#ontae fanfic

[smtown-tourist-juliette]

Juliette Chapter 40 Cover:

They were young and inexperienced. Their parenting skills were questionable; some wondered if ‘the baby can really raise a baby.’ But shining with all of the potential in the world, boy group SHINee proved themselves capable of raising a baby.Through all of the tears, stressful challenges, temper tantrums, and fierce competitions, SHINee showed us what it means to laugh and to love. Three years ago, SHINee touched the Nation’s hearts while opening up theirs, and three years ago, we watched SHINee say goodbye to their roles as parents. Until now…

Just when SHINee didn't think their plates could get anymore full, KBS's hit reality program, Hello Baby, decides that it wants to bring SHINee on for its eighth and final season. That's right, Baby! SHINee is back and ready to take on the challenge of being parents again, but is their new member, Hana, who never got the chance to be on Hello Baby the first time around, ready for what it takes to be an umma? How will this cycle of Hello Baby differ from the first? What new challenges await these six shining idols? But most importantly, what will their new baby be: a boy or a girl?

A month has passed since Key went on his blind date with Apink's Eunji. They've managed to remain friends but Key has struggled to find the courage to tell Jonghyun about what went down during that date. Don't worry - he plans to tell him someday. Well, that day turns out to be the day that Taemin and Naeun decide to visit the SHINee dorm for Chuseok and who just-so-happens to be joining them for that celebration? Eunji! And who else will be there but none other than his notoriously jealous boyfriend, Jonghyun. It's a Love Triangle that Key never imaged himself being in and he's unsure of how Jonghyun will react once he finds out that Eunji will be joining them. It shouldn't be a problem as long as Jonghyun doesn't find out about what happened on that date. He's not going to find out, right?

SHINee definitely has their hands full with a new little bundle of joy but their Comeback Season for Hello Baby won't be the only Comeback that they'll be making this fall. Apparently a full-length album wasn't enough to please SM, so it's been decided that SHINee will be releasing another album - their fifth mini-album. While filming the music video for their title song, Everybody, Hana begins to feel ill. There's an ache in her lower abdomen but those are just period cramps, right? Yet, why is there no blood? Why are these cramps making her throw up? Why has she suddenly turned feverish? Why are the cramps getting worse despite taking pain killers?

Suddenly, after doing a one-take for their music video, Hana takes a turn for the worse! The pain in her stomach is excruciating and she can't stop throwing up. An ambulance is called and rushes her to the hospital, leaving only one question left to be answered: what is wrong with Hana?!

Find out the answers to these questions and more in Chapter 40, Parenthood Round 2. Head on over to Asianfanfics to check it out!

[summerofshinee]

For as long as they've been together, every full moon they go stargazing, except this time it's even more special, as the full moon falls on their anniversary.

tags: Established Relationship, Traditions, Husbands, Stargazing, Astronomy Nerds, Idiots in Love

[cherryeol04]

Smell

Genre: Weird Pairing: Ontae Word Count: 506 Summary: Sometimes Taemin just likes to smell his boyfriend A/N: Um...idk what was going on with me when I wrote this...but I wrote this. lmao enjoy???

Taemin had a thing for Jinki’s smell. If Taemin had to describe what Jinki smelled like, it would be a mixture of man, which was a really nice musk and his Stetson aftershave. And Jinki loved to use his aftershave everywhere he shaved. Everywhere. Jinki’s recent shaving area was his crotch. Even though Taemin was the only one who was going to get to see the other naked, and couldn’t really care what it looked like down there, Jinki was all about his ‘manscaping’.

“It’s a great way to be hygienic.” Taemin always rolled his eyes at that, but in the end, he couldn’t complain, because Jinki did smell amazing. Taemin would spend hours just sniffing and admiring the smooth area. But lately, Jinki hasn’t been home much. With their new comeback, their leader was out doing as many promotions as he could. Even Key was getting the word out with his Instagram. It was something Taemin was still contemplating about doing.

So Taemin was left at home a lot, boyfriendless, with a horny frog and a blond hair idiot who was constantly praising Key’s ass singing hallelujah. He was almost sure the other had a secret altar for the man. That was a place Taemin did not want to go. Instead, he would rather go between his boyfriend’s legs and smell the wonderful smell that was Jinki.

But he couldn’t.

So could anyone really blame him at the interview? He was dying for something, anything. The stylists had put so much cologne on them that Taemin couldn’t get a good smell of the other from hugs or simply by being around the other. It was like going through withdrawal. A horrible, nasty withdrawal and he wasn’t sure he was going to make it.

“Let’s take five.”

Taemin’s head shot up at the comment and he looked around, watching as the staff moved around, setting up the cameras from different angles. The interviewer moved off to get something to drink. The other members were busy talking to themselves and Taemin saw this as his only opportunity to get his fix while he had the chance. With one more glance around the room, Taemin leaned over and down and pressed his nose to Jinki’s crotch and sniffed. He didn’t get the scent the first two times he tried, but on the third attempt, the aftershave came rushing through the fabric and filled his nose. A small moan left Taemin as he sat up. His eyes met Jinki’s, his hyung’s laughter pulling a laugh from him. It was awkward, embarrassing, completely uncalled for, but entirely worth it.

Taemin was happy now.

And Jinki was snickering to himself because his boyfriend knew of his addiction. And he purposefully kept Taemin at bay for the past week as an experiment. An experiment that Taemin failed at. But that was alright. Because he loved the little maknae with all his heart and would gladly feed his addiction. After all, Taemin’s sniffing always led to a mind blowing blow job.

Tags: @cuddly-bangchan​ @lordseochangbin​ @channiesmixtape​ @starryseung​ @felixsanxchatbot​ @jisungsjheekies​

[somaybeimbiased]

Demons 

(One-shot from this AU)

They were all failures; that’s why they ended up together.

 At first it wasn’t because they liked each other, or because they would benefit from each other, or because they knew each other. They first became a coven out of convenience. They were all washouts; a familiar that couldn’t keep a job because he was too clumsy, a drude that was usually too tired to haunt nightmares because he couldn’t sleep during the day, an incubus that feeds on sex and relationships but couldn’t keep a friend, a poltergeist that had too much of a conscience, and a fallen angel that spent too much time praying in a futile attempt to get back to heaven. But really, finding each other and moving in together was the best thing to happen to them.

