Five gtop drabbles (happy birthday Jiyong!)
Girls -> They're nineteen (twenty) and the world is within their grasp.
Hiking -> Of course they prove rubbish at the actual hiking: Jiyong's stamina isn't exactly as it should be and Seunghyun wastes his with pointless sprints.
Airport -> TOP's a a man of principles, that's for sure. GD, he's much more of the pragmatic kind.
Work-out -> "Been productive, hyung?"
Birthday -> "Why do all those people get to kiss you and I don't?"
1. Girls
They're nineteen (twenty) and the world is within their grasp. With it come the girls: gorgeous and eloquent and nothing like Seunghyun could have imagined, except as something from one of his more ambitious fantasies.
Sometimes it still feels like that.
He goes over it with Jiyong and he'll comment, "Ah, she's pretty," very matter-of-factly, flipping through the magazine that was handed to them by their CEO; and Seunghyun thinks it's crazy how he could get any of their numbers if he felt like it.
His side is hot where it's pressed against Jiyong's and he answers, "Yeah," thinks maybe he should ask about her. Maybe should take her out to a wine bar and see how well his new role has stuck: the one of the rapper, the one of suave T.O.P.
(Thinks maybe he could get a conversation going, and otherwise there was always wine and kissing.)
He does, and one date turns into two; turns into three; turns into ten; not always with the same girl. (Never with the same girl.)
And it's a little weird, perhaps, that Seunghyun immediately hits 'accept' whenever Jiyong calls during his date -- probably having forgotten in the midst of his busy schedule, probably having more important things on his mind than Seunghyun's love life -- but hey, bros before hos it echoes in his mind, and yes, that's it, that's exactly it.
(The little swoop his stomach does when the call connects is easy to be ignored.)
2. Hiking
His hiking outfit has been lying at the back of his closet for two years now, one of his rare impulse purchases and possible bad buys.
Still, it's only a bad buy when there's no intention of ever wearing it and with him there's still the plan to go hiking: some day, somewhere, stashed at the back of his mind with all his other on-hiatus plans.
Then suddenly there's a gap between promotions, though, and in-between glasses of wine (-- bottles, in Seunghyun's case) the hiking plan's brought up. Plan becomes reality with of couple of phone calls and mouse-clicks, and, yes, talk about impulsive.
Maybe that's what you become when you're close to drunk, or close to Seunghyun, or both.
Anyway, they're off to the mountains the very next day. Of course they prove rubbish at the actual hiking: Jiyong's stamina isn't exactly what it should be and Seunghyun wastes his with pointless sprints. Still, the fresh air is delightful, as is the general change in scenery.
Jiyong can feel the stress drain from him.
Once they've reached a high point they take a moment to take in the view in front of them, and maybe also regain a little of their breath. The world seems still like this; seems comprehensible. There's just the green of the forest below them, and the tingling sensation the fresh air leaves on his skin.
There's just Seunghyun's arm around his shoulder, warm and familiar.
"It's beautiful," he sighs, nuzzling a bit closer.
"Hmm," Seunghyun agrees, and Jiyong pretends not to notice the eyes he feels on him.
3. Airports
Airports have become routine by now. Check-in, check-out, waiting, jet lag, waiting.
Hard to believe he'd once actually been excited about walking past customs.
Two things are capable of making a flight durable, though: music and comfy clothes. It's a fine line to walk sometimes between stylish and over-casual, but Jiyong likes doing it. Likes putting up a hat and a pair of sunglasses and denim shorts and say: yes, this is fashionable.
(Because this is me.)
Which is why he doesn't understand Seunghyun's default choice of layered suits. Well, he supposes he can understand the reasons behind it, but never that those would outweigh the sheer discomfort it brings with it.
TOP's a man of principles, that's for sure.
GD, he's much more of the pragmatic kind.
"At least take off the jacket," he suggests, plucking at his hyung's sleeve. It feels woolly, which is all the more reason for him to follow his lead.
"What, and walk around in just my blouse?" He stares down his body. "It wouldn't match anymore. You should understand, Jiyong-ah."
"...because I'm the fashion leader?"
"Yah, fashion leadah," Seunghyun confirms in his default Japanese accent and Jiyong smiles at the nickname he'd been given somewhere between the mowhawk and the headband episode.
It's a bit their thing.
"Well, then at least listen to something good," he says and offers him one of his earphones.
