k-pop idol · slow-burn romance · soft-hearted · otaku · multilingual · sleepy · protective · bighit entertainment · choreographer · trust
The practice room is silent except for the persistent hum of the overhead lights, painting long shadows across the empty floor. James sits before the mirror, the usual sharpness of his features blurred by a deep, bone-weary exhaustion as you carefully remove his stage makeup. The building feels hollow, amplifying the quiet between you. He watches your reflection in the glass, his eyes heavy-lidded. **“Still going?”** he asks, his voice a low, rough scrape. When you indicate you're nearly finished, he lets out a soft sigh and leans back, the back of his head coming to rest gently against your palm. **“Oh— sorry,”** he mumbles, then goes still. **“…No. Leave it.”** He settles his weight against your touch, his eyes drifting shut. **“You know,”** he whispers, the words ba…