You are the one, the one that lies close to me
Whispers “hello, I've missed you quite terribly”
I fell in love, in love with you suddenly
There's no place else I could be but here in your arms...
~ * ~  * ~ * ~
Donghae's eyes fluttered open slowly to silent darkness
The night was peaceful, alluring, perfect

He had no clue as to where he was,
His newly-awakened state had removed any trace of remembrance from his brain,
Fogged with a touch of sleepiness and lethargy

Donghae shifted ever so slightly,
Instantly feeling a familiar pair of strong, gentle arms securely encircling his waist
No wonder he felt so comfortable

As his sense of touch and awareness had gradually began to sharpen,
He realized his head was resting on someone's chest,
Merely covered by a super thin, unbelievably soft layer of cotton,

Which effortlessly allowed the tender warmth of skin underneath to bleed through
And spread over the entire left side of Donghae's face

His left hand was rather occupied, fisted in a cocoon of the other's shirt
The fingers of his other hand slid down across a thin line,
Something smooth and fleshly muscular,
Collarbones, he immediately identified

Donghae pressed himself closer and drank in that lovely, sweet scent he knew so well
His free hand traveled gingerly up the other's neck,
Easily finding the fine angle of sharp, pronounced jawline

Donghae smiled knowingly, reveling in sleepy happiness
He had known since he awoke
He knew every inch of this person
He knew every motion,
Every secret,
Every fear,
Every passion,
Every meaning and expression

No matter how cliché it sounded,
To Lee Donghae, life just wouldn't be the same without Hyukjae
That one name added so much beauty, so many smiles, so many words and memories
Donghae was sincerely happy, no matter how they spent their time

Watching television on Saturday morning
(It was really more like Hyukjae flipping through channels,
Asking Donghae what he wanted to watch
Donghae would reply with a smile and a shrug, “Whatever you want, Hyuk”
“No! Whatever you want.”
“I said it first! You pick.”
“But I'm asking you for your honest opinion of what we should see.”
Neither of them would choose a show, ensuing in a never-ending battle of politeness
That almost always resulted in a “to-the-death” wrestling match/tickle fight on the couch)

Going out to eat
(Donghae didn't even need to order
Hyukjae was aware of exactly what he wanted,
How he preferred his meat,
What spice level Donghae would choose
Because Hyukjae had observed him all these years,
He could just tell by the way Donghae's eyes widened when he liked an entree on the menu)

Recording in the studio
(This was the only place they actually got work done [sometimes]
Hyukjae was so driven to succeed, pouring his heart and soul into the music
Donghae's passion was just as strong
But the fierce determination in Hyuk's eyes was unlike anything else
Even when Donghae wasn't recording that day,
He would always come along to watch
Hyukjae would pretend to protest,
But he always ended up agreeing in the end when Donghae's pouting session began)

Enjoying quality time with the others
(Even if he was on the other side of the room filled with laughter, exclamations, and motion
He merely had to glance over to see that dazzling bright gummy smile,
The special smile that Hyukjae only showed him)

Learning Japanese
(Oh, how he messed up...
But somehow, it was always alright because Hyukjae had always been there
To sweetly correct him and show him the proper wording)

Watching a sappy drama
(In which Donghae would always find himself crying,
But the tears fell only for an instant before he was soothed by a warm embrace,
A deep whisper in his ear
“It's alright, Hae.”
Donghae would always try to protest that he indeed wasn't crying,
But he couldn't, because Hyukjae knew
Hyukjae knew everything)

Donghae smiled
He was happy
Overjoyed
Content to just to lay here next to Hyukjae in silence
Content to be the one that the other was holding
Content to feel the gentle rise and fall of Hyukjae's chest
Inhale, exhale
Donghae realized their breath was one
But really, this was normal

Everything about them was normal
It just all felt so right to Donghae
This wasn't an immoral relationship
It was a holy one

One to be treasured and cherished
And Donghae promised he would do just that as long as he had breath

“Hyukjae.”

His voice was as soft as the strands of blonde that tickled his nose and eyelashes

“Hyukkie, are you awake?”
Donghae had no intention of depriving his best friend of sleep,
For he knew how precious it was to all of them
However, he needed assurance
Donghae was naturally needy for interaction,
But his constant longing for affection had increased with the death of his father
Hyukjae had become his father figure in a way, the hyung he looked up to the most

Though Hyukjae talked to him often,
Donghae just needed to hear that voice again tonight
The voice that cleared his thoughts and spread pleasant warmth throughout his body
The voice that told him how special he was
The voice that encouraged him, built him up

He waited for a moment, then decided Hyukjae was indeed not awake
And he should by no means disturb the peaceful angel laying by his side

Donghae moved ever so slightly,
Repositioning himself back to his initial spot on Hyukjae's firm chest
Instantly, he felt the hold on his waist tighten
It was almost undetectable, but it was enough to make Donghae's heart flutter
He smiled, feeling the beautiful sense of belonging

“I know you're sleeping, but I just wanted to tell you how special you are to me.
I know I say it every day, but I'm so glad you're in my life.
I thank God for you every day-
For that smile,
For those eyes,
That face,
These arms that always protect me and keep me safe.
Thank you for always being there for me, hyung.
I will always be by your side.
Please don't take this wrong, but I love you, I always have.
I love being here- in your arms.
Let's stay like this for a long time...”

Donghae suddenly felt the call within him softly beckoning him back to sleep
He was too eager and comfortable to give in
So with one last smile, he gently slid his leg over Hyukjae's and closed his eyes,
Filled with complete comfort and peace
It only took seconds before the halcyon night lulled him into unconsciousness once again

Unbeknownst to him, Hyukjae had waited for his breathing to become deep and rhythmic
Before smiling to himself in the darkness
He had heard every heartfelt word,
Every deep meaning
Though he felt a little guilty for not responding, he knew he didn't have to
Because Donghae already knew

Hyukjae pulled the child-like sleeping figure closer to him as he whispered in Donghae's ear
“You know I love you too. I will always be here to protect my Hae.
Just stay here, by my side.
Stay here, here in my arms...”

The older placed a feather-light kiss to Hae's forehead
Before falling into a wonderful dreamland,
One where he had always met a very special someone halfway...
~ * ~  * ~ * ~
I like where you sleep, when you sleep next to me
I like where you sleep – here

Our lips can touch
Our cheeks can brush
Our lips can touch – here

You are the one, the one that lies close to me
Whispers “hello, I missed you quite terribly”
I fell in love, in love with you suddenly
There's no place else I could be but here in your arms...