decipher you | Woozi one-shot
Pairing: Lee Jihoon x fem. Reader
tags: angst, fluff, established relationship, yearning, happy ending, good surprises, a pov switch at the end (just for funsies)
a/n: It's been eons since i wrote on here and a sudden woozi brain rot caused me to write this. not proofread and please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions or fics
It’s way past sunset and well into the next day. Hey you can’t help but keep staring at the clock, your phone and the door. The same order. Every 15 seconds.
Clock. Phone. Door.
A heavy sigh…
Silence…
Clock. Phone. Door.
A sigh…
Silence…
You should go to sleep, you are aware. But the flicker of hope in you has not died yet. He’ll be home before sunrise… today.
You had the same thought for the fifth night in a row. And the last four days you’d been proven wrong.
Yet here you sit, on the edge of your soft brown couch- handpicked by your Jihoon, looking and hoping for any signs of him showing up for a full night’s sleep.
Jihoon always tiptoed in at the early hours of the day- dragging his messy hair and droopy eyes slowly to lay beside you on the bed. Every morning you pretended you didn’t notice him come in. You pretend you didn’t notice his exhausted sigh as his head hits the bed. You pretend you didn’t notice the light peck he gives you even as sleep threatens to take him away. You pretend not to smile as he says the same thing each morning- “Love you baby. I’ll do better tomorrow.”
And each day you pretend you have faith in his sleepy promise. But why wouldn’t you?
This is Jihoon. Your Jihoon.
The same person who stood through your strenuous years of doctorate degree madness. The Jihoon who held your hand through countless vaccinations, never once complaining that you’re too old to cry about needles. The same Jihoon who always cooks every weekend for the two of you, no matter the amount of pressure he is in.
This is the Jihoon who flew 14 hours across the globe to be with you during your thesis presentation.
This is the Jihoon who took a stand against his company and the industry to proudly announce you as his partner and dedicate multiple love songs to you.
This is the Jihoon who learnt your language to talk to you and your parents in your mother tongue.
The is the Jihoon who married you in your home country even if it meant having to fly out his family and friends across the globe.
This is Jihoon. Your whole universe for the last decade. You trust him with everything in this world and know him like the back of your hand.
But even after all these years, you can’t decipher him.
The way he goes silent suddenlymakes it almost impossible to understand if it’s a good, bad, or nothing silent.
Of course, over the years he has learned to let you in on his thoughts. But once in a while, he relapses into this shell of his. This regression happens in higher intensities during the song production time. He is more present during dance practices and comebacks. But when Jihoon is in Producer Woozi mode, he forgets everyone and everything for hours (and sometimes days) on end.
You had gotten used to it for the most part. Usually, this wouldn’t have annoyed or irked you the way it is right now.
But this time, it’s different.
Your world turned around in the last three days and the one person who needs to hear it isn’t there. The one person your heart is leaping out to isn’t there to hold it. This one time you wished life’s timing wasn’t cruel.
There are a lot of things in life you are capable of accomplishing on your own.
But you know how important his work is to Jihoon. After 13 years in this field, the incredulous passion he still carries is commendable. And after everything he and the team has been through, they’re finally enjoying their craft and you’d be the last person to disturb that equilibrium.
Jihoon’s craft is special. His dedication and work ethic are special. You knew he didn’t like to be interrupted or questioned during his process. And god knows you didn’t want to do that.
But you need Jihoon, now more than ever.
So you look up at the clock once again.
1:05 AM
Sigh…
You turn on your phone once again.
No New Notifications.
Sigh…
You run your hand through your hair.
Holding your breath in, you look at the door.
Silence…
Sig-
The clicking sounds on the door awaken your soul.
One-click.
One push.
The door swings open and there he is- Jihoon.
Your Jihoon.
Same fluffy, messy hair.
The old worn down black hoodie.
Droopy eyes now wide open in surprise.
“Baby. Why are you awake? It’s so late.” He says as he kneels next to you after removing his shoes.
“Jihoon-ah…” your voice comes out in a croak. You haven’t uttered a since the last 5 hours you were at home.
“Hmm?” He looks at you with stars in his eyes. The eye bags prominent as the light hits his face. He’s the most beautiful human you’ve ever laid eyes on.
Before you could speak he begins, as his one palm draws circles on your thighs and the other holding your hip. “I’m really really sorry baby… I know I haven’t been present in a while. The company has been pressing us for variety and I’ve been breaking my head about it.”
A pause as he lays his head on your lap and looks at you.
