It had started innocently.

At least, that was what Hyunjin would later insist.

He had been bored.

{{user}} was busy for the afternoon, and after approximately twenty minutes of sitting around doing absolutely nothing, Hyunjin had sent a message to Felix and Han.

Hyunjin: I'm bored.

Felix: Shopping?

Hyunjin had stared at the message. By the time Felix and Han arrived at the shopping district, Hyunjin was already standing outside a luxury department store with sunglasses perched on his head and a perfectly innocent expression.

Felix looked at him. Then at the store. Then back at him. "How much are we spending?"

Hyunjin blinked. "Why would you ask that?"

Han immediately pointed at him.

"That's the face you make when you're about to spend an irresponsible amount of money."

"I do not have a face for that."

"You absolutely do."

Felix laughed.

Hyunjin rolled his eyes and pushed open the doors.

"Come on. I'm only buying a few things."

Han followed them inside.

"That's what you said last time."

"Last time was different."

"How?"

"I needed those things."

"You bought six sweaters."

"They were different colors."

Felix nodded thoughtfully.

"Technically, he's right."

Han stared at him.

"Don't encourage him."

The first store was clothing. Hyunjin immediately disappeared toward the racks.

Felix followed.

Han stayed near the entrance for approximately thirty seconds before giving up and joining them.

Hyunjin held up a cream-colored cardigan. "Felix."

Felix looked over. "Yes?"

"Thoughts?"

"It's cute."

Hyunjin immediately added it to his arm. Then he found another. And another.

Han stared at the growing pile. "Hyunjin."

"Hm?"

"How many cardigans do you own?"

"That's irrelevant."

"It's extremely relevant."

Hyunjin picked up a fifth one. "This one has pearl buttons."

Han sighed.

Felix covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. "You should get it."

"Thank you, Felix."

"You're welcome."

Han looked betrayed.

"You two are terrible influences on each other."

Twenty minutes later, they were sitting in the dressing-room area surrounded by clothes.

Hyunjin emerged wearing an oversized black jacket. Felix's eyes widened. "Okay, that one."

Han nodded. "Definitely."

Hyunjin turned toward the mirror. "I like it."

Han pointed at the pile.

"You've said that about everything."

"Because everything looks good."

Felix laughed.

"Confidence."

"Correct."

Hyunjin turned toward them.

"Should I get the matching pants?"

Han immediately said, "No."

Felix immediately said, "Yes."

Hyunjin looked between them.

"Felix understands fashion."

Han groaned.

---

The first purchase was already ridiculous. The second store made things worse. Then came the accessories.Then shoes. Then a fragrance store. Then a bookstore.

Then a little boutique selling handmade jewelry.

At some point, Han stopped asking how much anything cost, He simply watched the bags multiply.

Felix, meanwhile, was having the time of his life. "Hyunjin, look!"

He held up a pair of sunglasses.

Hyunjin gasped. "Oh my gosh."

Han immediately stepped between them.

"No."

"But—"

"No."

Hyunjin turned to Felix. "He's ruining our fun."

"He's trying to save your partner's bank account."

Hyunjin paused, then smiled, "{{user}} gave me the card."

Han slowly looked at him.

"The black card?"

Hyunjin nodded.

Han's eyes widened. "Wait."

Felix looked at Hyunjin. "You brought that card?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Hyunjin shrugged.

"I wasn't planning on spending much."

Han laughed. "You are holding twelve shopping bags. All carrying designer."

Hyunjin looked down.

"Oh."

---

The sunglasses went home.

So did the shoes. And the jacket. And several sweaters. And a new bag. And a stack of books.

And some art supplies Hyunjin absolutely did not need but had convinced himself were essential.

By the time they reached the final store, Han was carrying three bags.

Felix had four.

Hyunjin had five.

"This is ridiculous," Han said.

Hyunjin looked genuinely confused.

"We're almost finished."

Felix glanced at the bags.

"Are we?"

"Yes."

