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luvjjongtae · 3 years ago

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The Honeymoon Suite - Ch. 2: And They Were Roommates

Read Ch. 1 here

Pairing / AU info: Kim Kibum x Choi Minho. College AU.

No warnings apply. This is fluff!

Word count: 4.6k

For the rest of the ten-day trip, Kibum woke up in Minho’s arms.

It became a ritual for them. After a long day of touring Tokyo, they silently rode the elevator up to their room, kicking off their shoes and yawning when they arrived. They had figured out a routine where Minho would shower and get ready in the bathroom first, then wait on Kibum’s bed for him to finish up his strict nighttime regimen. Emerging from the bathroom feeling clean and soft from his expensive lotion, he snuggled into his side of the bed. And wordlessly, every time without fail, Minho would reach underneath and hold Kibum in his arms, his chin resting on Kibum’s shoulder.

“Goodnight,” he’d whisper quietly into Kibum’s ear.

“Goodnight,” Kibum responded every time, his breath hitching when he felt Minho’s tickle him.

And Kibum would wake up rested. He didn’t realize how badly he had been sleeping for years until he got a couple of days of good sleep with Minho. It was probably good for his skin too.

“What are you going to do after we get back?” Minho asked as they got dressed for their last day. He pulled on his sweatshirt, his head popping out and messing up his bed head even more.

“I’m planning on spending the holidays with my family in Daegu,” Kibum said, slipping his shoes on. “You?”

“Holidays with family too,” Minho said. He crouched down to tie his shoes behind the bed so that Kibum couldn’t see him when he asked, “What are you going to do about the sleeping?”

“Oh.” Kibum hadn’t thought about that. “I guess I’ll go see my therapist again and figure out something more long-term.”

Minho stood up and smiled at Kibum. “Okay. I hope you figure it out so you can sleep well.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Kibum said, turning away from Minho’s gaze to grab his suitcase. “And thanks…for, y’know,” Kibum mumbled.

“For what?” Minho asked teasingly. He joined Kibum at the door of their room, his hand resting protectively on the door handle. “I couldn’t quite hear you.”

Kibum looked up into Minho’s handsome face, noticing a smug smile tugging at his mouth. He wasn’t going to open the door until Kibum gave him what he wanted. “For, um, the sleeping…arrangements,” he said through gritted teeth.

“And what exactly were those sleeping arrangements, Kibum?” Minho said, tapping his chin in mock thoughtfulness with his free hand. “Hm?”

Kibum groaned. This man, he thought with frustration before yelling, “For the hugging! The spooning! Whatever you want to call it!” He felt his face flush and looked down rapidly at his boots.

“You’re most welcome,” Minho said, finally opening the door and letting Kibum through. Kibum rolled his eyes dramatically, roughly pushing past Minho. “Hey, that’s not very thankful of you!” Minho called, rushing to catch up to a speeding Kibum now waiting for the elevator.

“You already got the most you’re gonna get from me,” Kibum said, and Minho laughed.

Later on the plane back to Korea, Kibum managed to snag an aisle seat. He relished in the extra leg space he had but tried to ignore how lonely he felt without someone to talk to. He kept getting distracted from his movie and couldn’t sleep. He never would have thought that he would miss a snoring Minho on his shoulder for an hour.

After landing, the group said their goodbyes, and all the students went their separate ways. Kibum waited on the airport curb for his ride, watching all the taxis pass by and rocking back and forth on his heels impatiently. He couldn’t wait to get to his dorm, pack up, and go see his family.

“Hey, man.”

Kibum turned to the side and saw Minho checking his phone beside him.

“Traffic sucks, huh?” Minho said, looking at all the cars waiting, the smell of gasoline heavy in the air.

“Yeah,” Kibum agreed, not really sure what else to say to Minho.

“We’ll stay in touch, right?” Minho suddenly asked.

“Huh?”

“We have each other’s numbers. We’ll still…talk?” Minho said, staring at him intently for an answer.

Kibum blinked a few times, surprised that Minho wanted to stay friends after everything. “Yeah. Yeah, of course.”

“Awesome,” he said with a smile. Then he waved at a car that drove towards them. “That’s me, man. I’ll see you around.” He reached over to hug Kibum quickly, patting him on the back. Kibum froze, awkwardly standing still while Minho hugged him. “Good luck with your sleep,” he said when he pulled away and stuffed his luggage into the trunk before getting in the car.

Kibum watched Minho’s car drive away, thinking about the hug and his sleep and how Minho wanted to keep in touch with him. It felt…nice knowing that Minho was making an effort to be friends with him. He felt special and wanted.

A few hours later, Kibum collapsed onto his old bed from high school, groaning into his pillow with exhaustion. He had flown in from Tokyo that morning, driven to his dorm, packed his things, and then driven to Daegu all in one day. His parents had welcomed him with tight hugs and a thousand cheek kisses, promising him a full course meal for dinner. And that night, after eating the seconds his mother insisted on, Kibum caught up on his notifications on his phone. He noticed one from Minho already and clicked it.

Minho: How’s Daegu?

Kibum: far Kibum: did you get home ok?

Minho: Yeah, it’s nice seeing family

Kibum: yeah

Minho: Goodnight!

Kibum: gn

Minho: Sleep well!!

Kibum stared at the last message Minho left him: “Sleep well” with a little flame emoji at the end. Minho seemed really concerned about Kibum’s sleeping, reminding him at the same time that he should schedule an appointment with his therapist soon. Sighing with the list of errands that already seemed to be piling up, he shut his phone off and fell asleep.

The break flew by quickly, as vacations tend to do. Kibum and Minho talked almost every day over text, and they occasionally video chatted as well. Kibum made sure that his face was clean and his hair was neatly brushed before every video call so that Minho wouldn’t think he was a slob. They talked about school and classes, but also their interests. They didn’t have that many hobbies in common - Minho liked sports while Kibum very much did not - but Kibum found himself willing to listen to Minho’s stories and share in his excitement about an upcoming game, basking in his beaming smile and sparkling eyes whenever he talked about it.

After a couple of days in Daegu, Kibum realized he was sleep-deprived. The bags under his eyes darkened again and he needed multiple cups of coffee throughout the day to stay awake. He knew that it was the night fits stopping him from getting good sleep and brought it up to Minho one day on a video call.

“So you’re not sleeping well?” Minho clarified after Kibum told him the whole ordeal.

“No…” An awkward silence lingered between them.

“And nothing works?”

“Everything I’ve tried, reading before bed, tea, a fancy sunlight alarm clock, hasn’t worked,” Kibum said, slumping down on the couch in defeat.

“Hm,” Minho said, deep in thought.

“Well, anyway,” Kibum interrupted before Minho brought up the only thing that did work, which was them sleeping together. “Did that team you wanted end up winning?”

Minho’s eyes lit up with the sports talk, immediately forgetting their conversation about sleep. “Yeah! It was actually a really close win–” he started easily, and Kibum smiled softly and listened to him talk.

A few days before classes started, Kibum said his goodbyes to his parents and promised to call them more often. He had an appointment with his therapist in the city and went to see her before he unpacked in his dorm. He told her about the sleeping issues and briefly mentioned that he slept well on the trip because he was with someone else, though he conveniently left out that they were in the same bed.

She told him what he was expecting: He should find a roommate if that’s what seems to work or try more sleeping medication. Kibum frowned to himself, remembering that dorm arrangements were already set and it would be a lot of work to find a new roommate halfway through the year. And what if he didn’t like the roommate? Also, that technically wouldn’t solve anything because he would have to snuggle with this roommate like he did with Minho and he wasn’t sure if anyone else was willing to do that in the first place and–

His thoughts ground to a halt when his phone dinged with the sound of a notification. He pulled it out of his pocket, checking to see what it was before he started driving. He tapped on an email from the school in his inbox, expecting another boring announcement about the drop-add period or a new counselor.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Pearson and Lee Halls’ Dorm Renovations

Dorm renovations? Kibum thoroughly read the email concerning his dorm hall. They had to start early on some renovations because of an issue with the plumbing that needed to be fixed right away. They had a week to move out into another residential hall, free of charge.

Was the universe finally on his side? This was a perfect opportunity to find a roommate in a new residential hall. He’d figure out the sleeping arrangements after he made friends with his roommate. One step at a time.

That night, Kibum slept in his current dorm, deciding that he would begin the moving out process the next day. Waking up with dark circles and puffy eyes, he sighed and got dressed and ready to buy a coffee at the student lounge before heading to the office for the dorm assignments. While waiting in line for coffee, he received a text message from Minho.

Minho: You saw the thing about the dorms?

Kibum: yeah. i have to move out

Minho: Me too. I’m in Pearson

Kibum: i’m looking for a roommate

Minho: Oh?

Kibum: yeah i’m tired of a single

Minho: Do you want to be roommates????

Kibum waited a second before responding to Minho. He reached the cash register and ordered his drink, the text running through his mind.

Minho wanted to be his roommate.

He spun the thought around his head, mulling over the meaning behind it. Minho liked the sleeping arrangements from the trip. Right? Or maybe he just wanted to be roommates with Kibum because his current roommate sucked. Maybe this had nothing to do with their trip at all. He heard his name being called out and grabbed his iced coffee, sipping on it absentmindedly.

His phone dinged again.

Minho: It’s okay if you don’t want to. Just an idea

Kibum: sure. meet me outside the residential life office

Minho: Ok!!!

Minho joined Kibum at the front door of the office, wrapping his winter coat around him tighter against the freezing temperature. “Hey, Kibum!” he said with a welcoming smile.

“Thanks for offering to be my roommate,” Kibum said, pulling open the door for Minho and walking inside after him, shuddering at the sudden change in temperature from the warmth of the heater. “I know it’s a little last minute.”

“It worked out so well in Tokyo, I’m sure this will be no different,” Minho said cheerfully.

After all the paperwork and arrangements were made, Kibum and Minho took the rest of the day before classes began to move into their new shared dorm. Minho helped Kibum take the large cardboard boxes to the new residential hall, piling them into his truck so they didn’t have to bike it across campus.

“Here, let me,” Minho said, lifting the final box that Kibum was carrying up the stairs to their dorm.

“I could’ve handled it, you know,” Kibum grumbled with a small pout.

“It looked heavy for you,” Minho said with a smirk back as they reached their floor.

“Hey! It was not heavy for me. I was carrying it perfectly fine,” Kibum lied.

“Sure,” Minho teased, putting down the box of desk supplies mixed with clothes on the floor in front of their dorm door. “Just let me handle some things for you. We’re friends, right? And roommates now,” he added.

“True,” Kibum said, suddenly feeling shy. “Let’s just get in here.” He unlocked the door and pushed the final box in, taking in the space they had to work with. “How are we decorating?” Kibum asked, getting straight to business.

“Oh, I just need to put these posters up,” Minho said, digging into one of the boxes and pulling out some rolled-up sports posters. “That’s all I need to decorate.”

“Hmm,” Kibum said, tapping his chin in thought. If they were to make the most of this dorm’s space, Kibum needed to capitalize on the natural lighting offered by the window and make sure the walls weren’t too cluttered. “Okay, you go ahead. I’ll start unpacking and decorating.”

A few hours later, Kibum had fully decorated the room in a minimalist style, the window across the door acting as the centerpiece of the room, their beds on either side. Dusting his hands off in satisfaction, Kibum smiled as he looked around. “Done!”

Minho looked up from his phone as he lay sprawled on his bed, one knee bent and the other foot dangling off. “Finally?”

“You can’t rush perfection, Minho,” Kibum said, tweaking the angle of one picture frame on his nightstand ever so slightly. “I just wish we had more space,” Kibum sighed out, looking longingly at the box of things that didn’t fit and they’d have to store somewhere else. All his travel souvenirs were in there.

“We could have more space if we just removed one of the beds,” Minho said nonchalantly, still scrolling on his phone. “We’ll only be using one anyway.”

“Huh?” One bed? They hadn’t talked about doing what they did in Tokyo again, and Kibum had assumed… “You want to do that again?”

“I thought that was the point of being roommates,” Minho said, putting his phone down and sitting up in his bed to look at Kibum.

“Uh, yeah, it was,” Kibum stammered out, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “We just didn’t talk about that so I wasn’t sure–”

“I’m cool with it,” Minho said, laying back down on his bed. “It’s a good thing the beds in this hall are bigger too. It’s perfect for us.”

Kibum’s heart skipped a beat at the word ‘us.’ God, was he really this desperate? He needed to get over this infatuation before it got out of hand. “Yeah, perfect,” he mumbled, distracting himself with a few finishing touches on the room.

That evening, Minho said, “I’m gonna get food. Do you want anything?” He shuffled his jacket on at the door, looking at Kibum in question.

“I guess some ramen would be good,” Kibum said, looking up from his Calculus 101 textbook, a highlighter balanced in his fingers. “Thanks.”

“Okay, I’ll be back with some ramen for the both of us,” Minho said, saluting Kibum playfully as he left.

Kibum resumed his homework, and after he finished, he started on his nightly routine, getting dressed in his classic silk pajamas and laying down on his bed with a book his father had recommended him. It wasn’t that good, but Kibum would read it for him anyway.

“Oh, honey, I’m home!” Minho yelled when he opened the door, a bag of groceries in his hand.

“Really?” Kibum asked, rolling his eyes.

“This is my home now,” Minho said, dramatically bowing to hand Kibum his ramen. “Already in your pajamas?” He eyed his outfit.

“I’m tired,” Kibum said, his cheeks reddening under Minho’s heavy gaze.

“That or you’re excited to sleep with me again,” Minho said with a smirk. He plopped down on his own bed and fished out a sealed bowl of ramen.

“I– no,” Kibum started. He suddenly had a whole dissertation rebuttal planned in his head but Minho interrupted him.

“We need to microwave these,” Minho said, inspecting the bottom of the bowl. “Two minutes.” He stood up and gestured for Kibum to hand him his bowl. “I’ll do it for you.”

“Oh, okay,” Kibum said, giving him his dinner. He sighed in relief when Minho opened the door and disappeared into the hallway. Minho’s odd comments made Kibum nervous, and he didn’t like it.

“I’m back, bearing goods,” Minho said, presenting two bowls of steaming ramen a few minutes later. “Here you go,” he said handing Kibum his dinner for real this time and plopping down cross-legged on his own bed.

“Thanks, Minho,” he said, taking his chopsticks and slurping up some of the noodles. “But let’s not make this a habit. We can’t be having ramen every night.”

“Why not? It’s a college student’s staple diet,” Minho said, spinning his chopsticks around his bowl to grab some of the noodles.

Kibum sighed again, putting his chopsticks down and stopping his eating. “I’ll have to make you some actual good food for once so you can forget about this obsession with ramen. Too bad this dorm doesn’t have a kitchen.” Kibum looked around, frowning at all the things that were missing.

“Wait, you cook?” Minho asked, his mouth full.

“Yeah, I do,” Kibum said, crossing his arms. “Why?”

“I dunno, just didn’t take you for much of a cook.”

“There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me,” Kibum countered, picking up his ramen again.

“Tell me then.”

Kibum almost dropped the steaming noodles on his lap. He recovered quickly and cleared his throat, asking, “Really?”

“Yeah, I feel like I talk about what I like all the time, but I never hear about what you like.” Minho pushed himself up against the wall, leaning back into it and staring at Kibum. “Tell me.”

“Okay.” And so Kibum told him about his interest in fashion and how he wanted to major in it but was still trying to convince his parents. He told him about his two dogs at home, Comme des and Garçons, and his high school experience in Daegu, taking dance and singing lessons for fun and finding out that he actually really enjoyed it.

“You could’ve become an idol,” Minho said at one point, his ramen abandoned and forgotten at the foot of his bed.

“Please, not with this face,” Kibum said with a frustrated exhale.

“What do you mean?” Minho asked, scooting closer to the edge of his bed to look at Kibum intently. “I think you have a great face.”

“Huh?” Kibum asked, any coherent thought gone as he looked into Minho’s big eyes, all swirling chocolate and sunsets.

“You’re really handsome, Bummie. Don’t know why you don’t see that,” Minho said, blinking away and leaning back again on his bed casually. “Is it okay to call you ‘Bummie?’”

“Uh, yeah. Bummie is cool,” Kibum said, blinking a few times as well to reorient himself after that. Did Minho just call him handsome? Minho called him handsome.

“Awesome.” Minho then sprung up from the bed, stretching his arms out and yawning loudly. “I’m tired. Let’s sleep?”

“You don’t have to ask me for permission,” Kibum said, staring down and poking at the ramen leftover in his bowl.

“Well, if we’re going to have these sleeping arrangements again, it’s best we both go to sleep at the same time,” Minho said reasonably.

“Oh, right. Then let’s sleep now.”

Once they were both ready and turned off the bedside lamp, Kibum settled into the side of his bed closest to the wall, leaving space for Minho next to him. Minho snuggled into his side, his weight heavy on the old springs. “You ready?” he asked Kibum, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kibum nodded, turning around so he was facing the wall. He felt Minho’s toned arm snake underneath him and breathed in deeply at the immediate comfort and relief he felt as if all his nerves and tension built up in the past few weeks melted away. Minho then wrapped his other hand around Kibum’s chest, pulling him close to him. “Goodnight,” he mumbled into his ear.

“Goodnight,” Kibum said, his voice hardly audible even in the silence of the night.

And he slept well that night and all the following nights with Minho. His skin cleared up, he saved money on coffees, and his overall mood improved as well. Over the next few weeks, he and Minho still shared a Japanese class but other than that didn’t see each other much during the day. Most nights they had dinner together too, though sometimes Minho was out because practice ran late.

However, every night, without fail, Minho would curl up with Kibum in his bed and they would sleep.

They never talked about it. It was a silent agreement between them that Minho probably forgot about after he left the dorm. It wasn’t a big deal, and Kibum knew that. They were just roommates, no matter how much he blushed when Minho called him ‘Bummie.’ He didn’t want to risk ruining whatever he had with Minho by making it weird.

One night in April, when the weather finally started warming up, Minho burst through their dorm door, collapsing onto his bed face-first. “Oh my God,” he groaned loudly into his pillow.

Kibum looked up from his sketching with concern. “What happened?”

“Our goalie got injured and we have an important game in two days. Of all days,” Minho mumbled into the pillow, slamming his fist down on the bed in frustration.

“Can no one replace him?”

“He’s not as good!” Minho sat up rapidly on his bed, pulling his knees into his chest and hugging them tightly. “I had a good feeling about this season and now…” His voice wavered.

Kibum, not sure how to comfort Minho exactly, rose up from his bed and crossed over. He sat down gingerly beside him, hoping his presence was somewhat comforting. “You can still do well. You can still win,” Kibum said gently.

“Yeah, right,” Minho said with an exhale. After a beat of silence, “Look, I appreciate it, Kibum, but I really just don’t want to talk about it right now.”

Kibum ignored the sting he felt from his words and just stood up. “Okay, we don’t have to talk about it.” He went back to his bed and picked up his sketchbook, staring at a new hat he had been designing before Minho arrived. “I’m going to sleep soon too, by the way.”

“Okay,” Minho said, and that was all he needed to say for Kibum to know that they were still going to cuddle that night as well.

Minho didn’t talk to Kibum the rest of the night, and Kibum didn’t say anything to him either, leaving him space to blow off some steam. About an hour later, Kibum lay waiting in his bed, scared to fall asleep without Minho’s familiar presence at his back. But then he heard the door open and Minho’s footsteps coming from the bathroom. After some shuffling around, Minho joined Kibum on the bed, and they assumed their usual spooning position.

Kibum waited for the ‘goodnight’ from Minho but didn’t hear it. So he said it first. “Goodnight.”

He felt Minho startle a bit, probably lost in his thoughts. “Oh yeah, goodnight,” he said, settling his chin in the space between Kibum’s shoulder and neck and squeezing him in his hug for a moment. “Sweet dreams.”

“Minho! Minho!”

Kibum stirred. He blinked open his heavy eyelids a few times, trying to make out shapes in the darkness. He felt Miinho also stir behind him, untangling his arms from Kibum.

“Minho!” the yelling continued. “Do you have any food?”

Kibum craned his head towards the door and saw a shadowy figure standing in the doorframe, the door swung wide open, letting some of the yellow light from the hallway illuminate their room. “Minho, who is that?”

“Hm?” Minho also turned to look at the door, scrambling out of bed after squinting and recognizing who it was. “Taemin? What are you doing here now?”

Kibum sat up in bed, recognizing Taemin as one of Minho’s friends. He had met him a few times in passing.

“I came for some ramen…” Taemin’s voice trailed off. His eyes zipped between Kibum on the bed and Minho standing in just his boxers and a worn-out t-shirt and then widened with understanding. “Oh my God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt something.” He waved his hands around frantically and grabbed ahold of the door handle, closing the door as he retreated from the room. Right before he fully shut the door, Taemin poked his head through the crack and whisper-yelled, “Just get back to whatever you were doing. Sorry again!” He slammed the door shut, leaving the room in darkness.

