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Amicus ad aras are really nice words. They had always been nice; shouted on broadcasts, spoken in livestreams and whispered in private. San loved every time the words fell from Wooyoung’s lips, a promise of forever in a simple saying.
He liked them even better tattooed on Wooyoung’s skin.
They had planned it for a long time, getting matching tattoos. Wooyoung had always been enamoured with the idea, already addicted to inking his skin after the first words he had written over his ribs, and San...San would just do anything for Wooyoung. Also he couldn’t deny the satisfaction that coiled in his stomach at the idea of having matching ink permanently on their skin; like a brand, a name tag that said they belonged to each other.
They both knew they couldn’t exactly be too obvious about it, and they were both already against the idea of getting names tattooed; it was too cliche, and just not them enough. When it came down to it, they both decided in tandem the only thing that they knew they wanted to get; Amicus ad aras. Nice words. Their words.
They had to wait a long time. They were so busy nowadays and with all the restrictions their managers had insisted they were overly cautious with their planning, so they had to take their time. They were in no rush though; there was no hesitance, no hint of regret for careless words. They knew they both wanted it. That, tattooed or not, the words were permanent. They were permanent. Maybe a while ago, when they were just naive kids dreaming of being idols, there would have been some doubts, ‘what if’s’ and fears for a time where they might fall apart. But not now. Never now. Now they knew, knew, that this thing between them, this love, was forever. For their whole lives. For the rest of time. They couldn’t live without each other. Not anymore.
Once they finally found a day to get it done, they were both buzzing with excitement, anticipation. They sat together in the tattoo parlour, chatting away excitedly as one another got it done. San couldn’t say he was a fan of the pain that came with it. But, as Wooyoung had assured him, it wasn’t as bad with the vibrations coming from the pen buzzing away, almost ticklish. He didn’t have a high pain tolerance, but he would do anything to make Wooyoung happy, so the pain was nothing in comparison to the bright smile Wooyoung gave him as he watched the words get engraved on the skin on his thigh.
It didn’t start immediately; his obsession with the words on Wooyoung’s skin. Their matching words. It started off as pride. Every time he saw Woo walk past when his knees were exposed, every time he saw his own tattoo, every shower, every evening they tangled their legs together and the words met. Woo would giggle cutely every time San lovingly brushed a thumb over the ink, a little in awe of it, and San would look up, meeting his eyes and they would smile so big their cheeks hurt. San would kiss him then, unable to resist, pressing his thumb into the soft skin the words graced.
To him, the words were almost the same as his name; like Wooyoung had chosen to tell everyone that he was San’s for eternity. That he was proud to be San’s. It did something to him, something indescribable.
Wooyoung had noticed - of course he had noticed - and he did as he does best; being a little shit about it. Nothing on heaven or earth could sway San away from loving Wooyoung, but goddamn did his boyfriend sometimes annoy the shit out of him. San could do nothing but sit back and grit his teeth as Woo wore shorts more often despite the weather, fiddling with the hem of them near the tattoo when he sat down. He always tried to play it off as accidental, but as soon as he would catch San’s burning stare in the direction of the inked script, he would give a shit-eating grin that told San he knew exactly what game he was playing. It drove San wild.
So it hadn’t started straight away, but it had grown quickly, intensely, and had morphed into something he had no control over. Wooyoung would just give him a satisfying grin when San pressed his tongue on the skin above his knee, tracing the cursive with his tongue, worshiping the words.
Wooyoung was at it again. San knew he was messing with him; sat in shorts on San’s bed in their dorm, pretending he was paying attention to whatever he was messing around with on his phone, his eyes betraying him as they regularly flicked to San, who was sitting on the floor a little ways away, flexing his fists, trying to resist the urge to lay his eyes on Woo’s tattoo. They both knew it was a losing battle, that it was only a matter of time before San could no longer keep himself from indulging in a glance.
He lasted two more minutes, then Wooyoung, had put a hand behind him to rest on and the shift had caused San to look.
There was a thrill that ran up his spine. No matter how many times he looked at it, that tattoo did things to him. He all but purred with satisfaction, because the fact was, that although Wooyoung was doing it in half to mess with San, he was also proud of the words that permanently marked his skin. It was definitely part of what had given San such an intense obsession with the thing.
