![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
various drabbles [b.a.p]
yongguk/himchan, PG, 525 words
originally posted here. prompt was 'banghim - short side story for your space!bandit au??'
"Thanks," Himchan says with a nod, accepting the wrapped meat from the woman and flashing her a smile. He doesn't want to, but he still thinks about Mato. He knew all the sellers there, knew how to haggle them down and the names of their children. Sometimes, he misses it.
He especially misses it on days like today. "Aish," he grumbles, hefting the packaged meat. "Highway robbery. How can that woman, in good conscience, charge that much for such a substandard cut?"
It's cleaner here, too. Security walks the quad, keeps things from getting out of line. Sure, it's nicer, but it also means Himchan feels a hair out of place. He wonders if they stand out. Clothes too shabby? Boots too worn? It isn't exactly a high class market zone, but still. He wonders.
"We can afford it now," Yongguk reminds him, magnanimously. He lifts the meat out of Himchan's hands and tucks it into his bag, slinging it over his shoulder again. "Does it really matter?"
"Money runs out, Bang Yongguk," Himchan reminds him. It's still a bit of a rush, though, thinking about that money. For the first time, Himchan and his boys are not just surviving, but living comfortably. He remembers the first time they'd taken Jongup on a parts run after they'd come to the core, he was like a kid in a candy store. Being able to afford the things they want, what a novelty.
Yongguk wraps his arm firmly around Himchan's waist and hey, speaking of things that haven't yet lost their novelty. "Relax," Yongguk says, his smile all fond amusement. "We don't have to fight anymore."
But what if it doesn't last? It's on the tip of his tongue, but Himchan doesn't say it. Yongguk hears it anyway, and Himchan can't help but smile when Yongguk leans in and presses his mouth to the soft skin below his ear. "Relax," Yongguk says again, voice soft and low.
"I am relaxed," Himchan retorts, but there's no heat behind it. Yongguk's hand against his hip is warm and casually possessive and this is something Himchan could get used to.
Yongguk hums noncommitally, smiling, and Himchan can't remember how long it's been since Yongguk has been so relaxed. So happy. "C'mon," he says. "That guy over there has sweets from Arete, let's get some for the kids."
It's not a bad idea at all. Himchan lets Yongguk nudge him in the right direction. Yongguk is pressed up against his side, solid and present, and it makes Himchan bite back a smile. Maybe it'll last, maybe it won't. But this, for now, is enough.
He especially misses it on days like today. "Aish," he grumbles, hefting the packaged meat. "Highway robbery. How can that woman, in good conscience, charge that much for such a substandard cut?"
It's cleaner here, too. Security walks the quad, keeps things from getting out of line. Sure, it's nicer, but it also means Himchan feels a hair out of place. He wonders if they stand out. Clothes too shabby? Boots too worn? It isn't exactly a high class market zone, but still. He wonders.
"We can afford it now," Yongguk reminds him, magnanimously. He lifts the meat out of Himchan's hands and tucks it into his bag, slinging it over his shoulder again. "Does it really matter?"
"Money runs out, Bang Yongguk," Himchan reminds him. It's still a bit of a rush, though, thinking about that money. For the first time, Himchan and his boys are not just surviving, but living comfortably. He remembers the first time they'd taken Jongup on a parts run after they'd come to the core, he was like a kid in a candy store. Being able to afford the things they want, what a novelty.
Yongguk wraps his arm firmly around Himchan's waist and hey, speaking of things that haven't yet lost their novelty. "Relax," Yongguk says, his smile all fond amusement. "We don't have to fight anymore."
But what if it doesn't last? It's on the tip of his tongue, but Himchan doesn't say it. Yongguk hears it anyway, and Himchan can't help but smile when Yongguk leans in and presses his mouth to the soft skin below his ear. "Relax," Yongguk says again, voice soft and low.
"I am relaxed," Himchan retorts, but there's no heat behind it. Yongguk's hand against his hip is warm and casually possessive and this is something Himchan could get used to.