Kibum and Minho were silent. Kibum could hear Minho’s heavy breathing from a few feet away, and he decided to break the silence first, asking, “You didn’t lock the door?” He tried to contain the edge to his voice.

“I–” Minho started. “I guess I forgot.”

“You can’t just forget,” Kibum snapped back, raising his voice slightly. “Look what happens when you forget.”

“Taemin won’t say anything. I trust him,” Minho said.

“It’s not just about Taemin.” Kibum ran an exasperated hand through his hair and stared at the dark figure ahead of him that he knew was Minho. “This can’t happen again,” he deadpanned.

“Why?” Minho asked. He started pacing the room. “Why are you so against people knowing that we do this every night?”

“Because they’ll get the wrong idea,” Kibum said, trying to keep his voice level.

“What idea? That we’re together?”

“I– yeah, I guess–”

“What even are we, Kibum?” He stopped pacing, the lack of footsteps leaving only a tense silence in the room.

Kibum hesitated, not sure what Minho wanted him to say. What did Kibum even want to say? He settled for the safest option. “Friends who sleep together.” Minho cocked his head to the side, interpreting that last part differently. “Not that way!”

“Really?” Minho pressed. “Friends?”

“I mean– yeah.”

Minho sighed deeply and resumed his pacing. “Okay, fine. If you’re so worried about people finding out, we can just not sleep together anymore. So no one gets any wrong ideas.” With that, he sat down on his own bed, quickly flinging the covers over his body and turning his back to Kibum. “I’ll talk to Taemin about what he saw tomorrow,” he grumbled to the wall.

Kibum sat staring at Minho’s figure across him, alone on his bed. “Minho, wait–”

“I just want to sleep, Kibum.”

“Okay.” Kibum shut his mouth and laid down again, kicking the sheets in frustration with himself until he found a comfortable position. He stared intently at Minho’s shadow across from him.

What did he do wrong? He had just said the truth. Would they fix this tomorrow? Or did he just make sure his new roommate hated him forever?

Anxious and worried, Kibum didn’t sleep that night. At least he didn’t have nightmares…

And that morning, Minho got dressed and left without saying ‘good morning’ to him.

----

Read Ch 3 here!

#shinee #shinee fic #shinee fanfic #shinee fluff #kim kibum #choi minho #shinee key #shinee minho #minkey #minho x kibum #kibum x minho #minkey fluff #kpop fluff

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minhoinator · 4 years ago

Conversation

Park Jaejung: Was there a moment you felt grateful to each other?

Minho: Alright, you know, for me being grateful means something special. I mean, yes, you can be grateful to anybody, but when I apply it to my close friends, it comes with so many emotions and sincerity. Maybe it's cliche...even ridiculous, but I'm grateful that I met Key and that we became colleagues. Because if it wasn't for Key, I might have thought that my way of thinking didn't need a change and trap myself in a fixed mindset. But Key widened my horizon and helped me get out of that. For that, I'm truly grateful. Not only to Key, but also to the other members as well. They complimented my shortcomings, helped me to move forward and develop myself. The synergy between the members had a great impact on me. And I'm grateful that we were able to influence one another in good ways.

Kibum: Well, Minho knows how I feel even when I don't talk much. He glances at my face, and he knows that I'm sorry for what I did, but too embarrassed to apologize. He knows what's on my mind, so now when we have a problem we don't really need to talk about it. He just gets me. Actually, it's more awkward to bring up these things. He knows I appreciate him anyway.

Park Jaejung: Both of you feel awkward?

Kibum: Yes. See, we've known each other for eleven years, and that's not a short time.

Park Jaejung: I actually really envy you guys.

Kibum: Having teammates?

Park Jaejung: Being in a group, yes. Colleagues. In a way, it's like having a family.

Minho: We are.

#Minkey #SHINee #Kibum #Minho #Cheongdam Keychin #long post #sorry guys i'm in my feelings and needed to type all this out #it's really very sweet and i'm still not over it #translation done from the captions on the video lol

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saltskinandasociopath · 4 years ago

Text

a very earthling question (onkey, 2min - teen)

summary: 'their names are jinki and minho. minho's the one in blue. jinki's out back trying to fix the ship. they crashed.'

'you talked to them.'

'no, they're telepathic. just - beamed it. right into my head,' taemin says, his eyes sparkling with mockery. 'yeah of course. i even introduced you too.'

(earth girls are easy, onkey (and 2min) style.)

pairing: onew/key, taemin/minho

notes/warnings: some fluffy alien romcom for this valentine’s day.

can be found on ao3 here.

———————————————————————

there is a spaceship outside of kim kibum's salon. it was not there last night, and it has no right to be there now.

this is, coincidentally, the least of kim kibum's problems. he is a colored-in shade of human misery, from breaking up with his on and off (permanently off) boyfriend, and ritualistically categorizing all the places in his life he has yet to cleanse of his presence; to the impending foreclosure of his business; to the sniffing bloodhounds of the other competitors in the area, ready to acquire his, frankly, absurdly sizeable space.

(it is absurdly sizeable, to taemin's key observation, because there's hardly ever customers. it's a hard market to break into, temperamental and not temperamental enough, in equal measure.)

the apartment he occupies above the space is tiny, made tinier with taemin's form crowding the couch, and kibum is mulling the utter dead end that his life has become, when a great collision rocks the dumpster.

and. it is a spaceship. it is definitely a spaceship, almost cartoonishly so. it's about the size of a parade float.

it's probably a parade float, is the second thought. some idiot drunkenly taking it for a joyride down an alley. look, there's an opening, light beaming out before it's blocked out by one body, then another. two figures that are probably human, beneath their bobbled helmets, their thick, stuffy jumpsuits.

this neighborhood gets all sorts of characters. it's why kibum chose it a little over a year ago, taking a chance on the already crowded area, the unfriendly lease agreement, the questionable landlord. these are just two more characters, talking in a garbled tongue that kibum just isn't hearing right.

it's 4am, anyway, and kibum doesn't have time for this. so he throws on his headphones, viciously tugs off taemin's socks in a pique of spiteful vengeance, and heads to his bed to mull over ways to make his bank account stretch even thinner.

--------------------------------------

'hey kibum, there's someone banging on the door. hey. hey, kibum.'

kibum is sleeping, he would be horrified to recognize, halfway on his laptop, lodging a canyon of a line across his cheek. when he scrambles up, his joints aching from the unnatural position he had dozed off in, he finds the time on his phone - 7:17 am.

'do you mind? i'm trying to sleep.' taemin says, nonchalant.

'god you are just the worst,' kibum says. he is looking down at his phone, checking his email when the reminder comes up - bank visit 730.

FUCK. SHIT. goddamn it. the bank, his loans for the space, seeing if he's using the space as intended and isn't secretly - something? insolvent? incompetent? kibum is certainly something, something sharp and biting and near-poisonous in proximity, as he throws on his clothes and tries to arrange his hair into something presentable. taemin holds up his bar of deodorant as he passes and kibum grabs it and pauses to apply it, unwilling even in his panic to let the stink of body odor be his signature scent.

he hurtles downstairs, his shoes sliding off at the heel as he careens down the stairs. in the salon he can see the banker (? is that even the term - auditor? realtor? pain in the ass, really) standing outside the door. whoever it is, is an actual asshole, because it's only 7:27 and he's been at the door for 10 minutes, chomping at the bit to rob kibum of his pride and joy. what a miserable bastard.

he is flipping on the lights, and taking one last duck into the bathroom when he spies them. the aliens. the parade floaters. whoever. they're just standing there, one of them a good 4 inches than the other, helmets still on like they're robbing him. one of them has a device in his hand that looks halfway between a smartphone and a gun.

holy fuck he's being robbed. he has literally negative to give, and he's being robbed.

he's desperate, is his excuse. he puts his hands together, and extends them out.

'look. i will give you anything you need, if you can just let me pretend you are customers for 15 minutes. just to get his asshole off my back? alright? just - ' he nods, looking between the two of them. the shorter one on the left, clad all in yellow, makes a jerky motion that might be a nod? he'll take it, especially when he moves to put away his gun phone. kibum makes a reckless motion to grab his hand and lead him out. the other one in blue is following when kibum glances over the top of the yellow-tinged helmet. the one whose being tugged along, his grip is loose, almost skittish, but kim kibum is not a quitter. he maneuvers both of them into chairs and holds out his hands again.

'just - stay there. and play along. please.'

before they can respond, or decide kibum's meager wealth is worth the charade, he turns away and schools his features as he strides to the door, popping it open with a cool, professional 'good morning'.

'mr. kim,' the bank asshole says, like he's the one being inconvenienced in every aspect of his life. 'am i interrupting?'

'actually, you are,' kibum replies, opening the door wider. 'i had some urgent client requests to handle this morning, so we'll have some company. i hope that helps you make an informed determination on our operations.'

he's impressing even himself with his handling. the asshole is looking at the two, weird as they are, like they aren't random intruders. which, no, of course not. of course. kibum moves forward to make the case more persuasive.

'i think we're ready to take that off now, sir,' he says to the one in yellow, whose gripping the ends of the chair like he's terrified. still, he doesn't make any motions when kibum moves towards the - neck latch? of the helmet - where it clicks into his get-up. when kibum fumbles with it, he gently moves his hands aside to do it himself, releasing the catches and lifting it up off his head in a smooth, practiced motion.

and, well. shit. kibum doesn't really have time to dwell on how gorgeous one of his assailants is, with sweet, expressive brown eyes. there's a discoloration to his cheeks, a yellow blush brought out by the vibrant tones of his clothes. his nose is thick, straight, and sharp cheekbones and jawline that together are really affecting his ability to make this whole thing believable. he clears his throat and meets those eyes with his own eyes wide, encouraging and asking for forgiveness as he moves to run his fingers through his hair.

his purple hair. it's one of the nicest dye jobs he's seen in a while, perfectly and naturally applied like it had grown out of his scalp like that. if his robber is from one of his competitors, coming in here and scaring the hell out of him, he's going to be monumentally pissed, but at that point he'll have to concede he's outskilled. it's not even fried out, it's almost inhumanely soft. perfect styling, too, framing his face - jesus, that face - like art.

he plays with it for a moment - a half-second - too long, but hides it with a murmur of consideration.

'excellent, i think this is about what you were expecting?' he turns the chair around to face the mirror and the man growls, like he's surprised, or scared, by the motion - like he's never been in a spinning chair? goddamn everyone loves these chairs, it's weird. but it tapers off when kibum steadies it at the stop, his black-painted fingernails resting at his shoulders.

(he can feel them shift slightly beneath his touch, and he's keyed up on panic, chalking his noting of that up to panic)

the man is just staring, silent now, at his reflection, and the asshole is still watching them. his (gorgeous, awkward) robber must have stage fright, so kibum smiles wide in the mirror, meeting his eyes. after a moment he follows the silent instruction, crinkling his eyes, breaking his face into an all new level to kibum's panic, with a wide, warm smile that feels like sunshine. he looks like sunshine, all in yellow, like a lavender flower blooming.

'great!' he says, chirpy in a way that sounds unbelievable to his own ears, but he's moving onto the other one, who is already moving to take his helmet off.

well, fuck, they're both good-looking. this one is a hell of lot less tolerant of kibum's performance, spinning himself around, moving away from his hands as he goes to check out his hair (black, surprisingly close to standard, especially in comparison). it's short in the nape of the neck and when he makes a motion to get up, kibum pinches, hard, giving himself a moment of surprise to push down, his hands full-weighted against his trapezius muscles.

at that point, he goes with the program; his smiling motion is a little quicker, but kibum has already picked his favorite and it's too little, too late, robber asshole.

'we can settle up after we're done, okay, guys? thanks again!' he hates his customer service voice - he doesn't even use this voice for real clients - but bank asshole seems like the type of guy who says 'the customer is always right' so he rubs it in extra sweet. he takes his time settling in, setting his shoulders down and back, lifting his chin high as he plays the part.

'these were just two of the clients we have booked today. actually - they were multi-day appointments, follow-up to ensure all their services were to their exact requests. performers, you know?' he knows he doesn't know. and he knows that bank asshole knows he doesn't know, that he has no idea what's trendy, or stylish, or experimental. helmets for protecting hair? why the fuck not. he'll sell that line all day long if he has to.

he doesn't have to. bank asshole is taking photos - without even asking! - and making notes on his phone. he made the case that he could make, and it was better to have someone here than not. even if they were a little difficult and a little criminal.

'well, thank you for your time,' bank asshole says suddenly. he moves to stand and shakes kibum's hand. when he turns, the two - instead of waiting in their chairs - are standing shoulder to shoulder, their helmets at their hips, expressionless, like a low-rent daft punk. he squares his shoulders like everything's normal here, and sees the asshole out with a cool nod.

as soon as he leaves -

he exhales, letting his shoulders and his head drop, releasing a moan to start, and then turning it into a yawn as the adrenaline starts to settle. the lack of sleep, the push to herd his brain into performative professionalism, on top of negotiating his own robbery.

oh. right. he's being robbed.

giving less than a fuck (but not zero fucks), he turns and resigns himself.

'thank you,' he says firstly, pointing it towards the one in yellow. 'ironically you probably saved my ass.'

the one in blue rumbles, like a whiny drunk, before it turns into a questioning 'ass?' the one in yellow turns to him, sharp, an obvious look of dismay on his face. he gestures, hurky, at his gun-phone - kibum tries to take a look at it, but suddenly takes several steps back as the one in yellow - not blue, it would have been easier if it were blue - raises it and aims it at him.

'whoa whoa, just - wait, i can get you - i can get you whatever money, i just have to go upstairs - ' and he squeezes his eyes shut as the one in yellow squeezes his hand, and it fires -

nothing happens. well, not nothing - there's some odd, light noise, like chimes, like the rounding noise of a balloon being blown up, and kibum dares to open its eyes and there are bubbles, iridescent in a way that doesn't quite look right, black and purple and green and red, stringing from one color to the next in a rhythm that's shifting, like it's looking for the perfect hue to settle on, shrinking and expanding out with little explorative tones that feel, inexplicably, like sticking your tongue out to taste the air, except with sound.

it doesn't look real, so jury's out if he's now suffering visual hallucinations, but he glances at the other two and finds the one in yellow is looking at him, with increasing levels of horror.

he opens his mouth and shrieks, incomprehensible syllables that make kibum want to cringe in on himself, but he's also still looking at him long enough to see his eyes shift, from the human brown to an alien orange.

alien.

spaceship.

he's not proud of it, but he passes out. at least in unconsciousness, he doesn't have to worry about dignity.

--------------------------------------

when he comes to, he's propped up in one of the salon chairs. across from him, taemin is sitting on the counter, playing with a pair of scissors. honestly, it's one of the most disconcerting things he can think of, and that's before the blue alien walks into view. taemin beams at him, and gets a smile in return, more tentative than earlier, more genuine.

'taemin,' he says, urgent and undecided about whether or not he needs to risk his life for his worst friend. 'what are you doing?'

'waiting for you to wake up. eating cereal.'

he doesn't have cereal. he ignores this discrepancy and slowly starts to get up. the one in blue doesn't stop him from steering taemin away so they can have this conversation slightly more privately. he still doesn't know where the one in yellow is.

'this is going to sound crazy. but these guys - they're not human - i don't think so, anyway.'

taemin puts his finger on his lips to shush him - to actually shush him, like he's a child and not the most rational, most human individual in the building.

'i know. they showed me their ship outside. it's pretty cool, actually.'

he turns to retrieve a box of cereal from behind the nearest mirror. this would explain kibum's ant problem. his arm goes elbow-deep as he takes a handful and starts eating it dry, talking around it.

'their names are jinki and minho. minho's the one in blue. jinki's out back trying to fix the ship. they crashed.'

'you talked to them.'

'no, they're telepathic. just - beamed it. right into my head,' taemin says, his eyes sparkling with mockery. 'yeah of course. i even introduced you too.'

'kibum,' says a new voice behind him. taemin keeps munching his cereal. kibum turns.

jinki looks infinitely more composed from earlier, which is impressive considering he looks like he's been actively rooting around in an engine, dark smears across his forehead, his gloves covered in something undeniably gooey. unfortunately nothing has really changed the actual look of him, and kibum - who will need therapy - chokes around his first 'hi' like an idiot.

the second one comes out a little smoother. it's hard to hear himself over taemin's chewing.

'kibum,' jinki says again.

'what?' he asks.

'that's all we've managed so far,' taemin says from behind him. when kibum turns to look, he shrugs and puts the box down, licking his fingers clean. 'but it's impressive, right? i'm probably going to be in history books.'

'lucky us,' he hisses. 'you don't even know they're peaceful.'

'um, you've been passed out for at least 30 minutes. and they left you alone and put you in that chair. i was up for leaving you on the floor. they're better than me.'

'low. fucking. bar.'

minho has moved to their side, looking between them like he's unsure whether to intervene or not. kibum turns away in a huff. so now he gets to handle aliens. he can't just leave them to taemin.

with a start, he realizes how much brighter it is outside, and, checking his phone, realizes he's near to the opening hours. he can't afford to leave the little he has, to take up recreational alien-babysitting. he also has, like, an obligation as a member of the human race to not have their ambassador be taemin.

he takes what he thinks is a discreet glance at the other three, and finds jinki looking back at him, patiently waiting. he flashes a nervous smile and looks back down to his phone.

ok.

plan.

small kernel of a plan. jinki is working on their ship. he can keep an eye on him from the salon, with the back door popped open. and he'd rather keep both aliens handy, but if he has them both down here, then taemin will undoubtedly lurk around too. so.

'go back upstairs,' he orders the pair of them. minho doesn't understand him, but he jabs his finger up to communicate the general spirit of it. taemin shrugs, but grabs minho's hand all the same.

his human-looking hand. he must have taken off his gloves at some point, which means that jinki's hands are probably similar.

it's traitorous or selfish or maybe just horny if he wonders what the chances are of the rest of their bodies being human like.

anyway.

jinki turns to follow them, but kibum reaches out to grab him by the sleeve. jinki looks at him, confused, and then takes his own gloves off - and, yes, they are human-like too. he clips them to his belt and grabs for kibum's hand, his grip still as light as earlier. outside of the glove, his hand feels terribly small and delicate, easy to dwarf in kibum's.

'your ship,' he starts, then falters. taemin has already disappeared up the stairs. he starts moving back towards the alley, prattling about taemin's ability to preoccupy people, for lack of anything else; jinki keeps pace beside him, his eyes kept trained on kibum's face, dipping down to watch his lips move. kibum tries valiantly to ignore what that does to him.

he pushes out into the alley, where the ship is opened up, a couple pigeons perched on its antennae.

'you can work on it,' he says, semi-helplessly gesturing towards the ship with their still-joined hands. 'and i'll be inside - ' he puts his free hand to his chest and then nods his head towards the path they just took. ' - if you need anything.' he lets go of jinki's hand and tries to reiterate with slightly more smooth motions.

jinki seems to get the gist of it, at first, but he grabs kibum's hand again and brings it up between them. bizarrely, kibum thinks he's about to kiss the back of it, he just has a gentle, warm look in his eyes that doesn't belong at all - but he doesn't. instead he meticulously opens his fingers, one by one, and then puts his gun-phone against his palm, and wraps his hand around to close it again. he maneuvers kibum's fingers into a series of motions, clicking a switch here, and there, until one of the screens lights up, with a series of lines running seamlessly from left to right.

jinki meets his eyes seriously and brings the device to his mouth. he speaks, clear and decisive: 'jinki'.

then, he moves it back to kibum and nods encouragingly.

'um, okay,' he says. he leans in, and clears his throat. 'kibum.'

jinki nods again and releases his hold. he clutches his hands together in mimicry of kibum's own posture, and mouths silently.

'you want me to talk into this,' he holds it closer to his mouth again, and, in doing so, notices the lines from earlier spiking with each syllable. oh. okay. translation device. or recording device. or... communicator? either way, it's not like it can do any harm. probably, anyway. his life is suddenly full of probabilities, when he had felt dead set on the certainty of failure.

'okay,' he says, deliberately slow, into the device, and is granted with a wide, happy smile from jinki.

he starts backing away from jinki, out of his own preservation instincts and the need to get the salon opened on time. he keeps his eye on the alien, on the off chance he has misunderstood, but jinki is also turning away, casting one last glance back at kibum, and nodding encouragingly when kibum clicks the button and says 'goodbye' into it. if it sounds a little sappy, well, there's no one here to call him out on it.

when he steps back into the building, he takes a few deep breaths and buoys himself up to start the day. everything else before this moment won't count for a good 10 hours.

--------------------------------------

he can't hold it the entire time, it's just not possible. but he does keep it on whenever he has one hand free, from greeting customers and employees as they arrive to clock in. he puts it aside when he's intent on a cut, or a wash, conscious at all times of when he's left it alone, peeking more often down the back way. occasionally he catches a glimpse of yellow, and once he saw jinki staring upwards towards the sky, lost in thought.

it twangs something in his chest, that he has to push aside.

he manages to get through the majority of his day like this, when his stomach suddenly and angrily growls. one of his stylists is nearby, and quirks an eyebrow at him.

