Along For The Ride - 3/?
Title : Along for the Ride
Pairings : 2min, Minkey, (maybe) Jongtae
Genre : Angst, Fluff, Slight (if any) Smut
Rating : M for language and possible smut
Word Count : in progress
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Every Friday night Haeri, Jonghyun and Taemin would go out in search of something to do. Outside of work, the two youngest wouldn’t see each other since Haeri went to a different college. And being the eldest, Jonghyun had his own life to lead with work and other adult essentials. Initially it had been the three of them driving over to the next city for a movie or to eat. But there were only so many Fridays, and it wasn’t always certain they’d even be able to meet.
“You have to come, Taemin-ah. You never hang with us on the weekends.”
Taemin sat on the park bench with Kibum staring up at the clouds. They had come together to watch Minho play soccer in the field with some of his friends or teammates or whoever. Taemin didn’t even know what was going on around him as his eyes followed Minho’s in the field. He was amazed at how quick and agile the elder was with the white and black ball between his feet. The expressions he made when he’d score or steal from an opposing player were of pure concentration. Taemin could see that for Minho, soccer was the epitome of happiness.
“I can’t, hyung. I have plans.”
Kibum scoffed. “I thought you said you didn’t know if those plans were still on?” Taemin shrugged. “Every time I ask how your weekend went you claim it was nothing big. Why don’t you ever play with me or Minho?”
Taemin felt his fingers itching and his mouth run dry. He really really really wanted to smoke. He cracked his knuckles, trying to ignore the pack burning a whole in his pocket. He hated being questioned, by anyone really. It made him nervous for some unknown reason, and it bothered him. Kibum was just asking a simple question and here he was ready to start a forest fire of cigarette smoke.
“I always have plans every Friday, hyung. But there’s really no guaranteeing they will stick through.” That was as good of an excuse he could offer. Of course he could skip out on Haeri and Jonghyun, they’d canceled plans all the time before. But there was no way he could just admit his real reason for not accompanying Kibum and Minho on the weekends.
Minho loved his alone time with Kibum. And Taemin didn’t need anyone to verbally tell him for him to know. It was obvious in the way the he’d smiled brighter when their hyung was around. Or when he’d offered for the three of them to go to the amusement park before indirectly uninviting Taemin by ‘losing his ticket’. And there was even that time when Minho invited his hyung from work, Jinki, so he could keep Taemin busy and Kibum’s attention would be solely on Minho.
“Well, why can’t you not guarantee your presence this Friday? And who are these people that stand you up? You’re too cute to be stood up as much as you do,” Kibum held a deep frown as he watched the younger stare at the sky.
“It’s not their faults that they have lives outside of me, hyung.”
“Well, you have a life outside of them. You will be coming with me and Jinki and Minho. We’re going bowling. What does it look like with only three people?” Kibum smiled and patted his arm. “So you’re coming.”
Taemin looked out at Minho and bit his lip. If Taemin didn’t go, Jinki would have more than likely canceled as well, leaving Kibum and Minho alone. It was how it went all the time. It was the third weekend Jinki was invited to hang out with them that he’d read into the situation spot on.
‘But you like him, don’t you?’ Taemin was beyond shocked that a near stranger could read the feelings he so desperately tried hiding. ‘Why do you force yourself away from them?’
‘He likes Kibum hyung. If I weren’t here, he’d be getting all of hyung’s attention. That’s the way he wants it.’ Taemin eyed his two hyungs as they walked ahead of them, leading the way to the ice cream parlor.
‘That’s not fair to you. What about what you want?’
Taemin smiled. ‘It doesn’t matter what I want, hyung. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be ok.’
Ever since that day, Jinki dubbed himself protector over his dongsaeng. He and Taemin would bow out of any plans with Kibum and Minho to do their own thing. Sometimes Jinki would even go out with Taemin and Jonghyun and Haeri.
“Come on, Taemin-ah. You know you want to spend time with Minho.”
Taemin looked over at Kibum, who held a smug smirk, and sighed. “Hyung, I told you-”
“Yeah, yeah. ‘You don’t like him like that.’ Whatever. That stupid love-sick grin begs to differ.” He smiled as Taemin covered his mouth with his hand. “When are you going to tell him?”
“I’m not.”
“Why not?” Kibum whined. “You two would be perfect together.”
“Hyung, trust me, I’m far from perfect.”
“I know! I can help,” he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Please don’t,” Taemin skeptically stared at the elder.
“I will,” Kibum nodded eagerly. “I can keep Jinki hyung busy while you work on Minho with your naturally adorable charms. It’s brilliant!”
“I said no!” Kibum jumped and stared at Taemin with widened eyes. “Nothing could possibly happen with me and Minho, so just drop it, ok?!”
His eyes burned with tears that threatened to fall. His face grew hot and red from trying to hold it in. He didn’t mean to yell. But thinking about all the reasons why he couldn’t be with Minho hurt. He preferred to pretend there were no feelings and forget about everything.
