Sena's Apartment

@Sena Sena’s under the impression that Heeseung has a choice in falling for Sena’s jokes, and—maybe he does. Technically he does. But Sena is also one of the only people Heeseung trusts implicitly, the only person Heeseung would be willing to trust with his life. If Sena’s going to joke and play pranks, Heeseung knows they’re harmless. Relatively. He won’t say no to that.

But it doesn’t stop Heeseung from sighing, long suffering and with an air of distress, even as he loops an arm around Sena’s shoulders and drags the male firmly against his side. “Like my hands aren’t occupied?” Even so, Heeseung reaches for Sena’s bowl of chili, scooping up a spoonful to offer it.

It buys him a moment to think, to reflect on Sena’s words, the implication of the stalker being in some kind of dangerous line of work, the unmentioned reality that Heeseung’s not any better. “You’re smart to stay away from it,” he says instead, continuing to scoop up chili for Sena as he eats. “But if you like him—or just like the , which is also fine—then there’s ways to make it work.” Heeseung doesn’t try to lie and claim that maybe the stalker’s not involved; Sena’s instincts are rarely wrong. Lying out of placation is still lying. “Do you want to see him again?”

@Lee Heeseung Sena bit down his grin when Heeseung looked at him like a kicked puppy. "Hey, come on-", he whined and bumped the other with his shoulder. "Don't ever stop falling for my bait, bestie~" It was hummed in a joking, playful tone but below it was an earnest plea. The food was set down and Sena shimmied closer, wrapping both his arms around the other's waist and pulling himself closer until he could rest his cheek on Heeseung's shoulder. He was grinning again now as he thought back to why exactly the man had managed to tire him out. "Yup yup~", he chirped along, agreeing with his friend's summary. However, when the question of whether he would see him again propped up he fell somber, lips pressing together into one line. "Hmmm... I dunno. Hey, feed me some chili. My hands are occupied." Holding Heeseung. "It was good, but it got kind of awkward at one point. We couldn't really talk about anything. He definitely has some kind of dangerous job, probably involved with gangs, and you know I don't get close to that ." Sena shuddered. "Maybe I will, casually, but that's it. I don't want to get involved with people in that line of work... I'd hate thinking of what kind of cruelty they were up to before they come over."

@Sena Heeseung should have known that it was consensual. Realistically speaking, he should have known that Sena would never let himself to be put into such a weak position. He’s no damsel in distress, he’s fully capable of taking care of himself. Heeseung knows that because he’s known Sena since childhood, and they’ve seen some of the worst of humanity together. But that doesn’t stop Heeseung from worrying regardless.

“You baited me.” The look that Heeseung gives Sena is wounded. Just a little. “*Baited.* Here I am, prepared to commit crimes in your name, defend your honor like a noir knight, and you were getting .” He manages the keep the pout he’d mustered for a moment more before relaxing back into the couch with a sigh. “He must have been something special to tire you out though.” Even if Heeseung doesn’t love how they’d tracked Sena down, how they’d known so damn much about his friend, at least the stalker had been nice about it. Heaven help him if he weren’t.

Heeseung side eyes Sena thoughtfully, buying himself a moment to think by sipping his beer. “Well. Tell me more about this mystery man. He made you tap out, nice abs and , nice and sweet.” A smile twitches at Heeseung’s lips. “You gonna see him again?”

@Lee Heeseung Seeing the defeated look on Heeseung's face brought a joy to Sena that he had a hard time describing. He got a great sense of satisfaction out of knowing that his best friend worried for him. Whenever anything remotely risky happened he could not help but spill the beans to Heeseung, and then bask in his affections when he came over with food to check if Sena was okay. Was it a little messed up that he enjoyed making his childhood friend worry and used it to get his attention? ...Maybe.

Sena scooped himself some chili as he shook his head. "Oh nah. I just didn't tell you about that until today.", he flashed his friend a cheeky smile and then proceeded to serve Heeseung as well. "Haha! It was consensual, fully consensual.", he chuckled, "and quite painful, actually. After just two rounds I had to call for a time out... so embarrassing, if I'm super honest." Sena hummed as he tasted the chili and then closed his eyes and shimmied his shoulders to express his approval. "No, anyway he didn't harass me or anything. He saw me in Trevi a week ago when I was doing a waiter gig there, and tracked me down here. Knew my name, my job and where I live even. Kinda freaky." Sena put down his fork and looked at Heeseung. Then, he shimmed till he was sitting next to him and leaned his head on the other's shoulder. "Before you ask, I didn't ask how he found out. Or what he does. But he seemed like a nice guy, sweet even. Very sweet. And soft. Except for his , of course. And his abs. Damn he had such a good body..."

@Sena Heeseung has been to Sena’s so often over the years that he knows the space almost as well as his own apartment. He hums as he moves through the kitchen to collect utensils and napkins. Initially, his intent is to make noises at the right places until Sena gets to the stalker that had found him today, but— but that’s not how it plays out at all.

Being friends with Sena is a hazard to Heeseung’s overall health. Heeseung has known this for years, but here in this moment he really, truly reconciles with the loss of years off his life. Goodbye retirement and lazy golden mornings and...whatever other old age things he’s just lost.

He sinks to the floor by the couch with a suffering sigh and a baleful expression even as he puts a serving spoon in the chili. “The stalker that harassed you today also harassed you before?” Heeseung waits for Sena to serve himself, taking the opportunity to soothe his ruffled feathers. “Was it a consensual bruising or do I need to find and pick a fight with this guy?”