Yongguk hums noncommitally, smiling, and Himchan can't remember how long it's been since Yongguk has been so relaxed. So happy. "C'mon," he says. "That guy over there has sweets from Arete, let's get some for the kids."
It's not a bad idea at all. Himchan lets Yongguk nudge him in the right direction. Yongguk is pressed up against his side, solid and present, and it makes Himchan bite back a smile. Maybe it'll last, maybe it won't. But this, for now, is enough.
yongguk/himchan, pg, 720 words
originally posted here. prompt was 'banghim- yongguk thinks he is insufficient, Himchan knows otherwise.'
Himchan is a heavy sleeper, and he sleeps easily, especially since debut. When you practice all day, there's no energy left for sleepless nights or early mornings.
Still, he wakes up easily enough when he hears movement in the room. Himchan's eyes slide open to the sight of Yongguk tugging his shirt over his head. He's wearing sweatpants, and his shirt is frayed. Clearly an early morning trip to the gym. There have been a lot of those lately, he thinks. Between dance practice and the time spent in studio, Yongguk is always on the go. These days, he's always up earlier than the rest of them, even though they're not even promoting right now. He gets home later, too. Today was supposed to be a rare day off, and yet here Yongguk is, crack of dawn and he's already up. Himchan frowns.
Yongguk catches sight of him as he stands, grabbing his bag. "Sorry," he whispers. There are circles under his eyes, stark against his skin. "Go back to sleep." His hand presses briefly against Himchan's thigh, and then he slips out the door.
Himchan is on his feet and after Yongguk before his sleep-logged brain even catches up with him. He finds Yongguk in the kitchen grabbing something to eat before he goes. "Bbang," he says, and Yongguk startles, blinking at him. "It's not even light out yet. Are you crazy? You only came home five hours ago. Come back to bed."
As he rubs sleep from his eyes, he watches Yongguk's tongue dart out to wet his full lips. "Gotta keep on schedule," he insists, hoisting his bag onto his shoulder.
Scoffing, Himchan reaches out and knocks it off again. They both flinch as it hits the floor with a thump. "It's our day off," he tells Yongguk, and he crosses his arms, leaning against the doorframe, and yawns. "You've been running yourself into the ground. Can't you take a break?"
Maybe it's just the timing, too early for the kids to be up, maybe it's the long days finally getting to him, but Yongguk hesitates. Himchan sees it in the way Yongguk's eyes stay fixed on the floor and he waits. "I just - " For a song-writer, Yongguk can be remarkably clumsy with his words, but Himchan is patient. "I'm busy. I have a lot to do."
"Busy? This isn't busy, this is insane."
Yongguk shakes his head. "You don't - we have another album coming up. The fans will be waiting. I need to keep working, I still have so much to learn." There's tension written in the sharp lines of Yongguk's shoulders, and if Himchan didn't know better, he'd think Yongguk was holding up the whole world.
The fans. Himchan's smile is softened by exhaustion and fondness. "Aish. The fans." He kicks Yongguk's bag aside as he steps forward, settling his hands on Yongguk's shoulders. "The fans will forgive you for sleeping in just this once. Don't you think they'd want you to get a full night's rest?"
"It's not that simple," Yongguk argues. He looks even more worn down up close, and that grates on Himchan. He should've noticed earlier.
"It is," Himchan tells him. He slides one hand up to curl around the back of Yongguk's neck, and only then does Yongguk meet his eyes. "You're allowed to give yourself a second to breathe, you know."
He can feel Yongguk relaxing fractionally under his touch, and Himchan lets him grip the front of his shirt, tugging him forward until their foreheads touch. "I don't want to waste this time," Yongguk says. "So many people have so much faith in me."
"Balance, Bang Yongguk," Himchan says. He pats Yongguk's cheek gently just to see the corners of his mouth turn up. "No one wants to see you work until you drop."
