Sprawled out on the couch, Daehyun gripped an entire cheesecake in his hands, looking down on it in total admiration as a movie played on his large television. How long had it been since he just relaxed, ate way too much, and enjoyed a day cuddled under blankets watching the worst garbage he could find to indulge in. Regardless of the precise time, the only fact that matter was that it had been far too long.

Yongguk had left an hour before at Daehyun’s father’s request, learning the workings of the Jung family business for his eventual takeover, finally giving Daehyun a few moments of peace. Strange to realize, but every time Jongup had left his side, Daehyun had felt lost, full of panic and dread, but with Yongguk... Well, Daehyun wasn’t sure if he just felt secure that Yongguk would return to him or if he relished in the chance at some time away from him.

Cuddling under the thick, plush blanket, he stretched his legs out on the couch before curling them back toward himself. Taking his first bite of the cheesecake, Daehyun closed his eyes, savoring the silky flavor with a sinful moan. Why had he ever given up this delicious work of the gods? Was human affection ever really worth that sacrifice?

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll never betray what we have again.” Blowing his cheesecake an affectionate kiss, Daehyun chuckled to himself before indulging in another large bite. Back when Yongguk and himself had been in high school, the older man had for his tendency to eat the cheesecake right out of the pan with a fork but in his opinion, it really was the only true way to experience the joy of the treat.

“What are you doing?” A heavy sigh tore his attention from the romance film on tv as hands lifted his cheesecake from his grasp. Shocked, Daehyun’s gaze followed his beloved food up until his eyes met the man who had robbed him. Yongguk looked down at him with what almost appeared to be disappointment, holding the cheesecake just out of his reach.

“Give it back...” Keeping his voice calm, he held his hands out, a half pout forming on his lips. “I was eating that.”

“You’ll ruin your appetite.” Shaking his head, Yongguk turned to take the cheesecake to the kitchen and Daehyun felt something inside of him snap. Every decision that had been made on his behalf, ever time Yongguk and his father took away his freedom to decide what he did on his own, came crashing in on him and Daehyun found himself on his feet, not even remembering when he decided to stand.

“GIVE IT BACK!” Voice coming out in a half screech, he clenched his hands into fists, ashamed to acknowledge that tears were pouring down his cheeks. “I WANT IT BACK!”

“Daehyun?” Startled by his sudden outburst, Yongguk stepped around the couch, sitting the cheesecake on the coffee table to grip Daehyun’s shoulder’s gently. “Hey. Hey, baby. Don’t cry. It’s only a cheesecake. You can have it later. We have a dinner date to go to.”

“I WANT IT NOW!” Still seething with rage, he slapped Yongguk without thinking, pausing when the other man released one of his shoulders to touch his cheek.

“Daehyun!” He found himself forcefully shoved back onto the couch, grunting slightly at the impact with the furniture. “You need to calm the down! What the hell is wrong with you!?”

“I’M ING SICK OF IT!” Breathing beginning to come in quicker bursts, Daehyun knew if he didn’t calm down he’d be fighting a rather severe anxiety attack. Trying to stand, he wanted to pace the room, to do something to regain his composure, only to have Yongguk force him to sit again.

“Sick of what!?” Looming over him, his fiance seemed terrifying, a force any sane person wouldn’t want to go up against, but Daehyun wasn’t really sure he was sane at that moment.

“DAMN IT! STOP MAKING ALL MY CHOICES FOR ME!” Letting out a sob, his rage ebbed and Daehyun was reduced to nothing more than a wailing child. “I didn’t... I didn’t choose to marry you and... And ever since we got engaged... I haven’t... I haven’t had a say in anything we do... Anything I do... And I... I’m sick of it...”

“Dae...” Voice suddenly gentle, Yongguk knelt in front of him, taking his hands in his own. “Baby, I never meant to make you feel like that. I guess... I guess I was so worried that if I didn’t keep a close eye on you, if I didn’t get you out of the house and keep you fed and stuff... That you’d let yourself die over Jongup... I was scared and I made you feel awful and I am so sorry. Please forgive me?”

“Can... Can I have my cheesecake back?” Sniffling, Daehyun tried to get his emotions back under control, his chest still heaving from his sobs.

“Yeah. Yeah baby. Of course.” Giving him a soft kiss, Yongguk turned to retrieve the partially eaten treat, returning it to its proper owner. “Anything else you want?”

“I... I just want to stay here today and watch ty television and eat junk food...” Looking down at the cheesecake, Daehyun felt Yongguk wipe the tears off of his cheeks with his shirt sleeve. “I mean... I... I appreciate that you want so much to take care of me but I... Yongguk, I can’t constantly face the outside world, okay? I know we went out constantly before but... I... I’m not the same Daehyun I was back then and I can’t handle it all the time anymore...”