Seunghyun smiles his approval at what's playing (Golddigger, Kanye West) and Jiyong does as well, especially when Seunghyun starts doing the hand motions -- a little bit ridiculous and a little bit intoxicating, like everything Seunghyun does.
Waiting like this isn't too bad.
(And Jiyong supposes that, yes, there might be a third something (someone) that could be added to that list from earlier.)
4. Work-out
Working out isn't his favourite activity, he'll readily admit that. But it can't be denied that he gains a certain satisfaction from it: a different kind of pride than the one he experiences after a stage-performance or witty lyric, but pride nonetheless.
(He likes how his brow and back get covered in sweat, even though at the same time it's also kind of gross. It's a visible reminder though, a visible token of all his effort.)
Usually he works out alone but sometimes, after he's done, someone will drop in: Daesung ("Ya hyung, stop trying to pull of my shirt, you're making me embarrassed," Minzy ("Looking good there, oppa!") or master Hwang ("You didn't get off earlier than I'd ordered you, did you?")
And then sometimes it's Jiyong.
He will quirk a half-smile at him, as though seeing Seunghyun in the gym is still something that's considered funny (or maybe there's an inside-joke there that's lost on him amidst the millions of jokes exchanged between them) before casually roaming his eyes across his body.
Seunghyun's cheeks heat.
"Been productive, hyung?"
"Yes," he answers automatically (though in this case it's the honest truth) and then, after a pause, extends his arm: "You can feel for yourself if you don't believe it."
And Jiyong will smile a secretive smile because they've been here before, they've been here every time, and the inside joke isn't lost on Seunghyun this time.
"Sure," he agrees and reaches out to touch.
(If he's being honest, this is his favourite part about working out.)
5. Birthday
Jiyong's lost count of all the people he's greeted, shaken hands with, fist-bumped, kissed.
He's also lost count of the drinks that have vanished and then reappeared on their table, as if my magic rather than capable waitress hands. Most proficient in the vanishing act is the person sitting right next to him.
Currently Seunghyun is commenting on the birthday guests in that energetic voice of his that only comes out when near-drunk, being equally ridiculous and perspicacious, and sending Jiyong into fits of giggles that are entirely inappropriate when he has guests to greet.
Then again, it's his birthday so everything he does could pass for appropriate.
He's just greeted the fourth woman in a row with a kiss on the cheek when Seunghyun strikes again.
"Why do all these people get to kiss you and I don't?" he prompts indignantly, no slur detectable despite the amount of alcohol consumed, and Jiyong just laughs because this is the booze talking (-- except no, this is Seunghyun talking.)
"You'll get your chance later, hyung," he attempts as a joke, and then quickly turns to greet more people before his hyung catches his eye and might do something.
-
The evening carelessly proceeds in a blur of cheers, mix-drinks and general euphoria, and Jiyong feels good.
Better than good.
It's four a.m. when most people have finally gone out and it's just the odd guest wandering around plus he and Seunghyun on the couch: lights dim, music in the background.
Jiyong vaguely wonders why it always ends like this.
He's on the verge of dozing off -- sleep-drunk in the most literal sense -- when Seunghyun's low voice reaches his ear.
"Can I do it now?"
"Hmmm what?"
"Can I kiss you now?" Seunghyun clarifies and Jiyong would sputter if he weren't already half passed out.
He still does, kind of.
".......all right, fine," he agrees (sighs) after a moment, and makes sure to sound extra sleepy because this is not his sane mind talking.
The couch creaks as Seunghyun shifts closer, and there's a nervous swoop in his belly that's only somewhat easy to ignore.
"Come here," Seunghyun mumbles.
He offers no reaction except maybe turn his body minutely towards him; just enough to show his compliance, just little enough to deny it afterwards.
A pause.
Then Seunghyun's face is right next to his, hovering very close, and Jiyong's skin tingles, anticipates.
There's a sensor in him that reacts to Seunghyun's every breath (metaphorically, imaginary, scarily real) and right now it's gone off the charts.
(Jiyong wishes his hyung would hurry up for a change and do something.)
At last he finally does lean down, and puts his mouth to his cheek: softly.
There's a pregnant pause in which neither of them move. Then Jiyong turns his head towards him.
"What --" he starts, right as Seunghyun smiles and leans in to kiss him once more.
This time properly.
-
"Does this mean I had the best birthday present?" Seunghyun later mumbles against his lips, voice a low rumble that does very pleasant things to his belly.