“I’m sorry,” Kibum broke the tense silence. “I got carried away.”
After regaining control of himself, Taemin let out a sigh and shook his head. “I didn’t mean to yell, hyung. I’m sorry.”
“I just want my two dongsaengs to be happy,” Kibum pushed his lips out and furrowed his brow in his trademark pout.
Taemin shook his head. “Minho hyung is plenty happy without me. See?” They both turned to see Minho waving at them with a large smile plastered over his face. “All he needs is his sports…” And you, Taemin added internally.
“You guys weren’t even watching me.”
The two looked up to see Minho standing before them chugging down a water bottle while wiping his face with his t-shirt. Taemin’s eyes caught the sliver of toned skin revealed by the lifted hem of the shirt and found his mouth watering. He felt Kibum nudge him in the side and quickly averted his eyes elsewhere.
“Whatever. You still won,” Kibum dismissed with a wave. “In other news, Taemin is coming bowling with us tonight.”
“Really?” Minho glanced over to the red head, whose gaze was on a couple of kids playing with a dog.
“No. I have plans.”
“’Plans’ that he’ll be canceling.”
“But that’s not fair to my friends. I see you guys almost everyday. I’ll be lucky if I can see them once a week.”
Minho nodded. “Plus it’s a prior promise, hyung. How can he break a promise?” Taemin fought the urge to roll his eyes. He expected nothing less from him. “Maybe next week?”
“Yeah, maybe.” Taemin stood and smiled down at Kibum. “I’ve got work, so I’ll talk to you later?” Kibum once again pouted and he nodded reluctantly. Taemin pulled out a cigarette and his lighter. He opened his arms. “I advise you get one before I light up.”
Minho watched with mild disappointment as Kibum gave the youngest a hug. “What happened to your promise?” He really didn’t take too well to Taemin’s smoking. It wasn’t something someone so young should have acquired already.
Taemin raised one eyebrow. “I promised not to smoke around hyung. I’m about to leave, so I’m still keeping that promise.”
“Taemimn-ah,” Kibum glared at the white offensive cylinder. “When are you going to stop?”
The youngest looked back and forth between his hyungs and gave a knowing smile. “Hyung,” he nodded to Minho. “Will you love me?”
“Not on your life,” Minho responded immediately, glancing frantically between the red head and his hyung.
“Yah! Choi Minho, what the hell?!” Kibum screamed, shock etched in his expression.
Taemin shrugged. “So to answer your question, Kibum hyung, I’ll stop smoking when I die.”
“Taemin,” Kibum growled angrily-no, more than angrily, he was pissed-as the younger retreated.
He’d turned on his heel and lit the bud, ignoring the calls of his hyungs. His hands shook noticeably as he lifted it to his lips. He inhaled, trying to calm himself. A trail of wet salt rolled down his cheeks as he trudged further and further away until he was unable to hold them all in. Once he sat at the bench of his bus stop he let them rip, not caring if he made the ahjumma next to him uncomfortable with his sniffling.
He didn’t even know why he was crying. It wasn’t like Minho’s response was something new. It was his usual answer for Taemin’s usual question. Whenever the taller wanted Taemin to do something (like quitting smoking, or wearing glasses over contacts, or growing his hair out and coloring it the same blonde tint as Kibum’s) the younger would ask him the same question. And at first it had freaked the older out. When the two had originally agreed to have this…this thing, it had been with ‘no strings attached’ and it seemed the younger was alright with it. And because his answer had always been the same, indifferent ‘no’ he figured Taemin was just asking for a joke or something, which was why his answers came so much easier than the awkward stuttering rejections they had once been.
And though it wasn’t a joke to him, Taemin still managed to wear his heart on his sleeve around Minho. There were times he was yielding to the elder when he didn’t even realize it. Like every Thursday when they’d wait at the café near Taemin and Kibum’s school for the elder hyung to get out of class. Those were one of the rare days when Minho didn’t mind being with Taemin, since Kibum would be joining soon anyway. They’d order and sit and talk and just be cordial with each other. Thursdays were days Taemin adored just for these times. Yet, unknown to Minho, the red head would order around any sugary caffeinated drink that contained cinnamon (knowing Minho was highly, deathly, allergic to the spice by just smelling it) even though those had always been his favorite. If it meant spending the short time with a happy hyung, Taemin had no problem ditching the tasty goodness.
Taemin was broken from his thoughts by his vibrating phone in his pocket. He pulled it from his jacket and read the screen. ‘Jinki hyung’ flashed across the LED and he quickly answered it. “Hello?”
“Taemin-ah? It’s Jinki.”
Taemin chuckled, promptly clearing his throat so not to sound as if he were crying-which he was. “Yeah, I got that, hyung. What’s up?” He could hear movement on Jinki’s end and something scratching against the receiver.
“Kibum just called complaining that you bowed out of the plans…again.”
