Work Text:
Namjoon couldn’t remember the last time he left the office while the sun was still out. It was weird, but a good weird. He was supposed to clock out at 5:00PM anyway. But as the Chief Finance Officer of a multi-million dollar company, sometimes [most of the time] it’s not just possible. The work was never ending, just piles up and up and up, until his body and mind was exhausted and that would be the prompt for him to go home.
Something was different in the air today. It was surprising that no new emails came in at 4:00PM, he even verified with his assistant if it was real or he was dreaming. He took it as a good omen and prepared for himself to go home early.
It was rush hour. Namjoon was surprised at the number of people in the streets. Shops were still open, too. Whenever he goes home at night, there were only a handful of people and the only shop open was a small kiosk that sold bunggeopang.
And oh, a flower shop! When was the last time he bought his husband, Seokjin, flowers? On their last anniversary? When was it anyway? Last month? Last year? Namjoon doesn’t think he still has the concept of time anymore. He just wished he hadn't forgotten it.
He went inside and checked whatever’s available that Seokjin may like. He usually curates his bouquet choices, no two bouquets are ever the same. Seokjin insisted that he doesn’t have a favorite flower, just favorite chocolates, and he would accept anything Namjoon would get him.
This time Namjoon got Seokjin a mix of red roses and Ferrero.
He thanked the staff and left the store with a smile on his face.
Namjoon entered their apartment and was greeted by a delectable smell which was undoubtedly Seokjin’s cooking. It’s been a while and he actually felt nostalgic back in the days when they were still young.
Most of the time, Seokjin was already asleep in their bed when he got home. The extent of their encounters during weekdays were confined to having a cup of coffee in the morning. Five minutes after consumption and both of them were off to work. Seokjin was the department head in their architecture firm and his work responsibility (that translates to longer hours) is almost the same as Namjoon’s.
Namjoon stepped in the kitchen and found Seokjin skillfully chopping cabbage.
“Hey.” Namjoon announced his arrival softly.
The knife that Seokjin was holding was suspended mid-air and immediately looked up in surprise. “Hey! Hey? Hey, you’re here?”
Namjoon chuckled and slowly walked towards Seokjin, holding the bouquet behind his back. “I know right.” He cupped Seokjin’s face with his free hand and gave him a proper kiss.
Seokjin’s eyes were wide open until Namjoon pulled back, and couldn't recover from the fact that Namjoon came home early.
“For you.” Namjoon revealed his surprise.
“Wha– wow. What? Why?”
“Nothing. Just because.” Namjoon spotted a wine in the kitchen counter, just a little bit far from Seokjin’s chopping board. “You got wine, too, what’s the occasion?”
“Uhh, nothing, too. Just because.”
And they both chuckled.
“Let me just…” Seokjin washed his hands quickly in order to receive the flowers from Namjoon. But instead of getting the entire bouquet, he picked up a Ferrero, unwrapped it and fed it to Namjoon. He picked up another and shoved it in his mouth as well.
“Y u early,” Seokjin said, muffled with a mouth full of chocolate.
“Nothing. No reason at all, really. Surprisingly there was nothing else lined up for the day. It’s kinda scary to be honest. Like the calm before the storm. How about you? You’re earlier than usual, too? It’s not our anniversary today, right?”
“No reason at all, too. Just wasn’t feeling it for today so I took a half-day leave. Went grocery to destress. And I haven’t cooked in a while.”
Namjoon brushed off a bit of chocolate at the side of Seokjin’s lips. “Glad I came home early, then.”
“Thank you for the flowers. And the chocolate.”
“You’re still the most beautiful flower. And the sweetest amongst them all.”
“Sap.” Seokjin placed a peck on Namjoon’s lips. “I still have to simmer the meat for about 30minutes or so, I would’ve started it earlier if I knew you were coming in much earlier.”
“I’m surprised, too. I was about to text you if you want Chinese dinner for takeout when I got home.”
“Wanna chill on the couch while we wait? Wine?”
“I’ll bring the glasses.”
Namjoon successfully popped out the cork and brought out 2 red wine glasses at the coffee table in their living room. "Successfully", meaning, without wreaking havoc. The last thing he wanted was to ruin what was about to be a perfect night with Seokjin.
