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The late afternoon sun filters gently through the curtains, casting a soft golden light across Earth and Mix as they lounge on the couch.
It has been a rare, quiet day in the middle of a hectic schedule—an escape from their tightly packed routines and the buzzing world of showbiz.
In this quiet bubble, Earth finally feels the weight lift from his shoulders, while Mix is curled up beside him, both savoring the peace they hardly ever get.
Mix lets out a tired sigh, leaning into Earth's chest, inhaling his boyfriend's scent.
"It’s been a lot lately, huh?" Mix murmurs, fingers idly tracing the outline of Earth’s hand.
Earth nods, his gaze distant as he thinks about the whirlwind of shoots, appearances, and the constant effort to stay under the radar. They have been careful, keeping their relationship out of the public eye, playing the roles of just “good friends” whenever cameras were around.
But as grateful as he is for the fans and the life they have built, sometimes he wishes they could just… exist, without all the secrecy.
“Yeah,” Earth replies softly. “Some days, it’s like I barely have time to breathe, and sometimes I think…” He trails off, hesitating before the thought fully formed.
Mix immediately looks up at him with soft eyes, sensing his hesitation.
“What?” he asks gently, giving Earth’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
Earth intertwines their fingers as he smiles, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. “I sometimes think about what it would be like if we didn’t have to hide, you know? If we could just… tell people. Let them know how much you mean to me without worrying about it.”
Mix’s eyes softens, a bittersweet smile forming on his lips.
“I get it." Mix agrees. "Sometimes I feel the same way. But the fans—they’ve been kind to us, supporting us. And maybe… maybe one day, we’ll get to share everything with them. When the time is right.”
Earth deciphers Mix's words and nods as he smiles, heartened by Mix’s optimism.
“They’re amazing, aren’t they?” Earth lets out a quiet laugh. “Always guessing and coming up with theories. I think they have more faith in us than we do sometimes.”
Mix laughs, nodding. “Yeah, and they’re good about it too. Some of them might suspect things, but they still give us our space."
"Well, not all of them." Earth corrects and Mix is quick to let out a laugh, playfully swatting Earth's chest.
"God bless our nameless fandom, sadhu," Mix says, a playful snicker still lingering on his lips. “Don’t you think it’s time they stop being nameless?”
Earth chuckles, pulling Mix a little closer, snuggling the younger's hair. “We’ll give them their name when we’re married,” he teases, watching with delight as a rosy blush creeps up Mix’s cheeks.
Mix tries to hide his smile, but it is impossible with Earth looking at him like that. Mix clears his throat as Earth enjoys watching his lover squirm in shyness as he tries to lure the conversation back to their fans.
“Some fans are actually really sweet,” Mix says. “But, you know, some can be a little… out of their line.”
Earth chuckles softly, his fingers brushing through Mix’s hair. “Yeah, I’ve seen a few comments that go a bit too far…”
Mix nods and then looks up at Earth with nothing but affection in his eyes, thinking it's his turn to get the elder flustered.
“But you,” Mix says softly, eyes twinkiling. “You’re my constant. You’re the one thing that never changes. Kinda like… you’re my peace in all this.”
Earth meets Mix's gaze, his heart swelling at the sincerity in his lover's voice.
He pulls Mix closer, wrapping him tighter in his arms, feeling thankful beyond words for having him by his side. The weight of everything they dealt with seems so insignificant in this moment, with Mix there, safe and warm in his arms.
Mix, seeing that his first attempt to fluster Earth has failed, he tries again.
He then gently pulls away from Earth’s embrace, shifting onto his stomach as he props himself up on his elbows, letting the weight of his body settle comfortably. His gaze wanders over Earth’s arm, where he spots a familiar tattoo he’d never really asked about before.
The word "peace" was inked in elegant script, right over the softest part of Earth’s bicep. Mix’s fingers brushed over it thoughtfully.
“Is this why you tattooed the word ‘peace’ here?” he asks with a knowing smile, thinking of the perfect pick up line. “Cause that’s what it literally means?”
Earth blinks, a bit caught off guard, as he glance down at Mix. “Huh?” he asks, clearly puzzled.
Mix turns his head, meeting Earth’s eyes with a soft smile.
“Right?” he says, grinning more widely. “Cause every time I lay here…" Mix grazes his fingers on Earth's biceps. "It’s comforting. It’s peace.”
Earth’s face softens as he took in Mix’s words, his surprise melting into a quiet fondness. He hadn’t thought much about the tattoo since he got it, and certainly not in the way Mix was describing.
He’d gotten it during a rough patch, hoping to remind himself to seek peace within himself when the world around him was chaotic. He hadn’t realized it would ever have a different meaning, one that went beyond him.
Earth's hand came to rest on Mix's cheek, his thumb caressing the soft skin.
"You cheesy, ass." Earth says softly, the warmth evident in his voice, betraying the playful insult. “That may not be the reason before, but fuck the tattoo, you bring me more peace than I think I ever found on my own.”
Mix’s cheeks immediately warms. He giggles and shifts closer, settling his head into the crook of Earth’s neck.
“But hey, it works, doesn’t it?” Earth continues to tease Mix as the younger breathes heavily on his neck, tickling him. “My tattoo’s actually doing its job.”
Mix chuckles again, a sound that Earth could feel reverberating through his chest. He wraps his arms around Mix, holding him tighter, savoring the warmth of the moment.
The air around them felt still, like the world had fallen quiet just for them.
After a long pause, Mix glances up, recovering from his 'fluster fit'. His eyes now shining with a mischievous glint.
“Maybe I should get a matching tattoo,” he says, only half-joking. “Then we’d both have peace with us.”
Earth smiles down at him, his gaze full of tenderness.
“You already do,” he whispers. “You don’t need a tattoo for that, Mix. I told you, you’ve already brought me all the peace I could ever ask for.”
"Earth, stop.." Mix says, defeatedly. He can feel warmth flooding his cheeks as his boyfriend continues to shower him with compliments, each one making him more flustered than the last.
Even as he tries to protest, his eyes sparkle, and a laugh slips out—caught somewhere between overwhelmed and utterly, helplessly in love.
And as the last rays of sunlight bathed them in warmth, they lay there in perfect, comfortable silence, knowing they had each found their own kind of peace—right there, wrapped in each other’s arms.