'don't even start,' he says, and she sticks her tongue out, making him laugh. why not, he has to take a break at some time. he'll run upstairs and make sure minho and taemin are fine, and drag jinki along with him, and make sure he has something to eat to.

the question of what aliens eat is a good one, and kibum doesn't know, but he can at least ask. they're aliens, they can probably figure out if something will kill them.

'jinki,' he calls as he heads outside. there's a great clatter from the spaceship and jinki pops up, his lips parted and he lets out a pleased bark. kibum, fighting his own smile, motions for him to come down and simultaneously says 'let's eat some lunch, okay?' into the device.

'okay,' jinki repeats amiably, and kibum is positive he doesn't know what he's saying, but he isn't about to object to his sweet agreeability. especially considering they're going upstairs.

he waits semi-patiently for jinki to come down and then sneaks them both inside after looking, shooing jinki up the stairs.

'taemin, minho, have you guys eaten anything yet?' kibum calls out as he turns the key - there's no click, taemin didn't even bother locking - and enters. he waves jinki inside and takes a quick scan to make sure everything is in order. it looks like there's plates in the sink, the TV is loud from around the wall, but neither taemin or minho are anywhere to be seen. but, if they ate, then that speaks positively towards jinki being able to eat something. he clicks the button and starts talking.

'i'm going to give you some water. food...normally i'd just run out to GS25 and grab something, but i should have some packets here...taemin! what did you eat, i'm trying to feed for four here....' he trails off as he realizes he hasn't heard much of anything since coming in except the TV. he abruptly turns and jinki senses the sudden change in his mood, setting his shoulders back and walking with more caution into the underlit apartment.

it's a small place, with a hole of a bedroom and a bathroom split off from the hybrid kitchen/sitting area. there's only so many places for people to lurk. kibum throws open the door to the bedroom, half-expected taemin to have taken over his bed, and minho resigned to the small desk in the corner, his helmet a pillow. but no such find waits for him there. which means they've either left, and they're altogether fucked, or -

jinki, following kibum's example, apparently is already turning the handle on the bathroom, and when he opens it he jumps back with a noise kibum can't even properly describe - it's like a gasp, gurgled through a mixer of soju and rock salt. when kibum takes the three steps necessary to arrive at his vantage point, minho is turned away, shoulders hunched in, his right arm in an all-too-human motion, and taemin is wiping his mouth and looking exceedingly - exceedingly - unapologetic.

'tell me you did not just suck an extraterrestrial dick, taemin, jesus!'

jinki makes some more noises that kibum trusts has the same energy.

kibum has always known about taemin's hobgoblin-esque exploratory promiscuity. he only asks that his friend be safe, perfectly unbothered that his metaphorical line in the sand is the human race.

he, understandably, never expected to have that sanguine understanding stress-tested.

while he's been busy engaging in a one-sided staring contest, jinki has pulled minho out into the hallway, and is having a furious conversation that sounds halfway between static and muzak. kibum has to consciously tune them out, has to do something to communicate that this cannot happen again, and also - how the fuck did this happen?

'how the fuck did this happen?' he yells. 'i left you alone for a morning, and you put him in your mouth? you don't know where he's been!'

'space,' taemin says. 'and this apartment.'

'you don't even speak the same language, you - you asshole - how can you even call that consensual?'

'hey,' taemin looks genuinely offended. 'i gave him some porn first and showed him how to turn it off and turn it back on. he found a blowjob one and had a boner. i asked and made sure he was good with it. c'mon, hyung, i'm not that guy.'

'fine. you are still the guy who just sucked a dick without having any idea of what it could look like, or what - what it was like when he came - or if the - if it was okay for you to swallow.'

'i didn't swallow,' taemin looks incredibly pleased with himself for his foresight, and holds his hands up in the universal sign for obviously. 'it's fine.'

'it is no way fine,' kibum hisses. 'you are such a dumbass.'

as he lets out the invective he turns and faces the other pair, who have stopped their own discussion and are now looking at him with expressions of apology and confusion - jinki - and...resolve? consternation? whatever. minho doesn't look nearly apologetic enough for kibum's mood.

'you're a dumbass too,' he hisses, stabbing a finger at minho.

'dumbass?' he parrots tentatively, pointing at himself, and then taemin. kibum rubs his temples.

'yes, exactly. both of you. glad we're all on the same page.'

'dumbass?' jinki asks, quieter, and pointing at himself.

'....no,' kibum responds, shaking his head. he can't even be bothered to try to explain, he just heads back to the kitchen. 'c'mon let's eat something. taemin, you are gargling and brushing your teeth first.'

'ok, but that means i have to use your toothbrush.'

the only respite kibum can take is that jinki helps him as best he can in the kitchen, monitoring the water he sets to boil and handing out the chopsticks when the convenience store ramyeon is done cooking.

--------------------------------------

he doesn't have much of a choice except to leave minho and taemin again. jinki seems much more opposed to it, pausing in at the bottom of the stairwell. he gestures towards kibum's pocket, where the edge of his device is poking out. at the motion, kibum pulls it out.

'sorry, i forgot to use it upstairs. don't think you'd want to remember much of it, to be honest.'

jinki shakes his head, and silently holds his hand out. kibum passes it over, watching as he holds it up to the side of his head, and presses a smaller button. the device says 'jinki', then 'kibum', and the rest of all the little pieces of conversation kibum has had throughout the day, speeding up until it's completely unintelligible, spitting noise into jinki's waiting ear. when it finishes, jinki nods, a small smile.

'thank you,' he says, clearly, carefully watching kibum's face.

'oh,' he replies faintly. 'you're learning? that helps you speak?'

jinki narrows his eyes in effort, and kibum realizes it's limited just to what has been recorded. has he talked about learning today, with the elderly mrs. park, or the chatty server from down the street? probably not. 'thank you' is thrown around so much in customer service, no wonder it's the first thing he picked up.

'you're welcome,' he says back, and jinki's smile is a quickly blooming thing that smacks kibum right across the face. he takes a step closer and presses it back into kibum's hand.

'use it more,' he asks softly. 'please.'

--------------------------------------

it's stupid, but he does. he memorizes the feel of pressing it just enough so it activates, and what it's like when his finger slips. he finds a little clip and fashions an attachment to his apron, so it's sitting on his collarbone. when there's an odd question about it, he says he's taking better notes of his day for record-keeping, and that seems to work well enough, though one or two stylists keep giving him odd looks. he doesn't acknowledge them.

at the back of his mind, he knows he's doing this for more than just improved communication, that he likes the way jinki smiles at him, the cadence of his voice when he says his name - the proud look in his eyes when they managed to exchange just a few words. he likes his steady, reserved presence. he has a sweet temperament that smooths down kibum's rough edges, just by being.

it's a crush. kibum brooks no self-deception. it hasn't been a week since he's broken up with his last boyfriend, and jinki is an alien, an actual alien, preparing to leave the planet, that he's known for all of nine hours. and he has a crush on him.

maybe when they lift off, he'll get burned up in the rocket fumes. frankly it's the only satisfiable outcome kibum can see from this.

he has one last appointment for the day, an older lady of the neighborhood who likes to talk, even when kibum doesn't. for once, this anticipated division doesn't bother him much, because it can be put to good use. he makes sure the button is pressed down and secure and leads mrs. choi to the chair, nodding along as she starts laying out her day, her impending anniversary, her entrenched drama with the other salon down the street (the cause for her patronage of kibum's location). it's all much formless noise to him, to be certain. luckily for him she doesn't need a partner to have a conversation, and he's lost in the focus of trimming when there's an unmistakable 'kibum?' from his right.

both he and mrs. choi turn to find jinki standing there, lavender hair a stringy mess, coated through with goop. kibum almost swears in dismay, stopping himself only in the nick of time. he looks down at mrs. choi and, before he can say anything, she swats up at him like they're friends. important to note that they are not friends, but kibum needs the money, and also needs jinki to stay undiscovered.

'jinki,' he says cautiously. 'what's wrong?'

visibly uncertain on how to proceed, jinki raises his shoulders, and lets them drop.

'it's a mess,' he says, and, yes, kibum did call a few things a mess today. 'i need to clean up. upstairs. okay?'

'oh honey,' mrs. choi says, feigning an unwarranted level of camaraderie. 'you really do. are you kibum's boyfriend?'

'friend,' kibum hastily corrects. he doesn't need to get himself into a fake-boyfriend scenario for further emotional torture. he looks square at jinki and nods. 'okay. take my key and go upstairs. wash.'

jinki nods, and kibum is grateful, glad that he managed to phrase it in a way he could understand. he excuses himself to go to the desk and pulls out the key ring, wiggling out his apartment key. jinki saw him use his key earlier, right? he should be able to figure it out. he takes a moment to send a text to taemin too to warn him.

'thank you,' jinki says again, and kibum dips his head back, oddly formal, and familiarly warm with pleasure when jinki turns with a small smile.

mrs. choi should go back to her old stylist, he'll lose her business gladly, because she greets him with a loud 'how handsome your friend is! you must be close, to let him use your shower.'

she says the last part with a relish to her voice, and god, kibum could kill her so easily. he laughs, hollowly, and she continues on.

'he's very polite too. have you known him long?'

'no.'

'mmmm, well. if you don't mind me saying, you shouldn't let him get away. and he seems to like you too!'

'well it doesn't matter who we like. can't really help that he's leaving town soon,' he says tightly.

she lets out a hiss of disappointment. he could give her a terrible asymmetrical cut in return.

'well, that's too bad. he seems to like you well enough, and well enough could be, well, enough to get him to stay!' she laughs gaily.

'ha ha,' he says.

--------------------------------------

'hey, it's me,' he calls through the door. knocking on his own door is just the way to end this day, tired and more emotional than he ever cares to disclose. 'let me in already.'

he hopes taemin hasn't gotten so far as to fuck minho. or let minho fuck him. or let minho suck his dick. if there's any chance they're incompatible, then spitting could hardly have been the apex of protection. taemin could be rotting from the mouth in, or minho from the dick out.

a small, tiny part of him thinks they'd deserve it. a larger part says if that happened, his crush on jinki would have the shit topper of misfortune it deserves. just to round it out perfectly.

he knows jinki must still be up there - because he checked out back before locking up, and the ship was half-dissembled, with jinki nowhere to be seen even when kibum called out - but he did not expect it to be jinki opening the door. he also did not expect jinki to be wearing some of his clothes, an oversized sweatshirt that makes him look like a college student.

'hi kibum,' he says, and he beams when he says, 'welcome back.'

it's so cute, is the thing, so exceedingly domestic and homely that kibum may not survive its cruelty, knowing it won't last.

'i washed,' he continues as kibum sets down his things blindly. 'taemin gave me clothes.'

'good,' he croaks. he fishes out the device before he can forget, hands it over to jinki's obvious pleasure. he holds it up to his ear, and kibum just watches his face, his eyes closed, as he learns. it's not fair, is it? life's not fair, is what they always say, but they're talking about things like losing your job, being left behind by the people you thought were you friends. not being teased with happiness, with love, and having it literally leave for the stars.

well, maybe there's an astronaut or something who can relate. whatever. kibum isn't about to argue technicalities with his own feelings.

'where's taemin and minho?' he asks, instead, when jinki has finished and is setting the device back down in the table. kibum presses the button before he asks, leaning back against the couch. he might as well keep giving his words, it's all he can do.

'they went out,' jinki says. 'for food.'

'okay,' kibum says. he's tired, but jinki looks like he's on the precipice of a question, and kibum knows he's going to have to say goodbye, so he doesn't wave it off.

'earlier,' he starts. 'taemin and minho. what are they doing?'

trust him to ask the hard question.

'sex,' he says. he hasn't said it at all today, it's not something you talk about with your customers. he's open, but he's not that open. he casts his mind back to some of the idle chatter from the afternoon. 'they kissed. taemin was making him happy.'

'oh,' jinki says. he sounds unfinished. he brings his fingers to his lips, and asks in confirmation. 'kissed?'

kibum nods.

'okay,' jinki says, then repeats it to himself. 'kibum?'

'yes?'

'does kissing make you happy?'

he snorts.

'sometimes.'

jinki tilts his head, his brows gone quizzical. there isn't enough vocabulary between them to explain it, but something in his eyes feels compassionate, and - kibum is just sunk. there's no way he's getting out of this without some damage.

'you're good,' he says, plain and honest. kibum flushes and turns away, but jinki continues speaking. 'you're good to us and to others. you should be happy.'

'i want to be,' kibum confesses to his hands. 'i want to be happy.'

jinki moves to his side, the couch arm between them.

'"sometimes"', he says back to him. he touches his lips, and then reaches out, stopping short of touching kibum, but pointing towards him all the same. 'tonight?'

kibum looks at him, and considers a thousand things that don't matter, because he's already saying 'yes', already watching jinki go down on one knee, then the other, folds his arms across the couch until his hands are resting on kibum's upper arms. he smells like his soap, but in this light his brown eyes spark orange once more, and there's a buzzing beneath his touch that hasn't been there before, and then he can see every star in his eyes, can see countless worlds in every freckle, and he surrenders at the first brush of jinki's lips against his.

it's only a momentary touch, but it lives past its occurrence. isn't that a thing? like the light shining down well after the sun had exploded, kibum can still feel his lips after he moves away.

jinki asks.

'are you happy?'

the light is blinking out.

kibum shakes his head, manages to smile a little.

'not tonight.'

--------------------------------------

he closes the salon the next morning, contacting the few appointments by phone call to make sure they get the notice. minho and taemin both slept on the couch overnight, wrapped up in each other, while jinki slept on the floor. the blanket kibum had lent him wrapped tightly around his form. it turned out his bathroom was hosting their suits, the helmets on the floor of the shower, so kibum just washed up the best he could with the sink, brushing his teeth with his finger on the recollection of taemin's earlier use.

apparently minho had also lent his device to taemin for a similar purpose, so the morning was filled with a lot more korean than he was used to, most of it full of minho's innocently profane conversations.

'you had to corrupt him,' he had wearily warned taemin after minho had given an enthusiastic definition of a rimjob to jinki.

'it was educational,' taemin retorted, and in a way, it was. it was certainly more straightforward than anything kibum had given jinki. but still, jinki had cast him his own looks, alternating between amusement and confusion. kibum shrugged helplessly and tapped their shared device reassuringly.

for now, it was much of the same as yesterday, minho and taemin keeping each other company while jinki worked on the ship. kibum was stewing over his business, trying to think past today, or tomorrow, to the return to his regular life.

it was much easier when jinki wasn't calling him out, excitement laced through his voice.

'kibum! come here!'

he gets up and heads out to the back. the ship looks great, with jinki perched atop the cockpit, half his body hidden inside.

'good news?' he asks, careful to have the button clicked.

'yes! very good!' he yells joyfully back. 'come here!'

'how?' he asks, because he doesn't feel like possibly cracking his back from falling onto the pavement. jinki laughs, the slightly alien rhythm of it, and extracts himself, climbing down with no problem at all. when he meets kibum, he turns to present his back and leans forward slightly.

'get on,' he says.

'it's called a piggyback ride,' kibum says uncertainly. he reaches out to touch the broad expanse of his back, before retracting. 'are you sure?'

'yes!' jinki says.

well, when it's said like that, kibum does his best, hopping awkwardly up and wrapping his legs around his hips. jinki grabs at his ankles and starts up, so that kibum is sitting further up on his back. he still smells like kibum's soap, even back as he is in his suit, and it's making the whole experience that much more surreal as jinki clambers easily back up to where he was.

'um, jinki, it's a little small,' because the entry is. looking into it, he's not sure how jinki expects both of them to fit, when he must have just had enough room to squeeze his lower half into the porthole-sized space. jinki shakes his head.

'it's not small,' he explains, without explaining. 'watch.'

he starts squeezing himself in, getting to his earlier position of being cut off at the waist. when he moves to slide down further, his upper half disappears in a blink, leaving the gap empty.

'what the fuck - jinki!' he yells, looking down and also watching his own step, now paranoid about being transported god knows where.

'it's okay!' comes his voice from - inside? kibum peers closer and can't see him at all. anxiously, he dips one toe into the space, but nothing happens. as though entering a cold pool, he starts to clamber in, toe, foot, knee, then the other. all of the sudden he can feel a grip around his ankle and shrieks in fear, starting to kick out before jinki's voice calls out again.

'it's me, i'm here.'

'okay,' he says, chanting it to himself, once, twice - on the third time he bends his knees to go lower, and just as the metal siding brushes his belly button he can feel something wrap around him, like a squeezing flash of warmth, and then he really is being squeezed, by jinki's solid arms, the alien smiling at him reassuredly.

'not small,' he says, and releases him so kibum can see he's now inside a spaceship a good three times bigger than it was on the outside.

'yep. you're right,' he concedes. 'not small.'

'i want to show you something,' jinki says, and he takes him to the front. out of the window he can see the entry into his salon, and beneath it is an expanse of controls. on the far left, there's a screen with another alien, his helmet off, pink hair almost cartoonishly bright.

'jonghyun,' jinki says, with clear affection in his voice. 'kibum.'

'hi,' kibum says, waving. jonghyun waves back, but doesn't speak, clearly turning to look at jinki to translate.

he's gotten so used to jinki talking in korean that it's disorienting to hear him let out those indiscernible noises again, and to hear jonghyun respond back in kind, but he doesn't want to interrupt the clearly happy reunion. jinki is smiling wide, and jonghyun's a bit softer, but obviously genuine.

they're talking about his coming home. kibum wraps his arms around his torso and waits, because what else can he do? this was an accident, after all, and accidents get fixed.

they are talking for a while, it seems, their tones shifting into something more serious - as best kibum can tell - so he takes a step back and begins looking around. the ship is bigger than outside, but clearly was only ever meant for two - two seats, two beds towards the back. there has to be some food for their journeys, kept somewhere, or maybe they were fed nutrients, like in the matrix, until it was time to wake up. it's a big universe, and jinki is meant to be somewhere else in it. not here. not with kibum.

'done,' jinki says, cutting through kibum's thoughts. when he turns back, jinki is looking at him, so he comes forward. from the screen, jonghyun looks pleased to have jinki (and minho, but - you know - fuck him, he goes in the same bucket as taemin) coming back soon.

'done?' he asks and jinki nods, pleasure evident on his face. he performs a complex little signal with his hands that jonghyun reciprocates, and then reaches out to turn it off.

'can we go outside?' kibum asks, because he doesn't think he can stand to be in this ship anymore, with its two seats, two beds, and engine ready to leave. he moves aimlessly back towards where jinki caught him, and jinki lets out that alien laugh, richer for having talked to jonghyun, high off of his happiness.

'there,' he guides kibum to one of the circles decorating the floor, hand gently clutching at his elbow. 'wait.'

that bright, warm flash and kibum is on top of the ship, with taemin and minho looking up at him from the blacktop. before he can make an excuse for his expression - because he can feel it - he can feel the pressure of tears at the corner of his eyes, jinki appears as well. he turns and leans forward again, inviting kibum to ride his back once more, and kibum - he's not proud of this at all - he clutches jinki in a hug from behind, before jumping up into the piggyback.

they climb down together, kibum burying his face in jinki's neck. he's sure he can feel a snotty tear or two, and wipes it across his yellow suit before sliding off.

'ready?' minho asks, anticipation evident in his voice.

'ready,' jinki says. in unison they make that hand signal jinki just shared with jonghyun, and kibum clears his throat.

'thanks for - thanks for crashing into our planet,' he offers, with a respectable command of his voice.

'it was our pleasure,' jinki says.

'literally,' taemin interrupts, elbowing at minho, and the taller alien blushes with a greenish tint. he steps forward to be side by side with jinki, and they each bow forward to taemin and kibum, from their waist, in perfect form.

then, jinki turns to minho:

'i've spoken to jonghyun about the return, and he is prepared,' and he turns to taemin, who - kibum is now noticing - has a bag over his shoulder. 'i have marked all foods that can be eaten. do not stare at the stars too long; you will burn your eyes out.'

'what,' says kibum.

'i brought sunglasses,' taemin argues.

'that's not enough,' minho says, and jinki is handing him his helmet, and minho is moving to place it over taemin's head, and jinki is taking off his suit, revealing one of kibum's old t-shirts, and some sweatpants, and -

'what,' says kibum.

'i want to stay,' jinki says. as he steps out of his suit, he stumbles, and minho catches him with long practice. he moves forward and kibum instinctively turns away from minho and taemin's gazes, trying to find some privacy, to find some equilibrium, because jinki is talking like -

'i like you,' he says.

'you don't know what that means,' kibum says, but jinki smiles.

'yes, i do,' he says, gentle, always gentle. 'i'm not leaving town.'

mrs. choi, and kibum's fingers on the button, keeping it on. jinki pressing the device against his ear, listening carefully and telling kibum he should be happy.

'it's not fair to you,' kibum says again, because he is selfish, he has always wanted more for himself, and in his experience what he wants, doesn't agree to be had. 'your planet - '

'my planet doesn't have you.'

jinki closes his hands over his.

'kibum,' he says. 'will kissing make you happy today?'