@Lee Heeseung "Yeah? I guess it's good that you have been. Means business has been going well.", Sena said with a smile and reached to squeeze Heeseung's hand. Ah, Heeseung. He was so precious, the way he always stood awkwardly at the entrance for a moment and scanned the apartment no matter how often he came over. The way he brought food so often, and the way he would tightly wrap his arms around him when they hugged. Sena gave the other's hand a small squeeze and then walked over to the fridge. "Hah no not really, those texts made a boring day sound way too exciting! Mhm grab some cutlery will you?" Sena pulled too cold beers from the fridge and set them down on the small table in front of the couch. "A few days ago though, oh , that was an eventful day for sure!" Sena grinned as he unpacked the chili and opened up the container. The wrapping was deposited on the kitchen counter and then Sena returned to the couch and dropped down on it, pulling one knee to his chest as he looked up at Heeseung. "That's when I met the stalker. You know I haven't been able to work properly since I met them!", Sena barked out a laugh and then narrowed his eyes cheekily. "Really bruised my hips, if you catch my drift. - Come on, I'm starving. Can't wait to try this you're cooking is always sosososososo good!"

@Sena Sena’s apartment is small enough for Heeseung to take in the lay of the room and all occupants from the doorway, and he does exactly that before stepping further inside and nudging the door shut behind himself. It had been something his father drilled into him, to clock possible exits, bodies, and threats the moment he stepped into a room. And that’s all well and good, it’s served Heeseung well these last few years, but it also means he has his eyes on Sena for the other male’s dramatic response. And frankly, that’s just delightful.

Heeseung smiles, slow and fond, the lingering tension already bleeding from his shoulders at seeing his friend uninjured and comfortable. “It is chili. I had the ingredients on hand—” because Heeseung always has the ingredients on hand, because Sena likes it, “—and I knew it wouldn’t go to waste.” Because if Heeseung has his way, and he usually does, he’ll be leaving the leftovers for Sena to snack on.

The moment that Sena returns from setting down their meal, Heeseung envelops the male in a tight hug, face pressing to his neck for a sigh. He lingers just like that, selfish enough to take the offered affection, for as long as Sena will allow. Only when Sena retreats does Heeseung offer a sheepish smile. “I’ve been busy.” He has been. “I’ve missed you, too.” He has, so very much.

”A beer sounds good. Let’s get started eating and I’ll tell you about the flower monster, mm? I want to hear more about your day, too. It sounds….eventful.” Heeseung gestures to the kitchen. “Need any help?”

@Lee Heeseung The lure of a cool drink, a shower and finally the TV is what pulled Sena away from his phone, and away from spamming his childhood friend with reports on his day. Mid-show he saw the display light up and glanced at it, grinning when he recognised who had texted him. Sena quickly responded with a grinning emoji and then returned his attention to the TV. 'I wonder what he'll bring this time.' As he waited, his eyes still glued to the TV screen, he drummed away on his belly and dreamed of Heeseung's food. Sena himself did not cook much, if ever. He primarily lived off of yoghurt, pickles, and burgers when he felt like meat. Ten minutes passed, then an hour and Sena had just about forgotten that Heeseung was coming over at all when he heard a key turning in the door. Sena sat up from the couch and rolled onto his stomach so he faced the entrance. He lived in a small place, a one-room apartment so he didn't even need to get up to see Heeseung walk in. "Hee!"

Sena, who had by this point changed out of work clothes and into casual loungewear, took a theatrically deep breath and moaned happily. "It smells so gooood. It's chili, right? I'm starving!!"

With another grin he rolled himself off the couch and rushed to grab the food from his friend. It was deposited on the small table in front of the couch, and then Sena was back and had enveloped Heeseung in a tight hug. "Hhnnng! I thought you'd been swallowed by some flower monster! It's been forever!!" It hadn't actually been that long, just a couple weeks, but Sena always missed his friend. How could he not, when growing up they had lived so close, seen each other so often, seen so many things together... Sena held on for a good 10 seconds, hugging him as tightly as he could, before finally loosening his grip. "I've got some beer in the fridge. Want some?"

@Sena Heeseung is, for the most part, used to Sena texting him with the sort of stream of consciousness messages that one might associate with young children. It’s endearing really, because they don’t get to talk as much as they used to—Heeseung’s fault, really, for keeping secrets and trying to play protector—and it means that Sena’s thinking about him, which is, again, endearing. Heeseung likes being thought about. He’s human. And he likes Sena thinking about him because— because they’re friends. Still.

But it can be a bit overwhelming, especially when Heeseung isn’t attached to his phone at all times and pockets it long enough to make it home from the flower shop. He’d felt it vibrate in his pocket, recognized the pattern as Sena’s, and knew he’d have a couple to read when he’d made it home but twenty-four?

But what starts as catching up on Sena’s thoughts and day turns ugly by text three. By text six? seven? Heeseung’s given up on catching up and rummaging through his fridge in search of ingredients, because if he’s going to go check on Sena unannounced, he might as well make and bring food. That’s a friendly thing to do, right?

Friendly thing or not, that’s what Heeseung does, and a while later finds Heeseung outside of Sena’s apartment, considering the key on his ring and wondering, not for the first time, whether he should knock. He hadn’t even responded beyond an initial and intentional blasé, “you hungry?” But Sena had given him the key, had never asked for it back. Sena knew him, knew he was probably coming, hadn’t told him no.

Heeseung fits the key to the lock, turns it, and steps inside. It feels a little bit like coming home. In the aftermath of everything, Sena had always felt a little bit like home. “Hey, I have food!”

@Lee Heeseung () the room is ready now!