Yongguk doesn't say anything, but he laughs quietly. His hands have settled against Himchan's ribs, thumbs pressing firmly against him. "Alright," he says. "Just this once. Only because I hadn't called the car yet."
Pleased, Himchan presses a kiss to the corner of Yongguk's mouth. He hasn't brushed his teeth yet, after all. "Just this once," he agrees, and Yongguk presses his face to Himchan's shoulder. Himchan can feel him smile.
Still, he wakes up easily enough when he hears movement in the room. Himchan's eyes slide open to the sight of Yongguk tugging his shirt over his head. He's wearing sweatpants, and his shirt is frayed. Clearly an early morning trip to the gym. There have been a lot of those lately, he thinks. Between dance practice and the time spent in studio, Yongguk is always on the go. These days, he's always up earlier than the rest of them, even though they're not even promoting right now. He gets home later, too. Today was supposed to be a rare day off, and yet here Yongguk is, crack of dawn and he's already up. Himchan frowns.
Yongguk catches sight of him as he stands, grabbing his bag. "Sorry," he whispers. There are circles under his eyes, stark against his skin. "Go back to sleep." His hand presses briefly against Himchan's thigh, and then he slips out the door.
Himchan is on his feet and after Yongguk before his sleep-logged brain even catches up with him. He finds Yongguk in the kitchen grabbing something to eat before he goes. "Bbang," he says, and Yongguk startles, blinking at him. "It's not even light out yet. Are you crazy? You only came home five hours ago. Come back to bed."
As he rubs sleep from his eyes, he watches Yongguk's tongue dart out to wet his full lips. "Gotta keep on schedule," he insists, hoisting his bag onto his shoulder.
Scoffing, Himchan reaches out and knocks it off again. They both flinch as it hits the floor with a thump. "It's our day off," he tells Yongguk, and he crosses his arms, leaning against the doorframe, and yawns. "You've been running yourself into the ground. Can't you take a break?"
Maybe it's just the timing, too early for the kids to be up, maybe it's the long days finally getting to him, but Yongguk hesitates. Himchan sees it in the way Yongguk's eyes stay fixed on the floor and he waits. "I just - " For a song-writer, Yongguk can be remarkably clumsy with his words, but Himchan is patient. "I'm busy. I have a lot to do."
"Busy? This isn't busy, this is insane."
Yongguk shakes his head. "You don't - we have another album coming up. The fans will be waiting. I need to keep working, I still have so much to learn." There's tension written in the sharp lines of Yongguk's shoulders, and if Himchan didn't know better, he'd think Yongguk was holding up the whole world.
The fans. Himchan's smile is softened by exhaustion and fondness. "Aish. The fans." He kicks Yongguk's bag aside as he steps forward, settling his hands on Yongguk's shoulders. "The fans will forgive you for sleeping in just this once. Don't you think they'd want you to get a full night's rest?"
"It's not that simple," Yongguk argues. He looks even more worn down up close, and that grates on Himchan. He should've noticed earlier.
"It is," Himchan tells him. He slides one hand up to curl around the back of Yongguk's neck, and only then does Yongguk meet his eyes. "You're allowed to give yourself a second to breathe, you know."
He can feel Yongguk relaxing fractionally under his touch, and Himchan lets him grip the front of his shirt, tugging him forward until their foreheads touch. "I don't want to waste this time," Yongguk says. "So many people have so much faith in me."
"Balance, Bang Yongguk," Himchan says. He pats Yongguk's cheek gently just to see the corners of his mouth turn up. "No one wants to see you work until you drop."
Yongguk doesn't say anything, but he laughs quietly. His hands have settled against Himchan's ribs, thumbs pressing firmly against him. "Alright," he says. "Just this once. Only because I hadn't called the car yet."