'yes,' he whispers, and jinki smiles. there are stars in his eyes.

the space between them closes, their lips pressed together, the world is shaking, rumbling like it never has before and jinki is holding him close as the ship lifts off, taemin pressed against the window like a bug. behind him, minho waves, the light bouncing off his helmet.

jinki is pressing another kiss to kibum's hair as he watches the ship become smaller and smaller, until it's little more than another dot of white among the clouds.

and kibum -

he's happy.

#salt writes #shinee fic #onew x key #minho x taemin #onkey fic #2min fic #onkey #2min

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peppusae · 4 years ago

Text

How to say 'I love you' without saying 'I love you' | Chae Hyungwon pt 1

part: 1 of 3

other parts: pt 1 || pt 2 || pt 3

pairing: chae hyungwon x reader

genre: fluff, little slow-burn and angst, smut

word count: 5.6k words

note: i had a dream about this plot so i must write this because after this dream hyungwon became my bias wrecker and i cry about him every day since pls send help gbye

ugh i love him so much :(((

How to say 'I love you' without saying 'I love you'

What’s every kpop fan’s goal in life?

To meet their idols, attend a concert, and attend a fan sign, right?

Some others... They aim higher than that.

And you’re one of those people.

In fact, you love k-pop so much that you found your career took a whooping turn and you ended up majoring in language, for the very simple fact that you could apply to join an entertainment company and be a staff/writer, the latter which makes you feel the proudest of yourself.

But life….

Life can be super mean sometimes. And you learn this the hard way, when you get rejected by SM entertainment - your first and actually the only choice because you are a major Shinee fan and life is just NOT fair at all!

One way or the another, after multiple applying, you finally get a good job in another company - Starship Entertainment.

Now, Starship was definitely not one amongst your top 5 agencies. But you always try not to let that affect your work - and over time, you come to love your job.

Especially when you get assigned as Monsta X’s writer and interpreter.

You find the members of the group very very appealing, all of them having their own charms.

Hyunwoo, who goes by the name Shownu and has an appetite that makes everyone giggle; He is such a soft-hearted soul and you really look up to him because he is always kind enough to give you a hand if he finds you doing something like lugging some boxes around, and would give the prettiest eye smiles when he gets a compliment.

Hoseok, who goes by the name Wonho and is probably the person you would sacrifice everything for; because of the heartwarming smile he has to offer, the way he continuously asks you to go through the comments he received on his vlives, and would politely request you to review what fans are saying about him on his posts.

Kihyun, who is very much Korean down to the bone with his extremely polite mannerisms and the way he always makes sure the staff - you included - are always eating as well; even if it’s a show about them. And also, the way he had once asked if he was your bias, and looked shocked to hear he wasn’t - and then continued to do things to get your attention and ask “Am I your bias now?” in the middle, like an idiot.

Jooheon, who also occasionally comes to you and asks for mini English lessons, and then gets bored after learning two or three new words - and then instead likes to chat about random things like the cats he owns, and your line of cacti which he, for some reason, is obsessed with, and your chats with Jooheon usually end with a compliment battle, and he always made you feel proud because he always says that chatting about normal things like that always inspires him a lot too.

Changkyun, who you consider as your bias wrecker because he keeps his own cool, stays in his own bubble and get things done, and doesn’t brag; instead, he’s very gentle, always the first person to notice if you’re sitting out in the lounge by yourself racking your brains for new content, and uses you as a guinea pig for testing out his lame new puns or pickup lines.

And then… Hyungwon, who doesn’t talk a lot when he’s with the rest of the group, but you found to be startlingly talkative when he’s doing a solo vlive or with only a few members like either Shownu or Wonho. In fact, you remember being wide-eyed when he continuously chatted with his fans on a vlive for a whooping 2 hours, and you can’t forget the precious and warm smile he had on his face when you said you liked seeing him so lively and talkative.

“I have a lot of things up my sleeve which you probably don’t know that much about, [Name]-ah.” He had said that time, and sometimes, you can see the way his eyes would filter through the staff during shows and land on yours, and smile at you.

And finally, Minhyuk, who was your absolute favourite out of the entire group, your bias because he gets along so well with everyone, always making everyone - including the staff - laugh, and would not hesitate to call anyone out if they’re doing something they shouldn’t. It makes you giggle, the way he would approach you in the middle of a variety show shooting they’re doing and ask if you were the writer of the show and how you had the audacity to make them walk around like lunatics. He acts like a crackhead like that, but you’ve grown to be so attached to him when you realized that, beyond his bright personality, he also is an insanely sweet person; You found this out when you had mentioned applying to SM entertainment because Shinee was your favorite group ever, and Minhyuk -even if he asked how dare you talk about other men in his presence - met up with Shinee while hosting a show and got the members to sign, and even got Kibum, your Shinee bias, to sign you a message inside their recent album.

Undoubtedly, Minhyuk was your favorite, for a good reason.

But still, to be put frankly, Hyungwon was the member that has your heart, for the simple reason that he was so unpredictable and has his own sense of humour and personality.

Since you got assigned to work with Monsta X, your life has been a messy tangle of fun, a normal day being you having a chat with Hyungwon and then getting interrupted by Minhyuk who would have zero filters and ask “Are you two dating?”, which causes the two of you to flush red for no reason, while Kihyun would overhear this and say “Huh?! You’re picking him to date but you don’t think of me as bias material?”.

The cycle would be endless, with Wonho laughing while watching the entire scene unfold, while Jooheon would join in with Minhyuk while Shownu would butt in and say “Minhyuk-ah, we have to go back to practise now tho,” and Changkyun sticking his head out from his dorm room and saying he still has 5 more minutes to finish the session of his favorite game.

You’ve grown to love this cycle and it doesn’t feel like a job, doing something you love with good people to work with, and life has been even easier after you got a dorm room within the building.

So, even if you had a roommate - and she’s nice, just not too close - things at Starship has been working out well for you.

Your daily chaos started simmering down a little once the pandemic hit, and all of the staff got confined to their rooms for work.

Because some of the shows you’re writing the scripts for are getting approved easily, you feel lucky to be one of the few staff who is now allowed to go alongside the members when they’re out for shows.

The times when you’re working from your dorm room, you feel so tired - perhaps missing the chaos you were so used to for the past couple years.

One day, you get a kakao chat from Hyungwon, asking if he can come over to discuss something with you.

It’s early in the morning - 8:15 am, and you’re half awake but you let him in, trying your hardest not to yawn too much in front of the member you considered the most attractive from the bunch.

Your roommate, Dawon, was kind enough to clean up the room a little bit when you said Hyungwon was coming over - and you said it on purpose because you knew she called Hyungwon her type and admits to having a teensy crush on him even though she knows it won’t work out anyways.

Hyungwon is wearing a caramel sweater and grey baggy sweatpants, and it always warms your heart to see the boys dressed in comfy clothes because they have to spend so much time wearing clothes that probably look good but not feel as comfy.

“Hyungwonnie, come on in!” You greet him, and he reacts with a chuckle and he always does that ever since you started calling him by that nickname after the day he said you should use casual language with him.

Hyungwon gives a little nod to your roommate in acknowledgement, and waits until you draw the curtain separating the room, before he speaks.

“I have a magazine shooting next month, and these are the set of questions they’re gonna ask me.” He says, putting the big envelope he had in his clutches on the top of your desk after he takes his seat. “I need help coming up with answers.”

Hyungwon was usually one of the few members who always comes to use the opportunity; the artists are free to ask the writers for help with answers they’ll give for their interviews, and Hyungwon always makes full use of the opportunity, and Shownu and Wonho occasionally drop by too, as well.

You’re always happy to be asked for help, but today, you find yourself sweat-dropping at the thought. You were so sleepy, the only reason you’re not dozing off is because you had forced yourself not to sit down.

“Why?”

“What?”

“You’re usually always excited when I ask for something like this, so why today?”

Ouch. Sometimes, much like you can read the boy’s faces and know what’s going on, they can sometimes do the same for you, too.

“Well, you see....”

“Have you been getting enough sleep?”

Double ouch. You knew the boys - at least, most of them - were good observers, but you didn’t expect Hyungwon to catch on so easily.

“I actually do get enough sleep, but these days, I feel extra sleepy for an hour or so after I wake up.”

This makes Hyungwon chuckle, putting the papers back inside the envelope and turning back to you.

“Welcome to the life of every human being. You sound like you’ve been babied too much.” He has to say, and you watch the way he gets up from his seat and places the envelope inside one of your drawers.

“Let’s get some breakfast.”

“W-What?!”

This makes the male raise an eyebrow, glancing around the room as if he was unsure if it really was you who said that.

“You’re acting as if we have never gone out for a meal together.”

“Well…” You say, because you’ve actually gone with him a couple of times over the four years you’ve been assigned to them.

That was probably because the boys enjoyed ordering in mostly, and eating at their own free times.

Anyhow, it was only a few times, so it definitely did surprise you.

“Okay. Where do we go?”

“I’m in the mood for some eggs and sausages, do you have anything you want to eat?”

“Hey, we’re gonna split the bill okay!?” You hurry to race Hyungwon outside, who goes out in a very knowing way, one that was like a deja vu of the times when he’d butt in when you’re trying to innocently pay for your delivered lunch tray and he’d ask to tab it over to him.

Kihyun was right, he really was different from the way most Monbebe actually looked up at him.

At the restaurant, Hyungwon takes his mask off only after you two are seated at one of the sectioned booths and have ordered your food.

“The pandemic isn’t good, but this is the only thing that I enjoy about it.” He admits, eyes going over to the lack of people inside the place which would usually be filled to the brim with office workers trying to grab a quick breakfast.

“This pandemic has made me a sleepyhead like you.”

“Hey!”

You find yourself smiling so hard around Hyungwon because during breakfast and after you had forcibly paid for you two, on your way back when he offers to buy you coffee - and even remembers your usual order - and the next two hours he spent with you while you helped him write answers and edit what he wrote, it really does not feel like he’s a celebrity at all; but more so as a close friend who makes you feel warm in ways you’ve never felt before.

“Why?”

You snap out from your little trance and go back to typing your script on the laptop, when he interrupts you.

“Why are you smiling? What kind of madness of a show are you writing now?!”

“Hey! Don’t accuse me of writing madness when your Monbebe loves it so much!”

“Yah, that’s too much! Our Monbebe will love us anyway even if you show them us being normal!”

You giggle, because really. When has Monsta X ever been normal?

---

The next day, right after you wake up, you’re working on the itinerary for Monsta X’s upcoming vacation show - a little too late, you had to admit, and that too, when you’re feeling so desperately sleepy like you’ve been feeling lately every morning.

Dawon had gone out to grab breakfast with some of the other staff, and you’re munching on your melon bread, knowing well that the espresso shot you’ve had just a while ago won’t last you for more than 15 minutes.

And it doesn’t.

In fact, you’re actually snoring when your phone rings loudly, making you lift your sorry face up from your laptop keyboard and answering as soon as you pick up the phone.

“Yes, Manager-nim? I’ll send you the itinerary in fifteen minutes!” You say the impossible, because your task in barely done, and you had a feeling you’d fall back onto the laptop keyboard the second the manager hangs up the call.

The sound of familiar chuckling makes you raise an eyebrow and glance at your phone, horrified to see Hyungwon’s name on the display.

“I need it in ten minutes, not fifteen.” He says in a heavy voice, and it makes you huff in embarrassment, glad that he couldn’t see you.

“Very funny, Hyungwon. What did you need?”

“Nothing. Just wanted to wake you up.”

“I was up!”

This makes him laugh yet again, and you sigh, typing on the keyboard as you think about what good excuse you can say.

“If you were up, you wouldn’t have thought I was your manager.”

You let out a little groan, connecting your headphones to the phone so you could multitask while speaking to the male.

“Really, now, Hyungwonnie, what did you really want? Is there something you wanted to ask again?”

“No, I really just called to wake you up.”

“Well. Isn’t that sweet of you.” You say, sarcastically.

The mini banter and sarcastic comments continue for about ten minutes, by which you’d even finished up the itinerary.

So, even if he did laugh at your sleepyhead behaviour - as if he could talk - you made sure to thank him before you go out to take the printouts and finish off your task.

---

And then, that becomes a ritual.

Hyungwon calls you every day at 8 am, right when you’ve signed in for work and are about to head to get some coffee.

He makes small talk with you, talks about little episodes he’d had, and listens to your ideas.

After the first week, you don’t feel sleepy even if you don’t get the coffee; and you don’t even get sleepy after he hangs up.

Every day, it feels like he’s prepared something new, because he makes you laugh so hard that your sleep completely vanishes.

In fact, after a couple of days, he searches up English songs on Genie Music and sings, butchering up a lot of the lyrics on purpose - you know it’s on purpose because Hyungwon has a really good pronunciation when he tries.

One day, you’re butchering up the lyrics of a song along with Hyungwon while you’re writing talk segments for Monsta X’s comeback showcase. Your roommate has been giving you funny looks recently, especially after she asked who was calling you every day and you couldn’t lie and told her it was Hyungwon.

The sudden sound of your door flying wide open and a blonde Lee Minhyuk barrelling into your room makes you stop your singing.

“Oh. So it was you, huh.” He has to say, making himself comfortable on your beanbag chair, and drawing the cloth partition between your room when Dawon - your roommate - keeps staring.

Really, Minhyuk does not know what filters are supposed to be.

“What do you mean?” You ask, and from your headphone, Hyungwon hears his friend’s voice, so he dismisses the call after saying he’ll see you again later.

“So it was you Hyungwonie has been getting up every morning to sing his heart out, huh?”

You stare at him, baffled. “Well, he does sing some normal songs, but he mostly sings crack-”

“He usually never wakes up on his own even if he has schedules, and now he has an alarm to call you every day? What, are you guys dating or something?”

“Yah, Minhyuk, what are you saying!!” You hiss, horrified, because the cloth partition does little to block out sounds from the other side.

“I always tell people if they like someone, to stop being so obvious and just ask them out. It’s easy!!”

“It’s not easy and omg shut up!! He’s just calling me because he’s waking me up, he’s just being kind!”

“Hyungwon never wakes up for us, he’s never kind to us, then! And he’s always still sleepy even if he wakes you up, because he goes straight back to bed after he wakes you up!”

You sigh out loud in frustration, shaking your head. “Come on. What did you want, Minhyukkie?”

Minhyuk gives you a knowing smile before he shakes his head, handing you the binded notebook he had in his clutches.

“You’ll give me a read-over, right? I told you about the radio-show I’m gonna start hosting in a few weeks, right? The concept is clear, but I have some topics I want to talk about and I made some scripts about how I could continue the talk.”

“You got it. I’ll need some time, though, how does Thursday sound?”

“Perfect. Thanks!” He gives you a flying kiss that makes you laugh, and then he’s out as fast as he came barreling in.

---

You expected Hyungwon to stop the calling after the confining to your room rule gets lifted up and you’ve started to go to the office for work.

But he doesn’t, and he sounds as if he’s never been as prepared before as he is now.

Even when the comeback is near and he must be practising into the late hours of the night, he never misses a single day.

A few days before the comeback, you find him having lunch with Shownu, and it’s the first time you’ve seen him in a while - and you hadn’t seen his new hair till then too.

For the first time in the four years you’ve been assigned to work with Monsta X, you take a good look at Hyungwon.

A really, really good look.

At first, he hadn’t noticed you, and while you’re refilling your water bottle with chilled water, you notice the way he’s smiling a little while he listens to what Shownu is saying. The way he uses his hand to brush the fringe of his hair he’s dyed blonde is attractive for the first time - and you’d always thought he was a really, really handsome young man… But this is the first time he looks so attractive that you feel like you’re in a daze, staring at him until chilled water fills up your bottle and pours on your fingers, finally catching your attention.

What gives?

The little yelp you let out makes both Shownu and Hyungwon glance over at you - noticing you for the first time. Hyungwon’s eyes go wide, the top of his palm going up to cover his mouth.

“Ah, [Name]-ah. How are you?” Shownu calls over to you, ever so naturally, and you greet him with a smile when it looks like he’s motioning for you to come over.

“I haven’t seen you in a while. Are you doing well?”

“I’m doing good, Hyunwoo-oppa. You guys must be working super hard for the comeback, right?” You say, glancing at Hyungwon, and for the first time ever, you think he’s actually… blushing ?!

It makes you flustered, thinking about what Minhyuk had talked to you about, while he accused you two of dating. Really, Minhyuk had no filters, it never fails to drive you insane sometimes.

“Yeah! You can expect a lot, please do support us a lot!”

You turn to look at Shownu, beaming at his friendly and charming smile before you excuse yourself and head back before you felt your head would explode.

Now, what the heck was that all about!?

Whatever it was, you were definitely going to blame Minhyuk for this!

---

It absolutely surprises you when Hyungwon doesn’t fail to call you, even the following morning.

You guess you had just imagined it in your head yesterday when Hyungwon looked flustered to see you.

Stupid Minhyuk! It was all in your head after all.

“Now that today’s dumb song segment is over,” Hyungwon says, after he sings a butchered up version of Pretty Please, “I’m gonna sing a song from our album!”

“Oh? Will that be okay?”

“Well, you’ll hear the album preview later today, so, why not?” He has to say. “It’s one of my favorites from the album.”

And then, he sings up to the second chorus of Beautiful Night - a song you fall in love with instantly, because the lyrics are so beautiful and Hyungwon sings as if he’s doing so with his whole soul. It almost makes your eyes teary, and you can barely tell him that you love it, before you have to excuse yourself with a little lie.

Since when did Hyungwon’s voice sound this emotional? It’s been over four years, but his voice has always been the same, beautiful voice as before. You open up Genie music, playing some of the older albums, listening to Hyungwon’s voice in the songs, and you feel like you’ve missed out this side of Hyungwon completely, this madly romantic side of him that sounds so sincere that it makes your heart race.

What is going on, seriously…

---

As the days pass by, the little tingle in your heart whenever you see or hear Hyungwon keeps on getting more and more painful.

In fact, by the end of Monsta X’s three-week promotions for Fantasia X, hearing Hyungwon singing songs for you become almost unbearably sad.

Despite having to wake up earlier, or even having to excuse himself in the middle of getting his hair and makeup done, he makes sure to call you - even if you’re sitting and listening to him when he’s in the same room as you are in.

You realize you can’t hold out your expressions if it’s in front of him, so you make sure to get up and go away somewhere when Hyungwon’s call arrives every day at 8 am on the dot.

It’s a warm Saturday morning, and you’re on your bed, your earpods on and listening to Fantasia X on Genie when Hyungwon’s call of the day arrives.

Today, it’s different.

Usually, he sings a trot song, or a really ugly version of an English song with the hopes of making you laugh so much that your sleep completely vanishes.

But today, he doesn’t say anything and immediately starts to sing soulfully; today, he sings Newton, one of your absolute favorite songs by the group, and…

The way he sings it is so, so sad .

Something inside your heart feels like it is burning, and unknowingly, your eyes brim with tears, because…

All the things Minhyuk had told you, all the things you’ve been thinking about Hyungwon lately, all the little glances he sends your way and then looks away when he sees you’re watching…

You feel your emotions going haywire, and your wishful thinking makes you start crying and you pray to god that Hyungwon, who’s singing the chorus so beautiful and sincerely does not notice.

It’s almost unbearable, and you take off your earpods and have him on speaker, thankful that he doesn’t notice you’ve reached for tissues to wipe your tears.

Since when did I start feeling this way about him?

How can I think this way about one of the members I work for?

Why does Hyungwon sing as if he’s singing just for me, and only me?

Why does it feel like we are never able to meet eyes now?

You have so many questions and no answers, and your hands are shaking as you try to press record on your phone because he sounds so, so beautiful and your crying is not helping you in focusing on his sincere singing.

It is at this moment that the door to your room flies open, and your roommate, Dawon enter the room, then freezes when she sees you crying.

“What’s going on?!”

You’re only able to hand over the phone to her, and mumble a little “Please record it for me” through your sobs.

Dawon looks very confused, raising an eyebrow when she looks at the receiver and sees that it is Hyungwon, on the call.

At that moment, Hyungwon wraps up his singing, clearing his throat a little and speaks for the first time today.

“[Name]-ah.”

You find yourself sniffling, glancing at Dawon who looks visibly upset now… and you can’t even blame her…

“[Name]-ah.” He calls your name again, and this is one of the things that makes you sad in regards to Hyungwon, because… He is a member of Monsta X, one of the manlier groups in the industry for sure, but… He’s so gentle and sweet, a kind-hearted soul, and he does not lack in anything, as he has proudly claimed so.

Even the way he calls your name out is so gentle that it makes more tears stream down your face, and you’re almost scared at how to answer whatever Hyungwon would ask from you.

“[Name]-ah. I have something I have to tell you, in person.”

Your eyes meet with Dawon, who now looks wide-eyed, and you were sure you would probably look the same.

“I… I have to tell you this in person, so, if you… If you’re willing, would you like to… go for dinner with me today?”

More tears stream down your face, and now you know you can never look Dawon in the eyes either so you bury your face on one of your pillows, heart aching too much to do anything else.

