#(yes i know this article came out before any of that shhhhh)

[sing-you-fools]

[sanshineaus]

mingi : friends to lovers

warnings: none!

type: bulletpoint au, fluff

word count: 1989 (a lil short!! i’m very sorry)

a/n: as a san stan, we get fed content every 30 minutes and y’all mingi stans are the backbone of the fandom

you and mingi have a very sweet friendship, really

he and you would most likely die for each other

but also if he touches your charger you WILL kill him

you met through another friend, at their birthday party

right after you congratulated them and handed them their gift, mingi came around the corner and clumsily nearly spilled a drink on you

he still apologized though!!! AND offered to check for you if there was a drink anywhere

your friend laughed and introduced you two

'he's cute isn't he?'

oh boy was he!!!

he really was sweet too; you didn’t know anyone else but your friend and now, him, and he was nice enough to let you stick to him like glue

you even ended up exchanging numbers, and playing 8ball in your respective cabs when the party ended

from then on you began texting

and it grew into exchanging social media

to being inseparable in real life too

mingi would constantly bug you to go out and eat with him

and you’d frequently go shopping together (or window shopping. mingi just LOOKS stingy)

when your snap streaks had officially reached 420 days, mingi made sure to screenshot it and post it on all social media

as he did with any you content in general

and let’s be honest with ourselves— mingi’s a very, very beautiful person

so there was no shortage of people in his dms

most of which happened to be opening with ‘are you single’

because of your numerous posts together, it just didn’t seem likely

but really, you’d say ‘ew’ to that, because ew, that’s your best friend

who you’ve seen snotty crying over a picture of a particularly small puppy resting on a very large cat

and who has seen YOU snotty crying over the same picture but shhhh

you honestly think there’s no way you like him

your heart doesn’t palpitate around him or anything like that

(your chest just gets concerningly warm, so does your face and ears, and you have to take several gulps of air to compose yourself when he smiles. shhhhh)

EVEN if you did (which you don’t!) he wouldn’t like you back

he’s mingi

all mingi likes is dragging you out of bed by your feet

and making you regret giving him a spare key to your place

he’s in general grossly sappy, though

he fully understands that he’s cute and you detest it

because he ASKS you. he has the gall, the nerve to put on a silly cat, make a face at you in the store you’re in, and ask if he’s cute

and you want to say yes and laugh along with him but you settle for sighing and saying ‘sure’

but each and every time

he smiles

and it’s really rejuvenating. maybe an angel gets its wings or something. or fairies get born?

you two once debated over which of those two phrases is better, and you were the firm ‘fairy gets its wings’ believer

until he seemed a bit pouty and you decided to just merge the two

you have very stupid discussions

of the ‘do we belong in a circus’ kind

(yes, you might)

his very hidden talent is carrying a lot of mugs

mingi’s fingers are long, and he hangs the mugs off of them while maintaining focus

his record? 24 mugs

one of which broke while he walked from his room to the dishwasher

he was sad about it because it was a mug shaped like a bird

and you had to both comfort him and drive him in his tears to the store to get another one

to be fair, you also felt bad. so, so bad, because the mug was ADORABLE and you could tell mingi thought so too

but you got a Mingi Hug out of it later

when he thanked you, he really did go all out

(he put in no effort, he was just very huggable and it was very nice)

it was when you were very tired and on the brink of Death™ (you know, Death™, like when you just want to nap for 78 hours somewhere in a forest temple)

that you two decide to go to a 7/11

you both unfortunately have this thing called responsibilities so for whatever reason, neither of you can sleep

and so you offer to mingi to meet up at the store between your houses

to which he agrees, and asks if he can come over

to which you say no, but you also say YOLO™ and decide to leave your work in progress to meet up with your friend