It was a normal day for the five demons who had opened a coffee shop of sorts. They owned a hipster chic shop that sold drinks for different kinds of things as Taemin and Key had taken up potion making. They sold drinks to make you sleep, drinks to make you calm, lustful, angry, and just about any other emotion. Their shop thrived in the heart of Seoul, the magic of their drinks kept hidden to everyone but them.

It was around 6pm and Onew, Taemin and Minho were busy at work. Minho was able to work in the kitchen cleaning and organizing as he didn’t need to apparate to do so. The other four could see him, so if he just kept his movement of things out of sight, no one would know that a poltergeist was doing dishes. Taemin was at the front counter; his angelic beauty and mysterious aura drew customers into the shop, and his boyfriend and his familiar, Onew was working diligently behind him, pouring up the brews they’d made the night before.

Taemin knew their shop was being watched; the same three men in all black had started coming in two weeks ago and would spend a large chunk of the day sitting in the corner booth after buying nothing more than bottles of water.  Minho has also hung around them to listen in on conversations and actions they made; watching as the men in black suits took pictures of Taemin and Onew at work during the day. Key had also mentioned that men in similar attire order three bagels from them every night during their delivery only hours when Jonghyun was on delivery duty. These reasons are why an emergency meeting has been called as soon as they closed in two hours. It was a Saturday night, so they closed early with no delivery that night.

Key and Jonghyun walked into the shop promptly 5 minutes before closing and got busy helping close, but Key noticed that one of the 3 men were missing as the other two left. He mentally made a note to Jonghyun who could sense his boyfriend’s uneasiness as he locked the doors. The two looked around the main area as Onew and Minho picked up behind the counter, Onew cleaning the pot of decaf amour he had knocked on the floor minutes before.

Minho felt the shift in atmosphere from Key and Jonghyun and went to see what was wrong. Seconds after Minho appeared in front of Key and Jonghyun a large crash was heard from the

women’s bathroom and Onew yelped, dropping the coffee cup he’d been sipping from.

“Taem was cleaning in there.” he said quietly a worried expression covering his face.

“Minho, go check first.” Key said to the poltergeist, pointing towards the bathrooms. Minho promptly disappeared and then reappeared seconds later.

“Guys, it isn’t pretty. One of the black suit men has Taem in some sort of net thing that brought out his true form, wings and all.” Minho said, eyebrows knotted together in fear for one of his best friends. Onew gasped and hopped over the counter in a second, ready to fight to free his boyfriend but Key stopped him.

“Wait. These guys want us to show them what we really are right? Let’s show them then.” He said with a devilish smirk.

“Onew, go get the healing potion ready just in case we need some, and the three of us will get Taem, don’t worry. Jjong, Minho let’s go.” The incubus said,  shifting  into something a little less than human. He had fiery red hair with little horns and a long tail, his skin tinted a light pink.

Jonghyun shifted into a dark creature with long, sharp claws and a sickening grin with sharp teeth.

The demons had made plans to deal with unwanted visitors, ways to eliminate them without worry of the public knowing.

Minho first appeared in the bathroom again this time, inside one of the stalls and he began making knocking noises to distract the man in the black suit from his struggle with Taemin who seemed to be out of it, but was still putting up a fight with the net. He used this distraction to open

“Who’s in here?” The suited man called out into the bathroom.

Minho flipped the lock and let Key into the bathroom to try reason with the man.

“Hello sweetie, what brings you to our little cafe?” Key said in a sickly sweet voice, shifting into what the suited man wanted to see, a brunette woman with large assets.

“Who are you?” He asked.

“Never mind that sweetie. Can I asked what you’re doing with my pretty friend there?” Key asked, approaching the man and leaving the door open for Jonghyun to slip in. Key latched onto the man’s arm, smirking at him with his devil cat-like smirk and let our a lustful aura in the air.

“I-uh it’s my job, he needs to be-um eliminated”

“No dear, I’m- uh afraid we can’t have that.” Key said faltering slightly at the man’s words.

The man blinked, the spell broken, and in a flash a special taser that he’d used to apprehend Taemin was used on the incubus as well. Key fell to the floor, shifting back into his natural form, jerking violently.

Not a second later a large shadow appeared on the wall and Jonghyun stepped out from the wall, looking beyond angry. “You’ve made three wrong moves today. One, coming into our shop. Two, capturing my dear youngest brother, and three; hurting the one I love the most. Now. Prepare for a night terror.” Jonghyun said, eyes turning white. Seconds later a sickening snap was heard followed by cries of agony and anguish, pleas for mercy and blood curdling screams, then all at once, the screaming stopped with a thud. Laying on the ground was the suited man, blood dripping from his mouth, dead.

Jonghyun let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and his eyes returned to normal along with the rest of his body. He dropped on the floor next to Key and pulled him close. Minho yelled for Onew and he approached the netted fallen angel.

His hand felt like it was set on fire as soon as he touched the rope. He let go with a hiss and he realized that this was no normal rope. He looked to Taemin who was tangled into the rope, whimpering and weakling trying to set himself free and he cringed at the pain the youngest must be feeling.

Onew rushed in and went to the rope, set on tunnel vision. He ignored the burning and he pulled and quickly untangled the rope, freeing Taemin. He hugged his boyfriend tightly and planted kisses all over his face. Taemin weakly cuddled close to the elder and sniffled. Onew pulled two bottles out of his pouch, hanging one to Key who was still shaken up after the shock he was given, and he opened the other and held it to Taemin's mouth. “Drink this. It’ll help.” Taemin drank the liquid quickly, and felt himself cool down slowly. After a few minutes, Onew had everyone move into the main area to rest on the couches, and he carried Taemin, careful of the younger’s large black wings that hadn’t gone yet.

Taemin smiled up weakly at Onew, “You are truly the best familiar, and boyfriend.” he whispered.

A/N This is the piece I wrote for @flrite for winning the giveaway! I hope you enjoy!

