Ropes Unwinding for SEAFOGS
Title: Ropes Unwinding
Recipient: seafogs
Pairing: Sehun/Suho
Word count: 2,226 words
Rating: PG-15
Summary: Sehun lives a simple life but Suho brings along ropes tightening around him.
Sehun didn’t know that it would feel like this - to fall in love.
Sehun always joked around that the reason he wanted to be with Suho was the shiny gold watch he wore on his wrist the first time they encountered each other. Suho usually replied by saying that the reason he accepted Sehun’s offer to step out of the club was because of his tight jeans.
After their first encounter, Sehun finally found an interest. Instead of lazing around at the house with Jongin all day, he spent his days badgering Suho. He started to text emoticons to Suho (where he knew he was at the office) and at some point, he started learning Suho’s schedule. In the mornings Sehun would send a message and depending on the day, he would either wait outside at a café while playing on his ipad or playing with Jongin’s puppy.
Life was simple for Sehun.
Finally after knocking on Suho’s apartment door for 6 months, Suho finally opened the door for Sehun to enter into his world. Sehun would come over to his house and sleep there overnight on Fridays which turned into Mondays as well. When Suho realized he was wearing Sehun’s too long trackpants and his oversized t-shirts one too many times, Sehun naturally moved in.
Life was simple for Sehun.
//
“Why are you always just laying around like this?” Suho says.
Dreary from sleep, Sehun rubs his eyes and lets out a moan. He just wants to go bury himself back to sleep instead of facing another lecture from Suho. He’s already heard the same words thrown at him ever since he learned of gaming marathons when he was twelve and stayed up late into the night.
“Why don’t you do anything? Why are you so lazy?” Suho says, his tone increasing.
It’s the same words but it’s different from hearing it from his parents or his nosy aunt. It must be because Sehun thought that Suho would get over this questioning phase and just accept it like everyone else. It must be because Sehun walked through Suho’s world himself, with his heart growing more sensitive to everything Suho related.
Sehun doesn’t reply to Suho’s questions and just stares at the ceiling. He curls up into himself and listens as Suho continues barreling words. Replying to questions and saying nothing only results in the same response anyway. They only seem to spike Suho’s temper higher and red crawls up Suho’s neck and to his cheeks.
“Do you even have a presence in this house?” Suho fires. He walks away and slams the door. The thud resounds in Sehun’s ears as he flickers his eyes at the lump on the white ceiling.
Sehun continues lying there because even though there is the threat of painful back pain to come, it far outweighs paying attention to the words darted at him by Suho.
//
Sehun felt like intricate ropes were wrapped around his body. They would tighten when Suho was at the house and loosened as soon as Suho left for work. Without the words thrown at him, Sehun felt that bit freer from his judgment, the pressure from Suho’s suggestions. It was later as the morning sun dipped deep into the night, when the rope tightened more. Sehun felt lonely without anyone at home. To fill the space, he would go to the café nearby and meet with Jongin but he still felt a part of him empty.
Staying up late into the early morning, Sehun would feel Suho’s arms wrap around his waist in bed. Sehun would inhale the scents Suho picked up on his way to their home from work and try to pinpoint them, an amusing game he held for himself.
“Good morning,” Suho murmurs into Sehun’s chest.
“Good morning to you too,” Sehun says, nudging his head just a bit closer to Suho’s. He throws his right leg over Suho’s waist.
“How was your day?” Suho says. He shuffles closer and slots himself into Sehun’s arms.
“Good. I met with Jongin today,” Sehun replies. He tilts his head and looks down at Suho’s face. “How was work?”
“It was alright. Minseok kept complaining about how Jongdae would keep spending their money buying new pillows at their house. Do you remember when we were going to but then you…” Suho lets the words trail off. “Anyway, I think they’re planning to adopt a baby girl, but they should try out a puppy first, right?”
“Yes, yes. Like Jongin’s,” Sehun says.
Suho continues to talk about the rest of his day and Sehun half listens to another mistake the new intern made at the office. It was later when there was quiet between them, that the ropes would disappear altogether. Here, Sehun saw how smaller Suho seemed. Their legs tangled together and Suho’s deep breathing into the nape of his neck.
Sehun wondered how it all began to build up. Sehun continued leading his simple routine of lazing around in bed but under the surface it felt like the simple life he led was slipping out of his fingertips. So was Suho.