Pleased, Himchan presses a kiss to the corner of Yongguk's mouth. He hasn't brushed his teeth yet, after all. "Just this once," he agrees, and Yongguk presses his face to Himchan's shoulder. Himchan can feel him smile.
yongguk/himchan, pg, 465 words
originally posted here. prompt was 'banghim- Yongguk never wants to let go of Himchan's hand'.
When Himchan wakes up that morning, he can't feel his hand. He can't see it, either. It's one of those rare days when he's actually woken up earlier than Yongguk, and when he looks over, yawning, he finds where his lost hand has gone. It's trapped between both of Yongguk's, tucked up underneath his chin where he lies, sprawled on his belly.
Experimentally, Himchan tries to move his fingers. No go. He considers shoving Yongguk off and wrenching his hand free, but the thing is, he kind of can't bear to. It's so rare for Yongguk to allow himself a late morning. He looks kind of adorable like this, mouth wide-open, crease marks across his face from the pillow, soft brown hair a touseled mess.
So Himchan settles instead for rolling towards Yongguk, settling his face in the curve of Yongguk's bare shoulder. The move sets off pins and needles in Himchan's fingers and he groans softly. All he wanted was a nice lazy morning in bed with his guy and now his hand is killing him.
Yongguk rouses, blinking sleepily in surprise at Himchan, his face half an inch from his. "G'morning," he murmurs, lifting his head just enough that the tip of his nose brushes up against Himchan's.
"Hi," Himchan replies, and he kisses Yongguk's throat. He likes the sleep-sweet smile on Yongguk's mouth. He's nicest when he hasn't woken up enough to put up his walls against Himchan's smart mouth. "Listen," he says, speaking the words directly against Yongguk's warm skin. "I hate to ruin the moment but - " He digs his fingertips into Yongguk's waist. "You're holding my hand hostage and I could really use it back."
"Whoops." Himchan sighs with relief when Yongguk reluctantly relinquishes his grip, pulling his hand free and shaking it until his fingers quit tingling. "Sorry." He doesn't sound sorry.
"You're not," Himchan tells him, sliding right back to where he'd been before, half sprawled on top of Yongguk's back, curled into his warmth. "You're a terrible cheesy romantic who likes holding hands while we sleep."
The angle is awkward, but Yongguk twists just enough to press his lips to Himchan's temple. "I just don't ever want to let you go," he replies.
"You're disgusting," Himchan tells him, but his heart still speeds up, and he buries his face in Yongguk's shoulder. "I hate you. You're terrible."
Yongguk yawns, the faint stubble on his chin tickling against Himchan's face. "You love me," he says.
"And you love me," Himchan answers, trying to make it sound like an accusation. Yongguk just laughs, sliding his hand up Himchan's spine to curl around the back of Himchan's head, and for once, he lets them lay around all morning. Best Sunday ever.
Experimentally, Himchan tries to move his fingers. No go. He considers shoving Yongguk off and wrenching his hand free, but the thing is, he kind of can't bear to. It's so rare for Yongguk to allow himself a late morning. He looks kind of adorable like this, mouth wide-open, crease marks across his face from the pillow, soft brown hair a touseled mess.
So Himchan settles instead for rolling towards Yongguk, settling his face in the curve of Yongguk's bare shoulder. The move sets off pins and needles in Himchan's fingers and he groans softly. All he wanted was a nice lazy morning in bed with his guy and now his hand is killing him.
Yongguk rouses, blinking sleepily in surprise at Himchan, his face half an inch from his. "G'morning," he murmurs, lifting his head just enough that the tip of his nose brushes up against Himchan's.
"Hi," Himchan replies, and he kisses Yongguk's throat. He likes the sleep-sweet smile on Yongguk's mouth. He's nicest when he hasn't woken up enough to put up his walls against Himchan's smart mouth. "Listen," he says, speaking the words directly against Yongguk's warm skin. "I hate to ruin the moment but - " He digs his fingertips into Yongguk's waist. "You're holding my hand hostage and I could really use it back."