He gave in to his desire and finally crawled over to kneel in front of his boyfriend who, since he had caught San’s attention, had thrown his phone a ways down the bed in favor of watching San, leaning on both his hands, curious but relaxed. They were like predator and prey; both of them silently watching each other, waiting for the first move to be made. They both knew how it would end, but it was a game they liked to play.
San watched the shiver run down Wooyoung’s spine in anticipation before he made his move, brushing his brushing his fingers over the inked skin only to elicit a similar reaction. He traced every word diligently, pressing down a little firmer after each letter until the skin under his finger visibly dipped. He let his finger rest there for a little, hypnotized by the honey skin under his finger, before he pulled it off, only to cup a hand under Woo’s knee, pulling a gasp from him, and brushing over the words with his thumb. Wooyoung let out a shaky breath and, when San looked up to his face, his eyes were closed.
San smiled, pride swelling again, and pressed a kiss to the tattoo, firm and adoring. Wooyoung had apparently, shifted without San noticing - the man tended to have an intense singular focus - and sunk a hand into San’s purplish-black locks, sweeping his bangs from his face, petting him like he would a dog; appraising telling him he was appreciated, that he was a good boy. San smiled as he placed another kiss atop the same place.
Wooyoung giggled - the sensation was probably ticklish - as he petted his hair again.
“You’re so cute like this,” Wooyoung cooed, breaking the silence in the room.
San smirked up at his other half before dragging his bottom lip over the skin under it, a dark look overcoming Woo’s features before he laughed again.
“So cute~” he hummed, brushing San’s hair again.
San laughed this time, turning his head to rest his cheek on the tattoo.
“I’m happy.” he said, the emotion clearly laced in his voice.
“The tattoos make you that happy?” Woo asked, lips upturned in a teasing smile.
“You make me happy.”
“You’re such a sap.”
“It’s like my name is written on your skin, and you want it there.” San confessed, pulling his cheek up to look in awe of the words again.
“Sannie, I’m pretty sure we established before this that I’m yours and you’re mine.” Wooyoung scoffed.
“Yes but this is forever.” San argued.
“We’ve always been forever.” Woo rolled his eyes.
“I like you being my forever.” San beamed, placing his chin in Wooyoung’s lap.
Woo stroked his hair again, smiling back in kind.
“I like you being my forever too.”
They stayed there like that for a while, San’s head in Woo’s lap, closing his eyes to enjoy the soft pets and occasional scratches Wooyoung gave to his head. Because San may be physically strong but, when it came to Wooyoung, he was always weak. Maybe it was supposed to feel bad and scary but San loved it, he loved it because he knew Wooyoung was the same with him, knew Wooyoung would look after him. So, at times like this, he would submit, like a collared dog, and let Woo have his way; follow him like a puppy and revel in any affection he received. It made San happy because there was nothing wrong with being weak, not when it came to love.
San has drifted off a little, eyes heavy, humming a little at the comforting strokes Wooyoung was still giving to his head.
“You’re like a puppy, it’s adorable.” Woo praised.
“Mmm,” was all that San could muster in reply.
They probably would have stayed like that long enough to drift off if it wasn’t for Hongjoong barging in the room.
“There you guys are! What are you doing?” Hongjoong complained. “Wooyoung! What did I say about wearing shorts?” he scalded. “You know it distracts San. Eugh, why do I even ask, you know what you’re doing.”
“Comfy.” San grumbled out in complaint.
“Gross. I thought couples were supposed to get over the honeymoon period but you’re still as disgustingly in love as you were when you started.” Their leader scoffed.
“Don’t bully my Sannie, he just likes cuddles.” Woo cooed.
“Dude, I saw him lick your tattoo the other day, I don’t think he ‘just likes cuddles’.”
“We-
“No. Stop. I don’t want to know. Just come out for dinner. I’m buying.”
“Meat?” San asked curiously, turning his head in Wooyoung’s lap to face his hyung.
“Of course. Steak.” Hongjoong replied.
“I guess I can get up.”
“That’s not the only kind of meat San likes.” Wooyoung joked.
“I can make you starve.” the blonde threatened.
“Jokes on you, I’m the only one who can cook in this family.”
“JUST COME GET FOOD YOU IDIOTS, I’M HUNGRY!” Seonghwa’s voice came from the kitchen.
“Yes dear.” Hongjoong grumbled with a roll of the eyes.
And, even though Hongjoong made a choking noise from his place at the door, San pressed one last kiss to the ink before he got up from Woo’s lap. Because he couldn’t resist. He never could.