[bun-writes-things]

REMEMBER MY PRINCE TAEKAI AU? WELL WHAT ABOUT DARK PRINCE AU???

Its gonna happen! Send me asks 👀👀👀

[onthighsbelongtotaemin]

eunsook & taeyeon’s anniversary gifts to each other.

[lala-pipo]

[FIC] Aquamarine - 6/6 - 🧜‍♀️

Pairing: Onew x Taemin (OnTae)

Genre: Mermaid - AU, Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Fluff

Rating: T

Chapter(s): 6/6 (complete)

Word Count: 44,444

Warning(s): None

Summary: Taemin is a merman who lives at the coast of Jeju Island. Despising humans and finding them bothersome, a chance encounter with one on his 23rd birthday changes his life forever.

Can be read on Ao3

[incorrect-vav]

Ziu: what does "Y/N" stand for?

Lou: your name

Ziu: [goes back to reading] Lou kisses Ziu gently

Lou: WHAT

[jjongslight]

Just to be CLEAR about that whole shipping wars thing, we are talking about the past, like early shawol fandom years (although similar issues exist in how we construct ships but to a less toxic extent - which I might do a post about). But to anyone who wasn’t there at that time or who was there, but is trying to change the narrative now, things were really shitty in that regard (like I can’t even begin to explain). 

On a wider scale, that really speaks on how we don’t want idols to have any type of significant relationships if a) they’re not with us or b) if those relationships are not within the group’s dynamics.

And those group dynamics can’t even begin to be representative of the real dynamics so really, we are just inventing fantasies and worshiping those as if they were reality. We don’t know them like that. 

Fanfiction has been a big part of my fandom experience (and still is), I’ve written over 40 fics in the SHINee fandom so I’m not here to act like I’m better than anyone. I’m just thinking about how we use their names, very real parts of their lives and attach a whole fictional world to it for our pleasures. I’m making it sound like it’s bad, but I really don’t know. Will I continue to write fanfiction? As of now, yes. But I’d be stupid not to stop and think about it for a minute. 

[menofkpop]

Can anyone recommend and ontae, taekey or minkey fic?

Now here’s the problem....I read a lot. so it would have to be recent...preferably long or chaptered. (it’s raining so it’s this or start a new drama...lol)

[smtown-tourist-juliette]

Juliette Chapter 38 Cover

One of the most important days in a man's life is his Wedding Day. After being rejected by Hana, Taemin was positive that his Wedding Day was somewhere far off in the future. But after a staged surprise visit from the MBC filming crew, Taemin finds out that his Wedding Day might be a lot closer than he thinks as it's announced that he will be the next husband-to-be on MBC's hit reality show, We Got Married.

The day before Why So Serious is set to release, Taemin is whisked off to Jeju Island to meet his mystery bride. The setting of his first date has Taemin thinking a lot about Hana and part of him wishes that she was the one he was marrying. Yet, Taemin is determined to make the most out of his time on the show and decides to use it as his way of getting over Hana. Will Taemin be able to let go of his feelings for SHINee's sole female member? Is it possible to fall in love with someone when your relationship is fake? Which lucky female celebrity will get the honor of marrying SHINee's Taemin?

On the way to visit the Newlywed's house, Hana is nervous to meet Taemin's bride-to-be. She doesn't want to come between Taemin and his new wife yet it feels like this marriage is slowly putting a strain on her friendship with Taemin. She's happy for Taemin, she really is, but conflicting feelings leave Hana confused and dreading being in the new couple's presence. Luckily, she has Minho and Key there to watch her back and help smooth things over, but will the two frenemies prove to be helpful or will their conniving ways cause more trouble than good?

Wedding bells are ringing as SHINee's baby takes his first step into live as a married man. Follow Taemin as he discovers if marriage is all it's cracked up to be in Chapter 38, Taeminnie's Getting Married?! Head on over to Asianfanfics to check it out!

[summerofshinee]

Jinki meets Taemin on the rooftop when they're trainees. From that moment on, he's never alone.

tags: n/a

[jinkirella]

Jadmjshakdkaha that was it!! So I have read “Kiss Me” by Lana before (even had commented lol), but it was “let me be your lover” that I was looking for!!! Thank you & shining-ocean both for finding it for me 😭😭 it’s literally one of my favorites even though a pwp (because it’s one of those super sweet ones & ontae singing to the sky *sob* & Jinki deserves all the love in the world) and I hate LJ now for not being able to see your bookmarks easily anymore, so !!!! Thank you again! ♥️♥️♥️

Oh yaayyyy! Team work

Thank you @shining-ocean

[cherryeol04]

━━━━━━━━━°⌜ 赤い糸 ⌟°━━━━━━━━━

• Smell | Onetae 🏳️‍🌈

━━━━━━━━━°⌜ 赤い糸 ⌟°━━━━━━━━━

[minhoandthebabes]

Fairy AU

It was a bright sunny day, sunny and boring for Taemin. He had spent the entire morning studying with his tutor in the small classroom at the back of the palace. The bay windows were open to the adjacent courtyard which only served as a perfect distraction from the prince’s studies. As his tutor droned on about the intricacies of their history, Taemin’s eyes followed the shapes of the cherry blossoms that hung in front of the open window, his hand tracing them over his notes absently.

After a moment his tutor snapped his fingers, pulling Taemin’s attention back to the tall thin man in front of him.

“Lee Taemin, what do you think you’re doing? This is the third time I’ve had to get your attention. Do you think your parents are paying me to waste my time?” The man crossed his arms and looked down his nose and through his spectacles at Taemin, “Now tell me, what was your great, great uncles policy on trade with the eastern clan?”

Taemin shifted in his seat, his hands playing with the hem of his tunic, “That.. that it’s bad?”

The tutor pressed his fingers to his brow, “The answer isn’t whether or not it’s “good” or “bad” the answer is his policy, Taemin.” He looked back up at the young prince expectantly, but when he didn’t respond the man rolled his eyes and gave in, “His policy was that for every item they produced we would enchant for them and, in turn, we would keep half of the enchanted items while sending the rest back. Now, why is this a bad policy?”

