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Leo wasn't in the mood to scroll anymore.
He had told himself he would stop after the first ten minutes. Just check the tags, see a few photos from the shows, maybe like some safe ones from official accounts. But the hotel room was too quiet, the city lights outside the window too bright and indifferent, and his thumb kept moving anyway.
Paris Fashion Week posts filled his screen. Their group shots in sleek black tailoring, Sangwon and Junseo posing like they were born on a runway, Geonwoo smiling that soft proud smile he always saved for moments like this, Sanghyeon making peace signs with both hands while Junseo ruffled his hair. They looked good. They looked nice and happy on camera.
The comments underneath were a different story.
Some were sweet. Proud fan messages in every language, hearts and crying emojis, people saying the boys carried K-fashion on their backs.
But others were sharper. Angrier.
Not directed at them, but rather at Wakeone. And Leo completely understood why.
Still, it was a lot to take in after a long day.
So Leo closed the app and shakily opened it again two seconds later. Just to read a bit more.
He knew the split wasn't new. The five of them had been tapped as Concept Korea ambassadors for this season. Whereas the other three members stayed back because schedules overlapped with Anxin's return and some domestic commitments. Visa problems. Logistics. Contracts. The usual excuses Wakeone gave when they had to—but it wasn’t like they gave any statement either.
And seeing it play out online like this hurt in a way schedules never did.
Leo missed them. Missed him.
His Runo.
His Hao.
The room felt colder suddenly.
Leo set his phone face-down on the nightstand and rubbed his eyes.
Junseo and Sangwon were in the next room over, probably still giggling over the photos they'd taken of each other all day. Sanghyeon was with Geonwoo down the hall, no doubt being supervised like the walking chaos that he was.
Leo was just glad that he had his own room this time.
He liked the privacy so much.
He picked up the phone again, deciding to ring up his boyfriend.
The time difference wasn't bad. Korea was at late night now. Jiahao would probably be getting ready for bed.
Leo hit call before he could overthink it.
It rang twice.
The first time, Leo thought maybe the other was taking a shower or simply doing his delicate before-bed night routine.
"Leo?"
Jiahao's voice came through soft, a little sleepy already, that gentle lilt Leo could listen to for hours.
"Hey," Leo said, quieter than he meant to. "You okay?"
A small laugh on the other end. "Hm… I'm okay. Just brushing my teeth. How was the last show?"
Leo missed hearing his voice. They hadn’t even been separated for that long.
"Hmm… It was long. Shiny. Everyone kept asking where you were—the fans love you a lot."
Jiahao hummed. "I wish I could just tell them I was busy being pretty in Seoul."
Leo smiled despite himself. "You are pretty. You should’ve been here in bed with me."
"Flirt."
"Truth."
There was the sound of water running, then off. A soft exhale. "I saw the posts. The comments."
Leo winced. "Yeah."
"Don't read them too much, okay? Fans are just protective. They'll calm down."
"I know. Still sucks. I wished we could do more… for them. For you. Fuck, I hate our company so bad. I wish you were here with me."
There was a low, pretty laugh.
Leo sucked in a breath.
"Hao, I miss you."
Jiahao was quiet for a second. "I miss you too, Lele."
Leo's chest tightened. "I miss you a lot. Like. A stupid amount."
Another small laugh, warmer this time. "Me too."
Leo shifted on the bed, leaning back against the headboard. "Can we video call? Just for a minute. I want to see your face."
"Nooo," Jiahao whined immediately, playful but firm. "Not right now."
"Why not?"
"Because..." Jiahao dragged the word out, teasing. "I'm already in bed. And I... might not be wearing much."
Leo paused. Processed. Then let out a soft laugh, the kind that started low in his throat and stayed gentle. "Hao."
"What? It's comfortable. Just my little panties. The black lace ones you like."
Leo closed his eyes, picturing it way too easily.
Jiahao curled up under the covers, hair messy from the day, skin soft and bare except for those tiny, cunty scraps of fabric that always made Leo's brain short-circuit.
Yeah, Leo liked that a lot.
"You're killing me."
"Good. Suffer with me."
Leo laughed again, quieter. "I just want to see you. Your face. Your pretty eyes. The way you smile when you're sleepy."
Jiahao made a tiny, fond sound. "You're so cheesy tonight."
"Blame Paris. It's making me romantic."
It would’ve been way more romantic if the love of his life was there too, but Leo was already holding on to the promise of next time. And it would just be them. And it would be the most romantic thing ever.
A giggle. "You're always romantic."
"Only for you, Hao."
They both went quiet for a moment, just breathing on the line. The city hummed faintly outside Leo's window. In Korea, Jiahao was probably tucked in, phone pressed to his ear, legs tangled in sheets.
"Tell me about your day," Leo murmured.
Jiahao sighed, content. "Anxin arrived a little later than expected because there were a few things to be handled at the airport. But then he dragged me and Xinlong to eat hotpot as soon as he changed into more comfortable clothes,"
Leo chuckled a little. That did sound a lot like Anxin.
"Then we also went to a cute art shop and had a little fun before we came home and watched a drama together. The two babies were very clingy today."
Leo smiled.
His heart twisted at the thought of Anxin and Xinlong, both cozying up to their Hao-ge.
Oh, how Leo just wished things were a lot better for the three important people in his life.
"Did you have fun?"
"Hmm. We did. I miss you though."
"Cute."
"Shut up." But Jiahao sounded pleased. "What about you? Did Junseo-hyung and Sangwonie take more couple photos?"
"So many. They kept stopping in the middle of streets to pose. Sangwon would adjust Junseo-hyung's collar like it was a photoshoot. Geonwoo had to literally pull them apart to keep walking."
Jiahao giggled. "They're so gross. I love them."
"Me too." Leo paused. "Sanghyeon almost ran into traffic because he was waving at fans. Geonwoo aged ten years in one second."
"Poor Geonwoo. Always babysitting. I hope he’s sleeping soundly now."
"Yeah, they went to bed early."
Another soft silence.
"Leo," Jiahao said eventually, voice even smaller. "Come home soon, okay?"
"Soon," Leo promised. "Few more days. Then I'm all yours."
"Good. I'll wear your clothes until they’re drenched in my scent. And wait for you."
Leo's heart did something stupid and warm. "Wear nothing else."
Jiahao laughed, bright and sweet. "Pervert."
"Only for you, baby."
"Good." Jiahao yawned, tiny and kittenish. "I'm sleepy now."
"Go to sleep, Hao. You had a long day."
"It’s okay… Stay on the phone a little longer?"
"Until you fall asleep."
"Okay."
Leo listened to the rustle of sheets, the soft exhale as Jiahao settled deeper into the pillow.
He could almost see it; Jiahao's lashes fluttering, lips parted just a little, that peaceful look he only got when he felt safe.
"I love you, Runo," Leo whispered.
"Love you more, Leo," Jiahao mumbled back, already half-gone. "My Lele."
"Sweet dreams, baby."
Leo stayed on the line long after Jiahao's breathing evened out.
Long after the quiet turned to soft sleepy exhales.
He didn't hang up until the battery warning beeped.
Even then, Leo waited a few more minutes.
Just to be sure his boyfriend was dreaming happy things.
Soon, Leo promised. He’ll bring him to his favorite city—the city of love. And it would just be the two of them.
In the dark of the night, into his phone, Leo whispered; “I love you, Hao.”