“Hyungwon-ssi.”

Dawon speaks into the speakerphone, and it makes you glance at her, wondering what she was going to say.

Hyungwon replies with a loud ‘Huh?’ in confusion.

“Hyungwon-ssi, I’m sorry, but [Name] is outside and she left her phone here.”

Dawon looks at you, lips pressed into a thin line. You feel so uneasy, and it felt like Hyungwon felt the same, because he starts to stammer.

“Wh-Wha? What?! If [Name] wasn’t the one who answered, then wh- Whaaaaa!” You hear a loud whine before the call gets disconnected with a quick mumble of “Sorry!”.

Dawon hurls the phone at your bed, and leaves the room without a word, and it pains your heart so much that you feel like you’ll die.

A text message pops up on your phone a little while later and seeing the text makes you feel a little dizzy, even.

‘If you’re freely going to allow other people to roam through your phone even, I don’t think I have any other choice but to come to see you right away.’

What?

Wait, does he mean-

You hurry to grab your phone and iPad, wiping your face as best as you could and going out of your room. You find Minhyuk and Kihyun using the Xbox in the lounge, so you quietly take a seat near them, greeting them and opening up your iPad without another word.

“[Name]-ah, why do you look so weird?”

“Yah, Minhyuk, how can you say something so rude?!”

You shake your head and give a weak smile at the two, opening up your notepad and leaning against the couch.

A moment passes by, and Minhyuk moves closer to you on the couch, so close that you actually move a little back as well.

“What?”

“I finished my game with Kihyunnie. So. Why? Why do you look so sad? Did Hyungwonie hurt you?”

Now, you’ve been doing a good job of not crying since you got out of the room, but seeing Minhyuk’s worried face and then remembering Hyungwon’s words - along with Minhyuk hitting a bullseye right away… All of that combine together and it makes you start to cry again.

“Wha? Hey?!” Minhyuk looks very startled, and he usually never looks surprised like he doesn’t know what to do, but today he looks like he’s at a dead end, and you allow him to grab your hand and tell Kihyun he’ll be right back, before he hurries to drag you over to the other end of the lounge near the vending machines.

“Yah, what is going on with you lately? Hyungwon really said something mean to you, didn’t he? Sheesh. Acting like he’s in love with you and then making you cry like this? I didn’t expect him out of everyone to behave this way.”

The more Minhyuk spoke, the worse you felt, and you’re barely able to ask him if he could be kind enough to leave you alone for a second when you hear a familiar voice calling your name.

“[Name]-ah…. Minhyuk-ah?!”

You and Minhyuk glance up to see Hyungwon approaching you, and you hurry to take your hand away from Minhyuk’s clutch.

Really, Hyungwon couldn’t have caught a worse timing.

Minhyuk shoots you a sad look, then gets up from his seat, goes to say something to Kihyun, then the two of them leave while Kihyun glances at you with a worried look on his face. You can’t get yourself to look at Hyungwon, so you’re looking at your hands, fingers fumbling while Hyungwon stands in his spot in front of you, not saying a single word.

More tears fall down your face when you remember Minhyuk’s words - and how wrong was he to assume the worst from the sweetest person you know, and it pains your heart because you knew if you looked in his eyes, you wouldn’t be able to stop crying.

“Why?”

Hyungwon says a single word, and honestly, that was the only thing you didn’t have an answer for.

Why were you crying?

You didn’t know.

Why can’t you look at Hyungwon?

You had no clue.

Why did Minhyuk know right away?

That too, you didn’t know at all.

Why can’t you answer him?

You had no reason.

So instead, you find tears streaming down your face, and you wish you could leave, but you felt like you owed Hyungwon at least this much, to hear what he had to say even if you felt like something was cutting through your heart.

��Stand up.”

It’s the first time you’ve heard him ask you to do something in that voice, an angry, impatient voice you’ve never imagined you’d ever be on the receiving end for.

“[Name]-ah.”

You hum in response, eyes on the ground. Hyungwon lets out an exhale and you can feel your hands trembling because it’s while you’re looking at his shoes with an aching heart, that you realize something you’ve been wishing so hard was not true.

You were in love with Chae Hyungwon.

Out of completely nowhere, so naturally.... You were so madly in love with Chae Hyungwon; so much that looking at him now would be too much to take, now.

“You heard everything I said, didn’t you?”

Now, that’s something you didn’t expect to hear from him. He had sounded so worried and embarrassed on the phone so you didn’t think he would have any suspicious, but here he was, showing you that he certainly did.

It makes you look up at his face for the first time today, and it pains your heart.

It paints your heart, because he’s wearing clothes with a lot of creases - something he’s been wearing to sleep, and he has on a beanie that covers most of his messy-looking hair, and he’s looking at you with puffy eyes and a frown that hurts so much to look at.

You couldn’t bear to look at him anymore so you shake your head in response. Hyungwon looks visibly disappointed, like he knew right away that you were lying. You think he has something more he wants to say, because his lips part a little… And then, he lets out a sigh and shakes his head as well.

“If you are this burdened by how I feel, then…” Hyungwon’s voice trails off, taking a step back and then turning around. You watch the way he walks out of the lounge without a word, and if you felt like you’d never been more hurt before, you were completely wrong, because nothing pained your heart more than watching the male leave like that, as if he had so much to say and couldn’t…. Just like how you felt while you sink back on the couch and cry your heart out.

And from that day onwards, Hyungwon doesn’t call you again.

-----

#hyungwon #chaehyungwon #monsta x #monsta x hyungwon #fluff #slowburn #pls help i love hyungwon so much

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sugar-petals · 5 years ago

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I know that you're a multifan so I hope you won't reject my offer. There isn't much shinee fans around here so there isn't enough readings/analysis about them. Can you please make a reading about their ideal types or future partners type of reading? I love your writings, you put so much detail into it. I hope you'll do one for them like the one you did for BTS. I love shinee but people nowadays only know taemin so there isn't much info about others yet I'm curious about them all😭

let’s have a look: here goes their future partner prediction. includes an oracle message from jonghyun to the members at the end.

♡ minho: ACE OF SWORDS

i am sure this person is an accomplished academic, they hold some kind of important title. interestingly, minho’s partner will be a bit younger than him, the aces in tarot are a very youthful, start-of-everything card. they have a lot of interest in technology, online business, social networking, writing, languages in general. this is a well-spoken type, sharp wit ahead. it could be a popular instagrammer or youtuber. they know to express themselves clearly. minho will appreciate their honesty and authentic character, their ability to talk about difficult topics and intellectual debates. they might be from a mountainous region. a hand is very prominently depicted on the ACE OF SWORDS which leads me to think that this is their signature body part and charm point. they could have prominent bone structure, sharp looks. their zodiac sign could be libra, gemini, aquarius.

♡ taemin: KING OF WANDS

as we know… wowza, this is a very powerful archetype with a lot of fiery energy coming with it. taemin’s partner will certainly be the boss at home. a very assertive lover who knows what they want in relationships, no doormat in sight here. they carry themselves with seasoned authority. you’ll be able to see it from a mile away. they love to wear red, dress boldly, they’re tall, too. like in onew’s case, taemin’s partner will be older than him. taemin will be wowed by their temper and majestic behavior. the KING OF WANDS never minces words and proudly lets other people know what s/he can do. i can see their region of origin as similar to key’s actually, it’s a hotter country below the equator, very dry kind of landscapes. the salamander is a prominent animal on the card, it could be their pet. the spiritual meaning of the salamander is resilience, this is taemin’s partner in a nutshell. their zodiac sign could be aries, leo, sagittarius.

♡ onew: THE HERMIT

now this could be a sign that onew will stay single for a bit longer than the other members, or it tells us that his partner is the reclusive and cozy kind. i believe the latter is the case. onew’s partner is on a serious spiritual journey right now. it’s the kind of person who does a lot of soul searching and pondering. they don’t speak a lot but they’re actually very, very smart. since the hermit is sort of the grandpa in the tarot lmao… it’ll be somebody older than him. significantly so, or the person comes across as wise so you’d think they’re older. it’s somebody from a colder country, there’s snow visible on the card. that same quality applies to their personality, this is not someone with heated emotions like key’s or taemin’s lovers. they are calm, cool, collected. not laid-back, just subdued. their zodiac sign could be virgo, this is traditionally associated with the hermit.

♡ key: KNIGHT OF WANDS

kibum is meeting someone on eye-level here. somebody wild and free and flamboyant. yes, they love to dress up, too. mark your calendar for halloween. they can pretty much share a wardrobe and will dominate red carpets and the first row at catwalks worldwide. fashion, baby! his partner will be younger or of the same age. you can see the three pyramids or gizeh on the card so you will find a connection to egypt in their origin, or the middle east in general. this is a person who has a hobbyhorse — literally, the card shows a prancing horse — that revolves around vehicles. i’m not kidding. key’s partner has a flashy sports car, you bet your lightstick. they will be living life like a roadmovie; it’s someone key will enthusiastically travel a lot with, they’re always on the move as a pair. their zodiac sign could be aries, leo, sagittarius.

👼 ORACLE CARD BONUS ➝ i also pulled angel cards to potentially get a message from jonghyun. i asked what he wants to tell them for their future partnerships.

to minho: “you deserve the best! reach for the stars with your dreams and wishes and don’t compromise anything.”

to taemin: “you have the gift to work with young people. your purpose involves helping kids, to teach them or to raise them.”

to onew: “there will be a positive change among your relatives/partnerships. there might be an addition to your family.”

to key: “you will receive the money that you require. it’s up to a higher power. keep the faith.”

#i.e. it's likely onew and taemin will become notable fathers #anon #cub mail 🐅#shinee #tarot #tarot reading #shinee tarot reading #onew #minho #jonghyun #taemin #key #kibum #angel cards #oracle cards #partner prediction

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characterdump-dean · 4 years ago

Text

Jung Hyunsook

age: 26

fc: Min Yoongi (AKA: Suga)

Height: 5′7

sexuality: Gay

tw: rape, sexual assault, abuse, alcoholism

When Jung Hyunsook was born, they didn't know his gender but dad wanted a little girl so bad they decided to go with Hyunsook and when he was born a boy, dad couldn't help but be horribly disappointed about it. He didn't bond with Hyunsook at all because the kid wasn't what he wanted. But five years later, Soomi was born. His little sister. She was his everything, hyunsook loved her more than anything in the world and so did the whole family. Things were good, but Hyunsook didn't get my love and affection from either of his parents because Soomi was literally everything they wanted. He did his best but nothing ever made them happy. Sookie wasn't sure if it was something his dad enforced but either way. He still loved his little sister. When she was 3 and Sookie was 8, they moved to America and lived there for a while. Everything was fine, they visited Korea a lot but his dad wanted a taste of that American life. Sookie got into trouble a lot, he was always trying to her his parents attention, even if it was negative attention. America just made that worse, of course. Learned behaviors from the other kids and such.

When Hyunsook was 10, his sister was 5, it was Hyunsook's birthday, he was turning 11 and they were outside playing while waiting for their parents to come out. They told him to watch his sister which of course he did, but at some point he wanted to get the water guns and he asked Soomi to stay on the sidewalk. He figured it would be fine, he was just going to get the water gun from the chest against the house. There was a screech, a scream and when he turned around there was blood. And his sister was dead, having been hit by a car while going out to get the chalk that rolled onto the street. From then on, every year on his birthday, Hyunsook’s dad would beat him. Like legit beat him. The bruises would be under clothes so no one would know of course. His dad turned to drinking a lot too, and when he would hurt Hyunsook, his mother would turn away. They both blamed him for his sisters death even though mom wouldn't say it out loud or act on it. He would act out in school, hoping someone would notice how much pain he was in but no one ever noticed. No one saw the suffering he was going through.

When he turned 14, they moved back to Korea so Hyunsook would learn to be a proper Korean gentleman. When Sookie was 16 years old, he applied to be a model with his mothers permission, his parents thought he would make some decent money with that so it was perfect for them. He was accepted and started getting some attention. At age 17, hyunsook started to drink and party a lot. His name was Rebelette in the fashion industry because he challenged the way they asked him to do things but not to the point where he was going to be fired. And he was asked to act like a bad boy. It was highly sought after these days anyway.

Unfortunately, the attention it got him wasn't all good. Hyunsook got caught alone in a store one day and got dragged into the back by 4 men who took turns violating Hyunsook. It was super violent rape and after it happened, he was too afraid to tell anyone. The men also had masks on their faces and hid from him so he couldn't see who had attacked him. They had kept telling him it was his fault for having a girls name and way too pretty of a face. To this day he has scars on his wrists from being tied up which he hides easily with make up. At 18, he moved away from his parents but he sent them money every year and visited his parents on his birthday out of guilt so they could berate him. It was his fault for Soomi's death and he deserved to be beat for it, after all. He met his best friend Kibum during this time and he had someone to be friends with. He took care of Kibum because Kibum was homeless and ended up being super close with him. At 19, he met Sungki and they became pretty good friends. Sookie knew that Sungki was gay before Sungki knew and hes always been a huge supporter. Then Sookie fell for another idol he had met from a group called Vista. Jaebum was the best thing to ever happen to him. But Hyunsook was an alcoholic and gave into temptation easily and put a big strain on their relationship. Hyunsook and Jaebum were together secretly for a while, jaebum changed Sookie for the better. He then found out Jaebum was Jongin's brother. When all of the stuff about Sungki came out being gay and all that, sookie had to be very careful about his friend and talking to him. And vista became bigger. He and Jaebum drifted apart and ended up breaking it off with him. Also there was a lot of staring between them because of Kibum and Kibum was like his best friend ever and they were super close till Kibum moved to america to persue being a dancer. When Sungki went to america and everything happened with Jongin, he decided he didnt want to be a model anymore, retired and moved to America to be with his best friends who both live in the same city.

He’d been living with Sungki until one day, Sungki ended up trying to take his life and ended up in the hospital in a coma. Hyunsook visited him everyday until one day he woke up and now Hyunsook dedicates a lot of his time helping his best friend with the mental issues he has with his suicidal ideals. When he isn’t doing that, Hyunsook is a vlogger on Youtube and an instagram model but his secret job is having an only fans under the name Sweetie Evie where he sells faceless photos of his body for money.

-He still has issues with alcoholism.

-He still sends money to his father every month

-He has a hard time loving himself but he pretends he does so everyone will leave him alone about his own depression.

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dibidibifiction · 4 years ago

Text

Criminal In My Mind: Chapter 9

WARNING: smut; foul language

Pairing: Choi Minho x Reader Word count: 1.9k (1.1k without the smut)

Writer’s note: If you’re not comfortable with smut, it’s okay to skip it. I put an asterisk mark on where it starts.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction made for personal entertainment of readers. The writer does not ever intend to offend her readers nor does she aim to spread false information about anyone as to pay any disrespect to the real-life persons whom the characters are based on. She also does not claim ownership to any of the images that are being used.

masterlist Chapter 8

Y/N

As I now get irritated by Kibum and Jonghyun smooching off each others’ mouths, I watch Minho gather with my dad and some other guy I’ve hardly seen before. Must be one of his patients.

By the second I walk towards them, Minho is already by himself, his eyes to the floor, unblinking.

“Who was that?” I ask him.

“Your dad just introduced me to one of his patients,” he tells me. And there it is again, his obvious forced smile.

“Hey, do you want to go for a walk outside for a bit?” I suggest. “And we can get my mom’s vases on our way back.”

“Sure,” for some reason his smile becomes natural. He’s probably relieved that he’s catching a break from this crowd for a moment.

We step out the front door as the cold wind welcomes us. We walk our way to Minho’s car parked not far from here.

“Your parents are nice, kind of misleading from what you said earlier about them,” he starts while we walk.

When I least expect it, he interlocks his fingers with mine.

I can feel my temples starting to sweat, but I have to act cool. “Uh, y-yeah. They didn’t use to be like that though. I don’t know what happened but, one day, before I graduated college, it seemed like they just magically changed and told me to do whatever I want in life and just be happy.”

Minho laughs with his deep sexy, manly voice.

“How are you holding up?” I ask him after a few seconds of silence.

“I’m feeling better now,” he smiles as he puts his head down. “Thanks to you,” he then stares into my eyes.

My heart begins to jump as if trying to escape my ribs. His eyes are all I see now. His big beautiful dark brown eyes that reflect in the moonlight. The second I feel hot and realize that I’m staring back at him, I blink quickly and look down to break eye contact.

But Minho’s eyes do not leave me. He draws forward closer to me, making me back up until I reach his car behind me. He pulls me onto his body by my waist, then leans in for his lips to touch mine.

My stomach twists this very moment. I’m having trouble believing that his sweet soft lips are now on mine instead of the other way around. And more importantly, no one is drunk.

This night couldn’t be more perfect.

. . .

It is now deeper into the night and the last thing I remember was waving our goodbyes to my parents, Kibum and Jonghyun Oppa while getting in the car with Minho to drive back home.

But then, gradually, the space around me becomes claustrophobic. Why do I find myself in some kind of container? I start to hear the sound of hissing drills and loud cries. I feel the excruciating pain from the insides of my flank.

I try to scream for help but my voice comes out mute. The pain on my side intensifies the more I try to scream. I attempt to shake my body but it feels pinned still. Somebody grabs me by my arms and their grasp starts to tighten more and more like it’s going to break-

“Y/n!”

I gasp awake. Trembling. Catching my breath.

Minho is cupping my face in his hands. He seems disturbed and shocked.

After fear has struck me again, followed by a rush of relief so rapidly, my world starts to spin. I can’t help but feel overwhelmed and feel the urge to cry.

So I do. Hard. Burying my face into Minho’s embrace.

“It’s okay. I’m here. You’re okay,” he says softly as he consoles me, stroking my hair very lightly.

Minutes have passed and I’m still in Minho’s arms. He seems to have fallen asleep while we’re still in the car.

I feel the guilt nibbling my guts for tiring him so much.

“Minho?” I call out very softly.

He snorts awake, startled. “Are you okay?”

I can’t help but laugh a little because he is so fucking cute. “I’m fine. I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, don’t,” he touches my face again. “I want you to be okay.”

I decided to let Minho stay over at my apartment for the night. He must be too exhausted to drive home since we had such a long day.

I walk into the living room closet to put out sheets and pillows for him but the shelf is too high for my tiny little limbs to reach. When I almost lose my balance, Minho catches me from behind.

“Be careful,” he says, helping me stand back up.

I suddenly feel hot out of embarrassment so I turn away from him. “Can you please get those down?” I point to the pillows and comforter at the top shelf.

Without looking back, I quickly run to the bathroom and face the mirror.

“Get your shit together, Y/n!” I whisper to myself.

I sigh at my reflection. I then brush my teeth and wash up for bed.

After a few minutes of a calming hot shower, I now wrap myself into my bathrobe. When I turn the knob and pull open the door, I get flabbergasted by Minho’s chest almost smashing my nose. I look up at him and I find myself stuttering, having no idea what to say.

“Sorry, I thought you’re already in your room,” he says, his face looking down at mine, confused and astounded.

Because I’m starting to panic and don’t know what to do, I just go with my instincts, rush to my bedroom, and slam the door behind me.

After eventually trying to catch my breath, I change into my pajamas. I then approach the door and put my ear against it, trying to figure out if Minho is already sleeping.

When I don’t hear anything, I pull the door open to reveal him with his fist in front of him, about to knock.

Time stops for us for who knows how long as we stare at each other, he takes one step towards me, then I bring myself forward to him. Before I realize it, we now crash our lips together.

***

I find myself in a moment that I never thought would happen this soon but still, deep inside, I was hoping it would. A rush of chill streams through my veins and my legs grow weak. I almost fall in toward him.

Minho opens his mouth to let his tongue find mine as I help him remove his jacket. With my arms now wrapped around his neck, he touches my lower back to inch me closer. Now my crotch is touching his hard-on.

His one hand then cups my cheek to push my face back slightly in order to catch some air, his thumb on my lower lip. When I open my eyes to look at him, his are closed.

He pulls me in again for a longer kiss. This time, it feels hotter and more exciting as our hungry mouths become sloppier together.

He then starts to move forward into my bedroom to make me motion backward until we reach the bed. He pulls away for a second, opens his eyes, and stares at me with those greedy lustful eyes. I can almost hear him say, “I hope you’re ready for this” under his fast breaths.

He leans in for one more taste before he seizes my legs apart with his strong hands that make me crash onto the mattress. He drags me to the center of the bed while continuing to kiss me and proceeds on top of me. He sinks himself into me as he starts to suck on my neck, immediately hitting just the right spot. I open my mouth for stunned pleasure. He now switches from his lips to his teeth and tongue.

“Minho,” I let out a moan. It makes his lips crawl down to my collarbone. My mouth begins to dry from breathing so quickly and so deeply. I reach for the hem of his t-shirt, sit up to pull it off his arms, and throw it to the floor.

Here, on top of me, uncovers Minho’s brawny alluring chest and his prominent seductive abs. I forget to breathe for a second. I admire his bare upper body. Now I’m afraid of what’s going to happen to me once his overall body unfolds before me.