Taemin chewed his lip and looked down at his notes, hoping something there would help, but only found more doodles of plants. “Because..” he started, closing his notebook, “Because it takes more energy to enchant than it takes to produce?”

“Precisely,” his tutor grinned, straightening his back, “Now you’re starting to think properly.”

Taemin sighed, leaning back in his seat, “Can we be done now? I’m sick of this.”

His tutor nodded, “fine, I’m just impressed something got through that thick skull of yours.” He turned around to erase the chalkboard. “By the way, next week-” The tutor turned only to see Taemin’s purple wings slipping out the door in a flash.

-

It only took a few moments for Taemin to slip away deep into the woods. Ignoring his responsibilities was what he did best, and on a day like today, it was all he wanted to do. He slowly made his way into the heart of the woods, back to the tallest tree he had found a few weeks before. He had taken it upon himself to catalog every plant and creature living within the ancient tree.

Kicking off of a mossy rock he was airborne, flying to a branch he knew he could lounge on. Once he had made himself comfortable he pulled out his sketchbook and doodled the flower growing from the moss beside him.

Minutes turned into hours as Taemin continued to doodle and sketch on the lower branch of the tree. Over time the sun lowered in the sky enough to peak through the sparse branches and onto Taemin’s notebook. With the sun warming his skin, the prince was lulled to sleep, snoring gently as the branches above him swayed gently in the breeze.

-

Taemin suddenly awoke to the sound of a branch snapping below him and looked down to see what was causing the sound. It was dark, but he could see the luminous mushrooms guiding his path home below. He squinted in hopes to get a glimpse at the creature that was below him, leaning a little closer on the edge of the branch. Just as he had decided to go down there to inspect it, in a sudden flash and loud crack of lightning, Taemin lost his balance, falling off the branch and down into the mud and moss below.

Jinki closed the door behind him and tossed his backpack onto his cluttered kitchen counter. Empty ramen bowls clattered to the floor and flies escaped, reminding him of how long it had been since he had last returned to the tiny apartment. With a scrunch of his nose, he ignored the daunting mess and collapsed onto his couch. With a sigh of relief, he decided he could let himself nap for just a moment, the short power nap couldn’t to that much damage, especially considering it was the start of the weekend, a springy Friday afternoon whose sunset painted his apartment in various shades of orange, warming him enough to sleep.

He opened his eyes again when a buzzing tickled his ear. Jinki sat up with a big yawn and stretched, scrunching his face in the process. He remembered the flies that seemed to be enjoying his old mess and decided it was time to clean up. On his way to the kitchenette, he grabbed a garbage bag and started filling it with everything that smelled or had mold. He looked back at his slightly more clean apartment with a bright smile, but after a moment he heard a crack of lightning behind him, turning to see the beginning signs of rain start to drip down the large windowpane that covered one wall of the square apartment.

The rain only meant one thing for the college student, wet socks as he walked to the art studio the next day. Despite this, Jinki was still happy to see the rain. It had been dry for far too long and the planter box on his windowsill had been wilting in his absence.

Jinki walked over to find one of his plants that sat on his counter and brought it to the window to join the other plants as they soaked up the rejuvenating rain. He placed the potted plant beside the plantar before looking out on the dark wet world in front of him. Most of the lights from the businesses down below were turned off. He could see drunk students covering their heads as they ran from the sudden downpour.

He was about to close the window when something bright caught his eye. Jinki noticed purple dust shimmering on one of the basil leaves. He frowned and reached out to brush the dust from the leaf, feeling it’s fine texture between his fingers. It seemed to glow in the dim light, but the more he touched it, the less he could see it. He leaned out the window slightly to look for the source of the glitter in his planter. He assumed it must have been from something like a kids toy or perhaps a stray piece of trash had flown in with the strong winds that brought this storm. Jinki pushed around the leaves and was about to give up his search when he saw a wing in the mud.

He scoffed, it really was some kids toy, he was about to pinch the wing but realized he might break the toy seeing as most of it was buried under the mud. Instead, he scooped it up with the mud and was immediately surprised by the weight that filled his hand. It felt like he was holding dormouse, something living. The feet of the toy started at the base of his palm and its head was cradled on his thumb. The parts of the toy that touched his skin didn’t feel plastic, it felt soft and delicate, the most realistic toy he had ever felt.

Jinki brought it to the sink and decided to wash the mud from its face so he could get a better look at the toy. If it looked nice enough he would remove the wings and use it as a model for future school projects. He turned on the cold water and held the toy beneath it, watching as the mud started to wash away from its long hair and thick clothes.

Taemin jumped awake as soon as the water touched him, he pushed up against the soft material behind him and tried to scramble away from the water. He was covered in mud and now he was covered in cold water, but he didn’t care, he needed to get away from whatever was happening. He stood and tried to take flight, but the mud caked onto his wings only slowed him down in his escape, and before he knew it, he was grabbed out of the air. Whatever had grabbed him managed to grip his wing a little too tightly and Taemin cried out in pain, going limp in the giant hand.

The next time Taemin opened his eyes he was surrounded by glass that distorted his view of the world around him. In the distance, he could see the creature, a giant blob from his perspective that seemed to be pacing outside and talking loudly into a strange box. Taemin looked up to see the damage that had been done to his wing. The tip of the right wing had bent backward and snapped in one spot. Just looking at the injury made tears well up in Taemin’s eyes. He reached into his satchel to see if he had anything of use inside, but he hadn’t brought any potions with him.

He reached up to assess the damage, his hands running over the soft membranes, his wings had never experienced such damage, and just touching the fractured edge sent shooting pain down to his spine.

Jinki was running over the past few moments in his head. The toy had seemingly come to life within his hands and in just seconds he had managed to injure it. He needed to do something, he needed help and he knew just the person to help him. Jinki pulled out his cellphone and called Kibum.

Kibum was another student who lived just a few doors down and was studying to be a veterinarian. Despite their different studies, they had become friends over the years. He knew Kibum would have some sort of solution for him.

Jinki was greeted by a groggy voice on the other line when Kibum finally picked up.

“Do you know what time it is?”

