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[braced]

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[minsu]

i haven't been doing a lot of that. sleeping. i keep worrying about sage in the swamp.

sometimes i wish he was a kitchen witch.

[braced]

you shouldve said something sooner. i could come keep you company at night

then you would still be able to see him when he has magic business to attend to? hes strong, you know. he'll come back to you

[minsu]

i didn't wanna take up too much of your and kwang's time.

he's strong. i'm not. it's a reminder, you know?

[and he knows that junsu does. that out of everyone in the house, he understands.]

[braced]

im still here for you, babe. always.

yeah. i know.

i do think youre strong in your own way though. you let him go. and you have to wait for him, and its scary. that takes strength.

[minsu]

ok. tell him i'll make him eggs benedict, i know he likes them!

[eagerly taking you up on that offer, he will always hate sleeping alone.]

i tried to tie him up to keep him from going but he has thin wrists. he slipped the ropes.

that was a joke!

[braced]

alright, ill tell him, cutie

maybe next time i can help you tie him down.

[minsu]

he wouldn't stand a chance against our combined might. it almost wouldn't be fair.

[braced]

it definitely wouldnt be fair! two of us and one of him, he would crumple within seconds!

[minsu]

hmm he might like it too much though. we shouldn't reward him for trying to run away from me!

[braced]

kinky

youre right, he shouldnt be rewarded for that. but its not what hes doing, you know that, right?

[minsu]

i worry about corrupting you.

i know.

i know he'd rather be here too.

[he's pouting, sad but at least not lonely thanks to junsu.]

we need some board games to play before bed.

oh! we should make a ouija board!

[braced]

corrupting me? oh, honey. youre so cute

yeah. even i know that. he loves you the most, minsu.

...that's a scary game though! you really want to play that before bed?

[minsu]

sage says that the ghosts here are either shy or gone.

ah, but maybe we should play that game instead. our own version of "never have i ever".

[braced]

oh, yes, lets do that one. i like that better than ghosts

[minsu]

ok! your place or mine?

[braced]

mine?

[minsu]

[it's only a few minutes later when minsu shows up at his door, with popcorn and licorice, two beers.

ok, wine coolers. someone drank all their beers.

and yes, he knocks with their special knock because of course they have one.]

[braced]

[ junsu's already laughing, returning his side of the special knock before he opens the door, giggling. ]

Right on time! [ his eyes fall to the snacks and drinks. ] Oooh, this can be like our own little sleepover party!

[minsu]

I've gotta quit eating so late at night though.

[his hands are kinda full, so minsu just bumps his forehead against junsu's before continuing on to the bed.]

I think I've gained weight. [he tears open the licorice once he's settled, biting one of the vines in half.] I'll stop tomorrow!

[braced]

[ junsu laughs, joining him on the bed and helping himself to the licorice, talking as he chews. no respect!! but also no need for fancy etiquette with the person who's basically his other half. ]

Tomorrow. We'll go out for a run too.

[ he takes one of the bottles he brought, eyeing it. ]

Was this all that's left?

[minsu]

[this is one of the reasons minsu loves being with him. it feels nice to not need to impress, to not need to do anything to make omeone love you because you know they already do.]

My mom used to drink those.

[minsu rests on his stomach, lightly smacking junsu's leg with his licorice whip as he chews.]

We don't want to be too hung over when we go for our run.

[braced]

Did she? Did she let you have some sometimes?

[ junsu's voice is soft, curious. he wants to know more of these things about minsu, about his family, his life. he opens a bottle and takes a sip, then hands it to minsu. ]

Let's just share one, then. That'll be a little buzz for our game.

[minsu]

Not that I remember. So maybe she did.

[minsu smiles before taking a sip from the bottle. it's a little sweeter than the stuff they normally drink. a little deceptive.]

I know my mom loved me, but...she was too quiet. My dad came first. And he would've died if he caught me drinking a wine cooler.

[braced]

[ junsu reaches for minsu's hair, threading his fingers through it, back and forth. ]

I'm sorry. Maybe this is why people like to love you so loudly now.

[ like the universe knows minsu needs a lot of people to be talking about how much they love him, often. ]

You didn't do this sort of stuff when you were younger? Stuff that might have gotten you in trouble?

[minsu]

I want to yell twice as loud about how much I love them.

[he's only had one sip, so he can blame the alcohol for feeling warm. but he does feel loved now, and he's amazed and lucky, and he'll never take it for granted.]

What, was I a rebel? [minsu laughs at that as he shakes his head.] No I was very good until around sixteen. That first kiss changes everything!