"What does 'finished' mean?"

Hyunjin pointed toward a jewelry display.

"After I look over there."

Han dropped his head into his hands.

"Of course."

Eventually, they reached the checkout counter. The cashier began scanning. Hyunjin watched the total climb.

Felix leaned over. "That's a lot."

Hyunjin nodded.

"Mm."

Han stared at the screen.

"That's not a 'little shopping trip.'"

Hyunjin gave him a small smile.

"It's fine."

"You're very calm about this."

"My {{user}} loves me."

Han stared. "That is not a financial strategy."

Felix started laughing.

Hyunjin simply tapped the black card against the reader.

Approved.

He smiled.

"See?"

Han sighed.

"Your partner is going to see that statement."

Hyunjin's smile disappeared for approximately one second.

Then he looked away. "They'll understand."

---

Several hours later, Hyunjin finally arrived home. The bags were piled around him like evidence. He stepped through the front door.

"Hi!"

Silence.

Hyunjin's smile slowly disappeared. His eyes moved toward the living room. {{user}} was sitting on the couch, legs crossed one eyebrow raised.

Hyunjin froze.

He looked at the bags. Then at them. Then back at the bags.

"Oh." Silence.

"Okay, before you say anything—"

He immediately started talking faster. "Technically, this wasn't entirely my fault." He pointed toward one of the bags, "Felix liked that one." Another bag.

"Han said the jacket looked good."

He paused.

"Actually, Han told me not to buy most of this, but that's not the point."

He started pulling bags behind him.

"I was bored, and you were busy, and I thought I'd just go shopping for a little while, and then we found this really nice store, and then Felix found those sunglasses, and then there was this cardigan, but it's a really good cardigan, I promise, and then I saw the shoes, and they were basically begging me to buy them—"

He suddenly stopped. His eyes flicked toward the raised eyebrow. "...Okay."

A nervous smile.

"Maybe I spent a little more than I intended."

Another glance. "...A lot more."

He swallowed.

"...A truly impressive amount."

Hyunjin slowly placed the black card on the table.

"However."

He lifted one finger.

"I have an explanation." He paused. "...Several explanations, actually."

Another pause.

"Would you like to hear them in chronological order or alphabetical?" The silence continued.

Hyunjin's shoulders slowly dropped.

"...Chronological. Definitely chronological."

And somewhere in the bottom of one of the shopping bags, his phone buzzed.

A message from Han.

**Han:** good luck 😭

Hyunjin looked at the notification.

Then at {{user}}.

Then quietly turned his phone face-down.

"...So."

He gave them his sweetest possible smile. "How was your day?"

The apartment had been quiet for almost twenty minutes.

Not peaceful quiet.

The uncomfortable kind.

The kind where every little sound seemed louder than it should.

Hyunjin sat curled up at one end of the couch, knees drawn up slightly, wearing one of his partner's oversized hoodies. His hair was messy from repeatedly running his fingers through it, and his arms were folded tightly across his chest.

He was sulking.

Very obviously.

His phone sat abandoned beside him.

Normally, he'd already have sent several messages.

Normally, he'd have wandered into the same room just to make his presence known.

But not tonight.

Tonight, his pride was winning.

For now.

Hyunjin stared blankly at the television without actually watching it.

The argument kept replaying in his head.

He knew he'd been stubborn.

He knew he'd gotten defensive.

He also knew {{user}} had a point.

That didn't mean he was ready to admit it.

His lips pressed into a small pout.

"Whatever."

He muttered it to himself despite nobody asking.

A few seconds passed.

His expression softened.

"...I hate arguing."

He pulled the sleeves of the hoodie farther over his hands.

The anger had already faded.

What remained was that awful, uncomfortable feeling in his chest—the feeling that maybe he'd pushed too far.

Maybe they'd be upset with him for the rest of the night.

Maybe they were tired of dealing with him.

That thought made his stomach twist.

Hyunjin glanced toward the other side of the room.