I try to find the first button of my pajama top to get it undone when Minho grabs my hand and stops me.

“Let me undress you,” he says, his voice growing husky.

He leans forward to carry on kissing me while starts to unbutton my shirt. He grasps me by the shoulders and sits me up to completely strip my top off. Then pushes me back down gently.

His hand makes its way to my crotch, making me moan again. He hooks his fingers through the garter of my bottoms and pulls them down. He crawls back up to meet my eyes as his fingers find my clit and all the way down to my hole over my underwear, motioning them circularly, making me almost faint when he applies more pressure.

“Holy fuck, you’re soaking,” he groans.

He then almost hurriedly climbs off the bed to strip all his bottoms and reveal his muscled-up legs and already hardened manhood.

Fuck, this is it! This is how I’m going to die.

He reaches out to remove my panties. I observe him tower over me, touch his abs in worship as two of his fingers insert in and out of the crest of my waterfall.

I accidentally let out a loud cry as the hot sensation intensifies. He then settles on top of me, looks into my eyes, and lets me watch him bring his fingers to his lips and sucks on them.

He holds the end of his cock against my entrance and starts pushing in, filling up my hole all the way up to my spot. He slides in and out of me so effortlessly because he already got me wet ever since the closet, but I can still feel every inch of his length and thickness.

I can’t help but gasp as he is starting to thrust harder, and eventually, faster. Just as when I thought I could already die like this, he grunts at me with his face turning red as he shivers with lust, grabbing my thighs for more grip while he carries on slamming his hips against me repeatedly. Although he is panting, his pace is so quick and tough that I can hardly keep up.

Tears begin to form from my eyes for I am close to my climax. I’m whimpering for the unbelievable pleasure I’m receiving with him nailing my g-spot, together with the view of his firm movement and his body glistening with sweat in between my legs.

“Oh, God, Minho!” My scream is high and loud. I’m coming. “Fuck, I’m-”

I shake into paradise.

But Minho doesn’t even flinch from sustaining his pace. I’m already dead but he still continues to kill me. His moan grows louder.

He then stops, looks to the heavens and takes out his dick to let his head burst with his cum just below my belly button. And now lets out a long warm sigh from inhaling too much.

He pants deeply as he touches my forehead with his. Still shaking, he kisses me one more time on the lips. “God, you’re amazing,” he says under his breath. Then crashing onto the empty space next to me.

Chapter 10

#i hope you guys enjoyed this chapter #it gets better the more the story progresses #ktm cimm #ktm cimm c9 #shinee fanfic #shinee #shinee fiction #minho smut #shinee minho smut #choi minho x reader #shinee fanfiction #smut #choi minho smut #shinee smut #minho shinee smut #minho x reader #shinee fluff #choi minho fluff #minho fluff

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luvjjongtae · 3 years ago

Text

The Honeymoon Suite - Ch. 3: Sweet Dreams

Read Ch. 1 here

Pairing / AU info: Kim Kibum x Choi Minho. College AU.

No warnings apply. This is fluff!

Word count: 4.6k

Minho and Kibum didn’t sleep together for two weeks.

And Kibum was suffering. Every morning he woke up and Minho was already gone, making a point to get up and leave earlier than him. They didn’t text or call. Their dinners ceased altogether, and Minho always came back to the dorm after Kibum had fallen asleep.

Well, pretended to be asleep. Kibum not only knew he was having nightmares and fits in his sleep but was now apparently an insomniac, taking at least two hours every night to finally fall asleep. His puffy eyes and dark circles became more prominent than they ever were before.

Minho and Kibum occasionally talked about mundane things like Japanese homework or whether to leave the window open now that the weather was nice. But their conversations were short and curt, neither of them willing to bring up that night again.

After the fifteenth night of not sleeping together (Kibum had counted), he downed his third cup of coffee just that morning, willing himself to stay awake through his math class.

“You good, Kibum?”

Kibum’s eyes snapped open at the whisper of his good friend, Jonghyun, at his side. He had already started dozing off again. That wasn’t a good sign. “Huh?” Kibum said, looking around bewildered.

“You look exhausted, man. Are you sure you should be here today?” Jonghyun asked quietly with concern.

“You know I can’t miss this class,” Kibum grumbled, refocusing on the board and copying down the notes he’d missed when he had been dozing off. “I’m barely passing.”

“Whatever you say,” Jonghyun said, raising his hands up in defeat. “But don’t strain yourself, okay?”

“Sure,” Kibum said halfheartedly. He knew Jonghyun had his best interests at heart but his other friend Jinki had already given him a lecture about falling asleep in the middle of a student government meeting earlier that morning, and he wasn’t ready to deal with that again. “Don’t worry about me, Jjong.”

Jonghyun arched a questioning eyebrow at Kibum but stayed silent, returning to his notes as well. Relieved that he wasn’t going to be lectured or interrogated, Kibum widened his eyes as far as he could and tried to keep them that way, feeling them starting to dry up dangerously fast.

After all his classes were over, Kibum decided he was just going to go to his dorm and take a well-deserved afternoon nap. He didn’t have to worry about an awkward interaction with Minho there because he knew he had practice at this time, so he unlocked their door with a click and groaned loudly when he went inside, dropping his backpack with a bang on the floor.

But then he froze. Minho was there, asleep on his bed. Was his practice canceled? Did he also want to take an afternoon nap? Kibum tried grabbing his backpack and retreating quietly so as to not disturb him but the sounds he had made before already seemed to have woken up Minho, who stirred in his sheets and stretched his arms out with a sigh.

Kibum saw him blink a few times and then lock eyes with him at the door and froze in place. “Kibum?” Minho said quietly.

“Sorry, I’ll leave now.” Kibum flung his backpack over his shoulder and turned to leave.

“No, it’s fine,” Minho said firmly, stopping Kibum who had his hand on the doorknob to leave. “I’m done with my nap anyway.” Kibum heard Minho shuffle around in his sheets and get up.

Kibum turned around to face Minho again, a new resolve to work this out grounding him in place. “But you never take naps. You always said it’s too bright during the day.”

“Yeah? Well, I took one today. Sue me,” Minho snapped back, grabbing his backpack and slipping his shoes on. “I gotta go now,” he said, pointedly looking straight past Kibum at the door behind him.

Kibum stood straighter and stepped to the side to block Minho’s way to the door. “Minho, wait. We need to talk,” he said authoritatively. Enough was enough.

“Not now, Kibum,” Minho said, his eyes darting around to look at everything in their room besides Kibum. “I have somewhere to be.”

“No,” Kibum said, puffing out his chest in determination. “We need to talk.”

“I said, not now,” Minho grumbled through gritted teeth as he roughly pushed past Kibum and grabbed the door handle, flinging the door open aggressively and stomping out to the hall. Kibum watched him leave, the sting in his heart that had been there for two weeks amplified by Minho’s attitude towards him now.

His heart sank when he realized that maybe Minho didn’t want to fix their relationship. Kibum had made an effort to reach out and Minho had only stormed off. Maybe Minho just didn’t care anymore. Kibum could see it now: Minho would wait out the final month of the semester, take his finals, and get a new roommate for next year. He’d never talk to Kibum again and block his number. Kibum would become a distant memory from that one trip to Tokyo he took his sophomore year of college.

And the thought terrified Kibum.

That night, Kibum wrapped himself up in his blankets and angrily stabbed at a stubborn piece of chocolate with a spoon in the tub of cookies and cream ice cream he had indiscriminately been eating while watching a Netflix show on his bed. Was he sulking? Probably. Did he care? Not enough to stop him from swallowing another large spoonful of ice cream.

Minho wasn’t there, as expected. He had been arriving back at the dorm later and later every night, and Kibum knew he was going to sleep alone in the dorm again. Near midnight, Kibum noticed his eyes drooping, the empty ice cream container forgotten on the floor by his bed. He couldn’t remember how the last episode of the Netflix show he had been watching ended, and, blinking sleepily, he shut his laptop and willed himself to fall asleep, praying that the insomnia wouldn’t interfere. He was so sleep-deprived that he had to. Right?

His thought process was correct because Kibum woke up what he figured was a few hours later in a cold sweat to an insistent shushing and whispering near his ear. Stirring slightly and adjusting his eyes to the dark, he could make out the whispering after a few moments. “Shhh, stop screaming,” the voice said gently and repeatedly.

In his sleepiness, Kibum hadn’t realized that there was a warm body pressed up against his back. Minho. His strong arms were wrapped around Kibum’s shivering body, his chin resting on his shoulder. “Shhh,” Minho said again.

“Minho?” Kibum breathed out in disbelief. Minho was in bed with him again?

“Just sleep,” Minho said gently, his hand reaching up to pet Kibum’s hair comfortingly. He sounded half-asleep. “Everything’s all right.”

But Kibum felt completely awake. His eyes snapped open and he sat up in bed, pushing Minho’s arm off him. “Wait, wait, wait,” Kibum said, rubbing his temples as he felt the blood rush up to his head quickly. “Minho, what are you doing? I thought you were mad at me.”

Minho just reached up groggily, his eyes still closed. His hand waved around and caught ahold of Kibum’s elbow, trying to drag him back down to bed. “Bummie,” he whined, “let’s just sleep. I’m tired.”

“Okay,” Kibum said in a soft voice, letting Minho pull him back down and trap him in his embrace on the bed. But Kibum wiggled around a bit and managed to turn so that he was facing Minho, his arms still locked around Kibum’s body. “Is…everything really alright?” Kibum asked quietly, his forehead almost touching Minho’s nose. He could feel his breathing.

“Mmm, yes,” Minho said sleepily, hugging Kibum tighter to his body, his eyes still closed.

Kibum’s eyes widened impossibly in surprise, but after a moment, he let himself melt into the embrace, snuggling his head into Minho’s shoulder. “But…but you were mad at me before,” Kibum insisted.

“I was never mad at you,” Minho said, his voice stronger and more awake. Kibum’s insistent talking had probably woken him up more fully by now. “I guess I was just mad about the situation,” he admitted, resting his chin now on the top of Kibum’s head so that Kibum could feel him talking.

“The situation? You mean us sleeping together?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to force you into anything,” Kibum started, pulling away slightly from Minho to look up at him. “If you were uncomfortable with it, you should’ve told me. I just didn’t kn–”

“No, not that,” Minho said with a low chuckle, interrupting Kibum’s rambling. They were looking at each other face-to-face now, and Minho’s deep eyes were unreadable in the dark. “I never had an issue with this,” Minho said with a small smile Kibum could faintly make out.

“Okay…” Kibum said hesitantly. “Then what do you mean?”

Minho sighed deeply, his breath ruffling up some of Kibum’s bangs. “I can’t tell you.”

“Minho, c’mon. It’s about time we talked about this,” Kibum pleaded. He decided it would help if he was vulnerable first, admitting, “I don’t want to lose you – this friendship, I mean.” He was glad it was dark because he knew his face was starting to get red with this sappiness.

Minho’s breath hitched. “I– really? I thought you…didn’t like me that much, or something,” he mumbled, his gaze dropping.

“Why would you think that?”

“We didn’t exactly have the best first impressions on each other,” Minho said with a smirk.

“Well, yeah.” Kibum rolled his eyes. “But we got over that, didn’t we?”

“We did,” Minho said mostly to himself. “We did, yeah.” Kibum stayed silent, letting Minho think. Then Minho carefully and slowly said, while staring intently at Kibum, “I guess I just thought you didn’t care about me as much…as I care about you.”

“Minho…”

“No, wait. Now that you got me going, I can’t stop.” All the sleepiness was gone from Minho’s voice, replaced with fiery determination and conviction. “I wasn’t mad at you or the arrangements. I love being your roommate. I love sleeping like this with you.” He sighed again before saying, “I guess I just wanted more.”

Kibum was dumbfounded. “More?”

“Yes, more.” Minho continued, rambling slightly, “And look, I get it if you don’t want that - if you don’t like me back that way, whatever. I also just…don’t want to lose you.” When he finished, Kibum could hear his shallow breath coming out in quick, nervous bursts, anticipating Kibum’s response.

“I like you.”

Minho’s eyes widened with surprise - and excitement. “You do? Really?”

“Yes,” Kibum said, cracking a small smile at Minho’s pure bafflement. “I do.”

“You’re not just saying that. Right?”

“Why would I be ‘just saying that?’” Kibum teased.

“I don’t know– I– wow!” Minho said, tripping over his words. Then he laughed. His laugh was so free and fun that Kibum also couldn’t help but let out a chuckle as well. “Oh my God, we’re idiots. We both like each other and we’re idiots.”

“We really are,” Kibum said, beaming. He snuggled in closer to Minho, resting his head on his chest. “We really had to do this at three a.m. too.”

Minho turned serious, his hand resting on Kibum’s back protectively. “You were screaming again. It was worse tonight, so I had to do something.”

“Sorry about that,” Kibum mumbled into Minho’s warm chest. “I guess you couldn’t have been sleeping well either with all my yelling.”

“It’s okay. I didn’t help the situation. I was being an asshole to you.” Minho pulled back to sincerely look into Kibum’s eyes again. “I’m sorry.”

“Please, we really are stupid,” Kibum said with another laugh, which Minho reciprocated. “It was fifteen days of suffering for nothing.”

“Wait, you counted?” Minho then asked.

Feeling the blush suddenly return very quickly, Kibum admitted the truth. “Yeah…”

“God, you’re cute,” Minho said with a smile. Then he pulled Kibum back into his chest and placed a kiss on the top of his head.

Kibum stopped breathing. “Huh?” he managed to choke out.

“You’re cute,” Minho said again, cupping Kibum’s face in his large hands. “Very, very cute,” he said with two accentuating kisses on Kibum’s forehead for each ‘very.’ “Thought so ever since I saw you in Japanese for the first time.”

“Minho, no–”

“Hush, I won’t hear it,” he said, forcing Kibum back into his embrace and pressing him close to his body, their legs tangled together in the sheets. “Let’s just sleep now. We can talk more tomorrow once we’re rested.”

Kibum could feel Minho’s steady heartbeat in his chest. “Okay,” he said quietly, letting himself relax and close his eyes. Kibum felt the tension in his muscles ease away with Minho’s rhythmic breathing and warm presence. He breathed in the familiar smell of cologne, the scent surrounding him in safety and comfort. He was in bed with Minho again, and he was content.

He fell asleep easily and undisturbed in Minho’s arms, finally getting some much-needed rest. He slowly blinked open his eyes the next morning, the room illuminated in a gray sunlight filtering in through the blinds. He basked in Minho’s now-familiar warmth around him, embracing him in a safe bubble. Kibum had been sleeping with his head against Minho’s shoulder, his hands against his chest. He looked up through his lashes and saw Minho’s peaceful sleeping face, his features pleasant and relaxed. Kibum smiled to himself, glad when he realized that this was how he could spend every morning again.

Just then, Minho moved, fluttering his eyelids open and yawning. He noticed Kibum watching him, pressed close to his chest, and smiled softly, saying, “Good morning, Bummie. Did you sleep well?” Kibum felt Minho squeeze his arms around him tighter.

“Yeah, I did. Thanks to you.”

“Me too,” Minho said, snuggling his chin on the top of Kibum’s head. “It’s Saturday, right?”

“Mhmm,” Kibum confirmed.

“Then if we both don’t have anything, we can sleep in some more. Do you want that?”

“I’d love that,” Kibum whispered against the spot between Minho’s shoulder and neck, leaving a little kiss there. Kibum felt Minho’s heartbeat quicken under his hands and smiled to himself.

“Okay.” Minho’s voice came out strained, and he readjusted his legs against Kibum’s, disentangling them slightly. Kibum mourned a little at the loss of his touch but then paid it no mind, letting his heavy eyelids close and sighing deep into Minho’s neck, falling asleep quickly again.

Probably no more than thirty minutes later, Kibum woke up to Minho removing his arms from around him as carefully as possible. “Oh, man,” Minho said when he noticed Kibum wake up. “I didn’t want to wake you.”

“Why are you leaving?” Kibum whined.

“My phone keeps buzzing,” Minho said with a sigh. He sat up in bed, pushing his messy hair out from his forehead. Oh, how Kibum wanted to kiss that forehead. Minho reached over to grab his phone on the nightstand, vibrating insistently. “Let’s see who it is this time,” Minho said, somewhat annoyed, as he unlocked it and checked his notifications.

Kibum decided he was too cold without Minho, even with the comforter and sheets still piled on top of him. He sat up in bed as well, getting on his knees and waddling over behind Minho, wrapping his arms around his neck and placing his chin on the top of his head now that he was taller than him. Minho, still focused on his phone, reached up with his free hand to stroke Kibum’s arm lightly, acknowledging his presence. Kibum felt his heart swell at the fact that they could act this touchy and intimate even while not sleeping, and that it was natural and easy. “Who dares bother us?” Kibum asked dramatically.

“It’s Taemin,” Minho said with a groan. “He says he needs a highlighter I borrowed from him back. It’s urgent apparently.” Kibum could practically feel Minho rolling his eyes.

“Well, we can’t keep a man waiting,” Kibum said, releasing Minho’s neck and sitting down beside him on the bed, their legs swinging back and forth nonchalantly. “Right?”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to leave you,” Minho said quietly, staring at their feet side by side.

“I’ll go with you then,” Kibum offered.

“Okay!” Minho said, jumping up from the bed. “And then we can come back to sleep in.” Minho’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“We could probably do other things besides staying in our room all day,” Kibum said with a light laugh, getting up from the bed as well and stretching his arms.

“Oh, yeah. You’re probably right.” Minho bowed his head in embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to– If you don’t want to that’s–”

“I’m kidding,” Kibum said, grabbing his morning cup of water on his nightstand and downing it quickly. “I’d rather stay here with you. I don’t like going out much anyway.”

“Okay, okay,” Minho said, reassuring himself. He pulled out a random sports t-shirt and a pair of jeans from the dresser. “I’ll go get ready now in the bathroom,” he told Kibum with a smile before leaving the dorm.

Once the both of them were dressed and ready to go, and Kibum had insisted on making the bed even though they would probably mess it up in less than an hour again, Minho looked around the room satisfied, his hands on his hips. He breathed in deeply and said, “I love our dorm.”

“Yeah?” Kibum asked, tugging slightly on the comforter to straighten it out.

“Yeah, because you’re my roommate,” Minho said, flashing Kibum his handsome smile once Kibum finished with the bed.

“Stop it,” Kibum said sheepishly, slapping Minho playfully. Minho was watching him intently with his deep brown eyes, sparkling and shining with something Kibum quite place. Kibum’s gaze roamed over his face, examining his cute button nose and pink lips. He gulped. “I’m the one who’s lucky to have you.”

“Hm, that is also true,” Minho said teasingly, turning to open the door and leave. “Now let’s go–”

Kibum couldn’t stop himself from reaching for Minho’s shirt sleeve and pulling him towards him, halting him from opening the door. He spun Minho around to face him and grabbed a fistful of the front of his t-shirt to drag him down to meet him at eye level, reaching up on his tip-toes as well. He kissed him, hard and quick, pulling away after a few seconds, out of breath from the adrenaline.

Minho blinked at him in surprise, his mouth agape. “Uh, that was our first…” Minho said after a moment, his eyes wide.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” Kibum said, immediately feeling guilty and letting go of Minho’s shirt. He looked away rapidly, shuffling his feet around awkwardly. “I just–”

Minho put his heavy hands on Kibum’s shoulders, holding him in place to look at him. “Do that again,” he commanded, his voice low.

Kibum did as he was told. He grabbed Minho’s shirt again and roughly pulled him down, their lips practically crashing together. Minho’s hands on his shoulders tightened their grip on him as he returned the kiss this time, their lips moving together in desperate harmony. Minho’s hands strayed from his shoulders down Kibum’s arms, leaving anticipating goosebumps in their wake. He wrapped his arms around Kibum’s waist and pulled him closer to his body, still kissing him hard. They both wanted this.

Kibum melted into the shape of Minho’s body, letting him hold up his weight as he continued kissing him. He let go of Minho’s shirt and instead pressed his palms flat against Minho’s chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat against him.

After a few more moments, Minho broke away, his teeth tugging on Kibum’s bottom lip lightly. He was out of breath and smiling, his lips deliciously pink. “Well, now I don’t want to go see Taemin at all.”

“The sooner we see Taemin the sooner we can come back,” Kibum said, forcing himself to push Minho’s arms off him, creating some distance between them Kibum wanted to close back up immediately with a kiss.

“I guess you’re right,” Minho said with a whine, grabbing the highlighter Taemin needed so badly off the nightstand and following after Kibum as they both left the dorm to meet up with Taemin.

Taemin had texted Minho to meet him at one of the student lounges, coincidentally Kibum’s favorite place to buy affordable coffee. Kibum and Minho walked together inside the large, spacious lounge, looking around for Taemin’s familiar face. They spotted him waving them over at one of the tables near the main window on the far side and joined him at the table.

“I got you all coffee!” Taemin said, gesturing to the three cups of coffee on the table. “I didn’t know what you wanted, Kibum, but Minho had said you liked sweet things so I got you the sweetest option they had.” He shot him a welcoming smile.