Sehun didn’t know how to feel with the constant tugging and loosening of Suho. His words were sharp, slicing deeper and deeper but his love was salve to those wounds and more. Suho was at the same time his rock shielding him from harm but sometimes Sehun could feel his thorns pricking his sides with every rose Suho gifted him with.
//
“Hey, how was work?” Sehun greets Suho at the door. He smiles widely and falters when Suho returns it with only a small quirk of his lips which quickly disappears. Suho’s face wrinkles around his eyebrows and forehead, his lips upturned.
“Just a bit stressful,” Suho says. He shrugs off his coat and sheds off his jacket.
“Here, let me,” Sehun says. Sehun takes the items into his arms and balances to pick up his shoulder bag on the floor. He leads Suho to the kitchen as he places Suho’s things on the couch.
Walking into the kitchen, Suho wrinkles his nose.
“Did something get burned?” Suho says, frowning while looking around the kitchen.
Sehun grips the dining chair tightly and gives a smaller smile Suho’s way. Underneath, Sehun is buzzing in anticipation. He was going to take Jongin’s advice and try to do special things for Suho so that he could feel less stressed when he arrives home.
“I prepared dinner for us.”
Suho walks around the table and inspects the fish. He then steps and looks at the white kitchen benches coloured in different ingredients.
“I wasn’t sure what you liked but I remember you saying that you always liked fish and tomatoes together. I also-“ Sehun is interrupted by Suho letting out a breath of frustration.
“This serving isn’t enough for the two of us. Look, half of the fish is burned and you- why did you cook rice when you can’t in the first place?” Suho says, shoving the plates to the side. “You should have just called one of your maids to cook instead. It would have saved us the useless ingredients you used on this fish.”
“Suho? Why are you speaking like this?” Sehun asks, wary. “I can try again if you want, I’ll call Em on my phone if you want. But try the fish, I-“
“Why didn’t you ever try for anything before?” Suho shouts. Sehun is frozen, looking at Suho breathing heavily. “You never tried to do anything while staying here.”
“I did, I…” Sehun begins but quiets.
“Did you even try for us?” Suho asks, his voice low now.
Sehun stills.
Sehun replies his voice steady, “You can’t tell me that I did not try. I was at your door and was with you all around. My schedule changed and then we became closer. I was the one who approached you first, for heaven’s sake.”
“What have you done for us after moving into my apartment?” Suho points out.
“What have you done?” Sehun asks, his voice raising.
“Providing for us, cleaning after your mess. I’ve done so many things and sacrificed for you, so don’t tell me I haven’t done anything,” Suho rumbles.
“All you do is nag and bring me down. The things you suggest to me because you think it will make me feel better? It doesn’t. You only give me more pressure. I already know I’m crap, I don’t need another person to add to the list telling me how worthless I am.” Sehun says. He wipes his cheek roughly, wiping the wetness at the bottom of his shirt.
“Try for us? When was the last time you initiated a kiss? I’m always the one kissing your cheek and you turned down sex because you were tired. I understand that, but you didn’t try to provide time for us. You haven’t even tried to take us out on a date for how long already?”
“Why don’t you try?” Sehun asks, his voice raised. His tears are leaking now, and he can taste the saltiness smoothing down to his upper lip. Sehun licks along his chapped lips and he can feel how they tremble.
“Why isn’t this working out for us?” Suho asks, letting out a deep breath. He takes a seat on the table and looks up at Sehun. His eyes are red and he looks lost, unlike his usual composed self.
“Sometimes just wanting each other isn’t enough, is it?” Sehun says. He takes a seat across from Suho and looks into his eyes. His eyes look heavy with the lack of sleep and his increasing work load forcing him to stay at work longer. Sehun’s eyes flitter across his face, taking in the wrinkles he hadn’t seen were there before.
“Can we still try this again?” Sehun asks.
Sehun thinks about the last time he really tried for something. It’s hard, trying to dig around his head for a memory of it, but all he can think about is Suho.
//
“What?” The voice shouts from behind the door.
Sehun smiles at hearing the voice. He wriggles his body closer to the door. The wind seems to be picking up speed and Sehun wraps the scarf around him tighter.
“I come bearing gifts,” Sehun shouts.
“Unless you can magically finish all my work, kindly go away,” Suho shouts.
“I have something even better,” Sehun shouts. “And it’s freezing. Please open the door for this poor soul.”
Sehun can hear footsteps coming closer to the door. The door clicks open and Sehun sees a frazzled Suho. It looks like Suho didn’t bother washing up before starting on his day’s work. His fried blond hair is standing on different ends and his neon sweatpants aren’t helping dull the frightening image before Sehun.