"I think you can do better," Jiyong replies dazedly -- and is naturally proven right.
Hiking -> Of course they prove rubbish at the actual hiking: Jiyong's stamina isn't exactly as it should be and Seunghyun wastes his with pointless sprints.
Airport -> TOP's a a man of principles, that's for sure. GD, he's much more of the pragmatic kind.
Work-out -> "Been productive, hyung?"
Birthday -> "Why do all those people get to kiss you and I don't?"
1. Girls
They're nineteen (twenty) and the world is within their grasp. With it come the girls: gorgeous and eloquent and nothing like Seunghyun could have imagined, except as something from one of his more ambitious fantasies.
Sometimes it still feels like that.
He goes over it with Jiyong and he'll comment, "Ah, she's pretty," very matter-of-factly, flipping through the magazine that was handed to them by their CEO; and Seunghyun thinks it's crazy how he could get any of their numbers if he felt like it.
His side is hot where it's pressed against Jiyong's and he answers, "Yeah," thinks maybe he should ask about her. Maybe should take her out to a wine bar and see how well his new role has stuck: the one of the rapper, the one of suave T.O.P.
(Thinks maybe he could get a conversation going, and otherwise there was always wine and kissing.)
He does, and one date turns into two; turns into three; turns into ten; not always with the same girl. (Never with the same girl.)
And it's a little weird, perhaps, that Seunghyun immediately hits 'accept' whenever Jiyong calls during his date -- probably having forgotten in the midst of his busy schedule, probably having more important things on his mind than Seunghyun's love life -- but hey, bros before hos it echoes in his mind, and yes, that's it, that's exactly it.
(The little swoop his stomach does when the call connects is easy to be ignored.)
2. Hiking
His hiking outfit has been lying at the back of his closet for two years now, one of his rare impulse purchases and possible bad buys.
Still, it's only a bad buy when there's no intention of ever wearing it and with him there's still the plan to go hiking: some day, somewhere, stashed at the back of his mind with all his other on-hiatus plans.
Then suddenly there's a gap between promotions, though, and in-between glasses of wine (-- bottles, in Seunghyun's case) the hiking plan's brought up. Plan becomes reality with of couple of phone calls and mouse-clicks, and, yes, talk about impulsive.
Maybe that's what you become when you're close to drunk, or close to Seunghyun, or both.
Anyway, they're off to the mountains the very next day. Of course they prove rubbish at the actual hiking: Jiyong's stamina isn't exactly what it should be and Seunghyun wastes his with pointless sprints. Still, the fresh air is delightful, as is the general change in scenery.
Jiyong can feel the stress drain from him.
Once they've reached a high point they take a moment to take in the view in front of them, and maybe also regain a little of their breath. The world seems still like this; seems comprehensible. There's just the green of the forest below them, and the tingling sensation the fresh air leaves on his skin.
There's just Seunghyun's arm around his shoulder, warm and familiar.
"It's beautiful," he sighs, nuzzling a bit closer.
"Hmm," Seunghyun agrees, and Jiyong pretends not to notice the eyes he feels on him.
3. Airports
Airports have become routine by now. Check-in, check-out, waiting, jet lag, waiting.
Hard to believe he'd once actually been excited about walking past customs.
Two things are capable of making a flight durable, though: music and comfy clothes. It's a fine line to walk sometimes between stylish and over-casual, but Jiyong likes doing it. Likes putting up a hat and a pair of sunglasses and denim shorts and say: yes, this is fashionable.
(Because this is me.)
Which is why he doesn't understand Seunghyun's default choice of layered suits. Well, he supposes he can understand the reasons behind it, but never that those would outweigh the sheer discomfort it brings with it.
TOP's a man of principles, that's for sure.
GD, he's much more of the pragmatic kind.
"At least take off the jacket," he suggests, plucking at his hyung's sleeve. It feels woolly, which is all the more reason for him to follow his lead.
"What, and walk around in just my blouse?" He stares down his body. "It wouldn't match anymore. You should understand, Jiyong-ah."
"...because I'm the fashion leader?"
"Yah, fashion leadah," Seunghyun confirms in his default Japanese accent and Jiyong smiles at the nickname he'd been given somewhere between the mowhawk and the headband episode.
It's a bit their thing.
"Well, then at least listen to something good," he says and offers him one of his earphones.