"Whoops." Himchan sighs with relief when Yongguk reluctantly relinquishes his grip, pulling his hand free and shaking it until his fingers quit tingling. "Sorry." He doesn't sound sorry.
"You're not," Himchan tells him, sliding right back to where he'd been before, half sprawled on top of Yongguk's back, curled into his warmth. "You're a terrible cheesy romantic who likes holding hands while we sleep."
The angle is awkward, but Yongguk twists just enough to press his lips to Himchan's temple. "I just don't ever want to let you go," he replies.
"You're disgusting," Himchan tells him, but his heart still speeds up, and he buries his face in Yongguk's shoulder. "I hate you. You're terrible."
Yongguk yawns, the faint stubble on his chin tickling against Himchan's face. "You love me," he says.
"And you love me," Himchan answers, trying to make it sound like an accusation. Yongguk just laughs, sliding his hand up Himchan's spine to curl around the back of Himchan's head, and for once, he lets them lay around all morning. Best Sunday ever.
yongguk/himchan, pg, 250 words
originally posted here. prompt was 'banghim- Himchan lets go of Yongguk's hand when the camera stops rolling'.
"I think we've got enough," the PD says, and the man holding the camera switches it off. Yongguk doesn't immediately move as the crew packs their things up, but Himchan does, sliding his hand out of Yongguk's and wandering over to talk to Jongup. Yongguk looks down at his hands in his lap and does his best not to feel the absence.
It's not a big deal, really. Yongguk squares his shoulders and manages to push a decent smile onto his face. Maybe if he keeps telling himself that, if he says it enough, it'll make it true. It's not a big deal, it's not.
Yongguk is the leader, he's got all sorts of responsibilities to think of. He doesn't have time to be watching Himchan out of the corner of his eye, something clenching painfully in his chest when he leans in close to Jongup and laughs. He doesn't have time to lay awake and stare at Himchan's sleeping figure, thinking about what-ifs and what-could-bes.
"Yongguk-ah," Himchan calls, wiggling his injured hand at him in a parody of a come-hither gesture. "Lunch is here. Better come eat before Daehyun stuffs it all down his throat."
Even as Daehyun shouts his complaint, Yongguk finds himself getting to his feet, drawn by the power of Himchan's smile. "Wouldn't want that," Yongguk agrees, and Himchan laughs, fingers pressing against Yongguk's back for just a second, and Yongguk wishes this were enough.
It's not a big deal, really. Yongguk squares his shoulders and manages to push a decent smile onto his face. Maybe if he keeps telling himself that, if he says it enough, it'll make it true. It's not a big deal, it's not.
Yongguk is the leader, he's got all sorts of responsibilities to think of. He doesn't have time to be watching Himchan out of the corner of his eye, something clenching painfully in his chest when he leans in close to Jongup and laughs. He doesn't have time to lay awake and stare at Himchan's sleeping figure, thinking about what-ifs and what-could-bes.
"Yongguk-ah," Himchan calls, wiggling his injured hand at him in a parody of a come-hither gesture. "Lunch is here. Better come eat before Daehyun stuffs it all down his throat."
Even as Daehyun shouts his complaint, Yongguk finds himself getting to his feet, drawn by the power of Himchan's smile. "Wouldn't want that," Yongguk agrees, and Himchan laughs, fingers pressing against Yongguk's back for just a second, and Yongguk wishes this were enough.
yongguk/himchan, pg, 325 words
originally posted here. prompt was 'banghim- short epilogue for ghost!yongguk fic?'.
Himchan traces delicate fingertips down the bridge of Yongguk's nose, watching his eyelashes flutter in his sleep. He's definitely looking healthier these days, less gaunt and pale. Yongguk will always be skinny, he thinks, but at least he doesn't look like a walking skeleton anymore.
His fingers continue their travel, skating across his cheekbones before moving down to chart the wide, lush shape of his mouth. "Watching me while I sleep?" Yongguk's lips move under Himchan's touch, curving into a sleepy smile as his eyes slide open. "That's weird, man."
