kid? He loved Yunho more than anything or anyone in this world and every time they fought, it was like a tear in his heart. He needed Yunho and there was no way around it.
"I apologize too," He began quietly. "I get frustrated easily and sometimes forget that i need to meet you halfway. Forgive me?" Yunho's answer was a wide smile as he turned over JaeJoong's hand and connected their fingers together.
"Dance with me." JaeJoong smiled and silently accepted the offer. He allowed Yunho to lead him out onto the dance floor, falling into easy rhythm of the music. They swayed together, JaeJoong's head resting on Yunho's shoulder as the taller man led them around in gentle, slow circles.
Their love wasn't perfect. No, it certainly wasn't that by any means. But it was just right for them because after every war, there was love that would stand the test of time.
{THE END}
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: PG
Length: Drabble
Summary: I love you even when you give me reasons not to.
A/N: Has been FOREVER since I posted something other than "Midsummer". Hope you like it.
"You really know how to do it don't you?"
"Do what?" Yunho snorted, arms folded high across his chest.
"Making me angry," He tilted his head as he surveyed his boyfriend. "You must practice in your spare time because you have it mastered." JaeJoong rolled his eyes, completely beyond frustration.
"Yunho, what the hell are you talking about?" Their shared two bedroom loft was thick with near palpable tension. It was always like this when they argued. There was yelling, harsh words, and immediate regret on both their parts.
"I asked you not to go out tonight and just wait until I got off of work. The one night out of the entire week that I actually have time for us to be together, and I come home to find you not here," Yunho leaned against the kitchen counter. "Did you even consider how I felt?" This time JaeJoong was the one to snort in indignation.
"Oh, I forgot. This is the Jung Yunho show! Everything Mr. Jung asks for he should get. Honestly Yunho, grow up. I went out with my friends because you were two hours later than you promised you'd be and you didn't even bother to call. "
"My phone died!"
"So why didn't you call from work?! Were the phones dead there too?" Silence fell again and was shortly punctuated by one of Yunho's deep sighs.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore. Lets just go to bed." The taller man turned around and began to leave the kitchen, expecting JaeJoong to be right behind him. That didn't happen though. Instead he heard the distinct rattling of keys and JaeJoong's steps in the opposite direction. He turned and saw JaeJoong reaching for his coat.
"Where are you going?" JaeJoong slipped into his black jacket before sliding his hands though his already mussed auburn hair.
"Out. For a drive or maybe walk to a bar. I don't care, but I can't be here tonight." Yunho frowned.
"Jae, it's cold out and it's late. Come to bed and if we must talk about this, we'll do it in the morning after we've both slept." Defiant, JaeJoong shook his head no.
"I need some time to think and I can't do it here. Just...I'll be back." They had had many fights like this, all varying in degrees of intensity, but neither of them had her walked away from the other. Yunho couldn't understand why this was different.
"JaeJoong, don't go." They stared at each other in a relative state of peril. JaeJoong didn't want to go, but he felt like he had to.
"We should both give each other a little space. If we keep on like this, our relationship...there won't be one to have. I don't want us to end up resenting each other." The door clicking shut was the last thing Yunho heard before he realized that JaeJoong was gone and that he had let him go.
--//--
"So are you guys, like, broken up?" Yunho groaned out an almost indistinguishable answer before thumping his head against the cool bar top.
"You two have had fights before," Yoochun jabbed Junsu in the side before throwing his arm over Yunho's shoulders. "You both just need some time." Yunho closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He and JaeJoong hadn't spoken in four days and it was killing him. They had been a part of each others world since they were high school kids, loved each other for just as long. Being apart like this was unfamiliar and more than just unpleasant.
"I don't know, Chun. He seemed pretty serious. All I know is that I want whatever this is to end and for us to be together again." He was sick of being miserable. Junsu made a choking noise and both Yunho and Yoochun turned to look at him.
"What's wrong with you?" The man in question raised his hand and pointed across the small tavern. JaeJoong and his best friend Changmin were coming in, Changmin's hand on the small of JaeJoong's back as he followed him to a table. Yunho clenched his teeth. Changmin had a bad habit of touching what didn't belong to him, and it irked Yunho to no ends that he couldn't call him on it without having the 'I'm-Jae's-best-friend' card thrown in his face.
"God, I should be over there with him, not Changmin." Yoochun nudged Yunho in the ribs and gave him an exasperated look.
"Well since you know that, make it happen."
--//--
"I really didn't want to come out tonight, Min." JaeJoong resisted the urge to curl up into a ball and close his eyes. Being social was the farthest thing from his mind right now.
"I know you didn't and that's the exact reason why you had to," Changmin waved a waiter over. "Jae, you can't let this little rift between you and Yunho control your life." JaeJoong sighed, but didn't bother to say anything. His friend was right, as much as JaeJoong hated to admit it. When Changmin had barged into his apartment earlier that evening, he knew the self-pity party he had be throwing was over.
"Let's not stay out too late, okay? I've got work in the morning." They both knew it would take one call to have JaeJoong's shift at the hospital changed with someone else, but Changmin didn't call him on it. Instead, he sat quietly, watching as a familiar figure approached. He didn't know whether he wanted to punch Yunho or let him be at that moment.
"JaeJae," JaeJoong looked up, breath caught in his throat. They had seen at each other a few hours ago, but hadn't spoken or really looked at each other. Yunho looked as tired as JaeJoong felt and he wanted to end this...war was it, and let them be together again.
"Hey Yunho." He hadn't the slightest clue as to why he trying to play it cool when he all he really wanted to do was love Yunho and forget he was ever mad. There was a thick silence between them before Changmin cleared his throat and gestured across the room.
"I'm going say hi to Yoochun and Junsu. Be right back, Jae." Set-up. JaeJoong watched Changmin leave and waited a few minutes before telling Yunho to sit down. Yunho sat down across from him, never taking his eyes off of JaeJoong. His boyfriend, lover, best friend, other half. He swallowed thickly and shifted in his seat.
"Can I get you something to drink?" JaeJoong shook his head no, eyes on the table. He didn't want to behave like strangers with the one man he loved more than anything in this world.
"Yunho I'm-"
"I'm sorry JaeJoong." Yunho's eyes were wide and serious as he stared at JaeJoong. The smaller man sat motionless before the words finally came enough for him to speak.
"Why are you apologizing?" JaeJoong had honestly expected Yunho to keep his head up instead of resisting and apologizing first. It was a shock to see that he was actually wrong.
"Because I was stupid. When something goes wrong between us, I never own up to my part in how it happens-it isn't fair at all-and I want that to stop before we end up going our separate way for good," Yunho reached over and ran his fingers over the outside of JaeJoong's wrist. "I love you way too much for something like that to happen." Jaejoong looked at the long fingers caressing his wrist and smiled. Who had he been trying to kid? He loved Yunho more than anything or anyone in this world and every time they fought, it was like a tear in his heart. He needed Yunho and there was no way around it.
"I apologize too," He began quietly. "I get frustrated easily and sometimes forget that i need to meet you halfway. Forgive me?" Yunho's answer was a wide smile as he turned over JaeJoong's hand and connected their fingers together.
"Dance with me." JaeJoong smiled and silently accepted the offer. He allowed Yunho to lead him out onto the dance floor, falling into easy rhythm of the music. They swayed together, JaeJoong's head resting on Yunho's shoulder as the taller man led them around in gentle, slow circles.
Their love wasn't perfect. No, it certainly wasn't that by any means. But it was just right for them because after every war, there was love that would stand the test of time.
{THE END}