Seunghyun smiles his approval at what's playing (Golddigger, Kanye West) and Jiyong does as well, especially when Seunghyun starts doing the hand motions -- a little bit ridiculous and a little bit intoxicating, like everything Seunghyun does.
Waiting like this isn't too bad.
(And Jiyong supposes that, yes, there might be a third something (someone) that could be added to that list from earlier.)
4. Work-out
Working out isn't his favourite activity, he'll readily admit that. But it can't be denied that he gains a certain satisfaction from it: a different kind of pride than the one he experiences after a stage-performance or witty lyric, but pride nonetheless.
(He likes how his brow and back get covered in sweat, even though at the same time it's also kind of gross. It's a visible reminder though, a visible token of all his effort.)
Usually he works out alone but sometimes, after he's done, someone will drop in: Daesung ("Ya hyung, stop trying to pull of my shirt, you're making me embarrassed," Minzy ("Looking good there, oppa!") or master Hwang ("You didn't get off earlier than I'd ordered you, did you?")
And then sometimes it's Jiyong.
He will quirk a half-smile at him, as though seeing Seunghyun in the gym is still something that's considered funny (or maybe there's an inside-joke there that's lost on him amidst the millions of jokes exchanged between them) before casually roaming his eyes across his body.
Seunghyun's cheeks heat.
"Been productive, hyung?"
"Yes," he answers automatically (though in this case it's the honest truth) and then, after a pause, extends his arm: "You can feel for yourself if you don't believe it."
And Jiyong will smile a secretive smile because they've been here before, they've been here every time, and the inside joke isn't lost on Seunghyun this time.
"Sure," he agrees and reaches out to touch.
(If he's being honest, this is his favourite part about working out.)
5. Birthday
Jiyong's lost count of all the people he's greeted, shaken hands with, fist-bumped, kissed.
He's also lost count of the drinks that have vanished and then reappeared on their table, as if my magic rather than capable waitress hands. Most proficient in the vanishing act is the person sitting right next to him.
Currently Seunghyun is commenting on the birthday guests in that energetic voice of his that only comes out when near-drunk, being equally ridiculous and perspicacious, and sending Jiyong into fits of giggles that are entirely inappropriate when he has guests to greet.
Then again, it's his birthday so everything he does could pass for appropriate.
He's just greeted the fourth woman in a row with a kiss on the cheek when Seunghyun strikes again.
"Why do all these people get to kiss you and I don't?" he prompts indignantly, no slur detectable despite the amount of alcohol consumed, and Jiyong just laughs because this is the booze talking (-- except no, this is Seunghyun talking.)
"You'll get your chance later, hyung," he attempts as a joke, and then quickly turns to greet more people before his hyung catches his eye and might do something.
-
The evening carelessly proceeds in a blur of cheers, mix-drinks and general euphoria, and Jiyong feels good.
Better than good.
It's four a.m. when most people have finally gone out and it's just the odd guest wandering around plus he and Seunghyun on the couch: lights dim, music in the background.
Jiyong vaguely wonders why it always ends like this.
He's on the verge of dozing off -- sleep-drunk in the most literal sense -- when Seunghyun's low voice reaches his ear.
"Can I do it now?"
"Hmmm what?"
"Can I kiss you now?" Seunghyun clarifies and Jiyong would sputter if he weren't already half passed out.
He still does, kind of.
".......all right, fine," he agrees (sighs) after a moment, and makes sure to sound extra sleepy because this is not his sane mind talking.
The couch creaks as Seunghyun shifts closer, and there's a nervous swoop in his belly that's only somewhat easy to ignore.
"Come here," Seunghyun mumbles.
He offers no reaction except maybe turn his body minutely towards him; just enough to show his compliance, just little enough to deny it afterwards.
A pause.
Then Seunghyun's face is right next to his, hovering very close, and Jiyong's skin tingles, anticipates.
There's a sensor in him that reacts to Seunghyun's every breath (metaphorically, imaginary, scarily real) and right now it's gone off the charts.
(Jiyong wishes his hyung would hurry up for a change and do something.)
At last he finally does lean down, and puts his mouth to his cheek: softly.
There's a pregnant pause in which neither of them move. Then Jiyong turns his head towards him.
"What --" he starts, right as Seunghyun smiles and leans in to kiss him once more.
This time properly.
-
"Does this mean I had the best birthday present?" Seunghyun later mumbles against his lips, voice a low rumble that does very pleasant things to his belly.
"I think you can do better," Jiyong replies dazedly -- and is naturally proven right.