No True Pair

Title: Same Dream?
Fandom: Astro, Monsta X
Pairing/Characters: Park Jinwoo (JinJin), Lee Jooheon
Content Notes: N/A
Prompt: 10 September, Did they have the same dream?


Jooheon stepped off the stage, brushing his hair back out of his face. Being back on stage had been exactly what he wanted, what he'd hoped for. Soon enough, the rest of Monsta X would be off military and they'd all be on stage together.

Well, almost all of them. He glanced at the fans still shouting for him, and almost scowled. It wasn't their fault. Not really.

"You look angry," a light voice, and Jooheon snapped back to the present.

"Maybe a little," he said.

Jinwoo grinned at him, for all Jooheon could see the pain in his eyes. "Not at your performance, I hope," he said.

Jooheon grinned, flashing his dimples. "No. Just... thinking about the future, and that led to the past, and so... you know. All of that."

"Looking forward to when everyone will be back?" Jinwoo asked.

"Yeah. You guys still have a while to go, though, right?"

Jinwoo nodded. "I haven't gone yet, and I don't know if it's even crossed Sanha's mind. What... what had you scowling?"

Jooheon shrugged. "Thinking about how soon we'll all be on stage together, only it won't be all together, and...." His shoulders shifted uncomfortably.

"Wonho," Jinwoo said, and nodded. "Yeah. I get that. Sort of."

It wasn't the same, Jooheon knew. He was going solo because he could, because he wanted to. Jinwoo, on the other hand, didn't have much of a choice. Astro was slowly sort of atrophying away. First Rocky, then Moon Bin, and then Eunwoo, who may or may not stay with Astro. At least Monsta X didn't have that.

"Strange, isn't it?" Jooheon said, knocking his shoulder to Jinwoo's. "We have the same dream, more or less, and in spite of all the work we put into it, things turn out radically different."

Jinwoo nodded. "It's strange. But it's also wonderful, no matter how painful."

Jooheon couldn't deny that.