(be gay do crime)

you don’t really do either, actually, you respectfully pay for your drinks and those packaged meals which are never as good at day as when they are at night

he insists you use the plastic bag you two had as a seat so your butt doesn’t get cold

and you do, but you also try and elbow his shin when he also sits down on the concrete

you are reminded of the ew feeling of seeing your best friend scarf down sushi like it’s soup

and he somehow manages to talk coherently about his stupid escapade which brought him to this point of meeting up with you

it’s so frustratingly endearing

because you know he’s enjoying himself if he doesn’t stop talking, and you know he’s comfortable around you

and that’s what makes you heart FINALLY flutter

it doesn’t take long for you two to depart, when you finish your own food and drink

and berate him a bit for not saving his drink for when he ended his meal and then stole a sip— no, a GULP from you

that night you give up on your project

(obviously not entirely)

but you’re certainly too busy to think straight

and lying in your bed with your heart beating quick is something you find pretty exhilarating

it’s actually pretty nice to like someone

because anything mingi does is fun, too

he gives you his jacket? perfection

he gives you a noogie? not AS perfect or ideal, but you’re happy he has you in a headlock because it’s a touch of human contact

and you like This human

he tries talking to you about what he would do if aliens landed

and you call him out on his bullshit, not because he’s wrong but because you love him <3 and he’s also wrong

he would NOT try and be nice to them, he’d immediately go in and look if there’s more species

“mingi would accidentally bring doomsday because he’d reject the flirting of an alien princess” yunho (who you met through mingi on the exact day of your 420 streak) adds, from somewhere near you guys in mingi’s apartment, and you absolutely agree

“marriage proposal? come on, i’d know!”

yunho looks at you, then at mingi, then back at you, and just shakes his head

and you feel offended because you’re aware of what yunho’s thinking

but mingi’s less on board

“are you saying they’re an alien princess?”

you argue that if you were an alien, you’d abolish the monarchy

but you also add that you’d rather be king if it came down to it

mingi is very insistent and it’s then when you realize that your heart is beating like that again

because he’s stood up and taken you with him to show to yunho that you’d make a terrific alien princess if only they put you in a sci-fi dress and crown

you want to put mingi in a sci-fi dress and crown all of a sudden, you don’t know : /

it’s prerogative you get more than one Mingi Hug

Mingi Hugs are a bit of an oddity

not because he doesn’t hug you often

it’s just that this is such a specific brand of hug that he reserves for moments of vulnerability

where he protectively wraps his arms around you, but places his head on your shoulder to hide his face

maybe he’s crying, maybe you’re crying, maybe neither is happening and he’s just grateful you’re there, but you’ve noticed he doesn’t do it as often to other people

it’s really cute, though

you’re sitting on your roof one night

not star gazing, mingi just said he read an article that said some phenomena will hit the skies

you tried to listen to him but he was so excited that explaining failed him and he just grabbed your hand to pull you out

(not that you were complaining, he was so gentle and cute)

you are lying down next to each other; and he’s pointing out constellations to you

you see some of them, others are less easy to spot, but every once in a while he rambles about something interesting he knew

but then it starts

you hear a sizzling first, and then a shot

and your sky is red… with a firework

after that, there’s another pound, the colour this time pink

it is pretty— colours exploding against the night sky is pretty

but what the hell? this isn’t a nebular event

it’s when you finally tear your eyes away from the sky to mingi to interrogate him that you see he’s already looking at you

and he has a very sweet smile on his face

“it’s our 500th snap streak day”

and you aren’t stupid, so you know he’s behind the fireworks, but

“why?”

and he lets out a very burdened sigh before he grabs your wrist, and places your hand in his

“it means i’ve liked you for 500 days”

there’s two emotions fluctuating all throughout

relief and joy

so you scoot over and let go of his hand so that you can swing your arms around his neck

his arms, for the first time, are loose, and you can absolutely hear the beating of his heart

the fireworks stop all of a sudden when your neighbour yells

but you ignore her so you can try and get even closer to mingi

you mumble that you like him too

however he hugs you tighter

and tells you he can’t hear you

but he DEFINITELY CAN AND HE’S JUST—UGHHH

so you decide to be even worse about it

and you y e l l it

now the whole neighbourhood knows you like mingi

though it does gradually grow into love

mingi’s a very caring boyfriend; after all, he was exactly the same as a friend

now with the added bonus of being able to kiss you

which is a power he abuses thoroughly

he gives forehead and temple kisses the most

and he’s a very terrible gremlin, so he sometimes holds your head only to bring it to his lips

or he’ll pick you up randomly

“can you tell i worked out?”