“You look horrible,” Sehun says. He gives a peck to the edge of Suho’s lips then proceeds to move into Suho’s apartment before he can say anything. Sehun lets out a low moan at the warmth. “Those glasses make you look even worse.”
Suho waves his hand in the air, throwing away that comment. He presses back the glasses on the bridge of his nose, looking down at Sehun’s hands.
“What did you bring me? Is it a new watch?” Suho asks, looking expectantly at the brown package.
“It’s chocolate balls!” Sehun says, handing the packet to Suho. “They’re the most delicious ones I’ve had.”
Suho looks inside the package and pulls a face. “Don’t they usually come in a packet of 20?”
“They do! The lady also gave me an extra one because she liked my handsome face,” Sehun smirked. He threw a nod over at Suho’s upturned face.
“There’s only one in here though,” Suho frowns. He takes the chocolate and pops it into his mouth anyway.
“It’s good I ate the other 20 chocolate balls or else you could have had a stomach ache. You might have not been able to finish your work either,” Sehun says, walking into the kitchen. He plops down on the chair and flickers his gaze across the paper spread out on the table.
“Do you have a stomach ache?” Suho asks. He takes a seat beside him.
“No,” Sehun smiles, tilting his head to the side.
“Asshole,” Suho says. “You’re good for nothing but to disrupt my schedule.”
“That’s right,” Sehun says, sliding closer to Suho.
“Are you sure you don’t have any work or classes today?”
“Why are you still asking? I don’t do that work…thing. I have enough money to live like a prince. I guess my work is to entertain you,” Sehun shrugs. “Why do I need to try anything when I can just get it with money?”
It looks like Suho is itching to say something but he clamps his mouth shut and shakes his head.
Sehun smiles and peppers kisses along Suho’s chin to his lips.
//
Suho stretches out his hand on the table and Sehun places his hand in his. He feels the warmth emitting from his and warming his cold hands.
“Maybe when the timing is right it will work for us,” Suho says. He looks down at their hands and gives them a squeeze.
“If we try?” Sehun asks, his voice lower now.
“If we both try, we can get the timing right for us again,” Suho replies.
Recipient: seafogs
Pairing: Sehun/Suho
Word count: 2,226 words
Rating: PG-15
Summary: Sehun lives a simple life but Suho brings along ropes tightening around him.
Sehun didn’t know that it would feel like this - to fall in love.
Sehun always joked around that the reason he wanted to be with Suho was the shiny gold watch he wore on his wrist the first time they encountered each other. Suho usually replied by saying that the reason he accepted Sehun’s offer to step out of the club was because of his tight jeans.
After their first encounter, Sehun finally found an interest. Instead of lazing around at the house with Jongin all day, he spent his days badgering Suho. He started to text emoticons to Suho (where he knew he was at the office) and at some point, he started learning Suho’s schedule. In the mornings Sehun would send a message and depending on the day, he would either wait outside at a café while playing on his ipad or playing with Jongin’s puppy.
Life was simple for Sehun.
Finally after knocking on Suho’s apartment door for 6 months, Suho finally opened the door for Sehun to enter into his world. Sehun would come over to his house and sleep there overnight on Fridays which turned into Mondays as well. When Suho realized he was wearing Sehun’s too long trackpants and his oversized t-shirts one too many times, Sehun naturally moved in.
Life was simple for Sehun.
//
“Why are you always just laying around like this?” Suho says.
Dreary from sleep, Sehun rubs his eyes and lets out a moan. He just wants to go bury himself back to sleep instead of facing another lecture from Suho. He’s already heard the same words thrown at him ever since he learned of gaming marathons when he was twelve and stayed up late into the night.
“Why don’t you do anything? Why are you so lazy?” Suho says, his tone increasing.
It’s the same words but it’s different from hearing it from his parents or his nosy aunt. It must be because Sehun thought that Suho would get over this questioning phase and just accept it like everyone else. It must be because Sehun walked through Suho’s world himself, with his heart growing more sensitive to everything Suho related.
Sehun doesn’t reply to Suho’s questions and just stares at the ceiling. He curls up into himself and listens as Suho continues barreling words. Replying to questions and saying nothing only results in the same response anyway. They only seem to spike Suho’s temper higher and red crawls up Suho’s neck and to his cheeks.