Jinki looked down at his watch and ran a hand through his hair, “I- I actually wasn’t aware..”

Kibum groaned, “This better be an emergency then if you haven’t hung up by now.”

“I think.. I hurt something..” Jinki said softly, looking at the mythical creature as it checked over its wing.

“Hurt something? Like yourself? I knew you would eventually, old man, but I’m studying to be a vet, not a doctor..” Kibum’s voice was more clear now and he sounded a little concerned despite his snarky response.

“No, it’s not me, it’s- it’s a creature.. I found.” Jinki didn’t mean to be cryptic, but if he had said “fairy” he would have felt so childish.

Kibum huffed, “can’t this wait until morning Jinki? Are you really worried about this creature? Animals die all the time, it’s not that big of a deal.”

“First of all, how can you say that as a budding vet?? Second of all, this is completely different..” Jinki furrowed his brow and leaned down to look at the small creature. His face softened when he noticed it cowering in the glass, hugging its broken wing to its chest. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said softly, “It was an accident, I swear.”

Kibum sighed, “fine, and you know I didn’t mean that. I’m just exhausted.. Jonghyun and I went out drinking and you know how he gets.”

Jinki nodded, “yeah, just come quick, and with a first aid kit. I don’t have one here.”

He hung up with Kibum and unlocked his door for the other before sitting to get a closer look at the little creature, “this is a dream, right? There’s no way you could be real.”

Taemin held his broken wing close. This giant thing without wings was looking at him, even though he couldn’t see it through the warped glass, he could definitely feel it. He brought his legs to his chest as his heart pounded against his tunic, trying to escape through the thick fabric.

He tried to remember a spell that could help him in this situation, anything that could hide him away, or even heal him, but his mind was blank; only fear filled his thoughts.

With a bright flash, soon a rumble of thunder shook everything around him and he squeezed his eyes shut.

After the sound subsided he heard a soft warm voice speaking to him. He opened his eyes to see the odd thing’s mouth moving. It didn’t sound threatening, in fact, it seemed as if it was trying to calm him down.

Taemin let his muscles relax a little, letting go of his injured wing. He looked down at his hands which were now covered in a maroon liquid and reached into his bag to pull out his handkerchief, rubbing the blood from his hands. He was sure to give the other creature an angry scowl to show him he was displeased with what had happened and the man seemed to respond accordingly, stepping away from his glass prison.

Soon he heard a new sound, a door opening and the thought of seeing another one of these creatures made him curl up again, trying to hide himself away.

“This is a dream. Or, I’m still drunk,” Kibum said as he sat down at the table to look at the creature Jinki had caught. “Yeah, I’m still drunk.. I swear we just had wine tonight.” He mumbled under his breath, reaching out to touch the cup. The thing inside quivered as he grazed the glass making Kibum pull away.

“You have to help me put his wing back together..” Jinki almost demanded, “you have to, I swear to god if I killed it, I’ll never be able to live with myself.” Jinki’s eyes started to water, only putting Kibum more on the defensive.

“I- I’ve, never.. I meant I’ll try, but, I’ve never fixed a-” He bit his lip, “this wouldn’t be a bug, but.. it wouldn’t be a human either.” He shook his head, “I can try, but I can’t promise anything.”

Jinki smiled, “I knew you would be the one to help me!” He picked up the lid from the cup so they could have more access to the fairy within.

“First, we should give him some pain meds.” Kibum pulled out a bottle of aspirin and looked at the size of the pill compared to the size of the thing in the glass and sighed, “if we’re this big, and.. it’s that big, I’m guessing we’ll need a tenth of this?”

Jinki chewed his lip, “I- I don’t know.. that sounds right? Give him less just in case though. While you figure that out, I’ll make up a bed for him to lay on once we’re finished.”

Kibum nodded. He tentatively reached into the glass to guide the creature out but as soon as it started putting up a fight, Kibum got nervous.

“Just let me take care of you!” He argued as its small hands scratched at Kibum’s fingers. Kibum groaned and pulled away again, “fine, I guess I’ll have to do this the hard way.” He reached into his medical kit to pull out a small bottle of chloroform.

Jinki returned moments later with a tissue box he had cut up into a makeshift bed. “Hey! I think this will-” his voice cut off when he saw the bottle Kibum was messing with. “What do you think you’re doing?” He asked in an accusatory tone. “Isn’t that stuff dangerous? Why do you have it in the first place?!”

“Jinki, relax..” Kibum rolled his eyes, “I’m only using a tiny bit to knock him out, he won’t stop fighting me, and he’ll feel less pain this way anyway.”

“But why do you have that??”

Kibum shrugged, “my teacher’s old fashioned, he wanted us to learn how to make it just in case a situation like this arose and we didn’t have access to tranquilizers.”

Jinki shook his head, “of all the people to teach you such a thing..” he set down the bed and watched as Kibum held a cotton swab of the stuff at a length from the creature. It didn’t take long until he slumped over in the cup looking lifeless.

“You better be careful with him..” Jinki said softly.

Kibum transferred the fairy from the glass to the little bed they had made. “I’ll give him pain meds once we mend his wing and he’s awake again.”

He put on gloves next to protect the creature from any bacteria he might have before he touched the wing. “I saw this in my textbook once for butterflies. You can mend their wing with a splint of card stock. They suggested the use of glue, but that seems too severe here.” Kibum was gentle as he straightened the wing, “there’s also liquid coming out which there isn’t for butterflies.”

“Do you think we should just use a bandaid?” Jinki asked softly.

“No, I think we should make a cast, but I don’t think he’s is too strong, so let’s use cardstock for something solid and paper-maché around it with cotton surrounding the wing, can you make paper-maché?”

“Of course,” he smiled a little, “I’m an art major after all.. that should be a piece of cake.”

Jinki started to get to work. After ten strenuous minutes, Jinki and Kibum backed away from the fairy who now lay on his makeshift bed with a cast on the tip of his wing.

“I’m never drinking with Jonghyun after this..” Kibum mumbled, leaning back in his chair, exhausted.

