Chapter Text
12:37am. monday. cortis dorm.
Martin and Juhoon are sitting in the living room while the other members are fast asleep. They're working on music, trying their best to keep the noise down.
They were supposed to get an early night as they have an interview first thing in the morning, but they both enjoy the quiet moments they get to spend alone together.
Of course, they aren't dating.
Just holding hands, lingering hugs, and way too much eye contact.
Not a single kiss.
"Fuck, I can't think of any lyrics," Martin groans, flopping backwards onto the floor.
"Should we call it a night?" Juhoon asks.
"No. No." Martin reaches over and places his hand on top of Juhoon's.
"It's okay. I'm thinking."
Juhoon smiles softly.
Somehow, it always ends up being midnight. They're always together, talking, making music, watching movies, or eating whatever they can find in the kitchen.
They love the other members, of course, but the two of them have been inseparable since day one.
Keonho likes to joke about it. He'll tease them, saying they're a little too close to just be friends, and Seonghyeon is always quick to join in.
James tells them to shut up every time, but even he thinks the same thing.
Everybody's noticed it.
And they're right.
Martin and Juhoon are definitely closer than friends should probably be.
"I'm tired," Juhoon admits.
"Okay. We'll go to bed then," Martin replies.
"But you wanted to write music."
"It's okay. Don't worry about it."
Martin gets to his feet and holds out a hand to help Juhoon up.
Just as Juhoon is about to head into his room, Martin gently pulls him back with a teasing smile.
"You weren't going to hug me?" Martin asks, pouting dramatically.
Juhoon lets out a tired laugh. "Sorry, I'm just exhausted, and I for—"
Before he can finish, Martin wraps his arms around him.
"I'm joking," Martin murmurs, resting his chin on top of Juhoon's head.
The hug lasts too long for Juhoon.
Nowhere near long enough for Martin.
Eventually, they pull apart.
Juhoon disappears into the room he shares with James, while Martin heads into the room he shares with Keonho and Seonghyeon.
__
9:00 a.m.
The storm had raged throughout the night, keeping some of the members awake.
Except for Juhoon and James.
As usual, they're the first ones awake, standing side by side in the bathroom, brushing their teeth.
Of course, everyone else is still asleep.
James sighs before walking down the hallway to wake the others.
"Guys..."
Nothing.
"Guys!"
Still nothing.
"Guys!" he shouts.
Three sleepy groans answer him.
"Ugh, what?!" Keonho yells, throwing a pillow over his face.
"Our interview's in two hours! Get up!" James shouts back.
That gets everyone's attention.
Within minutes, the dorm is filled with the usual morning chaos doors opening and closing, someone complaining about the weather, someone else stealing the bathroom first, and Martin trying to convince everyone that five more minutes of
sleep won't hurt.
It doesn't work.
__
11:00 a.m.
The cameras are already set up by the time they're seated.
The interviewer smiles as the staff finish making last minute adjustments.
Martin and Juhoon, naturally, end up sitting beside each other.
Juhoon's leg bounces beneath the table.
Martin notices almost immediately.
"You nervous?" he whispers.
"...A little."
Without saying another word, Martin reaches under the table and rests a hand gently on Juhoon's knee, hidden from the cameras.
"It's okay," he whispers. "It won't take long."
Juhoon glances at him and smiles.
It's small, barely noticeable, but enough to make Martin relax too.
The interview goes by quicker than expected. They answer questions about their latest comeback, the members' habits, funny dorm stories, and who takes the longest to get ready.
Finally, the interviewer smiles.
"Last question."
Everyone sits up a little straighter.
"Who would you say you're closest to within the group?"
"Juhoon," Martin answers immediately.
The others laugh quietly, completely unsurprised.
Martin shrugs with a smile.
"I'm like the crashing waves of a tsunami, and Juhoons like peaceful, gentle waves. I think that's why we click so well."
"Aww," Seonghyeon teases.
"That's actually sweet," James adds.
Juhoon's cheeks warm slightly as he looks down at the table, trying to hide his smile.
Martin notices anyway.
And somehow, that makes him smile even wider.
The drive back to the dorm is quieter than usual.
Everyone's tired after the interview, and the rain hasn't stopped.
Martin pulls one of his AirPods out and offers it to Juhoon.
Juhoon slips it into his ear without a word.
The familiar opening guitar begins to play.
Wonderwall — Oasis.
Martin stares out of the rain-covered window.
"You're my wonderwall..."
He's always loved this song
Lately...
Every lyric reminds him of Juhoon, it's embarrassing, really.
His crush is so painfully obvious to himself, yet he hopes nobody else can see it.
Especially not Juhoon.
As the song comes to an end, Martin leans in slightly.
"Meet me at midnight," he whispers.
"Living room."
Juhoon looks over.
"I've got lyric ideas this time."
He smiles.
"I'll be there."
__
11:00 pm. Cortis Dorm
The members have eaten, showered, argued, and laughed.
Seonghyeon and James have already gone to bed, while Keonho is still awake, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a controller in his hands.
Martin is playing against him.
Juhoon watches from the sofa, occasionally letting out small laughs whenever the two of them start bickering.
"It's unfair! You're older than me, at least let me win!" Keonho complains.
"No! Get good," Martin replies with an obnoxious grin.
"I am good!"
"Clearly not."
Keonho narrows his eyes before suddenly snatching Martin's controller.
"Hey—"
Martin's character crashes into a wall.
Keonho's screen flashes VICTORY.
"Yes!" Keonho cheers, jumping to his feet.
"No! You cheated!" Martin shouts.
"Goodnight, guys," Keonho says with a laugh as he heads to bed.
The bedroom door shuts behind him.
Juhoon gets up from the sofa and sits down beside Martin on the floor.
The room falls quiet.
The clock reads 11:59, then...
12:00.
"So," Juhoon says, "what lyrics did you want to show me?"
Martin leans over and picks up a folded piece of paper from the TV stand.
"I wrote them after you went to bed last night," he says. "I couldn't sleep."
The song is supposed to be for Cortis's third comeback, although Martin has secretly been thinking about making a solo album someday.
Only Juhoon knows about that.
Martin unfolds the paper.
Written across it in messy handwriting are two lines.
“Your hand brushes mine, then we both pull away,
Hiding what our hearts have been trying to say.”
Juhoon reads them twice.
"Those are really good," he says quietly.
Martin groans, dragging both hands down his face.
"They're not. I literally just wrote them without thinking. They're so cringe."
"No, they're not." Juhoon smiles. "I like them."
He looks back at the paper.
"Who are they about?"
Martin almost chokes, he quickly covers it with a cough.
"Nobody," he answers far too quickly.
"Nobody you'd know."
Juhoon looks at him.
"Martin..."
His voice is soft.
"You don't have to lie to me."
Martin can feel his face burning.
He stares at the paper.
Then the floor.
Anywhere except Juhoon.
"They're about you."
Silence.
Juhoon's eyes widen.
"W-What?"
That makes Martin's heart drop.
"Fuck.” he lets out a nervous laugh, but there's no humour behind it.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."
He stands so quickly the paper slips from his hands and lands on the floor.
"Forget I said that."
Embarrassment crashes over him.
He turns and reaches for the bedroom door.
"Martin—"
Juhoon's voice stops him for only a second.
Martin's hand wraps around the doorknob.
For the first time in months, neither of them knows what to say.