A/N: This is a long one! I ended up having more fun with Jumin's POV than I expected. Next chapter won't be for at least a week a two, but your comments and support will help motivate me! Hope you enjoy :)

Jumin's POV

By late evening, I am in an awful mood. As Driver Kim takes me home, I find I do not have it in me to answer any more emails or take any more calls. I prioritized my work all day, as I should have, but now that I am returning home, I am finding it harder and harder to crush the eagerness bubbling up inside me. How long has it been since I've arrived home to someone waiting for me?

Although, knowing Zen, I will be met with scowls and complaints. One side of my mouth quirks up at the thought. Even this side of Zen is endearing. I enjoy teasing him - getting him all riled up. He's the only person I've ever known to be so uninhibited. So unrestrained.

People have always curtailed their behavior around me. They tell me what they think I want to hear. They lie to gain my favor. They beg for handouts in both calculating or obvious ways. They stand up straighter, fidget less, and many don't even dare to meet my gaze. Whether employee, or stranger, it is always as if they are putting on an act around me.

But not Zen.

Zen is honest. Zen wants nothing from my wealth and affluence. Zen does not hesitate to put me in my place when I make an error. And yet he is kind. Not humble, I'll admit, but sometimes I feel his humility would be a lie, and I would dislike it even more than his utter confidence.

And now… my dear friend is in my home. Just the thought makes my heart soar. But he will not be staying. It will not be long before I find myself alone again. Well, except for Elizabeth the 3rd. She won't leave me. She can't.

My door suddenly swings open and I am startled that we have already arrived at my building. The drive went by so fast. I… I don't feel ready. I don't feel composed.

"Sir?" Driver Kim holds out his hand to me, assuming my hesitance means I require assistance.

I wave him off. "I'm fine," I say, standing. As he closes the door behind me, I slide my hands down my suit, straightening it and smoothing it out.

Steel yourself, Jumin, I command myself. You know this is temporary. Just go up to your condo and ignore him. You will be better off if you pretend he isn't even there.

With every step inside, with every floor the elevator rises, I take my sentiments and ball them up until they are nothing more than a tight knot in the back of my throat. And then I swallow them down, hoping that they dissolve in the acid of my gut.

By the time the elevator dings at my penthouse, I am back in control.

The security guards straighten as I approach. "Sir."

"As I did not hear from you today, I assume all was quiet here?"

"Yes, sir. No disturbances. And Mr. Zen has remained indoors all day."

Relief threatens to untie a strand of my knot, but I tuck it back into place.

I nod in acknowledgement and walk past them, swinging the door open. I force my eyes to go to the floor, searching for sweet Elizabeth as is my routine. But to my surprise… to my utter confusion and disbelief… I see Zen. On the floor. Playing. With Elizabeth.

Zen is laying on his stomach, posture relaxed, laughing. He waves around a pompom on a string, which Elizabeth is swatting at between pounces. The scene is obnoxiously adorable.

Zen turns to look at me, and to my surprise, his blithe smile remains. He's never smiled at me like this before. "Oh, hey Jumin! Welcome home!"

His words ring in my ears like an angel's song. He continues to grin up at me, giving greater power to the words I never thought I'd hear again. Not since I was a child… never by anyone but staff… have I had a smiling face welcoming me home.

And I am overcome.

White heat spreads up from my belly, through my chest, and across my face. My knees suddenly feel weak. My perfectly contained cluster of gnarled, suppressed feelings breaks, letting a warm, gentle yet powerful thread wrap itself around me like a snake.

"Woah, you okay?" Zen's eyes show concern as he quickly moves to my side. "Do you need to sit down?"

Something flutters in my abdomen as I gaze at Zen's outstretched hand. I want to take it. I want to reach out and touch him. No, I need to. I need to feel the skin of his cheek beneath my thumb. The warmth of his body against mine in a comforting- But I can't. I can't allow these feelings to take hold, only to lose them. Only to lose him.

I grit my teeth and swallow, forcing myself to stand straight. "Yes, fine." I give a slight shake of my head to right myself. "Thank you for the warm welcome. How was your day? Did you have everything you needed? Is the medicine still effective?"

I don't dare make direct eye contact, but I can still see Zen's eyebrows pulled into a questioning peak. His genuine concern only makes the pit in my stomach twist harder.

"Um, well, I actually had a really great day," he finally answers, giving a little shrug. "Maybe the past hour or so, I've felt the sniffles returning, but other than that, Elly hasn't been bothering my allergies at all. As you saw," he adds with a chuckle, "we've become good friends. Can you believe that? Me! Friends with a cat!"

He continues to laugh as he walks over to Elizabeth and stoops down to pat her on the head. My teeth clench in mixed bliss and torment to see that my dear Elizabeth the 3rd looks so much brighter and happier now than any other day I have arrived home. She likes Zen being here, too. Has she been as lonely as I have? Am I a monster for keeping her caged in my palace of gloom?

