They’re on the rooftop looking down into the city, nestled together as the night is cold, because Jinhwan thinks it’s a good time to stay up. They’re sharing earplugs with Hanbin’s song, ‘Wait For Me’ playing. Their fingers are intertwined and Hanbin can see the nightlights from Jinhwan’s eyes and he thinks everything is sparkling.

They meet on the times Hanbin isn’t too busy with practice and they text when he is too tired to go out. He doesn’t let Jinhwan know of this but the latter knows without words. It isn’t difficult, sustaining their relationship with what they can do and crossing barriers.

“I noticed something,” Jinhwan raises a finger up. “On the outside you’re a strong person, but in your songs, you always have your heart on your sleeve. It’s the same when you’re with me, too,” Jinhwan says it like Hanbin isn't there, like he's talking to himself and not to anyone else.

“Yeah? I didn’t notice.”

“Yes,” he draws a breath, “and I can’t do the same.”

“Are we on this again?” Hanbin gives him a reassuring smile and shakes his head, “I don’t mind. We aren’t in a rush. I have all the time in the world to get to know you better. Or maybe you can write them to me.”

The only light on the rooftop is the one from behind them and Hanbin can’t see the part of Jinhwan’s face that’s swimming in the shadows.

Hanbin feels like adding more, but he has said everything he wanted to. Aside from the song playing in their ears, it’s silent. He squeezes Jinhwan’s hand and fixes a stray hair falling on Jinhwan's face when he turns to him.

“Are you okay? Are you cold, do you want to go down?”

Jinhwan smiles a smile that tugs at Hanbin’s heartstrings before he shakes his head. He leans closer and closes his arms around Hanbin’s figure. It takes Hanbin by surprise and makes his heart beat irregularly. It’s spontaneous and beautiful and—and Hanbin doesn’t have the words to describe that moment, so he embraces Jinhwan back and thinks he belongs there in his arms.

It's funny really, because in a way, they are two dead people who have come together. Jinhwan has given Hanbin life and vice versa, even if the former thinks he has none to give. They're each other's oxygen, each other's heartbeats.

And Hanbin has never believed Jinhwan when he said he hasn't a story to tell. There's a story in the way his eyes light up when he has something to say, when the lines around his eyes crinkle as he smiles, and when his chest heaves up and down. There's a story in everything he does, in every step he takes, every fingerprint he leaves. Jinhwan is a breathing novel and Hanbin wants to read him forever.

Hanbin takes and takes, and Jinhwan just hands himself over as though he's at his disposal. He has given Hanbin so much it's almost violating. Hanbin realizes this a little too late.

Hanbin wants to do so much for him but the sands of time have run out and he had no idea it was coming. The first time Jinhwan asks a favor from him, it’s one that he thinks he’d be able to accomplish.