Namjoon was pouring the wine when Seokjin joined him, bringing the rest of the Ferrero and some cheese and crackers.
“You whipped this up that fast?” Namjoon commented on the instant charcuterie board.
“We’ve been married for two decades and you’re still surprised at how amazing your husband is???”
“You're always a surprise, Jin. You have always been that someone to me. You’re an enigma.”
“Stop. Don’t start, it’s not sexy. Not right now, I'm so brainfried and I have no time to fall for your tricks, Kim Namjoon.”
Namjoon snickered as he handed a glass of wine to Seokjin. “Cheers.”
“Cheers!” They clinked their glasses and took a sip of each. “What are we cheering on exactly?”
“I don’t know…anything and everything? Cheers to a quiet night.”
“Yeah, this is very rare.”
Namjoon opened up his arms as an invitation for Seokjin and Seokjin instantly melted on Namjoon’s shoulders.
“We’re getting old, Namjoon.”
“I know. These things are priceless now.”
“Where did we get our energy to stay up all night back in our days?”
Namjoon sighed. “Gone our youthful energy. We got money now but not the energy. Back then we had the energy but not the money.”
“Right.”
“I missed this. I missed us. We haven’t spent much quality time with each other nowadays.”
Seokjin hummed in response.
“Are we okay, though?” Namjoon sincerely asked.
Seokjin was alarmed by the question that he had to look at Namjoon in the eye. “Why would you ask that? Yeah, we’re okay…? Are we okay?”
“Nothing, come back here.” Namjoon rubbed circles in Seokjin’s arms for comfort and brought his head back to lean on him. “It’s just…are we too content? Should we be doing something more? Are we missing something?”
“Are we having another mid-life crisis again?” Seokjin giggled. Their mid-life crisis brought them bungee jumping in New Zealand.
“I’m not complaining? Just reflecting? We’ve stayed the same more or less for the past 20 years.”
“24.”
“24 years. Wow, I have been with you for more than half of my life now.”
“There are more years that we know each other than the years that we don’t.”
“I’m so lucky to have you, Jin.”
“We’re lucky we have each other.”
“We’re okay like this, right? I’m…content. I’m happy… Even if it seems routinary?”
“Wanna adopt a kid? A pet?”
“A kid?! I–.” Namjoon was scandalized at the thought. “It’s not like we don't have 10 godsons and goddaughters. Oh shhi–, when’s Eunjae’s 7th birthday again?”
“It’s in 2 weeks, don’t worry. You got your calendar all synced up!”
“I know…they’re just too many. Then a kid of our own…uhm, no thanks. Can’t feel my back most days. Have we bought a gift for Eunjae?”
“We, well your card, paid for the entrance fee for 100pax at Lotte World.”
“Okay, okay. That’s good right? We’re being good uncles?”
“I think so. Yoongi wanted to object but of course Hoseok convinced him that it’s okay.”
“We're everyone’s dream uncles.”
“How about a dog? Do you want to bring in a dog? It will force us to be home more often.”
“A dog sounds like a good idea. But..”
“But?”
“Let’s get a dog with the longest lifespan. I don't know if I'll be able to survive a heartbreak 10 years from now.”
“But it's 10 years of happiness. And love. I think it will be worth it.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. Besides, we have each other. Cheers to 10 more years?” Seokjin clinked his glass with Namjoon.
“To 50 more years.”
“But also, what if…two dogs? Then we breed them. Then we get puppies!”
Namjoon kissed Seokjin’s head in amusement. “Sounds good. What will I do without you, love? I love you, Jin. Thank you for staying with me.”
“I love you, Kim Namjoon. Thank you for choosing me. It’s such a privilege to be loved by you.”
“And you.”
“Why are we so cheesy? We're so old, ugh.”
“I know. Don't let the boys hear it.” Seokjin detached himself from Namjoon and was about to stand up. “I think the sundubu jjigae’s ready by now. Let’s eat?”
Namjoon pulled back Seokjin to his lap. “Can I eat you out after?”
Seokjin raised his eyebrows. “Depends if I can eat you out, too.”
“Deal.”
“Deal.”