“Oh, thanks, Taemin,” Kibum said, grabbing the warm cup and lifting it to his lips, tasting the drink. It was pretty good. Then Kibum glanced over at Minho and asked, “Minho talks about me?” He noticed Minho’s cheeks redden a bit as he quickly reached for his coffee cup as well, hiding his face as he drank it.

“Oh, yeah. Loads.” Taemin ignored Minho’s death glare and continued. “After that trip to Tokyo, he would not shut up about you, and when you both became roommates he came to me almost in tears. Happy tears,” Taemin added with a smirk in Minho’s direction.

Minho coughed on his coffee and hit his chest a few times. He looked over at Kibum, worry drawn all over his face. “I can explain.”

“You don’t have to,” Kibum said, reaching over under the table to stroke the top of Minho’s hand on his lap softly. “I think it’s cute.”

Minho’s eyes widened, and he looked away, back down at his coffee. But he didn’t move his hand from Kibum’s and his lips were pursed in a small smile.

“See, Minho told me there was nothing between you two, but this doesn’t look like ‘nothing.’” Taemin sipped on his coffee, his gaze flickering between them suspiciously.

Kibum stayed silent and looked over at Minho in question, wondering what he was going to say. Would he say they were together? They hadn’t exactly discussed it, but that’s what it seemed like…

“We’re…” Minho started, his head snapping to Kibum in panic. “We’re…what?” But Kibum also panicked, not sure what to say.

“Er, I’ll just leave you two to figure it out,” Taemin cut in, standing up from the table and grabbing the highlighter Minho had left at the center. “Thanks for the highlighter, bye!” he said in a sing-songy voice, bouncing out of the lounge and leaving Kibum and Minho alone at the table, staring at each other in silence.

“So,” Kibum started, his hand still on Minho’s underneath the table. They both didn’t move.

“So.”

“What…are we?” Kibum asked. “Not that we have to decide or be anything…but, y’know…” His voice trailed off with uncertainty.

“What do you want us to be?” Minho said instead.

Kibum froze. Should he say what he really wanted? Minho had given him all the signs but there was still a small, cowardly part of him that feared rejection, losing him completely.

But he remembered what happened the last time he went with “the safe option,” and decided this time to be honest about what he really wanted. “I want us to be boyfriends.” He focused on Minho’s face, waiting for his reaction, his heart in his throat.

Minho beamed at him. “Me too. Me too, Bummie,” Minho said, his voice cracking as he rushed forward slightly to kiss Kibum, his hands pressing down on Kibum’s shoulders to hold his balance as he scooted to the very edge of his chair. Kibum kissed him back, his body instinctively relaxing into Minho’s, forgetting that they were in the public lounge. His hands haphazardly wrapped around Minho’s neck, pulling him closer and closer to him as they kissed each other senselessly.

A loud cough a few feet away caught both their attention. Minho pulled away, snapping his head to the side, his brow furrowed in annoyance. “Rude,” he huffed out with a pout.

“We’re in a public place, Minho,” Kibum snickered into Minho’s shoulder. “Let’s go back to the dorm.”

“Oh?” Minho asked, turning back to Kibum with an excited sparkle in his eyes. “Wh– what do you want to do?”

“I don’t know,” Kibum started, getting up from his chair and pushing it in. He started walking towards the exit, knowing that Minho was close on his tail. “We could, like, fuck or something, if you want…” Kibum said nonchalantly as he walked ahead of Minho, trying to aggressively push down the blush he felt rushing up his cheeks.

“You– I– what?” Minho sputtered out, running a bit to catch up to Kibum’s fast walking. He fell into step beside him. “Um, I mean–”

“I’m kidding, Minho,” Kibum said, shooting him his best smirk. “How’s cuddling? We could watch a movie marathon,” he offered to Minho whose face was tomato red.

“Yeah.” His voice was strained, Kibum noticed. He nodded at Kibum, his head bobbing vigorously. “Cuddling sounds good.”

They climbed up the stairs to their dorm together, their hands brushing past each other softly every once in a while and sending tingles up Kibum’s arm before Minho decided to hold Kibum’s hand in his fully, squeezing it softly when Kibum glanced at him. They smiled at each other warmly.

Once the dorm door closed behind them with a click, Minho grabbed Kibum’s shoulders and kissed him hard again. Kibum reciprocated, stepping back until his knees pressed against his bed. He sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling Minho down beside him as they continued kissing passionately.

Then Kibum pulled away, admiring Minho’s handsome face, clouded in want. “Weren’t we going to cuddle?”

Minho pouted. “Oh, yeah…”

Kibum grabbed his laptop from his backpack on the floor and pushed himself back on the bed, settling into the corner by the wall and the headboard. He felt Minho also sit back on the bed beside him, his arm pressed against Kibum’s, as he browsed through Netflix. “What are we feeling?” Kibum asked.

“How about that one?” Minho pointed to a movie with a soccer ball on the cover photo. Of course.

“Sure,” Kibum said with a smile, clicking into it. “I’ll watch something about soccer for you.”

“For me?”

“Only for you.” Kibum pressed play and leaned back into the pillows, snuggling next to Minho, holding onto his arm and feeling his bicep through the shirt sleeve. “But you can’t blame me if I fall asleep from the sports.”

“Okay,” Minho said in a quiet voice, leaning his head on Kibum’s. “I’ll be here if you do. Always.”

“I know,” he responded, his voice also quiet now that the movie started. “Thanks, Minho.”

“No need to thank me,” Minho said, placing a kiss on the top of Kibum’s head. “That’s what boyfriends do.”

A few hours later, the computer lay forgotten on the bed, the Netflix “Are you still watching?” screen on display in the dimly lit room. But Kibum and Minho were peacefully asleep, their heads leaning towards each other and their legs tangled together on the bed, sweet dreams playing in their heads.

#shinee #shinee fic #shinee fanfic #shinee fluff #kim kibum #choi minho #shinee key #shinee minho #minkey #minho x kibum #kibum x minho #minkey fluff #kpop fluff

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onewfantaesy · 4 years ago

Note

College boys SHINee deciding that visiting haunted houses are a need, but getting spooked out of their wits barely 10 minutes in

Taemin is but a wee freshman when he becomes friends with the other three. Minho and Kibum are both in their third year, and Jinki is in his final year of undergrad (but he’s applying for master’s programs, so he’ll still be here next year, and Taemin is grateful for that). Taemin can’t entirely remember how the four of them became friends, but now he’s being dragged from his dorm room to go to a haunted house two days before Halloween.

“I have class tomorrow!” Taemin whines, tugging his arm from Kibum’s grip. Unsuccessfully. “At least grab me a jacket!”

“Too late,” Minho laughs, pushing open the building door.

“I have an extra sweatshirt in my car,” Jinki tells him instead, smiling.

“I can’t wait to see you scream like a little girl,” Kibum teases, dragging Taemin down to the parking lot. “All month - all month! - I’ve been trying to scare you. Well now we’ll just leave it to the professionals.”

“You’re so mean to me,” Taemin scoffs.

“I know, aren’t we great?”

Taemin only continues whining, stumbling a bit as Kibum pulls him along. Then he’s thrown in the backseat of Jinki’s car to sit next to Minho, and Jinki rustles through the trunk to find one of his spare university sweatshirts. It’s a stupid, ugly free one he got from some event last year. But it’s soft and warm and big enough that Taemin can hide his hands under the sleeves, so it’s good enough.

When they get to the haunted house, Taemin decides to play it up a bit. He starts whining and complaining and holding on tightly to Jinki’s arm. In return, Jinki wraps an arm around him and holds him close, and Kibum flanks his other side while he forces Minho to hold onto him.

“I’m not gonna be on the outside,” Kibum insists.

“Fine,” Minho scoffs.

But once they’re inside, Taemin is grinning from ear to ear and soaking everything in. He laughs at the actors that jump out, laughs at the fake blood writing on the wall, laughs at the way Kibum shrieks next to him.

The other three are scared silly. They’re screaming and shrieking and running out as fast as they can. They’re panting and their hearts are racing, but Taemin just comes strolling out. He’s waving his sleeves around, flapping them past the tips of his fingers, and he’s got a huge grin on his face.

“That was fun!”

“You’re some sort of devil spawn, aren’t you?” Kibum accuses, pointing a finger at him.

“Can we go again?”

“Get in the car,” Kibum grunts, pulling Taemin’s arm again to drag him to Jinki’s car. Taemin is just giggling and skipping along.

They’re in the parking lot, almost to Jinki’s car, when a moth flies by Taemin’s ear. He shrieks and stops in his tracks and crouches down, hiding his head in his arms. The other three stand there completely shocked before Kibum and Minho start laughing loudly.

“Is it gone?” Taemin asks in a shaking voice.

Kibum and Minho are practically on the floor, laughing on top of each other and holding each other up.

“It’s gone,” Jinki laughs softly, helping Taemin stand up.

“You’re so mean to me!” Taemin says, flapping an arm in Kibum and Minho’s general direction.

“You can sit in the front,” Jinki tries to appease him.

Taemin sticks his tongue out at the other two, who are still laughing at him. But sitting in the front seat backfires, because Kibum and Minho keep poking at his neck and his sides and running fingers up his arms to mimic bugs. Taemin is pulling the hood of Jinki’s sweatshirt over his head and curling in on himself, trying to swat their hands away.

“I hate you guys.”

“But we’re so much fun!”

Taemin ends up spending the night at their apartment instead of his dorm room. That backfires in them, because he can scare the absolute shit out of them by sneaking up on them all night and playing creepy noises from his phone.

Taemin misses his 8am the next day. He doesn’t really care.

#taemin #shinee #onew #key #minho #college spooks au #kibumslover #October prompts

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seilon · 8 years ago

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ok so like.......i was watchin some key dance vids and like.......holy shit is that boy talented. like he goes on a show n they ask him to do a girl group dance or something and no matter what they fuckin choose he knows it. and he can do it. because hes watched it once or maybe twice. like literally??? thats such an amazing talent? i take dance right and to learn a full choreo to those kinds of songs would take most ppl weeks, and if youre GOOD maybe one week. but holy shit he does it from just seeing it ONCE and thats RIDICULOUS. and its annoying because on these shows hes just disregarded because his talent is shown in these girl group dances they ask him to do and so its seen as some kind of joke? like yea u see people going “woah” and just looking shocked because he does it perfect every time no matter what but nonetheless theres that aura of laughter and “haha this is funny because its a guy doing a girl group dance!” or even more so, “haha this is so diva! but god forbid anyone bring up the word gay. lets just laugh at the diva trope and pretend that its Not tied to anything “Risque” and just. silently think lower of this amazing talent because of that possibility and that trope.” like do ya feel me? kim kibum rly is such a multitalented person with so many different skills and hes always just being boiled down by these shows and whatnot to just that stupid lesser-than-a-man kinda trope. its rly sad. and i guess im just glad its dying down a little as compared to 2010-2012 i guess. and i rly am just waiting for the day where idols can act as stereotypically (or really at all) gay or feminine as they fuckin want to without being laughed at as a joke or boiled down to a lesser being with lesser talents. thats all

#kibumblabs #woW WELL HERES A RANT #sofu hasnt been ranting abt kibum so someones gotta #as a gay. this is a topic that infuriates me #because on TOP of all this it gives the whole gay diva trope a bad wrap too #like there are people that fit that category. u could easily argue that key still FITS in that category. and if i said that on here id be #attacked most likely? and you know why? because of the bad name that its been given #to be gay or to fit into a stereotype in one way or another isnt a bad thing. to be associated with The Gays is not something that should be #a BAD thing.#this applies to taemin too-- the whole pretty boy fairy thing goes back and forth because people at first characterize him as the cute #pretty boy kinda thing #but then take it too FAR and turn him into some drastic negative thing that hes not and then hes uncomfy with it and then #it FLIPS #and people are comin up w shit like 'taeMAN' like lmao how Dumb the fact that u have to make these stupid phrases just shows that u didnt #see him as a man before and that YOU are to blame as well as the people who took the other trope too far.#and so the pretty boy thing gets a bad wrap.#people dont want to characterize taemin as looking in any way feminine or soft because of the negative aspects that appeared in the past #but this is simply black and white thinking.#being pretty-- being more feminine appearing than ur stereotypical 'man' is NOT A BAD THING!#its NOT at ALL but now it seems that way!#he still can fit into the category in SOME ASPECTS (hint: not EVERY aspect. because he is a unique person and doesnt need to FIT into one #made up societal category) and its okay because that category should NOT be considered something bad.#so yeah. anyways thats that.#this is kinda just an analyzation of kinda.......internalized homophobia/queerphobia/gender roles in society n how they shape how we see ppl #and what is considered wrong and right in terms of architypes #notice how somehow every single time a mass opinion changes in a fanbase such as this one it always seems to go to the extreme #and it always seems to veer away from acceptance of queerness?#the exception i think is jonghyun because with him im seeing kinda. the exact opposite of this but to such an extreme that its unrealistic #sometimes........like yeah hes not the whole 2012 Rough Abs Dude trope but damn hes also not a weak lil flower who needs protection uwu #tumblrs gonna cut me off but just. know he can b both and more! not just one extreme on the spectru

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ao3feed-ateez · 4 years ago

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by Matrix2405

Lee Felix is a twenty year old boy suffering at the hands of his parents and collage peers. He attempts his life, only to be saved and sent to SM Mental Health Facility, where he finds love in the least likely of places.

(Please do not upload elsewhere, this will most likely go onto my Wattpad account too, same profile name. Please do not read if you are triggered with anything in the tags, otherwise, enjoy ^~^). (Also please tell me if this is uploaded anywhere in which I have not stated it would be without my permission).

Words: 1409, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Stray Kids (Band), NCT (Band), 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys | BTS, Big Bang (Band), EXO (Band), GOT7, ATEEZ (Band), Day6 (Band), The Boyz (Korea Band), Monsta X (Band), B1A4, SHINee, 2PM (Band), SEVENTEEN (Band), TOMORROW X TOGETHER | TXT (Korea Band), Golden Child (Korea Band), iKON (Korea Band), Block B (Band), AB6IX (Band)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con

Categories: M/M, Multi

Relationships: Bang Chan/Stray Kids Ensemble, Lee Minho | Lee Know/Stray Kids Ensemble, Seo Changbin/Stray Kids Ensemble, Hwang Hyunjin/Stray Kids Ensemble, Han Jisung | Han/Stray Kids Ensemble, Lee Felix (Stray Kids)/Stray Kids Ensemble, Kim Seungmin/Stray Kids Ensemble, Yang Jeongin | I.N/Stray Kids Ensemble, Bang Chan/Everyone, Lee Minho | Lee Know/Everyone, Seo Changbin/Everyone, Hwang Hyunjin/Everyone, Han Jisung | Han/Everyone, Lee Felix (Stray Kids)/Everyone, Kim Seungmin/Everyone, Yang Jeongin | I.N/Everyone, Stray Kids Ensemble/Everyone, Stray Kids Ensemble/Stray Kids Ensemble

Additional Tags: Mental Health Issues, ADHD, Anxiety Disorder, Anxiety Attacks, Panic Attacks, panic disorder, Paranoid Personality Disorder, Paranoia, Eating Disorders, Anorexia, IED, OCD, Depression, Self-Harm, Self-Esteem Issues, Self-Hatred, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, sleeping disorders, Insomnia, Night Terrors, Sleep Deprivation, Dissociation, Bipolar Disorder, Mood Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Past Abuse, Past Child Abuse, Past Rape/Non-con, Past Sexual Abuse, Narcolepsy, Social Anxiety, Separation Anxiety, Crying, Mental Breakdown, Mental Institutions, Sleepy Cuddles, Anger, anger issues, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Group Therapy, Therapy, Polyamory, Stray Kids Fluff, Stray Kids Smut, Stray Kids Angst, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff and Angst, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Suicide Attempt, Past Domestic Violence, Past Suicide Attempt, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Mental Institution, Psychological Trauma, Psychologists & Psychiatrists, Mental Instability, Violence, Falling In Love, Suicidal Thoughts, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Additional Warnings Apply

#ateez #ao3feed #Kpop rpf

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lala-pipo · 4 years ago

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(1/18) *peeks from behind the wall* I hope I am still welcomed here hahaha cricket anon is here! <3 I am very sorry for making you worry last time O.O, for sure no matter what happens to the story, I'm going to be right there to read it! Huehuehue, I literally was not lying when I mentioned that this story is bringing me lots of joy this year :3 Cricket anon is fine now! hahaha my last work place was really bad, kind of black-company-level-bad, and it really took a toll on my mental health…

Dear cricket nony, I already answered one of your non-anonymous asks privately because I was so overwhelmed by the sheer amount of email notifications I got from tumblr and Ao3 that I had to thank you right away, but I still want to do it publically because even after days I’m still overwhelmed that you took so much time to write me a whole essay. I’m still all soft and wobbly and squishy on the inside. Your notifications really made my day, week, probably month – so thanks so much again. It really means so much T___T

(2) so, I kind of took two months? break from social media and just literally try and figure out my life lol basically quarter-life crisis also happening, but yeah slowly getting better now! I hope you are doing fine as well, sending you lots of hugs and love ~^^~ Firstly though!! I wanted to say sorry too that it took a while for me to reply hahaha… BUT!! Let me tell you omg during my rest of 8 weeks, I have managed to re-read ALL. SEVEN. CHAPTERS!! So many things to share!!

I’m so sorry to hear that your last workplace took such a toll on your mental health and I really hope that you are going to get better. I cross all my fingers for you and send you good vibes only. Please don’t feel pressured to comment at all. I mean everyone loves receiving comments, but it shouldn’t feel like a chore. So if you feel like sharing your thoughts I’m always glad to read them, but if you don’t feel like sharing them, please don’t feel bad about it. <3

(3) However, since my comments were a grand total of 4,000 words lol, I inserted them in AO3 under "cricket anon" in every chapter! :3 You might get confused as you read them because I take notes as I read the chapter lol hahaha I hope my comments might bring some joy <3 Ahh! By the way! These anon messages are partly not anon since anon asks are limited to 10 per hour? I didn’t know that! :( But since I accidentally have revealed myself to you lol I think it should be okay!

I’ll also try to answer your comments on Ao3 in the upcoming days because (if I remember correctly) you had some questions and I hope I can answer some of them. ^^ But I’m impressed that you went through all the chapters again. We’ve reached 150k now, which is quite fascinating to me because there are still quite a few chapters left. I wonder how long the story will be in the end *hides* I didn’t know that either! I’ve been on tumblr for so long and yet this 10 ask limit is new information for me, but it makes sense in some way – if I think about spam accounts or people going around spreading hate or something.

(4) Also, I think I’m going to make my snorts reactions straight onto AO3 from now on, rather than spamming your ask box with 10+ anon messages hahaha but I’ll still come here to share you my overall reactions and analyzations huehuehue and also to possibly warn you about the length of the comment lol something I noticed, from chapter 1 to chapter 7, the comment got longer lol more things to discuss about, I guess!? But yeah!! Let me reply to your reply to my previous ask here!!

LMAO I admire your dedication. Do whatever is most comfortable to you, I will be happy either way ^^ I think it makes sense that someone can comment more on later chapters because the painted picture gets fuller and fuller with details, there is more information about the different characters, the storyline is more developed and so on… ^^

(5) Is the sad scene in chapter 6, you were referring to the conversation that Jong-Taem were having, and then Jong tried to diffuse it into another lighthearted banter, and Taem is just. tired. of. Jong avoiding the conversation? and despite all that, Taem still let Jong come into his room and cuddle to sleep? idk... I find that scene really heartbreaking :( or maybe it was another scene?

For me it was the shower scene tbh. I don’t know, but it always struck something inside of me (is it weird that I’m saying this although I’ve written it?) There is something very fragile about Jonghyun in that scene and Taemin does feel a little helpless and is so caught up in his own thoughts, in his own needs, what he wants (and doesn’t get from Jonghyun) and yeah – it always makes me go :( but yes, the follow up scene is sad as well because you sit there and think – you two are just so damn dumb, which is something most people, who read this story so far – seem to think constantly, because yeah, they are very dumb – each in their own way. ^^

(6) I think I mentioned in the AO3 comment somewhere that even I started to feel like Taem can just leave Jong because Jong is not trying to understand Taem, I mean, nothing to do with his mood swings or his claim that Taem will get bored of him, just that he isn't trying to see things from Taem's perspective whereas Taem is trying! so! hard! and he even tried to ignore the fact that Jong avoid the vital conversations for like the 10th time already :(

Feelings are a very difficult topic – and while chapters 1-9 are very focused on what Taemin does, thinks, wants, needs, wishes etc. the focus does shift a little over to Jonghyun starting from chapter 10. So the reader does get an inside of why Jonghyun might have acted the way he did. If his behavior makes sense is up to the reader (and Taemin as well) to decide – but I think it shines a little more light onto Jonghyun, who the reader doesn’t know much about – feeling wise –, although he’s one of the main characters of the story. ^^ It’s the onion layers that get peeled one by one. ^^

(7) Yeah, re-reading this definitely showed me muCH MORE parallelism in Jong-Key and Taem-Jong dynamics. Even with Taem's mood in a sense? Like how Jong used to be really upset when Key has a new friend, and then suddenly okay when they do sexy times. Before, I only noticed the puppy-love-ness parallel, but then there is more to it, like I said, Taem's mood affected by Jong a lot, just like Jong's by Key, and also the way Jong claims that Key doesn't understand his feelings,

(8) well, it applies to Jong not really wanting to understand Taem's feeling? by just brushing it off as Taem will get bored of him or Taem doesn't know what he is talking about. I mean as a reader, I am also not sure, if it’s either Jong doesn't care or he is scared to show himself or both or maybe there is another reason? Hahaha ^^;;

This is true and done on purpose. ^^ This knowledge doesn’t play a key (haha) part in the storyline, but it is there to show how blinded one can get by one’s own feelings. After adapting to his new life in a dorm Taemin sees through Jonghyun and Kibum’s relationship quite well, but later when it’s about his own relation to Jonghyun he’s completely blindsided and doesn’t see how unhealthy it is at first – him going back and back and back over and over again in the hope that Jonghyun’s behavior towards him might change.

