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well. it shouldn’t have surprised jinyoung. the moment his heart started racing when jaebeom got a little too close to unplug the charger that was in the chair beside jinyoung in the practice room.he had seen him pretty much every two days since he got discharged, and even in the month before when he had taken his vacation. and in these past couple of months… the flame which had been almost completely gone… started crackling little by little.it wasn’t just that jaebeom was looking absolutely gorgeous with how much he had been working out, he was also… gentler, but seemed to be a little less obsessed with jinyoung then before they enlisted. sure he still mentioned jinyoung here and there when he got asked fan questions but there was a slight change.a slight change that jinyoung noticed, pull him on the “pull” side again, instead of the “push” where he had been for quite a while now. jaebeom was just so infatuated with him that even the smallest change was very noticeable to jinyoung, and oh. how much he liked it.his teenager self would frown at him for enjoying this, for enjoying what he dreaded. when jaebeom wouldn’t even as much as to glance at him if not to tease him, and if he did he pretended to be annoyed.but young jinyoung didn’t know something that present jinyoung knew… and that was how much fun and satisfaction it was to put the man back in his enamored form.so yeah. it wasn’t a surprise when jinyoung’s heart almost exploded when jaebeom stopped at barely centimeters from him and smirked. he had changed his cologne too, it smelt so insanely good jinyoung almost commented on it.“what’s it, jinyoungie?” jinyoung whispered. making jinyoung sigh under his breath.jinyoung knew better though. he smirked and stood up from his char. pushing jaebeom’s chest slightly.“nothing hyung, you look handsome”jaebeom’s facade wavered a little but he pretended like it was nothing, jinyoung was so excited for the next few weeks they would be practically together. this comeback was going to be fun.the next time something major happened, it was during dance practice itself. jinyoung had almost tripped, but jaebeom had catch him by his waist. his hand resting there for way more than was probably normal.jinyoung almost punched himself for blushing. he could see the smile on jaebeom’s lips, the worst part was that his mind couldn’t even provide something to fight back with…and so it began. the silent war of subtle gestures and heart-stopping moments.jinyoung was a master at this game. every smile, every deliberate touch, every flick of his hair was calculated, designed to make jaebeom squirm. and jaebeom, for all his efforts to play it cool, was hopelessly transparent.“you’re off count, hyung,” jinyoung said after another run-through of their routine a couple of days later, tilting his head with a smirk. his voice was light, teasing, but his eyes sparkled with mischief.jaebeom groaned, running a hand through his hair. “maybe if someone wasn’t distracting me—”“oh?” jinyoung interrupted, stepping closer, close enough to watch jaebeom’s throat bob nervously. “who’s distracting you?”jaebeom’s mouth opened and closed, and for a moment, jinyoung thought he might actually say it. but instead, he muttered something incoherent and looked away, his ears turning red.victory.but jinyoung didn’t let it show. instead, he placed a hand on jaebeom’s arm, leaning in slightly. “don’t worry, hyung. i’m sure you’ll get it right. eventually.”he didn’t miss the way jaebeom’s breath hitched.later that evening, they ended up at the convenience store near the studio. jinyoung had insisted on a coffee break, and jaebeom—because he could never say no to him—had followed.“you always get the same one,” jaebeom teased as jinyoung grabbed his americano with a little bit of creamer.“and you always get iced coffee not matter how cold it is,” jinyoung shot back, wrinkling his nose. “what are you, ice man?.”“shut up,” jaebeom argued, holding his head high.jinyoung laughed, the sound soft and genuine, and jaebeom felt something in his chest tighten.as they walked back, the city lights casting a glow over their path, the conversation slowed. they fell into an easy silence, comfortable but charged with something neither of them was ready to name.“thanks for catching me the other day” jinyoung said suddenly, his voice quieter now.jaebeom glanced at him, his steps slowing. “always.”jinyoung looked up at him, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to pause. jaebeom’s eyes were warm, softer than jinyoung remembered, and it made his heart stumble in his chest.he looked away quickly, feigning nonchalance. “don’t get used to it.”jaebeom chuckled, the sound low and rich. “too late.”and just like that, the dynamic shifted again.the next week was filled with more moments. jaebeom bringing him coffee without being asked. jinyoung “accidentally” leaning too close during vocal practice. jaebeom absentmindedly fixing jinyoung’s hair during a photoshoot, his fingers lingering a second too long.it was maddening and exhilarating all at once. including the teasing from his members about how it finally felt like the old days.but the final straw came during one of their late-night planning sessions. they were in jaebeom’s studio, the warm glow of the desk lamp the only light in the room. jinyoung was sprawled on the couch, flipping through the schedules that they had prepared, while jaebeom sat at the keyboard, tinkering with a melody. he was testing something.“play that part again,” jinyoung said, sitting up slightly.jaebeom obliged, his fingers dancing over the keys.