“I’m never touching that fairy again..” Jinki added, staring at the steady rise and fall of the creature's chest against the towel blanket he had covered him with earlier.

[iceamericanoventi]

Love Will Find a Way, Well, Eventually : 3. Bloom

“Is that it?”

Jinki raised his eyebrow to the man beamed like morning dew in front of him. He’s quite surprised with the visit of the younger. When he said he’ll stop by his café last time they met, he thought it was just formality of the courtesy talk.

“Nah, it would upset my stomach if I took more than coffee this early.”

“This is early for you?” Jinki glanced at his watch inevitably hearing such thing.

“My client and supplier abroad are still on the dreamland by this time,” he winked, makes Jinki chuckles behind the counter, “So how much do I owe you?”

“It’s on the house.”

Those round eyes immediately turned brighter, “You sure?”

“Positive.”

“Really?” He leaned further to his front, limb almost completely over the wooden surface. His neck stretched to the direction where Jinki’s making his order. Even from the back, Jinki still looks gallant, his back muscle subtly visible over his indigo cashmere.

“Cut it out before I change my mind,” he turned his back with cup of coffee in his hand, “Since this is early for you, do you mind if you have your coffee here instead for take away? Better for the environment.”

The blinding smile hypnotized Taemin on the spot, “Only if the boss sits with me.”

Another snorted came from Jinki, “Go pick your table then.”

***

“You seem happy this morning.”

Taemin put down the cup and support his head with his left hand on the table, while the right playing with the edge of the saucer.

“Me? Happy? We clearly didn’t know each other for a long time. This is the regular me.”

“Well, what I know is back then you were super grumpy during the whole dinner.”

Jinki brushed his hair back, the locks appeared so soft between his fingers. Taemin needs to suppress his urge not to feel it by his own hand.

“Sorry if my first impression disappointed you,” Jinki’s words halted for a moment, “My head was somewhere else.”

Minho has been texting him a lot since the next morning after they parted. He doesn’t like being accused as anything, but he doesn’t like it more when it’s actually true. He admits he was a bit rude, talking too cold to some people who weren’t at fault.

Even worse, the tall man bothering Jonghyun making the later had no options besides calling Jinki right after he finished with his shift at the hospital. And nagging Jonghyun is the worse.

“Kibum couldn’t stop wondering what the heck is going on with you during our ride home. He thought you’re on your period or something.”

“Maybe I was. Who knows?”

“Kibum was right when he said you’re a bit jokester.”

“It’s only me and you yet you keep talking about Kibum.”

“Jealous much?”

“Too early to talk about feeling. It would upset my stomach.”

Another smile adorn Jinki’s face, sending Taemin heartbeat to run faster than it’s supposed to be, “You’re interesting, Lee Jinki.”

“That’s what people said about me.”

At this rate, it’s hard for Taemin to not take Jinki’s friendly attitude as a light flirt. It seems he faced two different men. The dinner Jinki appeared like assassin in disguise, while the man before him idly looks like ball of sunshine. He sipped his coffee once more to cover his trembled lips.

“So how do I talk to you besides coming here to get my coffee?”

He expected the conversation would go this way, what else brought a busy designer like Taemin to the other side of the city, far for where his studio’s address – thanks to Choi TMI Minho – only to get a cup of cappuccino?

Besides Minho and Jonghyun, and some business partner of course, only several people has his number. Some family member doesn’t even know how to contact him besides the number of his shop. Jinki doesn’t like being disturbed. His time passed seven in the evening belongs for him, and for him only.

But something is unusual from Minho’s rants and excessive reminder to get closer with Taemin, at least try to give a chance for him. He figured that Minho must want to know Kibum better and Taemin won’t allow him to touch his precious best friend if he doesn’t get something in return. 

“Ask Minho.”

“Don’t you think I haven’t tried? I can get coffee on the ground floor of my building, Jinki.”

“Bet I have better brew.”

“Of course, the owner is such a view. I didn’t put any sugar but I guess when I leave this place I need to check my blood sugar. I might get early symptoms of diabetes.”

“Stop blurting out some non-sense.”

“Not until you tell me your digits.”

“Are you always this aggressive? Should I be worried?”

“Only to certain people,” Taemin winked playfully to finish his sentence.

“I’ll ask your number from Minho later.”

“If you had three-days rule under your sleeve, you better cancel it right here right now, Sir.”

“I think it’s safe for me to start worried now.”

***

Jinki walked aimlessly between the bookshelves, checking some new novels to enjoy with one or two glasses of Bailey’s. Yesterday he was cleaning his apartment, taking half day off from his shop to finally realize he needs to hold yard sale by the end of the night because apparently he’s certified hoarder.

He has too many books. Some of the binds almost fell off, some of the cover even ripped, and some got coffee stain or maybe wine or some liquor he downed while reading the said books. After some deliberation, he opted to bring all the books to the shop and purchased some new one to accompany him at home.

Minho said, nobody reads book anymore at the coffee shop nowadays, but Jinki spat right on him for delaying the promotional strategy he promised a while ago because the photographer suddenly ought to go to Japan for some possible exhibition the next fall.

“Five at most, Jinki.”

He looked to his the small basket on his left hand, it’s been a while he went to real book shop, there are already seven books inside, “We’ll see.”

“What’s the point of moving everything to your shop then bring back another hundred home?”

“I am not that rich, Honey.”

“You aren’t. But you are not gonna give up a book when you already like it as well.”

“Wow. The perks of being boyfriends for five years.”

“Not a perk. An agony. You could buy some nice wallet or watch for me instead piling books on each corner of your place.”

“Ouch. I’ll buy you snow globe on the anniversary of our break up.”

“Oh, how sweet.”

“I am.”

“Whatever. Gotta go, some kids need their hero.”

“I need my hero as well.”

“Then stop shutting people down and take the courage. Live a little!”

“Yes, Dad.”

Jinki shoved his phone at his back pocket and continued touching and picking and putting it back to the shelf, repeating it several times until he reached the new arrival sections. He saw a book with a teal cover with a sketch of beautiful window in embossed silver ink on the middle of it, with small handwriting right below, About.