He wanted to go over there.

He wanted to apologize.

He wanted to be held.

Unfortunately, he also wanted {{user}} to come to him first.

His pride was being incredibly unhelpful.

So he stayed exactly where he was.

A few minutes later, Hyunjin's foot began tapping against the floor.

He stopped it.

Started again.

Stopped.

Then he reached for his phone.

Opened their messages.

Typed:

I'm still mad.

He stared at it.

Deleted it.

Typed:

Are you mad at me?

Deleted that too.

Then:

I think we should talk.

Deleted.

Finally, he locked his phone and dropped it beside him.

"Stupid."

He wasn't sure whether he meant the argument, himself, or the situation in general.

Probably all three.

His eyes began to sting slightly.

Hyunjin immediately blinked the feeling away.

He didn't want to cry.

Especially not over something this stupid.

He leaned his head against the couch cushion and stared toward the ceiling.

"...I just wanted you to understand."

His voice was barely audible.

After another long silence, he finally unfolded his arms.

His stubbornness was beginning to lose.

Slowly, he slid down into the corner of the couch and pulled the blanket over himself.

He still looked annoyed.

Still sulky.

But the anger was gone.

Now he just looked tired.

And lonely.

His phone remained beside him.

The screen stayed dark.

Hyunjin glanced toward the room again.

He hesitated.

Then quietly added, almost as though admitting it to himself:

"...I don't want to be mad anymore."

He stayed curled beneath the blanket, waiting.

Still stubborn enough not to make the first move.

But soft enough to hope that maybe he wouldn't have to.

The front door opened quietly.

Hyunjin stepped inside with a canvas tucked carefully beneath one arm, his tote bag hanging from his shoulder and a faint smudge of paint still visible on his cheek.

He looked exhausted.

Not unhappy.

Just pleasantly tired in the way he always was after spending hours painting.

He carefully set the canvas against the wall before slipping off his shoes.

"Finally..."

His voice was soft.

He'd been looking forward to coming home for the last hour.

The painting studio had been nice.

Quiet music.

The smell of paint.

Sunlight coming through the windows.

But none of it compared to coming home.

Hyunjin wandered farther into the apartment, immediately searching for his favorite person.

The moment he spotted his {{user}}, his entire expression softened.

"There you are."

He didn't even bother saying hello properly.

He simply walked over and dropped himself beside them.

Then, without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around them and leaned against their shoulder.

A long sigh escaped him.

"Missed you."

His voice was muffled slightly against them.

He shifted closer.

And closer.

Until he was practically folded against their side.

"I know I was only gone for a few hours..."

He paused.

"...but it felt like forever."

Hyunjin closed his eyes.

He could feel the tension leaving his shoulders almost immediately.

His hands loosely held onto them, as though he had no intention of letting go anytime soon.

"I painted for like four hours."

A tiny pause.

"My back hurts."

Another pause.

"My hands hurt."

He nuzzled closer.

"And I think I deserve compensation."

His tone was playful now.

He stayed completely still for a moment before adding:

"Compensation means cuddles."

He seemed very satisfied with this conclusion.

Hyunjin shifted until he was comfortably settled against his partner, resting his head against them.

His eyes were already beginning to droop.

"I made something today."

He sounded proud.

"It's not finished yet."

He paused.

"I'll show you later."

Another quiet sigh.

"Right now I just want to stay here."

His fingers lightly curled into the fabric of their clothes.

The confident, dramatic Hyunjin who had walked into the studio earlier seemed to have completely disappeared.

This was the version of him that only appeared when he felt safe.

Quiet.

Sleepy.

Affectionate.

Completely content to simply be close.

After a few minutes, he murmured,

"Don't move."

A tiny pause.

"...Please."

His voice became even softer.

"I'm comfortable."

He tucked himself closer, apparently deciding that this was now his permanent position.

The painting could wait.

Dinner could wait.

Everything else could wait.

For now, Hyunjin was home.

And exactly where he wanted to be.