"Oh, and I got a lot of practicing done for my audition next week!" Zen continues speaking cheerfully, unaware of the darkness folding over my mind. "I was worried, since obviously you don't have a full studio in here. But your place is so open, and the huge windows can actually act as a mirror! So I was even able to work on some of the dance routines. Midway through that, your maid, Seoyun, showed up. Man, she is really wonderful! The sweetest! And look at the great blanket bed she set up for me." He indicates the back corner of the room, and I see bedding laid out near the windows. Out of the way, but still fairly close to my bed. With a wave of his hand, Zen adds, "You should really give her a raise. Do you have any idea how much she does for you?! Plus, she insisted she'd get me some snacks and beer tomorrow when she comes. So sweet of her. And don't worry, I'll pay you back for those."

This made my eyes narrow and whip towards his. He is a guest in my home. At the very least I can pay for his favorite snacks while he stays. "Why would I possibly worry about that?"

Zen scoffs and rolls his eyes, walking away from me. "Right, of course you're not worried about that. You've got a trust fund! You don't need to worry about money like the rest of us common-folk!"

So many things about Zen's words vex me. No, of course I'm not worried about the pennies it costs for convenience store junk food. Yes, I come from money, but it is not the blessing he seems to think it is. And in no way do I consider Zen common-folk. There is nothing 'common' about him. From his beautifully unique appearance to the strength of his character, there is no one in the world even remotely close to Zen.

But I find that all my thoughts catch in my throat and refuse to escape my lips.

Zen sighs, and looks over his shoulder at me. "Anyway. Have you eaten yet? I ate earlier. You didn't let me know when you'd be home, so I didn't wait for you."

My lips part slightly. There was an option to eat dinner together? Blinking, I clear my throat and respond, "Assistant Kang brought me something."

This makes Zen roll his eyes again. "Give her a raise too! How many hours does that poor girl work each week? She-" He cuts himself off as his nose twitches and a sneeze erupts. "Ugh… Alright. I guess it's time for my next shot. I'm planning to head straight to sleep after it this time."

"Wise." I nod idly, feeling dazed.

"I'll just go get ready, then can you give me my shot again?"

"Of course."

Zen digs in his suitcase and removes numerous small bags, carrying them to my bathroom. As the door clicks shut, I release a heavy breath and scramble towards my couch to sit.

Silence echoes in the empty space. I wish my mind was as quiet. The chaos of hope and desire collides with the crippling fear of finding happiness and then losing it.

"Meow." Elizabeth the 3rd's soft meow calls out to me from between my parted legs.

"Elizabeth. I am so sorry." I reach down and gently stroke her fur. "I didn't realize how much I was depriving you as well as myself. Perhaps I can find you a new home."

Her stunning azure blue eyes fix on me angrily and she bites at my hand.

"I know. I don't want to say goodbye, either. But I can't keep you here, forcing you into loneliness. That is not fair to you."

Elizabeth's eyes move very pointedly towards the bathroom door.

"He is only here temporarily. Ah… I wish you could understand my words and my feelings as much as I pretend you can."

Misery grips my heart. To think of all of the joy I have felt just within the last day. And how it will come to an end without notice. And how I may then be forced to rehome my dear Elizabeth for her own happiness.

Exhausted by my own personal whirlwind, I stand and walk to my bedside. Thoughtlessly, I begin to undress. I fold and lay my suit and shirt in the area designated for my maid - Seoyun, I suppose her name is - to collect the next day. I am about to remove my boxer-briefs as well, when I remember Zen. Ah… I have a guest. I should not sleep nude, as usual.

"Hey Jumin," I hear Zen's voice call as the bathroom door swings open, "would it be totally weird if I slept with my shirt off-"

He paused just outside the door, wearing loose boxers and a t-shirt, blinking at me, mouth agape. I was still standing near my bed, in nothing but underwear, taking off my watch. His eyes rake over me. It makes me feel… self-conscious. I stiffen.

"Wha… what the fuck?!" Zen grits out, gawking at me.

"Should I… wear an undershirt as well?"

He waves a frantic hand, then points at me. "Not that! I mean… what… HOW…?"

I sinch my brows and take a deep breath. I try to not let my eyes linger on his bare legs or the beautiful flush covering his neck and cheeks. It makes me… feel something new.

"Do you work out?!" Zen finally blurts out.

"Of course," I answer. "It is important to stay fit and healthy. You should understand this." When Zen says nothing more, I decide to answer his earlier question. "And no, I do not mind if you sleep with your shirt off."

As I speak the words, I can feel a blush of my own flood my face, though I am not sure why.