“But today I got it baby. I did it.” His smile lights up his whole face. Pure happiness gleaming from his eyes. This version of Jihoon was one of your favourite. The one gleaming with pride, grinning with joy and enjoying every bit of satisfaction that comes with the kind of dedication only he can pour into his art.
So you smiled, mirroring his happiness.
“I’m so proud of you honey. Can’t wait to hear it soon!”
“You’ll be the first one to hear it.” He says grinning. Your raise your eyebrows and he giggles. The sound of heaven.
“I mean after the team you’ll be the first to hear it.”
Both of you laugh, a soft ringing laughter echoing through the walls of the home you built for yourselves.
You clear your throat slightly.
“Jihoon I need to tell you something…”
“Yes?” He says in the middle of a yawn.
He looks so exhausted in the moment that he looks 10 years younger.
You decided to wait another day.
“I… just needed to tell you… that I missed you… a lot.” Your words come out in a whisper. Barely audible but you know he heard it by the way he shifts on your lap like a little cat.
“I know baby… I’m sorry.”
You sigh. He was sorry and you knew it.
He grumbles an apology into your thighs.
“Jihoon you told me you’d communicate better… we’ve been through this cycle before. You’re always going to be creating music, but the least you can do is let me know. You promised me jagi…”
More grumbles as he manoeuvres himself to settle against your stomach.
“I understand work is hard. And I’m an adult so I understand even if it’s difficult. But… but your child won’t be able to…”
By the end of your sentence, you could barely hear yourself. But the way Jihoon freezes against you is proof enough that he heard you.
A moment passes and there is no reaction from him.
Another moment.
And what feels like a million tiny moments later, Jihoon’s messy head pops up away from your stomach to your face.
His eyes are glistening and big like boba balls. You hold your breath trying to n to read his face. The creases in his forehead and the straight closed mouth slowly give way to the tiniest smile.
That’s all the sign you need as you break into a huge smile.
He looks at your smile, his own mirroring it, and then down at your stomach then up again at your face. He does it a few more times as you break into soft laughs.
He sits upright on his knees, his face in front of you, big wid eyes full of surprise and hope, as his hands cup your cheeks.
“Y/n… are you being serious right now?”
You nod, words too little for the happiness pouring out of in the form of tears.
Jihoon looks stunned but pulls into a close and tight hug.
When he faces you again, tears are rolling down his cheeks.
“When did you find out?”
“Umm… four days ago”
“Baby why didn’t you tell me soo-“
The color drains from his face as he moved toward your stomach again. He hugs you around your stomach so lightly as if he’s holding a feather.
“I really am sorry jagi. I know I say it a lot but I should do better. I should’ve done better. For you. For us. And…” He looks at you with an apologetic smile, “and for our child.”
You run your fingers through his silky tousled hair. “Jihoon-ah, it’s okay. What’s done is done…”
“You have no idea how restless I’ve been waiting to tell you. To see that look on your face.” His smile grows wider and he places a peck on your very normal stomach whcih makes you giggle.
“You do know there is no actual baby in there yet right?”
He pouts as he looks at you, causing more giggles on your end.
“I hope our kid doesn’t get your oversmart brain and is normal like me” he says defiantly.
You let out a snort. “Please Mr worldwide popular idol ‘Woozi’! You’re as far from normal as is possible my dear.”
“Well normal or not, I know our child will have the best dad.”
Jihoon’s cheeky comment sets of a back and forth of arguing about which one of you is better until early hours of the morning as laughter rings through the house.
It was another night of sleeping after dawn for him. He was no stranger to a late night. But for the first time in years he feels too ecstatic to sleep.
His mind and body are buzzing with happiness at the thought of the love of his life carrying their child.
He thinks back to the 17 year old Jihoon who saw this cute girl across the street struggling to get her bags on her cycle basket snd decided to forgo his inhibitions for once and help her. He thinks back to 20 year old Jihoon who, for the first time in his life, gave a speech at a bar confessing his love for the same girl despite all his social anxiety. He thinks back to the 28 year old Jihoon who decided to talk to her parents and arrange a special performance for her on their wedding even though all he wanted was alone time with her.
He thought back to everytime he took a chance for this beautiful and smart girl, now lying next to him peacefully asleep, and he thanks every god and higher power in the universe for giving him the courage to do so.
Without her Jihoon wouldn’t know love and life. Now they have a little bundle of joy on its way just to commemorate this love they share.
And this time Jihoon was going to make sure he’d be there every step of the way.