“Do you even have a presence in this house?” Suho fires. He walks away and slams the door. The thud resounds in Sehun’s ears as he flickers his eyes at the lump on the white ceiling.
Sehun continues lying there because even though there is the threat of painful back pain to come, it far outweighs paying attention to the words darted at him by Suho.
//
Sehun felt like intricate ropes were wrapped around his body. They would tighten when Suho was at the house and loosened as soon as Suho left for work. Without the words thrown at him, Sehun felt that bit freer from his judgment, the pressure from Suho’s suggestions. It was later as the morning sun dipped deep into the night, when the rope tightened more. Sehun felt lonely without anyone at home. To fill the space, he would go to the café nearby and meet with Jongin but he still felt a part of him empty.
Staying up late into the early morning, Sehun would feel Suho’s arms wrap around his waist in bed. Sehun would inhale the scents Suho picked up on his way to their home from work and try to pinpoint them, an amusing game he held for himself.
“Good morning,” Suho murmurs into Sehun’s chest.
“Good morning to you too,” Sehun says, nudging his head just a bit closer to Suho’s. He throws his right leg over Suho’s waist.
“How was your day?” Suho says. He shuffles closer and slots himself into Sehun’s arms.
“Good. I met with Jongin today,” Sehun replies. He tilts his head and looks down at Suho’s face. “How was work?”
“It was alright. Minseok kept complaining about how Jongdae would keep spending their money buying new pillows at their house. Do you remember when we were going to but then you…” Suho lets the words trail off. “Anyway, I think they’re planning to adopt a baby girl, but they should try out a puppy first, right?”
“Yes, yes. Like Jongin’s,” Sehun says.
Suho continues to talk about the rest of his day and Sehun half listens to another mistake the new intern made at the office. It was later when there was quiet between them, that the ropes would disappear altogether. Here, Sehun saw how smaller Suho seemed. Their legs tangled together and Suho’s deep breathing into the nape of his neck.
Sehun wondered how it all began to build up. Sehun continued leading his simple routine of lazing around in bed but under the surface it felt like the simple life he led was slipping out of his fingertips. So was Suho.
Sehun didn’t know how to feel with the constant tugging and loosening of Suho. His words were sharp, slicing deeper and deeper but his love was salve to those wounds and more. Suho was at the same time his rock shielding him from harm but sometimes Sehun could feel his thorns pricking his sides with every rose Suho gifted him with.
//
“Hey, how was work?” Sehun greets Suho at the door. He smiles widely and falters when Suho returns it with only a small quirk of his lips which quickly disappears. Suho’s face wrinkles around his eyebrows and forehead, his lips upturned.
“Just a bit stressful,” Suho says. He shrugs off his coat and sheds off his jacket.
“Here, let me,” Sehun says. Sehun takes the items into his arms and balances to pick up his shoulder bag on the floor. He leads Suho to the kitchen as he places Suho’s things on the couch.
Walking into the kitchen, Suho wrinkles his nose.
“Did something get burned?” Suho says, frowning while looking around the kitchen.
Sehun grips the dining chair tightly and gives a smaller smile Suho’s way. Underneath, Sehun is buzzing in anticipation. He was going to take Jongin’s advice and try to do special things for Suho so that he could feel less stressed when he arrives home.
“I prepared dinner for us.”
Suho walks around the table and inspects the fish. He then steps and looks at the white kitchen benches coloured in different ingredients.
“I wasn’t sure what you liked but I remember you saying that you always liked fish and tomatoes together. I also-“ Sehun is interrupted by Suho letting out a breath of frustration.
“This serving isn’t enough for the two of us. Look, half of the fish is burned and you- why did you cook rice when you can’t in the first place?” Suho says, shoving the plates to the side. “You should have just called one of your maids to cook instead. It would have saved us the useless ingredients you used on this fish.”
“Suho? Why are you speaking like this?” Sehun asks, wary. “I can try again if you want, I’ll call Em on my phone if you want. But try the fish, I-“
“Why didn’t you ever try for anything before?” Suho shouts. Sehun is frozen, looking at Suho breathing heavily. “You never tried to do anything while staying here.”
“I did, I…” Sehun begins but quiets.
“Did you even try for us?” Suho asks, his voice low now.
Sehun stills.
Sehun replies his voice steady, “You can’t tell me that I did not try. I was at your door and was with you all around. My schedule changed and then we became closer. I was the one who approached you first, for heaven’s sake.”