“it’s good,” jinyoung said after a moment. “really good.”jaebeom turned to him, his expression unreadable. “you think so?”jinyoung nodded, and then, without really thinking, he added, “you’re always good at this. i mean, at everything.”it was a genuine compliment, but the way jaebeom froze, his hands hovering over the keys, made jinyoung realize how it sounded.before he could backtrack, jaebeom looked at him, his gaze intense. “you mean that?”jinyoung swallowed hard. “yeah. i do.”the room was too quiet, the air too thick.and then jaebeom smiled, the kind of smile that made jinyoung’s stomach flip. “thanks, jinyoungie.”the way he said it, soft and affectionate, made jinyoung feel like a teenager all over again.“don’t mention it,” he muttered, looking away.but jaebeom wasn’t done. he got up from the keyboard, walking over to the couch and sitting down next to him, closer than necessary.“you know,” jaebeom said, his voice low, “i don’t think i’ll ever get tired of hearing you say stuff like that.”jinyoung’s heart was doing cartwheels, and he hated it. hated how easy it was for jaebeom to turn the tables, to make him the flustered one.“don’t let it go to your head,” he managed, though his voice lacked its usual bite.jaebeom just laughed, leaning back and stretching his arms over the couch, his hand brushing against jinyoung’s shoulder.and as much as jinyoung wanted to keep his cool, to stay in control, he couldn’t stop the smile tugging at his lips.jaebeom had won this round.but jinyoung knew, without a doubt, that the game was far from over.then, a little something happened.it happened on a day that had already been unusually chaotic. they were prepping for a group shoot—something the fans had been clamoring for ever since they were back. the air in the studio was electric, full of bustling staff, makeup touch-ups, and scattered laughter. jinyoung had been sitting off to the side, scrolling through his phone, when he noticed her.she was a newer stylist, bright-eyed and eager, lingering a little too close to jaebeom as he adjusted his mic pack. at first, jinyoung brushed it off. jaebeom had always been polite, and people gravitated toward him because of that intense aura he exuded—he couldn’t help it. but then she laughed at something jaebeom said, her hand lightly brushing his arm, and jinyoung felt a flicker of something sharp twist in his chest.he hated how quickly it irritated him.“jaebeom-ssi, your collar’s fine,” she said sweetly, straightening it anyway. “but you look great already, as always.”jaebeom, oblivious as ever, chuckled softly, mumbling a quiet “thanks” before glancing toward the mirror. but jinyoung saw the little smile on her face, the way her gaze lingered on him.jinyoung clenched his jaw.it was ridiculous, really. it wasn’t like jaebeom was flirting back. he was being his usual charming-but-unaware self, and jinyoung shouldn’t care. except he did.he wasn’t about to sit there and stew in silence.as soon as yugyeom declared it was time for a group selfie and them over, jinyoung moved quickly, brushing past a startled mark to claim the spot next to jaebeom.“hey, move a little,” jinyoung said lightly, nudging jaebeom’s side with his elbow.jaebeom gave him a curious look but shuffled over. “you’re in a mood today,” he teased, his voice low enough that only jinyoung could hear.“me? no mood,” jinyoung replied breezily, though the tightness in his chest told a different story.yugyeom directed them to get closer for the frame, and jinyoung didn’t waste the opportunity. with practiced ease, he slid his arm around jaebeom’s shoulders, pulling him in slightly.jaebeom stiffened for half a second, his head turning toward jinyoung in surprise. “what’s this about?”“just making sure we look good,” jinyoung replied casually, though he knew his grip was just a little firmer than necessary.jaebeom narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to read him, but he didn’t pull away.the camera clicked, and jinyoung made sure his smile was flawless, even as his heart pounded. he didn’t miss the way the stylist girl glanced over, her expression faltering slightly when she saw him practically glued to jaebeom’s side.good.“jinyoung-ah, you’re holding on like he’s gonna run away,” jackson joked, earning laughter from everyone except jinyoung who just smiled sheepishly.“someone has to keep him in check,” jinyoung quipped, patting jaebeom’s shoulder with exaggerated fondness.jaebeom just shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. “you’re so weird today.”“am i?” jinyoung replied innocently, though the glint in his eyes betrayed him.as the day went on, jinyoung didn’t let up. every time they moved around, he found a way to stay close, whether it was a light touch on jaebeom’s arm or a deliberate lean in his direction.jaebeom, to his credit, seemed unbothered. if anything, he looked amused, his usual stoicism softening into something that made jinyoung’s stomach twist.it wasn’t until they were packing up that jaebeom finally cornered him.“so,” jaebeom began, leaning against the edge of the makeup station as jinyoung pretended to organize his bag. “are you gonna tell me what that was all about?”jinyoung glanced up, feigning confusion. “what was what?”“you, clinging to me like a koala all afternoon.” jaebeom crossed his arms, his eyebrows raised.jinyoung rolled his eyes. “don’t flatter yourself, hyung. it’s called teamwork. the fans love it.”“uh-huh.” jaebeom’s tone was skeptical, but there was a glimmer of something teasing in his eyes.jinyoung hated how warm his face felt under jaebeom’s gaze. “you’re imagining things.”“am i?”“yes.”there was a beat of silence, and then jaebeom leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. “you know, if you were jealous, you could just say so.”jinyoung’s heart stopped. “what?”jaebeom’s smirk was infuriatingly smug now. “i saw the way you looked earlier. it’s okay, jinyoungie. i’m flattered, really.”jinyoung scoffed, turning back to his bag to hide his face. “you’re delusional.”“sure.” jaebeom straightened up, but the satisfied smile didn’t leave his face.as he walked away, jinyoung muttered under his breath, “idiot.”but the worst part? he couldn’t stop smiling.