"It's not weird," Himchan retorts, and Yongguk kisses his fingertips. "Isn't it romantic?"
"For stalkers." Himchan squawks and Yongguk laughs, rolling on top of Himchan and pinning him down with his body. As skinny as he is, he's still solid, settling his chin on Himchan's chest. Himchan likes it, though. It's an old habit, one he probably should've shaken by now, but he's always liked Yongguk's touch. It grounds him.
Himchan winds his hand in Yongguk's soft, now brown hair, and tugs once, none-too-gently. "You're the one that was stalking me," he grumbles. Ghost stalking totally counts. "Ruined my date and everything. Wanted me all to yourself."
"Is that what that was?" Yongguk laughs. He fits himself between Himchan's legs and drums his fingertips against Himchan's ribs.
"It's just -" It is too early for Himchan to be flushing, but he is a little anyway. "I just like being able to see you. It never gets old."
Yongguk falls silent, and with his cheek pressed against Himchan's chest like this, Himchan can feel his eyelashes against his skin. "You're a sap, you know that?"
"Shut up!" Himchan groans, and Yongguk, surprisingly, does. He shifts up, bracing his weight on one elbow as he cups Himchan's face and kisses him. He has morning breath, but it's all so decidedly mundane and /real/ that Himchan doesn't even mind.
His fingers continue their travel, skating across his cheekbones before moving down to chart the wide, lush shape of his mouth. "Watching me while I sleep?" Yongguk's lips move under Himchan's touch, curving into a sleepy smile as his eyes slide open. "That's weird, man."
"It's not weird," Himchan retorts, and Yongguk kisses his fingertips. "Isn't it romantic?"
"For stalkers." Himchan squawks and Yongguk laughs, rolling on top of Himchan and pinning him down with his body. As skinny as he is, he's still solid, settling his chin on Himchan's chest. Himchan likes it, though. It's an old habit, one he probably should've shaken by now, but he's always liked Yongguk's touch. It grounds him.
Himchan winds his hand in Yongguk's soft, now brown hair, and tugs once, none-too-gently. "You're the one that was stalking me," he grumbles. Ghost stalking totally counts. "Ruined my date and everything. Wanted me all to yourself."
"Is that what that was?" Yongguk laughs. He fits himself between Himchan's legs and drums his fingertips against Himchan's ribs.
"It's just -" It is too early for Himchan to be flushing, but he is a little anyway. "I just like being able to see you. It never gets old."
Yongguk falls silent, and with his cheek pressed against Himchan's chest like this, Himchan can feel his eyelashes against his skin. "You're a sap, you know that?"
"Shut up!" Himchan groans, and Yongguk, surprisingly, does. He shifts up, bracing his weight on one elbow as he cups Himchan's face and kisses him. He has morning breath, but it's all so decidedly mundane and /real/ that Himchan doesn't even mind.
daehyun/youngjae, pg, 470 words
originally posted here. prompt was 'daehyun side story for your space!bandits au?? :3'.
After the call is over, they file out of the bridge and Daehyun stares down at the black screen, his stomach shifting uneasily.
"I guess we're really bad guys now, huh?" Daehyun's head snaps up, startled. Youngjae is still there, leaning against the doorway, watching him. "Pirates for real."
Despite himself, Daehyun snorts softly. Youngjae's joking, but Daehyun can hear the tension in his voice. "Too bad you can't shoot worth a damn."
Youngjae scoffs, looking offended. "Have you ever even held a gun?" He stretches out one leg and kicks Daehyun's chair, making him rock forward.
It's a silly question. Youngjae's medic training meant he'd seen a lot of blood in his time, but Daehyun is the one who'd lived on the streets on a planet in the core, picking pockets and making himself unnoticeable. He'd picked a thing or two up. Daehyun doesn't dignify Youngjae's words with an answer.