“What have you done for us after moving into my apartment?” Suho points out.
“What have you done?” Sehun asks, his voice raising.
“Providing for us, cleaning after your mess. I’ve done so many things and sacrificed for you, so don’t tell me I haven’t done anything,” Suho rumbles.
“All you do is nag and bring me down. The things you suggest to me because you think it will make me feel better? It doesn’t. You only give me more pressure. I already know I’m crap, I don’t need another person to add to the list telling me how worthless I am.” Sehun says. He wipes his cheek roughly, wiping the wetness at the bottom of his shirt.
“Try for us? When was the last time you initiated a kiss? I’m always the one kissing your cheek and you turned down sex because you were tired. I understand that, but you didn’t try to provide time for us. You haven’t even tried to take us out on a date for how long already?”
“Why don’t you try?” Sehun asks, his voice raised. His tears are leaking now, and he can taste the saltiness smoothing down to his upper lip. Sehun licks along his chapped lips and he can feel how they tremble.
“Why isn’t this working out for us?” Suho asks, letting out a deep breath. He takes a seat on the table and looks up at Sehun. His eyes are red and he looks lost, unlike his usual composed self.
“Sometimes just wanting each other isn’t enough, is it?” Sehun says. He takes a seat across from Suho and looks into his eyes. His eyes look heavy with the lack of sleep and his increasing work load forcing him to stay at work longer. Sehun’s eyes flitter across his face, taking in the wrinkles he hadn’t seen were there before.
“Can we still try this again?” Sehun asks.
Sehun thinks about the last time he really tried for something. It’s hard, trying to dig around his head for a memory of it, but all he can think about is Suho.
//
“What?” The voice shouts from behind the door.
Sehun smiles at hearing the voice. He wriggles his body closer to the door. The wind seems to be picking up speed and Sehun wraps the scarf around him tighter.
“I come bearing gifts,” Sehun shouts.
“Unless you can magically finish all my work, kindly go away,” Suho shouts.
“I have something even better,” Sehun shouts. “And it’s freezing. Please open the door for this poor soul.”
Sehun can hear footsteps coming closer to the door. The door clicks open and Sehun sees a frazzled Suho. It looks like Suho didn’t bother washing up before starting on his day’s work. His fried blond hair is standing on different ends and his neon sweatpants aren’t helping dull the frightening image before Sehun.
“You look horrible,” Sehun says. He gives a peck to the edge of Suho’s lips then proceeds to move into Suho’s apartment before he can say anything. Sehun lets out a low moan at the warmth. “Those glasses make you look even worse.”
Suho waves his hand in the air, throwing away that comment. He presses back the glasses on the bridge of his nose, looking down at Sehun’s hands.
“What did you bring me? Is it a new watch?” Suho asks, looking expectantly at the brown package.
“It’s chocolate balls!” Sehun says, handing the packet to Suho. “They’re the most delicious ones I’ve had.”
Suho looks inside the package and pulls a face. “Don’t they usually come in a packet of 20?”
“They do! The lady also gave me an extra one because she liked my handsome face,” Sehun smirked. He threw a nod over at Suho’s upturned face.
“There’s only one in here though,” Suho frowns. He takes the chocolate and pops it into his mouth anyway.
“It’s good I ate the other 20 chocolate balls or else you could have had a stomach ache. You might have not been able to finish your work either,” Sehun says, walking into the kitchen. He plops down on the chair and flickers his gaze across the paper spread out on the table.
“Do you have a stomach ache?” Suho asks. He takes a seat beside him.
“No,” Sehun smiles, tilting his head to the side.
“Asshole,” Suho says. “You’re good for nothing but to disrupt my schedule.”
“That’s right,” Sehun says, sliding closer to Suho.
“Are you sure you don’t have any work or classes today?”
“Why are you still asking? I don’t do that work…thing. I have enough money to live like a prince. I guess my work is to entertain you,” Sehun shrugs. “Why do I need to try anything when I can just get it with money?”
It looks like Suho is itching to say something but he clamps his mouth shut and shakes his head.
Sehun smiles and peppers kisses along Suho’s chin to his lips.
//
Suho stretches out his hand on the table and Sehun places his hand in his. He feels the warmth emitting from his and warming his cold hands.
“Maybe when the timing is right it will work for us,” Suho says. He looks down at their hands and gives them a squeeze.
“If we try?” Sehun asks, his voice lower now.
“If we both try, we can get the timing right for us again,” Suho replies.