There was something undeniably beautiful about waking up in Jaemin's arms. 

It was more than just because Jaemin was beautiful. Jaemin was beautiful though. His tennis and badminton and ski formed body, expensive soap soft skin, littered with love shaped bruises, the longest of lashes fluttering onto his cheeks, still puffy from the night before pink lips, he was by far the most gorgeous thing Jeno had ever had in his bed. But it was more than just that. 

Jaemin, of course, belonged at Sign of the Dove. The suits, the cologne, the hair gel, the black card, the strong handshake and even stronger smile. He fit there in a way Jeno never could, even if he spent more than half his waking hours at the damn place. You wouldn't think that someone who belonged so much at Sign of the Dove could ever belong in Jeno's apartment. Jeno's ty apartment, the five flight walk up without an elevator, the mismatched kitchen chairs, the frameless posters and tacked up corkboards as decor, the mix of ikea and thrifted furniture, the mattress on the floor, no bedframe. You would think a guy like Jaemin would stick out like a sore thumb among the cute but broke organized chaos. 

But oh did Jaemin fit. He fit like this, with Jeno's love littered all over him. With his hair sticking up every which way, some of the gel still stuck in it. With a soft little dopey smile on his lips, just waking up. With Jeno laying on his back and Jaemin half laying on top of him, one arm and one leg thrown over Jeno's body. He looked just like a normal boy like this, like Jeno's normal boy, who fit perfectly into his life. 

Jeno looked away shyly as Jaemin's eyes blinked open. He'd been up for at least ten minutes, just staring. Jeno could only hope he hadn't been caught. But as soon as Jaemin realized where he was, he smiled, and that stole away any of Jeno's hesitation. 

"Morning," Jaemin mumbled, and a shiver ran down Jeno's spine. His morning voice...so deep and rough and cute all at the same time. And all for Jeno and Jeno alone. He couldn't help but pull Jaemin in for a deep kiss, morning breath be damned. 

Jaemin rolled himself fully on top of Jeno, cupping both cheeks with his hands, resting their foreheads together. 

God it had never been like this before. Jeno wasn't a stranger to a one night stand, but most hadn't even bothered to sleep over. And even if they left in the morning, they were gone before Jeno even woke up. Not a cuddle in sight. So this... was different, to say the least. Was it too much? Too fast? This was the first time they'd been truly alone together, and the way they were acting reminded Jeno of people on their honeymoon. 

But Jeno sure didn't mind. And it didn't seem like Jaemin did either, the way he gently pressed their soft, still kiss swollen lips together. 

Maybe this was just the way they were. 

"Sleep well?" Jeno asked. 

Jaemin slowly nodded, and Jeno could still feel the sleepiness in his movements. "Mhmm. Better than I have in a long time." 

"Even without a bedframe?" 

"I think that's what made it so good." 

"Not getting ed into next week?" 

Jaemin smirked. "I'm sure that helped too." 

Jeno let his hands run up and down Jaemin's slim, pretty waist. "Coffee?" 

Jaemin looked back at Jeno with so much love in his eyes that Jeno almost laughed. "Yes please."

Jeno wrapped his arms around Jaemin's waist and rolled so they flipped over, him on top. With a quick kiss to Jaemin's lips he sat up, sighing and grabbing his sweatpants off the floor. He tossed Jaemin a pair out of his drawer and made for the kitchen. Quickly Jaemin caught up with him, grabbing Jeno's hand and lacing their fingers together. Like they couldn't be parted for a single second. 

Jaemin used his free hand to seat himself on Jeno's kitchen counter, on top of the cracking linoleum. With a last rub of Jaemin's knee, Jeno got to work on the coffee. 

"I'll make it extra strong, just for you." 

Jaemin let out the loveliest of exhales. "You know me so well." 

"I should hope so. We could fill a book with our letters." 

Jeno snuck a glance at Jaemin, who was just watching him back with a soft smile on his lips, and was momentarily overwhelmed. Jaemin seemed to belong here even more, sitting casually on Jeno's kitchen counter, wearing nothing but the darkest of hickies on his neck, an ancient, hole filled pair of Jeno's old sweatpants, and a grin wide enough to take anyone's breath away. How did Jeno ever get so lucky?

"Compared to anyone else you've ever slept with, how was it?" Jeno asked casually, only because he already knew the answer. He just wanted to hear Jaemin sing his praises (just like he did last night). 

"It was...oh my god, Jeno, I don't think you even understand. Leagues ahead of anything else I've ever done. Leagues." 

"How many leagues?" Jeno teased. 

"Too many leagues to count." 

"Nothing else even close?" 

Jaemin shook his head, then shyly turned his face away. "Well...that might because...to be honest, you're the first guy I've ever slept with. Even though I'm gay." 

