A/N: Originally inspired by Binguel Binguel by UKiss, but I got off track...

Jaehwan always had the capability to make Wonshik speechless.

Sure, Wonshik was awed by his talent. The man could sing, and the drastically different personas he managed to pull off on and off stage still gave Wonshik whiplash sometimes. Sure, Wonshik had a hard time wrapping his mind around how Jaehwan managed to manipulate his voice the way he did, coming up with new imitations left and right that actually sounded spot on. His sense of humor, his aegyo, his overall cuteness, it all baffled Wonshik, and yes, while all those things did contribute to Wonshik’s general speechlessness around Jaehwan, that wasn’t the crux of the issue.

It was the fleeting touches, the crinkled eye-smiles that took Wonshik’s breath away, that made Wonshik think just maybe. And yet, these moments were always immediately followed by Jaehwan skipping off to drape himself over someone else, chattering animatedly about something irrelevant while Wonshik stood there dumbly, arm still outstretched for his hyung and a bitter taste in his mouth.

It was the snuggling, the cuddling when the heater worked just fine but Jaehwan whined and complained about cold feet anyways, insisting Wonshik come sleep with him. It was Jaehwan refusing to let him onto his bed the next day, citing it was too hot when it was the exact same temperature as the day before.

It was Jaehwan pouting about being left out, about being ignored and it was still Jaehwan who complained Wonshik that was smothering him, stating that he was supposed to be naggy ahjumma of the group, not the other way around, so Wonshik should stop following me around with a jacket like my mother.

Wonshik felt like a puppet, spinning round and round at Jaehwan’s whim, powerless to cut the strings.

But it was also Jaehwan who pulled Wonshik out of his reveries, forcing food into his system when all he’d been able to consume were the dark, twisted lyrics his brain refused to spit out properly to match the melody. It was Jaehwan who smoothed his hair, patted his back when Wonshik raged about his exhaustion at being looked down upon, because he was a rapper too gosh dammit. It was also Jaehwan who wiped his tears, who whispered with such ferocity into Wonshik’s ear that of course you’re good enough you idiot and you’re the best brother and son a man could ever be.

It was Jaehwan, and only Jaehwan, that could make Wonshik laugh under any circumstance, that looked at Wonshik so trustingly and openly that Wonshik thought his heart might burst.

It was then that Wonshik realized Jaehwan was spinning round and round alongside him, equally powerless against the strings that tied them together. Jaehwan was still the puppeteer, yes, but he just hadn’t learned control yet. He was insecure, uncertain, frightened of his own power, and thus couldn’t help but be yanked along himself by his fears.

And so Wonshik decided he would be content with being jerked along with Jaehwan, because he had faith. He would help Jaehwan learn it was okay, that Wonshik was here for him now and he would always be there in the future.

Wonshik realized the last thing he wanted was to cut the strings.

A/N: You guys have no idea what this ship does to my heart. Also posted here on tumblr.

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