yes, you can, but you’re more focused on trying to land safely if he loses his grip

not that you don’t trust him

you trust him in every aspect of the relationship

he’s reliable— and also brings you food at inconvenient times of the day

plus you get to visit each other whenever

he likes doing animal face masks with you

and offers a bath every. time.

he runs some of the best bubble baths though, you can’t lie

he’s also very warm most of the time, so if you’re a heat sink… guess what! you no longer are!

mingi’s also very careful

he makes mistakes often; physically breaking things, sometimes he doesn’t know his strength, and so on

but he’s always ready to apologize and get you something new

he sometimes ends up going too far with a joke?

apology!

he’s very meticulous with it too. words mean as much as actions to him, and so there’s a lot of meaning in his apologies

he’s just cute

you’re both very cute but also a very annoying couple

pda? she’s your best friend

*yeosang cringes*

[hollywoodprint]

3. My Chance

“Ainsley. You’re positive this will work?”

It’s Friday morning and Avery was given the day off for the first phase of Operation Max. Ainsley set Avery up with her own hair stylist. It was not starting off so well.

Why did Avery have to change everything about herself for this article?

“Oh yeah.” Ainsley sent Avery a link to Max’s latest photo op from a downtown club last night. “You got this Ace.”

Ainsley was the only person Avery allowed to use the nickname. Anyone else who tried it out for size was not met with warmth.

She couldn’t understand how she not only inherited her maternal grandfather’s name but his nickname as well.

A shoe repairman during the day and a club owner at night, her grandfather was not to be trifled with. He gambled good, that’s how Avery Maddax got the nickname Ace.

“Explain this to me again? How is this supposed to go?” Avery opened the link and was met with a photo of Max Kelly kissing his ex wife. To her it looked like the woman was enjoying the PDA session more than the guy. Still how do those two keep appearing in tabloids? Their divorce was a year ago, not that Avery kept up with that sort of thing.

“Step one.” Ainsley paced back and forth in front of a sitting Avery. “We make you over.”

“I still don’t see how this is relevant to the job.”

“Phillip and I have a goal Ace. We want something about Max Kelly that no one else has. In order to do that, you can’t approach him like a reporter.”

“But I’m not a reporter.”

“But you do look like one.”

Avery looked down at her tailored navy slacks, her cream button up and grey flat ballerina shoes, her hair was in a pain ponytail.

Maybe she looked a little reporterish.

“How long do you think it will take to get the article?”

“A weekend, a week tops. Depends on you Ace.”

The hair stylish spun Avery around to face the mirror. She frowned into her reflection, “And we’re starting with my hair?” She pulled on her unnaturally straight hair. She was going to miss it.

Her cousin nodded, “Next is make-up and then clothes. The last step will be dropping you off at the club tonight.”

“Tonight?”

Ainsley fully grinned, “Yes my dear cousin. Tonight. Do you have your pen and paper ready?”

She laughed at Avery’s confusion as she sat in the salon lobby waiting on the first part of the transformation. The mom-to-be snacked while she started coming up with the game plan for Avery’s clothes.

Avery just knew something was never going to be the same after tonight.

All too quickly her hair was finished.

The straight hair was gone and her natural curls were in full bloom on the top of her head. She never understood why people were so obsessed with her curl pattern when she was younger.

Finally at the age of twenty-six she understood.

Maybe she wouldn’t miss the bone straight hair that she kept out of her face on a daily bases. She felt different somehow and they had only just begun with the first change being her hair.

“This screams dangerous but the fun kind.” Ainsley came up behind her cousin, playing in the curls.

It framed her face, it made her beautiful smile shine brighter. Megawatt bright. It seemed that for the first time Avery was actually seeing herself.