He peek his basket again, still less than ten, I’m good. Saw him dumping the book on top piles of the others, a staff walked closer to him.

“Hey, would you like to join our fan sign event?”

“What?”

“Ah yeah, the writer of that book is holding a fan sign at the moment. There would be some little reading as well. And everyone who purchases that book today, can join the fan sign for free.”

The girl sees how Jinki’s hesitating at the moment, half whispered, she showed him to the shelf on her right, “The book just released two days ago. It’s already on the best seller wall. It’s the fifth book of the writer that made it there. I’m sure you don’t want to miss this.”

“I’ll think about that,” he walked to the check out counter to pay all of his books. It’s three in the afternoon but the bookshop is crowded as much. While waiting by for his turn, he flipped the teal-covered book to check the summary written.

‘A flower would wither, inevitably, with or without care. When a tree is not teared down by an axe, reality might override some expectation, while it stays in her might, it’s eating herself from the inside. Since nobody know, nobody care. Just like flower, inevitably, it would wither. You said a mother would always stays, it’s about love. But rain smashed down the earth, flooding the land, vanishing some hopes. So much dread, but it’s about love as well.’

He saw the writer’s name, Key it says – which he’s much not familiar with. But what irked him is the commentary notes, he saw the name of the first author his grandfather introduced him: Key did it again. Same energy, some reflection, but different touch as always.

Interesting, he thought. Retreated from the line he picked his phone and texted his manager that he’s not returning back to the shop after his afternoon shopping spree.

***

Something inside his chest is racing, thumping with unnecessary rapid pace. His eyes glued to the figure appeared at the corner of the small stage arranged at the back part of the bookshop. He looks so soft with another oversize sweater wraps him, as if the article of clothes is specially made for him. The color burgundy is contrast with the skin peeking just right above his collarbones.

Some audience by the first three rows squealing at the smile he sports when he looks at their directions. The scene makes Jinki ducked his head quickly, afraid that the man would think him a creep. A creep who stalks people they barely knew with book shopping as their excuses, hiding among some late teenagers making a fuss over small wave from the man.

Jinki stretched his neck a bit, checking for empty seat he could sneak in. He found a place on the right side next to a pillar covered by some wooden shelves, a perfect hideout until his turn for the sign.

“Hi, everyone!” his voice is still as charming as Jinki remembered, “Thanks for coming today though it’s with very short notice, you are all here! I am impressed, but also grateful to the hill.”

He stops for a while to reach his copy of the book he’s going to sign this afternoon.

“Actually, it was scheduled to be released only next month, even if I finished it early. So, I bugged my editor to chase their tails to distribute it faster. Guess I am a very good dog person!”

Roar of chuckles fill the air by the joke, but mainly by the way he rolled his eyes when he’s talking about his publisher.

“Today I will read for you some pages which are my favorite from ‘About’. This book composed by questions we have about all the simple things happened around us. Or to us. About all the things we take for granted.”

From his seat, Jinki can clearly see how the man blushed when a girl took a picture of him but forgot to turn off the flash light.

“For the first time, I don’t have main character. The story isn’t specifically centered on particular people. I want to be as inclusive as can be for everything’s happened inside this book could occur to anyone despite their social status or their point of view toward life.”

He takes his glasses and gulped down some water prepared for him before he opens the book in his hand, and started reading.

“She just left. She yelled one night, screamed her lungs out, spat on my face, at one point made me believed words came out from her, that I am useless. Ungrateful and asking too much. I had enough of you, that’s how she ended the dreadful conversation. The following morning I saw a glass of milk on the table, fifty dollars slipped neatly underneath. Cinnamon rolls placed next to it, wrapped by blue napkin, a letter laid on the top of it. No, it wasn’t letter, it was not even one paragraph, and it’s written at the back of old supermarket’s receipt. I’m sorry I had to do this, it began. I would be a bad mother if I’m with you. We shouldn’t have been each other’s pain. Since then, I resent my mother for all bad lucks I encountered for the last ten years.”

There’s no single sound from the audience. Everyone’s drown to the sooth voice reciting some lines from his book. One girl at the back even took out her handkerchief and silently wiped her tears. He bit his lips, seems reluctant to continue reading the passage.

Jinki stunned by the words. The last sentence tastes too familiar.

***

Kibum can only stare to the man walked closer to him. He blinks, once, twice, but the scene didn’t falter. The man even smiled, waved his book to the dumbfounded author. So many questions popping inside his head, starting on how on earth such an aloof personality is bothered coming to an event like this.

“I am a fan. Starting today,” he put the book in front of Kibum just like previous people before he observed. But the eyes of the said man still wedged on Jinki’s face, “You okay? Last time I checked, I’m not a ghost, Kim Kibum. Or should I say, Key.”

He took the book anyway, head still shaking in disbelief, “That name is off limit. How did you get here?”

“Err.., by subway?”

Only chuckles blurted out before he starts writing on the first page, “I thought an alien abducted you here.”

“Well, that would be less boring.”

“This is awkward,” Kibum snorted, “But thank you for coming. I mean it.”

“My pleasure, Kibum. I’ll finish this as soon as possible.”

Kibum waved to him slightly too excited, eyes glued to Jinki’s back, following him to the seat he’s sitting by himself, away from the crowd. A staff needs to tap his shoulder lightly announcing another reader already waiting on his right. He quickly apologized and detached himself from Jinki’s direction.

Meanwhile, Jinki traced the fresh ink on his copy, simple smile reappeared when he read the cute handwriting.

‘Let me know if you like the story. Or not. Enjoy, Lee Jinki! J’

He looks to the small stage, secretly hoping the later turned his head his way so he can mouthed another thank you and leave better impression. But Kibum’s of course busy signing and chatting with his fans. Sometimes he cracked a little bit too loud an excuse himself for startling people around.

Jinki is still trying taking in the entire situation without being overwhelmed. When Minho said Kibum’s a writer, he didn’t expect it would be this famous. And the way he treats each reader, furtively gave him hope. A hope of something he didn’t understand yet for what. A hope he secretly wished it was only on his misshaped mind.

“Is my book that amazing I got a beautiful man flipping the pages or is that too boring you expected some twist on the next paragraph?”