“No. It’s okay. I understand. Dae, I am so sorry.” Seeming to be truly regretful of his action, Yongguk climbed onto the couch and gathered Daehyun in his arms, rocking him gently as he kissed the top of his. “I am so, so sorry...” As he caved in, leaning against the other man’s chest, Daehyun hoped that maybe, having spoken out, things could finally improve for him, for them.

Setting the empty cheesecake pan on the coffee table, Yongguk glanced down at the man sleeping in his arms. After his fiance’s mild breakdown earlier, Yongguk had been rethinking a lot of his actions. While he had been functioning under the idea that he had been doing everything for the sake of Daehyun, he was beginning to slowly realize that this whole time his actions had been greedy. Selfishly, he agreed to marry Daehyun against Daehyun’s will, to break up what he had with Jongup, and it was not nurture, but the fear of having Daehyun waste away and leave him alone that had Yongguk making every other decision on his beautiful companion’s account.

Whining in his sleep, Daehyun pouted, cuddling closer to Yongguk’s chest with a soft sigh and a small shiver. Chuckling quietly, Yongguk snapped a picture of the younger man with his phone, wanting to immortalize the moment before he pulled the blanket up over Daehyun’s small shoulders. Despite knowing that Daehyun hadn’t wanted this, that he wasn’t the one the man he loved had actually chosen, Yongguk was still happy, and he couldn’t help but feel relief in the way that his lover was still complacent in staying by his side, that they could still lay on the couch like this together with Daehyun draped over his chest, sound asleep and as angelic as he always had been.

‘Isn’t he cute?’ Grinning, Yongguk texted the picture he had just taken to Himchan, running the fingers of his free hand through Daehyun’s hair. Sure, he had argued with Himchan after he found out about what happened with Jongup, but in truth, he hadn’t been able to stay angry, considering what he had done had actually helped Yongguk’s situation.

‘That’s adorable and all, Yongguk, but maybe do a quick content warning. You’ve pissed someone off and I was having a nice time.’ Himchan’s reply sent a twinge of anger through him and Yongguk couldn’t help but grip his phone, glaring at the screen. Of course Jongup was with Himchan and naturally the little punk would be throwing a fit over their relationship strengthening without him in the picture. Growling softly, he closed his eyes, trying to steady himself and beat down his rage before it could erupt and cause him to do anything he would regret.

‘Well you can tell that pile of that he needs to grow up and get over Daehyun. I gave him another chance and he ed you so that’s it. He gets no more of them.’ Knowing his words were maybe a little too harsh than the moment warranted, he couldn’t really bring himself to care. Finally, through so much trial and error, they were getting to a good place and he would be damned if he let Jongup get in the way of that.

‘Don’t be an , Yongguk. happened, but it worked out for you, didn’t it?’ Words slicing at him, Himchan’s response did nothing more than make his anger rise. So what if it worked out for him? The fact Jongup couldn’t stop reaching for what was his pissed him off. Daehyun’s phone began to ring and Yongguk snatched it off the coffee table quickly to keep it from waking the sleeping man in his arms.

“What do you want?” Hissing quietly into the speaker as he answered the call, he knew that Jongup was only calling out of jealousy.

“I want to talk to Daehyun.” Growling back, Jongup’s voice was raised slightly and Yongguk worried it might wake Daehyun up. Ready to spit an insult and hang up on the other man, Yongguk’s eyes fall on his fiance and a small sigh left him. This wasn’t his choice to make.

“Look. Daehyun’s sleeping right now.” It took all his inner strength to grit his teeth and adopt a neutral tone. “I don’t want to wake him up. He had an emotional day and needs the rest.” In the silence that passed between them, Yongguk could feel Jongup’s disbelief and he really didn’t blame him. It was hard to accept his words as his own as well. Yet, if it meant making Daehyun happy then he’d have to hold back his own instinct to defend what he loved. “Send him a text in case I forget to let him know you called. I’m going to go now.” Hanging up the phone, Yongguk sat it back on the table, feeling a stress headache begin to form.

Despite every fiber of his being being against letting Daehyun speak to Jongup again, to risk seeing the beautiful man heartbroken again, he knew that it was something he had to leave up to his fiance. In the end, Daehyun’s happiness was more important to him than his own. If he was going to keep saying that, then he needed to actually live up to those words and stop doing everything for himself. Looking down at Daehyun, he kissed his forehead gently, a soft smile spreading over his lips. Even if Daehyun didn’t pick him, as long as he was happy, maybe Yongguk would be alright. Maybe.

Turning off the television, he settled into the couch, making himself comfortable and closing his eyes. Arms around his fiance’s waist, Yongguk let out a soft hum at Daehyun snuggling against him, getting comfortable again. If he was going to risk losing Daehyun to Jongup, he was going to spend as much time as possible with him, savoring every second, the good and the bad, until the man he loved was no longer in his arms. With that resolution made, as much as he really disliked it, Yongguk allowed himself to slip into slumber, taking the rare opportunity to nap with the other man by his side.