Culture time! :D

Apparently, after doing their two years long, mandatory military service, Korean men are part of the Army reserve for a certain number of years during which they have to complete some reserve duty. Three days every year for four years after their military service, then one day every year for another four years.

I did some research when I read on twitter that Eric had gone to reserve duty a couple of weeks ago.

Well, that inspired this story.

Sorry not sorry about the fluffy fluff.

Happy reading!

Standing in front of the table, Hyesung scrutinized all the dishes that he had prepared elaborately once again, looking for the smallest flaw. He found none. Everything was perfect and ready but he was still nervous.

Going out of the kitchen, he went into his living room, pacing back and forth as he checked his phone for the umpteenth time.

Since Eric had been officially released, two hours earlier, the bastard hadn't even called him. In fact, he had only sent him one ridiculously short text message.

I'll be there at 8pm.

He hadn't said anything else, and when Hyesung had tried to contact him right after it, his call had gone directly into voicemail.

Reading the message again, Hyesung huffed, growing annoyed.

The leader had just finished his first reserve duty. As every reservist, he had to go back to do a military training session for three days every year during the four years following the end of his military service. Three days during which he wasn't allowed to go home nor have his phone with him. So Hyesung hadn't had any news of his boyfriend until now.

As Hyesung sat on his couch, still grumbling, Gomdori jumped on his lap, and the singer petted him, smiling a little. At least, taking care of Eric's dog during those three days had had a soothing effect on his nerves.

"Your master is a bastard," he told the dog. "I don't even know why I prepared all this food for him. He doesn't deserve it."

Wondering why he hadn't answered his call, Hyesung sighed, his heart feeling a little clamped. Did Eric even miss him during those three days?

They were used to not see each other for a few days... but he had to admit that no contact of any sort was totally unusual and kind of distressing for him.

He had missed his boyfriend, a lot. He had missed his cheeky smile and beautiful eyes, even his annoying banter and stupid jokes. He had missed his gentle kisses and caresses, the feeling of being in his arms. Most of all, he had missed the sensation of his soft skin against his when he...

As sweet and hot memories invaded his brain, Hyesung groaned and hid his face behind his hands, blushing. Not that he had missed doing 'it'. Not at all. He could manage to keep his hands off his boyfriend for a few days. He totally could.

That wasn't the reason why he had dressed up enticingly, nor why he had even put on some light make up and done his hair meticulously, preparing himself for hours in the bathroom.

Hyesung looked at Gomdori through his fingers.

"Yah, don't think I'm trying to seduce him," he told him emphatically, blushing.

Gomdori only stared at him but Hyesung could have sworn the small dog was judging him.

Sighing, he checked the time on his watch once again and nearly started when he heard the familiar sounds of the main door of his flat being opened.

Gomdori barked and jumped on the floor, running to the door. Hyesung followed his tracks and his heart couldn't help but beat faster when he saw Eric in the entrance, looking more beautiful than ever, his military uniform flattering his perfect figure.

Eric removed his shoes then squatted down to pet his excited dog with one hand.

"Aw, I missed you too Gomdori."

Folding his arms, Hyesung leaned on the wall and huffed. Eric finally seemed to notice him and he got up slowly. Gomdori was still jumping around him, yapping happily.

Hyesung waited, but even though Eric's eyes were sparkling as he looked at the singer, he didn't make any move to get closer to him.

"Hi," Eric greeted him with a smile.
"I tried to call you," Hyesung told him without preamble, standing straight. "Why didn't you answer?"
"Sorry, I was already with Andy on the phone," he answered with a shrug, taking a step towards him. "He was curious about my training program. He'll have to do his reserve duty soon too."
"Oh, I see," Hyesung said, averting his eyes.

In fact, he didn't understand. He was upset, not seeing how this could be a valid explanation, why Andy's call was more important than his.

Furthermore, he couldn't help but be jealous and feel a bit excluded. After all, he was the only Shinhwa member, even the only person among their close friends' circle to have been exempted from military service – even a non-active one, because a few weeks of military training was still compulsory too in that case – due to his recurring knee injuries.

That didn't mean he didn't want to hear in detail what Eric had done during his reserve duty too. He had wanted to be the first one to hear it actually, he thought sulkily.

"I had to pick up these too," Eric added as a further explanation, interrupting his thoughts.

Hyesung had to squint when Eric presented him with a bouquet of roses just under his nose, the singer realizing now that the rapper had kept the flowers hidden behind his back. They were beautiful, red roses, and their meaning wasn't lost on Hyesung. He flushed.

It wasn't the first time that the rapper had given him this kind of flowers. Hyesung could remember how embarrassed he had felt when Eric had bought him a bouquet of one hundred red roses on his 20th birthday, years ago. Much to his dismay, the fans had even managed to take a photo of it in his car.

Back then, Eric and he hadn't even been together yet, and it had only been an embarrassing joke from the Shinhwa leader, from a silly friend.

Now, even though they were dating and that no one else was there to witness it, the romantic gesture, as sweet as it was, wasn't less embarrassing, Hyesung realized.

"Yah, do I look like a girl to you?" he protested loudly, blushing.

Looking as if he was seriously pondering the question, Eric opened his mouth to answer, but Hyesung cut him off before he could say anything, scowling deeply.

"Don't you dare say that I'm as pretty as a girl or I swear I'll kill you," he warned him.

Smirking, Eric was going to reply to him when he suddenly lifted his eyes and sniffed the air, surprise evident on his face, then he looked back at Hyesung, beaming cutely.

"Did you cook dinner for me?"

Swearing inwardly, Hyesung blushed an even darker shade of red.

Who was he to complain about being treated like a girl when he was acting like the perfect girlfriend, waiting home and cooking for her boyfriend?

Frustrated with himself, Hyesung snatched the bouquet of roses angrily and turned his back to the way too smug looking man.

"I really wonder why," he grumbled.

Before he could walk away though, Eric's arms were around him, his head on the singer's shoulder.

"Because you missed me?" he guessed.

Looking stubbornly at the floor, Hyesung puffed but didn't deny it. Eric chuckled, and sighing happily, he squeezed his waist.

"I'm sure you were bored without me."
"Was not," Hyesung muttered defensively.

It's not like he had been moping while waiting for his boyfriend to come back home. Without his annoying, distracting presence, he had managed to finish three new video games after all!

Eric was silent for a while, looking pensively at the same spot his sulky boyfriend was staring at on the floor.

"Well, I was bored without you. I missed you."

He kissed his cheek, rocking him softly in his arms, and relaxing, Hyesung let himself be cuddled.

"You did?" He asked timidly.
"Yeah."

Hyesung finally smiled and Eric kissed his neck this time.

"Thank you, I mean, for dinner," he said shyly after a few seconds.
"Tell me that again after actually eating my cooking," the singer snorted.
"You're not trying to poison me, are you?" Eric asked him with mock suspicion, glancing at him.
"Yah!" Hyesung growled, feeling offended.

Turning around, he tried to push him back but Eric took the opportunity to kiss him for good, his hands grabbing his waist once again, holding him tightly, and Hyesung used the chance to sneak his arms around Eric's neck, leaning heavily on the rapper's body.

The bouquet fell on the floor, momentarily forgotten, and Gomdori sniffed the roses with curiosity.

They kissed passionately for a while, closely embraced, until the rapper leaned back, ignoring Hyesung's pink lips hovering over his as they tried to resume their sweet dance.

"By the way, you do look very pretty today," he told him with a teasing smile, his glinting dark eyes looking at Hyesung's surprised ones.

Hyesung's cuss was muffled with a kiss.