(9) You mentioned that there will be more Jongtae drought, and honestly, I think they need it? I think some space for them to think about things and you know do other things and talk to other people about other things lol maybe it will clear up their heads hopefully? Ahh!! You said the beginning of chapter 5 is for your own sanity lol I totally understand ;), it was a very sweet scene, soft, and kind of endearing compared to what is coming in the next chapters TnT

It depends on how we describe the drought. The hard cut was done in chapter 8. I went in like a warrior and just cut all the strings, not showing any mercy. ^^” I don’t want to spoiler anything, but yeah – the hard drought will continue throughout chapter 9 – soft drought from chapter 10 …… till ….. *closes mouth* 6v6

Working on chapter 8 made me write two lovey-dovey JongTae oneshots because I couldn’t stand seeing them fight in my own fanfic, in front of my salad. T_T so yeah, the beginning of chapter 5 was for my sanity. While writing chapter 8 I also realized again while I never really write angst, fights – anything dramatic really, because I’m a very chill person in real life, and I like my fanfics to be very chill as well – so writing this was completely out of my comfort zone. For others it’s writing smut for me it’s writing angst lmao. I usually want to wrap up all the characters in fluffy blankets and make them tea, and yet here I am – letting Taemin suffer for so many chapters. I’m a monster T_T

(10) Yeahhh, about the fact that we don't see Key so much since it is in Taemin's point of view, and also the fact that our (the audience)'s perception of Key is very much influenced by how Taem sees Key, right? I think I even mentioned somewhere in the comments, that in a way, a Rashomon effect is present as the readers read the story right, since they are all on accounts of Taem's witnessing, but then also maybe I am just reading too much into this lol

It would be the Rashomon effect if I wrote the same fic out of Jonghyun’s perspective and Minho’s as well for example. In this case Taemin is just a very unreliable narrator and we don’t (well I do :’D) but the reader doesn’t know what’s really going on, if everything Taemin is experiencing is true or if it should be taken with a grain of salt. Considering that everyone in the dorm, except for Taemin, gets along well with Kibum, we might want to believe that Kibum isn’t the bad guy Taemin wants to make him out to be. ^^

(11) Honestly, I could hear my English Lit teacher saying "maybe that is not the author's intention" hahaha xD Yes yes yes!! more chapters for Taem's development!! I am ready for it!! I mean the end of chapter 7 marked the sign of the broken vase, and paired with the JongTae drought, I am looking forward to the next part of the story!! Some character development at this point is perfect I think!! And also!! About the advices, I think I commented a few times on some of the chapters.

(12) I didn't notice that before! And after you pointed it out, I think I made some comments on Minho's, Key's, and Onew's advices to Taem and definitely, based on how the events unfolded, we could argue that the advice was bad - in a way though, I can't seem to tell (yet, maybe?) if the advice giver was genuinely trying to help or do they have ulterior motives? hmmm but either way, I like how you placed a lot of thoughts in the story, even on things such as advice.

(13) Because for sure, in reality, people tend to give bad advices, and act on bad advices. It is true that most fics tend to focus only on the good advice and then the story ends happily ever after. Real life is most definitely not like that :3 your "slice of life" tag is holding up to its name ;) Thank you so much for your hard work!! You added 10,000 words for chapter 7?? omg… huhuhu (insert a bowing LINE sticker)... yeah, for sure, the way the story unfolds in my head,

(14) probably is different to other readers, right? And for sure, very different to you, the author! There are probably a lot more instances, scenes, implications, interpretations? that we as readers are unaware of! Thank you so much for all your hard work TnT, as readers, having more context into the story does give much more clarity on the flow of the story and the feelings of the characters, etc. Thank you for all your hard work! (bow bow bow)

That was something @hwarang-number commented on as well while betaing the story. What if Minho has ulterior motives?!?!?!?!? In Minho’s case it does make sense to give out bad advice to lure in the innocent lamb haha but for example what would Jinki’s or Kibum’s ulterior motives be? Sometimes people want to give out good advice, but in the end it just turns out to be bad advice – unintentionally – humans are just humans after all – and none of us is all knowing, we all perceive things differently, and what might work for one person might not work for the other. I did add 10k to chapter 7 and 25k to chapter 8 – because chapter 8 felt like the most incomplete out of all the chapters in this story.

I think I’ve mentioned it before but hwarang_number is super attentive while reading and figured most things out that I’ve implied – even smaller details which I thought might get lost in the chapters – which I’m still impressed by, but I also said before that everyone reads stories differently, and some aspects that might not be important to me as the author of the story might be important for the readers and the other way around. For the past chapters I just tried to fill in the gaps that might confuse readers unnecessarily. In the original draft of chapter 8 Taemin is doing the deeds with Minho far more spontaneously because he’s so frustrated with Jonghyun – it made sense like that as well – but I think his frustration got more depth through the added scenes. :)

(15) Ah!! By the way!! Please don't feel like you are forced to reply to all of my messages! Having you read them already makes me happy! I don't want to make it feel like an obligation to you because... well omg my comments like super loooooong hahaha ^^;; And yeah!! Take your time with the next chapter by the way!! I am rooting for the development of the story no matter how it will go :3 I will be waiting for the next update (though no pressure, just want to put it there haha)

Dear cricket nony, if you write me 50 message I will still try to answer all of them ㅎㅅㅎ I might just take a little longer. I hope you will like chapter 8 as well, despite the drought ^^

(16) Next time, this cricket anon will bring some more noise ~ I hope your real-life stuff works out well too :D Once again, thank you for answering all of my messages, and for writing this awesomely written fanfiction! While I wait for the next chapter, I think I'm going to re-read songs of siren hehehe :3 Please stay safe!

Please do! Song of Sirens is definitely a story I would have loved to treat like “Dorm Life” in a sense that it would have turned out better if I had worked on it longer, but I’m still a fan of the big brain energy I had running through my veins when I came up with the mythological aspect of the story…lmao So I hope you will enjoy re-reading it. ^^ Chapter 8 is longer than Song of Sirens (just as a side note haha)

(17) Ah!! I forgot to mention!! After I re-read it, my most favorite literary device that you used in this fanfiction (lol this commentary is beginning to sound like a Literature essay) is the Biblical Allusions? I am not sure if this was your intention, but the juxtapositions of Bible verses or reference to God, in Taemin’s thought reminds me heavily of Taemin’s songs, particularly Heaven? It be a sexy time song if you look at the lyrics, but the composition is that of a choir church song

(18) I find the contrast chilling, and maybe you were trying to invoke that feeling to the readers? Orrr maybe I am perhaps, indeed, reading too much into this hahaha ^^;; but really! I really enjoy reading your fanfictions and coming up with analyzations, it’s very fun, and the fact that I can discuss or ask you questions about it is just makes it even more fun – since in Literature classes we can’t actually ask the author of their true intentions right hahaha okay!! I am done :3 Thank you!! <3

It was my intention and still is, so I’m glad you picked up on that. ^^ I always wanted to write a fanfic in which Taemin’s religion plays a role – even if it’s just on the side – I always make some references to Dante’s circles of Hell (when Taemin is being dramatic again) or I also made a reference to Hieronymus Bosch’s painting The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things in chapter 8. (I’m a big fan of his work – that dude was wild – the way he painted blows my mind every time I look at one of his paintings). So yes, dramatic Taemin talking about religion and throwing around with biblical references is my brain being wild. ^^

I would say that ‘Dorm Life’ is not a really deep story, but I did put a lot of thought into it to not make it your regular smut/romance fanfic. I mean it took time, still does – but I’m glad when people, like you dear cricket nony, appreciate it. So thank you so much for your kind words and sending me all your thoughts and interpretations. <3 I hope you will have a lovely December – please stay healthy and please take good care of yourself. <3

#cricket nony #non-fic post #dorm life #Anonymous

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alittletournesol · 5 years ago

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Kingdom Of Jinju {MinKey} 33/33

Epilogue

The royal palace was high-spirited and filled with warmth despite the coldness of the approaching winter. The ceremony had yet to start, but every single employee was running here and there to make sure not a single preparation had been ruined by who knew what. The wedding table had been set in the royal gardens, like the first time, but the space was surrounded with beautiful torches to bring as many light and warmth as possible, in this late autumn evening.

Unlike their initial marriage that had taken place when the sun had reached its zenith, both King and Prince had decided to remarry under the light of the moon. It was a rather bold move, in conflict with traditions, but they considered they had yielded to these traditions many times already. They wanted to do as they wished, this time, and not even Jihwan, who had now lost her title by marrying the former General, had stood against it.

While all their guests were taking place around the wedding table, with the King and his helpers — Jinki and his father, just like the first time — already there, she was standing in her son-in-law’s quarters, carefully pinning her nuptial hat to his hair. It was meaningful to both of them, for Kibum had already worn it at his first marriage, though he had seen it as a material show of his shame.

“It looks even better with your hair down.” The woman gently said as she took a step backwards to observe her work. “It should hold well.”

“Thank you, Mother.” The Prince replied, standing up to turn towards her. “It feels strange to wear this again… but I like the little change.”

“Yes, I like it a lot as well.”

They both looked at his outfit, the same white and gold one he wore the first time, but enhanced with even more ornamentations and the most important detail : the symbol of Mongje on his chest had been replaced by the pearl of Jinju. It wasn’t about binding two kingdoms anymore, but about binding two souls from one same place. Kibum’s long black hair was falling graciously on his back and shoulders, beautifully contrasting with his immaculate attire.

He turned round to check if everything was good, and was interrupted by the sound of a gong, coming from the gardens. The ceremony was about to begin.

“Shall we ?” Jihwan smiled and offered him her arm, which he gladly took. “This time, it will be better.”

“Yes… Yes, it will.”

Their arms interlaced, they both left the royal quarters and walked through the corridors and staircases, until this very same door that led to the space in the garden where the young man would remarry his husband. This very same door he had come from one year ago, anxiety tightening the knot in his stomach. But that night, he felt as light as a feather, only pure excitement and haste making his whole being tremble. He waited there, accepting a kiss on the forehead from his mother-in-law before the latter half-opened the door and left.

As soon as he was alone, he felt two presences behind him but didn’t have to look to know who it was. By his left, Jonghyun ; by his right, Taemin. Both of them smiling with pride, their ceremonial attire different than the first time, brighter and with more colours. They had had the difficult task to force his gestures, but now they were conscious that they would really accompany him and not pressure him anymore.

Outside, Jihwan stood before the door, looking at all guests who turned their head towards her. The table was even more beautiful than the first time, covered with a white clothes and decorated with golden flowers. It seemed even the carafe of alcohol and the cup weren’t the same, changed for something more suitable, perhaps created for this sole event. And standing there, at the east end of this table and surrounded by his helpers, included her newly husband… her son was glowing in his ceremonial outfit.

Minho had had enough of the red and golden attire he would always wear, so he had traded it for one that was complementary of his husband’s. Where the Prince’s outfit was white with golden ornaments, the King’s was golden with white ornaments. They completed each other and wanted the world to see it. The younger man had still tied his hair under his hat to yield to the tradition at the very, very least, but he was a whole new man.

Silence.

And the gong resounded a second time.

Jihwan heard the door behind her open again and she started walking forwards, leading her son-in-law to the wedding table and placing herself on the spot left empty for her. Following her steps, Kibum walked with grace and confidence, and his once soulless eyes were now filled with so many emotions at once that they sparkled more than the night sky at this same moment.

While moving forwards, his eyes looked at every couple standing around the table, here to celebrate his wedding.

Queen Hyoyeon and Lord Eunhyuk, from Maguk, smiled at him and bowed their head, their eldest daughter standing by their side and shyly imitating her parents. Her father placed his hand on her shoulder as a show of pride, her bright blond hair betraying the scar of the illness she had healed from, unlike her young brother earlier that year. Seeing Jonghyun and his same hair walking behind the Prince reminded her of this distant, nice cousin was like her, and she giggled when he winked at her.

Princess Yoona stood behind, her hands joined and a truly moved expression lighting up her features, enough to make the tears in her eyes shine like pearls. She bowed her head and her smile turned into a quiet laughter, as she was unable to hide her happiness, after she had been the first ruler to witness Jinju’s rulers blooming relationship. Present by her side despite his expressionless face, Prince Siwon still bowed his head and pretended to be unbothered.

On the other side of the table stood Lady Taeyeon and Lord Changmin, the same emotion as Yoona shining in their eyes. They bowed together and presented their hands, which carried a small, decorated case filled with bright, lively black kisses. Kibum couldn’t help but feel emotional when he saw the flowers, so beautiful in apparence but also the memories of what could have been a tragedy. However, they were there as a present, a meaningful message to congratulate both husbands for having survived their poison.

Finally, standing behind them but not shadowed, Queen Boa and King Yunho had both already shed one or two tears when the Prince had appeared. There were gleaming trails on their cheeks, but their smiles were the brightest. They were the last ones to bow, the Queen holding her stomach with her hands and catching Kibum’s attention right away ; it was swollen, and Pugye’s heir hiding inside wouldn’t be long to come to the world.

A third gong resounded, and the groom walked to the west end of the wedding table, his friends standing behind him. Facing him, Minho looked at him and smiled with his eyes. It was like they could hear their respective heartbeat, like there was no one else around them, like they were alone.

A fourth gong resounded.

And the ceremony began.

The exact same gestures than the first time were repeated, but this time with more heart to them. The four helpers spread the carpet at their sovereigns’ feels and carefully, gently cleaned their hands with pure water gathered from the river just an hour before. The tradition required for both husbands-to-be not to show any emotion, but they couldn’t yield to it that night. They looked at each other, their eyes conveying absolutely all the feelings they had for each other, and their smiles never left their lips.

Jonghyun and Taemin took their place back behind their friend and placed their hands on his back and arms. But they didn’t have to apply any pressure, Kibum bowed by himself before his King. Once, then twice, his eyes shining whenever he straightened up. Bowing twice for the bride, once for the groom, as was the tradition. But this wedding wasn’t like others, and the guests all pleasantly whispered when Minho bowed a second time, showing that they were equals.

The Prince had to hold back his tears when the second bowing came, but a salted pearl rolled down his cheek despite himself when his lover, once again, bowed twice to him in return. It might look like nothing, but it meant the world to both of them. They weren’t a traditional couple, and they would shout it from the rooftops, show it to the world, whatever the consequences.

Finally, they kneeled as one man on the carpet, with only the table separating them, and stared at each other while Taemin poured alcohol in the cup and handed it to his childhood friend. Instead of making him drink, he let him take it and swallow a mouthful of the burning liquid by himself. The soldier then took the recipient back and handed to Jinki, who gave it to the King. The latter smiled, and made the cup turn until he saw the print of his husband’s lips on the edge. He drank from there.

This same ritual got repeated once more, both men making sure to always drink from this same spot where they lips met with the metal. None of the guests missed this detail, and none of them complained, for the symbolic of all these changed gestures was too strong to go against them. Even Siwon stood calmly as he watched them, and didn’t seem to be boiling with anger because of such affront to the Gods.

Minho and Kibum eventually stood up with the help of their respective friends, and walked towards each other in front of the table. They stood side by side and turned towards the assembly, joining their hands together and fulfilling all their bows : to the King’s mother, to the representative of the Prince’s father — Lord Taehyun hadn’t been able to leave Mongje to attend the wedding — then to the ritual statuettes representing the ancestors, and finally, to the guests.

All bows were returned, and the gong resounded one last time in the night. King Minho and Prince Kibum of Jinju were now remarried, and they were celebrated with a round of applause that made them blush.

The door behind them opened and they all stopped their congratulations to look at the old woman who was coming their way, a little girl walking by her side while holding her hand. She was wearing her own small ceremonial attire, all yellow like her grandmother ; the latter covered her mouth, for she hadn’t been warned about it and it felt like a surprise intended for her.

Both husbands turned towards the newcomers and smiled warmly, as Kibum held his long coat and crouched, stretching his arms. Sooyun, who had been startled by the amount of big persons around, eventually noticed her favourite person and giggled, letting go of her nanny’s hand. Her little steps were clumsy but she never fell, and she even gave her speed a small impulse when she was close enough to the Prince, almost throwing herself into his arms.

The man laughed and immediately carried her, sitting her on his arms as he stood up and faced the crowd. He placed a kiss on her cheek and looked at his husband, who smiled tenderly before addressing the guests.

“You had heard of her through our envoy, a few months ago.” Minho said with a confident voice. “But you are meeting her for the first time tonight : the Royal Princess and Heiress of the Choi Dynasty… our daughter, Sooyun.”

The little girl got startled when all big persons started applauding, but she eventually applauded herself to imitate them, what made everyone laugh and awe. Queen Boa held her stomach, the sight of this pretty little princess making her even hastier to meet her own baby. At the same time, Taeyeon let a sneeze out and it was decided that everyone should gather in the Pearl Room, where Jihwan had prepared a tremendous feast. All guests followed her lead, while her husband brought up the rear.

Only remained in the gardens the King, the Prince and the Princess. Sooyun was mesmerized by the almost full moon above her head, big and shining so bright she covered her eyes. Kibum laughed and adjusted her little hat.

“Do you remember our waltz, during my mother’s birthday reception ?” Minho asked his husband.

“Of course I do, I think that’s when I fell in love with you.” The other man shyly smiled. “Why ?”

“Because I asked the musicians to play one after dinner. This time, I will be the one requesting a dance from you.”

“And I will accept with a great pleasure, my King. But if I may surprise you before…”

“Surprise me ?”

With an enigmatic smile, Kibum cleared his throat and caught his daughter’s attention. Her big eyes stared at him, questioning, and he kissed her forehead before pointing at Minho.

“Sooyun-ah.” He called, making sure she looked at who his finger showed. “Who is this ?”

“Appa.”

The little girl giggled once she said the word, and immediately waved her arms towards the King, who stood there, gaping, unable to say a word in return. If it wasn’t for his husband approaching their daughter, he would certainly have remained frozen on spot. With a heartwarming smile, Minho grabbed Sooyun and hugged her tight, his silence turning into an irrepressible laughter that betrayed his happiness.

“We trained a lot.” The Prince said, caressing the other man’s back. “Days of showing you whenever you enter her field of vision and saying the word. She eventually understood it was who you were.”

“But… you ?” The King looked at his husband, his eyes wet with tears. “You spend more time with her than I do, why did you ensure that her first word would be for me ?”

“Because you deserve it. You saved my life, more than once. I might have saved yours, once or twice… but you saved me from my life, this horrible life I was suffering. You deserve the world, Minho, and… and that’s all I came up with to thank you.”

“Nothing could have been more beautiful.”

Minho smiled and leaned on his husband to kiss his lips, making sure to caress his daughter’s back at the same time to prevent her from interrupting them too soon. Both men kissed under the moonlight with their child in their arms, like the perfect scenery of a book of poetry…

“Minho !” Jihwan’s voice resounded in the gardens, coming from the open door. “The feast ! You’ll catch your death, all of you come inside immediately !”

The King and Prince laughed together, blushing from the unexpected interruption. Holding each other’s hand, while the princess rested on her father’s arm, they all obeyed the matriarch and headed inside. And by stepping in the palace this time, linked by their wedding, by their interlaced fingers and by the single existence of Sooyun, they felt complete.

_________________

This is the end of this story...

Thank you very much for waiting for every update, despite the last ones coming extremely slowly. Thank you for following this adventure and making me feel validated with all your reactions. This was one of the best experiences I've ever had, if I can say it. It was more than just writing a fanfic, it's a whole universe we created together and I'll keep it forever in my heart.

This story is over, but I might think of some extra chapters sometimes, shorter and telling about the daily life of our "newly-rewed" couple, their daughter growing up, some stuff for the General and the Teacher, even... who knows? Does it really have an end?

Thank you again.

BONUS HERE

#minkey #minho #key #kibum #shinee #fanfic #historical #kingdom of jinju #complete #jongyu #jonghyun #onew #jinki #taemin #epilogue

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