We stand in silence for a moment. And then the moment stretches. Our eyes seem to linger on the other, but neither dares to let them meet. This will not do. I am getting more and more worked up by the second.

"Shall I get your shot?" I force out. I walk over to the kitchen and pull out the gray case from the drawer.

"Yeah," Zen mumbles. He walks up to me and rolls up his shirt sleeve.

As I prepare the needle, I notice Zen glancing at me with a curious expression on his face.

"Jumin?"

"Yes, Zen?" I try to keep my voice calm as I say his name.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking today, and I wanted to say," I slide the needle into his arm, and he winces just slightly as he says, "thank you."

I freeze, about to push the plunger to administer the medication, and watch his face. "Thank you?"

"Yeah," he huffs, rolling his eyes away from me. "What you're doing for me. Letting me stay here. Getting me this allergy stuff. I'm… I'm grateful." He pauses, letting his gaze flash to mine for a second, before looking away again. "If I had been home last night… who knows what that stalker would have done, you know?"

I think about the report I received that night about the break in. The only reason it did not upset me more was because I could see Zen sleeping soundly a few feet away.

"But," he continues, "I feel safe here."

He looks at me then, finally making eye contact. A small smirk quirks up one side of his mouth. I swallow hard and push the plunger in, injecting the medication. Silently, I remove the syringe and wipe across his arm with a bit of medical cloth. I turn to put everything away. When I look back, Zen is stretching his arm out and rubbing his bicep with a soft smile.

"I'm glad you feel safe here. I'm glad you were here, rather than your own home, last night. Thinking of the possibilities…" I close my eyes and shake my head. Looking at him again, I add, "There is no need to thank me. You are welcome here as long as you'd like."

Zen stares at me for a moment, analyzing me, then smiles softly. "Okay. Thanks, Jumin."

Zen walks over to his floor-bed. With his back to me, he lifts his shirt off and tosses it next to his suitcase. And I can't stop gaping at him. He posts so many pictures of himself, I thought I knew how he looked, but… Seeing Zen in person, it is like seeing Michelangelo's David up close. The magic of the details can not be understated. When Zen peeks over his shoulder at me, I immediately clamp my open jaw shut.

"I… need to use the restroom. Excuse me." I speed walk to the bathroom and slam the door shut. Letting out a long, slow breath, I mumble to myself, "What is going on with you, Jumin?"

By the time I have brushed my teeth and come back out, Zen is tucked into the blankets on the floor. I wonder if perhaps he is asleep already. Quietly, I flip off the lights and climb into my own bed.

"Jumin?"

I startle. Without rolling over to peer through the darkness at him, I reply. "Yes, Zen?"

"Why are you being so nice?"

"Why wouldn't I be? You are one of my closest friends."

I hear Zen scoff. "Really?"

"Really," I answer sincerely. "There is so much I admire about you. Your hard work. Your honesty. Your stubbornness to do it all on your own, without an ounce of help. I love that you live with passion, despite the pressures of your family." I trail off. "I apologize. I'm rambling."

Dead air sits between us, and it claws at me. I want to keep talking with him.

"How is it sleeping on the floor?"

"It's fine," he snaps.

Why does he sound angry? I prop myself up to try to look at him through the darkness. "Are you sure? You can still join me in my bed if you prefer."

"Do you actually want me to sleep in your bed or something?"

I feel my body flush with embarrassment, but I feel I should be honest with Zen, as he is always honest with me. "Yes." I hesitate for a moment, but when Zen doesn't speak, I continue, feeling I should explain myself. "I have never shared my bed, never spent the night. With anyone. Ever. I have always wondered what it would be like."

"Like, what do you mean 'never?'" Zen asks softly.

"Never. No friends. No lovers. I have always been alone."

The dead air returns, and this time shame keeps me quiet. I lay back down, my heart feeling lodged in my throat.

"God damn it," I hear Zen grumble as his blankets shift. "I can't believe I'm doing this." His voice moves closer until it is next to my bed. "Move over."

"What?" I choke out.

"Move over!" he repeats. "I'm already feeling dizzy and I don't want to pass out standing up again."

I quickly scooch over, making space for Zen next to me on the bed. My heart hammers in my chest as he slides in.

"Just a warning," he growls, "sleeping with someone is not as glamorous as you're probably imagining. So don't blame me when I kick you in the middle of the night, or steal your covers. Got it?"

I nod, then realize he probably can't see me, and mumble out a verbal 'yes.' Then with a final shift and a huff, Zen stills. I sit frozen, eyes wide despite my lack of visibility, and try to steady my breathing. After a few moments, I slide down, careful not to shake the bed too much as I move. I can hear my heart pounding in the silence. Zen and I are not touching, but I can feel his heat radiating towards me. It… is amazing.