Jeno's face rapidly fell and he turned to Jaemin in shock. He swallowed thickly, running his fingers over the multitude of Jaemin's hickies and bruises. "O-oh my god, Jaemin, I-I'm so sorry...I would've been gentler if I'd known, god." He felt a little sick, to be honest. Jeno didn't know he could even be that rough, until last night. "Y-you could've topped, I-" 

Jaemin chuckled. "Don't worry Jeno. I loved it. I loved every second of it. It was exactly what I wanted. I wanted you to me like you meant it, and you did." 

Jeno looked up at Jaemin to find all smiles and reassurance in his eyes, and it made him feel a little better. "Oh baby...you know the last thing I want to do is hurt you..." 

"But I kinda like it when you hurt me." Jaemin looked down at Jeno with a shy smile and Jeno let his head rest on Jaemin's chest, standing between his legs. Jeno kissed two of the bruises there, as if to make them better. 

"I'll be gentler next time." 

"No, don't!" Jaemin whined. 

"I'll make love to you next time." 

Jaemin hummed. "Maybe I'll take that." 

The coffee maker finally beeped and Jeno moved to his cabinet, pulling out two tip money cringy Target splurge mugs. 

"Black, right?" Jaemin nodded and filled his mug, handing it to him. Jaemin took a loud sip and moaned. It wasn't supposed to be y, but the sound went straight to Jeno's . He filled his own mug up halfway with coffee, halfway with oat milk, and returned to his spot between Jaemin's legs. 

"What kind of coffee is this?" Jaemin asked with amazement. "It's delicious!" 

Jeno snorted. "It's Folgers." 

"Folgers? Never heard of it. What country are the beans from?" Jaemin took another sip.

"What country are the beans from?" Jeno repeated incredulously. 

"Mmh. I'll have to run to Whole Foods to see if they have this stuff," Jaemin mumbled under his breath. 

"Jaemin, this is some of the world's tiest coffee. I got this at Dollar General." 

"Oh." Jaemin looked embarrassed for about half a second before both boys burst into laughter. "Maybe I should buy more food from Dollar General." 

"Probably not if you value your health." 

Jaemin's eyes briefly turned to the digital oven clock. He did a double take as the smile fell from his lips. 

"What?" 

He sighed deeply. "I...should probably go." 

Jeno felt like a popped balloon. "Not even gonna stay for breakfast? I can't cook for but I have leftovers from the restaurant I could microwave..." 

Jaemin shook his head. "I don't wanna push it. Heejin will understand until I've missed breakfast." Jeno nodded and stared at his feet. "But one day we can have breakfast together. I'll cook." 

"You? Cook?" Jeno looked up in shock. "Hasn't your family had a personal chef your whole life?" 

"The kitchen and the personal chef were who I visited when I wanted to escape my whole life. Anyways, haven't you worked in the restaurant industry for six years?" 

"I've never done back of house. No tips," Jeno explained. "Look at us, all opposite of how we should be." 

"But still just right," Jaemin answered, kissing the top of Jeno's head. Jeno felt himself melt as Jaemin slid off the counter, downing the rest of his coffee. 

"Absolutely delicious," he mumbled to himself as he went back to Jeno's room, throwing on his suit from the night before. Jeno followed him in and watched. Like a lost puppy. 

"I'll walk you to the lobby." 

"No, just to the door is fine." Jeno would've been devasted if he couldn't hear the sadness in Jaemin's voice. Jeno nodded slowly and as soon as Jaemin was dressed, walked him over.

For the first time that morning, Jaemin didn't look like he belonged. The crinkled suit was all wrong in Jeno's apartment, on Jaemin's body. 

"Write me," Jaemin said. 

"Please," Jeno breathed out, and they pulled each other in for a tight hug. His heart was heavy, but Jeno could keep himself going until the next time. That hug told him that there would be a next time, not just for the . 

And Jaemin was pulling open the door and shutting it so fast behind himself and he was gone. He was all gone without even a kiss because really, they couldn't bear it. Jeno stared at the door for along time, almost wishing Jaemin would run back in, but he finally managed to pull himself away and go sit by the window. 

He pulled open the curtains and looked out to see Jaemin walking down the street. There was the proudest, happiest smile on Jaemin's lips, so pure that it brought a smile to Jeno's own face. Jaemin pumped his fist and Jeno laughed a little to himself. Sadness at parting forgotten, just joy that they could finally have a glimpse of time to be together. Taking that home with him. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Jeno, 

I'll write you a longer letter later but right now I'm just so exhilarated that I have to say something. I just got to my house from your place...

You mean so much more to me than that but the ...oh my god. This is so corny, Jeno, but it was beautiful. It really was. You made me feel so safe, so taken care of, Jeno, it was everything I could've hoped for, no, it was more. Really. This...this isn't just about , of course. But...you know. I can't even explain.

It was beautiful. Your home is beautiful. You're beautiful. And it was so nice to be your baby, only your baby, nothing but your baby for a whole night. Hopefully, we'll have many nights more of the same. 

Love, 

Jaemin

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A/N: gay american waiter Jeno is an oat milk guy okay i said what i said