Jinki looked up when a familiar voice approached him. He was too caught up with the story line, he didn’t realize the fan signing is all wrapped up and some staffs already started clean up the chairs. Kibum smiles sincerely, and without asking any permission he sits next to him, leaned closer to check until which part Jinki already reading. Little did he know, his perfume confiscated Jinki’s respiratory system, making it hard to balance his need of oxygen.

“Care to explain again what on earth brought you here?”

Jinki closed the book and rested in on his laps, “I was buying some books. It’s the time of the month. Not something I’m proud of, but I do judge a book by its cover. Literally. And when I saw yours, it goes to the cart immediately. And one of the staff told me I got a chance to have my book signed by the author.”

“I should call my graphic designer after this and treat him a dinner.”

“You should. I’m rarely this open complimenting people.”

Kibum burst into another long haul of laughter. He looked at Jinki once again, and still, shaking his head again for this is such a weird coincidence. He was a bit ill this morning when he woke up and was still not in the mood even he got better after some medicine Amber gave him. He almost calling his publicist to postponed the book signing until at least next week.

He thanked his hard headed manager to shove him more soup and vitamins while yelling him it’s impossible to cancel the book signing which he personally asked to be added on his schedule.

“What do you think so far?”

“It’s too soon to come up with some conclusion. I’ll save that for later. But the passage you read before, I like that a lot.”

Lots of people reading Kibum’s book, lots of people said they love it. What just rolled out Jinki’s mouth, though, painted him some contentment. For Kibum, what he grasped from Jinki’s attitude back on the restaurant showed him that Lee Jinki is very hard to please. Taemin was almost all over him during the dinner, but he didn’t budge. And befriended with the designer, he got to know that Taemin is a very charming person, no one actually wasn’t drown on his vibe.

“What are you doing after this Jinki?”

He was planning to stop by Jonghyun’s house and bought some egg breads on the way knowing it was his ex-boyfriend’s favorite. The later has been bugging him with endless texts saying he’s exhausted.

“Hmm, nothing. Mostly go back home and continue reading.”

“Do you want to grab some bites?”

Jinki thanked his grandfather words as much as he cursed it. He would never say no to that kind of questions.

“Relax, it’s not a fancy dinner which might turn you into cold asshole.”

“Hey. I might be cold but I’m not an asshole.”

“We’ll see.”

***

Kibum brought him to his favorite burger joint in a very nice neighborhood. It’s close to the hyped area near Hongdae, but secluded enough to actually able to get some order served without being annoyed by some line. Kibum decided to take away and enjoy the burger while walking around with I-already-sit-for-a-very-long-time as an excuse.

They talked about books, puppies – Kibum has two –, and some stupid stuffs they encountered while walking down alleys to alleys. It’s not weekend yet, but the street’s already filled by youngsters.

“These kids are supposed to sit on their desk studying for dear life!”

Kibum couldn’t hide his anger when a group of freshman walked passes them and nearly knocked him down butt kissing the pavement. Luckily, Jinki was there snatching his arm in flash.

“Let them be. Too much studying is such a waste, they’ll stress themselves. Nothing great about being depressed.”

“Was that the story of your life?”

“Maybe, the part of being depressed in such young age sounds familiar.”

The answer brought Kibum quiet. By the corner of his eyes he catches Jinki secured both of his hands on the pocket of his coat, face straight to the front trying not to give Kibum any chance to ask something related to that.

“What life without drama, then? Now tell me, why you insist on running specifically jazz café.”

“I love jazz and I love coffee. I have the opportunity to wed them, that’s what happened.”

“But you don’t seem happy talking about it.”

“I’m not a talker to begin with. So to incorporate happy feeling on my conversation is quite challenge.”

“I wonder how I’m the writer and not you,” Jinki raised his eyebrow in question, “You always have a way with words, you know?”

“A gift. When you’re raised to argue with your folks, you’ll manage.”

They walked side by side for the rest of the journey back to the main street, both are occupied with their own thoughts. The temperature dropped as the night goes by, but neither is bothered with it. Much to Jinki preference, he likes the comfortable silence.

Sometimes he glances to his side, Kibum always caught him looking but he said nothing. So he did the same when Kibum cocked his head to check on him.

“You sure you don’t want me to drive you home?”

Kibum asked the other man when he saw his car from a far.

“Nah, I’m good. Besides, I’ll be the end of your avid fans rant when they found out you drove back a newbie like me.”

Light slap landed on Jinki’s shoulder, “Stop it, will you?”

Jinki’s about to tease Kibum further, but seeing the man before him pouting like a toddler, all the will evaporated into the night sky and replaced with some funny feeling inside.

As they eased closer to Kibum’s car, Jinki hummed random song he listened to the radio blasted on the burger place which happened to stuck inside his head.

“I like that song.”

“The melody kinda stuck here,” he pointed to his temple which Kibum totally agreed with him.

“One last chance to get a ride from your new favorite writer.”

Kibum stands near the passenger door, waiting for Jinki to change his mind.

“Sounds amazing but I’m going to take the subway.”

“Your choice.”

He opened the backseat door to retrieve some of Jinki’s stuffs. He told him to leave the books in his car because he knew they will walk a lot and Jinki has at least four pounds of book in the paper back he handed back to the owner.

“Here you go. It was nice bumped into you, Jinki. Who knows you’re this, you know, remarkable.”

“I’m flattered.”

“Promise me you won’t hate me if you don’t like my book.”

“That won’t happened, I promise you.”

“A deal then.”

“A deal.”

Kibum decided that giving the other man a farewell hug is super awkward and would ruin the night. So he just nods and reaches the handle of the door, already missing the nice conversation he had even before he buckled his seatbelt.

“Kibum.”

“Yeah?”

“Umm, can I call you sometimes?”

Kibum’s smile never been this liberating.

***

It was posted on my AFF and I was thinking to cross posted it here. But, ofc, in a very very slower pace because I am that lazy yes, sloth is my spirit animal. If you’re interested to read the story, go check there. It’s already on chapter 7 lol! Thanks for reading this, I hope you like it! XOXO