The hair artist moves forward, taking off Avery’s black cape, he set her free about the world.

Ainsley pulled out her company credit card; this makeover was on The Autograph. Paying for the hair, the girls went out to hail a cab.

“Next up is the mall.” Ainsley raised her arm to get a cabs attention, “Remember the friend that did my make up for my wedding?”

Avery vaguely remembered saying she’d do her own make-up because Ainsley’s friend was piling the foundation on like they were preparing for a runway show.

“Maybe?”

“Good.” Ainsley opened the door of the cab that stopped before them, “Because she is our next stop.”

Groaning Avery rolled her eyes but climbed into the cab. “I’m going to end up looking like RuPaul.”

“No way! I guarantee Danielle will have you looking like Beyoncé.”

Mumbling to herself Avery crossed her arms, “I’m not trying to sleep with the guy Ainsley.”

“I know that but you do want him to talk to you. No one ignores Beyoncé.” Avery received three snaps in z-formation.

She laughed then. Her cousin wasn’t exactly wrong. Hopefully she would pull off this vision Ainsley had and make this article something that would get her from behind her desk and out in the field.

Avery was starting to believe it was where she belongs.

Her make-up was kept natural but powerful. Upon request there was barely any foundation. Highlighted cheekbones, groomed eyebrows, a golden but smoky eye and just a hint of red lips that was more like a chapstick then a lipstick.

This was something Avery could probably actually do for herself now that it was demonstrated easily.

She tried her hardest not to smile at herself in the mirror.

Is this how others saw her?

“What did I tell you Cuz? BEYONCÉ!” Ainsley winked and gave Avery the ‘ok’ symbol.

Five stores later the day was over, but the night had just begun. There were shopping bags filled with Max Kelly attraction wear for a week.

“Now we’re going out to dinner because mama bear needs food and you need to nervous eat so…”

Avery rolled her eyes, her voice was loaded with sarcasm, “Oh gee. Thanks Ains.”

“Anytime Ace. You just do what I know you’re capable of tonight. I want the hungry, educated and cunning Avery James at that club. Hook, line and sinker Max Kelly in.”

All eyes were on the girls at the restaurant.

As they were seated at a table for two Ainsley grinned at the menu. “I think just about every guy in here wants you on his dinner plate.”

Avery shifted in her seat, she’ll never get used to this dress. A red bandage style, embracing her body—not her usual choice. It was summery sexy with a high low skirt. It reminded Avery of a lotus leaf and here she was coming out of the dirt.

The dress hugged her in the right places and it showed off those mile long legs. She was starting to believe she could actually achieve a goal tonight.

Confidence was still there but the nerves were taking over as the cab stopped in front of the line at LA’s latest hot club.

Ainsley spoke softly but strongly, “You got this in the bag Ace. Think of the creative freedom you’ll rightfully enjoy after you pull this off.”

“I may never get the chance to get inside and talk to him if I’m in that line.” It was down the street and curved around the corner.

Ainsley waved her off, “Oh no, you’re getting inside. Your name is on the list. You’re Ace James baby.”

Now she had an alias?

Avery hid her face in her hands, “Oh good grief.”

“Go!” Ainsley just about shoved Avery out of the cab, “I’ll take your new digs to my place. You can pick them up tomorrow when you come and give me the scoop on tonight.”

“Strictly off the record?” This was something they used to ask of each other as youngsters when telling something they didn’t want their parents to know. It was apart of their sisterly code.

Her finger to her lips, Ainsley whispered, “Shhhhh!” The other person usual response to let the secret sharer know their story is safe.

Smiling to herself Avery left Ainsley in the cab. She took her time stepping up to the bouncer. With each step her confidence grew. The bouncer didn’t even ask for her name. She was immediately let through to the club.

Blaring today’s music from the speakers, this club was everything Avery was not used to do. No disco ball but an interchange of colors splayed around the room. There were bodies everywhere. Dancers in cages moved with the lights and music. People crowded the bar.

And no Max Kelly in sight.