The conversation stalls and Youngjae clears his throat, tentatively making his way back into the room and sitting in the other chair behind the controls. "This is big, huh?" His eyes are wide and fixed down on his hands in his lap.
Himchan and Yongguk have always done their best to look after the rest of the crew. They're pretty good at shielding the rest of them from the often unfortunate realities of the existence they eke out at the far end of the galaxy, but this is something they can't hide. Daehyun and Youngjae aren't kids anymore, and he can't lie, being treated like grown ups on this matter is pretty scary. "He has pink hair," Daehyun tells Youngjae, a little helplessly.
Youngjae's mouth twists. "Did they make the right choice?" he asks, and isn't that the real question? He's not sure they'd listen if they spoke up, but still, Daehyun wonders. Is it really fair, to trade some kid's life for theirs? Is it even fair that that's a choice they have to make? It shouldn't be. It shouldn't be.
Using his heels, Daehyun pushes his chair over to Youngjae's, barely managing to avoiding knocking his knees against him. "I don't know," he admits. He spins his chair around until his leg is pressed up against Youngjae's. "You know Himchan's been rationing what he eats, right? He always serves himself the least." And nobody's getting extra.
Youngjae nods and sighs. "We've been short on antiseptic and painkillers for months," he admits. "I can't bring myself to ask for a restock." Daehyun looks up sharply at that. "Not when we need to eat."
Tentatively, Daehyun reaches for Youngjae's hand and laces their fingers together.
"Rock and a hard place," Youngjae says, like he's remembering something, and tips his head to rest against Daehyun's shoulder. Daehyun looks down at their hands and swallows.
"I guess we're really bad guys now, huh?" Daehyun's head snaps up, startled. Youngjae is still there, leaning against the doorway, watching him. "Pirates for real."
Despite himself, Daehyun snorts softly. Youngjae's joking, but Daehyun can hear the tension in his voice. "Too bad you can't shoot worth a damn."
Youngjae scoffs, looking offended. "Have you ever even held a gun?" He stretches out one leg and kicks Daehyun's chair, making him rock forward.
It's a silly question. Youngjae's medic training meant he'd seen a lot of blood in his time, but Daehyun is the one who'd lived on the streets on a planet in the core, picking pockets and making himself unnoticeable. He'd picked a thing or two up. Daehyun doesn't dignify Youngjae's words with an answer.
The conversation stalls and Youngjae clears his throat, tentatively making his way back into the room and sitting in the other chair behind the controls. "This is big, huh?" His eyes are wide and fixed down on his hands in his lap.
Himchan and Yongguk have always done their best to look after the rest of the crew. They're pretty good at shielding the rest of them from the often unfortunate realities of the existence they eke out at the far end of the galaxy, but this is something they can't hide. Daehyun and Youngjae aren't kids anymore, and he can't lie, being treated like grown ups on this matter is pretty scary. "He has pink hair," Daehyun tells Youngjae, a little helplessly.
Youngjae's mouth twists. "Did they make the right choice?" he asks, and isn't that the real question? He's not sure they'd listen if they spoke up, but still, Daehyun wonders. Is it really fair, to trade some kid's life for theirs? Is it even fair that that's a choice they have to make? It shouldn't be. It shouldn't be.
Using his heels, Daehyun pushes his chair over to Youngjae's, barely managing to avoiding knocking his knees against him. "I don't know," he admits. He spins his chair around until his leg is pressed up against Youngjae's. "You know Himchan's been rationing what he eats, right? He always serves himself the least." And nobody's getting extra.
Youngjae nods and sighs. "We've been short on antiseptic and painkillers for months," he admits. "I can't bring myself to ask for a restock." Daehyun looks up sharply at that. "Not when we need to eat."
Tentatively, Daehyun reaches for Youngjae's hand and laces their fingers together.
"Rock and a hard place," Youngjae says, like he's remembering something, and tips his head to rest against Daehyun's shoulder. Daehyun looks down at their hands and swallows.