Taemin nodded, not really caring about the fact his hyung couldn’t see him. “Yeah. I didn’t want to cancel plans with Jonghyun hyung and Haeri. Are you still meeting us at the movie theater?” He flicked the clump of ashes of his bud to the cement ground and watched the trail of smoke rise from them before it burned out.
“Yeah. Seven, right?”
“Neh,” Taemin inhaled the bud slowly. “Seven.”
How did this happen?
That was the only thought swimming through Taemin’s mind. After work, Jonghyun had swung by the shop to pick him up for the movie Jinki would meet them at. Haeri ended up going out with her boyfriend so it was just going to be the three of them. They had gotten the tickets and snacks from the concession stand when coincidentally they’d run into Minho and Kibum also with hands of popcorn and drinks. It wasn’t peaceful reunion between Kibum and Taemin and Jinki, what with the blonde’s fierce glare boring into their very souls.
“So you don’t want to hang out with me, but you invite Jinki hyung to your get together?” It was hard for the youngest to miss the hurt in his tone.
“Ah, no-I, um…” Taemin sunk his teeth into his bottom lip trying to think up an excuse.
“Sorry, Kibum-ah,” Jinki threw his arm around Taemin’s shoulders reassuringly. “When Taemin told me about the movie I sort of invited myself.”
Kibum narrowed his eyes at the both of them. “But just earlier you didn’t even know if your plans were still in motion.” He looked at Jinki. “And you! You said you couldn’t come because of a family emergency.”
“Yes, I did. But it turns out there wasn’t really an emergency. It was a really bad false alarm. Mianhae.”
Kibum stared at them for a few more seconds before begrudgingly pulling Taemin in for a hug. “Fine. I’ll leave it for now.” He sniffed the younger’s shoulder and scrunched his nose up. “Did you dump an ashtray on yourself?” His eyes moved to Jonghyun standing behind Taemin and Jinki. “Who’s this?”
“Ah, hyung,” he grabbed Jonghyun’s arm and pulled him forward. “This is Jonghyun hyung. Hyung, this is Kibum and Minho.”
“Oh, I’ve heard about you two,” Jonghyun nodded with a smile, eying each boy.
“Funny,” Kibum frowned, looking at the young red head. “I haven’t heard a thing about you.”
“Taemin, how can you not speak of your most favorite hyung to your friends?” Jonghyun crossed his arms and glared at the red head mockingly.
“Mianhae,” Taemin rolled his eyes before glancing at Minho. “Hyung…?” Taemin separated from the others as he went to stand next to Minho. “Why are you so quiet?”
“No reason.” Taemin bit his lip to hold in the sob caught in his throat when Minho stared longingly at Kibum, who was conversing animatedly with Jinki and Jonghyun about the movie he was going to see.
“Sorry, Minho.”
Minho looked back at Taemin in confusion. “For what?”
“I don’t know,” Taemin forced a smile on his face. For not being perfect. Maybe if I were perfect, you’d look at me like that. “What movie are you guys seeing?”
“I don’t even know,” Minho scratched his head abashedly. “Hyung got the tickets and I got the snacks. What about you guys?”
Taemin shrugged. “Same. Jinki hyung got the snacks and Jonghyun got my ticket. I just hope it’s got explosions.”
“And some authorities with guns,” Minho added hopping from foot to foot.
“And people that defy said authorities!”
“And there has to be a chase scene!”
“What’s an action movie without a chase scene, hyung?”
“Not a very good one.”
Taemin nodded in agreement. “That’s true. I just hope there’s not too much romance. It takes away from the bad ass effect.”
Minho grimaced. “Ah, knowing hyung, our movie is nothing but sappy romance.”
“Jonghyun hyung, too. He may look all tough and manly, but he’s a real softy on the inside.” Taemin tapped his chin gently. “Maybe I can exchange the ticket if it’s a bad movie,” he muttered to himself.
Minho laughed and mussed through his hair. “Yah, Taemin-ah, that’s rude. Just sit through the movie like a good dongsaeng.”
“Are you guys done yet?” Startled, they both turned to see their hyungs watching them. Kibum’s arms were crossed and there was a proud smirk set in his features. “Whenever you two are finished insulting us, we should go before the movie starts.” He held up two tickets with a smile. “Apparently, we all opted for the same movie. Go figure.”
Jonghyun grabbed Taemin’s arm and pulled him away from Minho. “Yeah, let’s go, Taemin-ah.” He dragged the youngest off in some random direction.
“Yah!” Kibum pointed in the opposite direction. “It’s this way!” He shook his head and put himself between the two as he dragged them in the right direction. “Minho-yah, hyung, let’s go!”
Pairings : 2min, Minkey, (maybe) Jongtae
Genre : Angst, Fluff, Slight (if any) Smut
Rating : M for language and possible smut
Word Count : in progress
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Every Friday night Haeri, Jonghyun and Taemin would go out in search of something to do. Outside of work, the two youngest wouldn’t see each other since Haeri went to a different college. And being the eldest, Jonghyun had his own life to lead with work and other adult essentials. Initially it had been the three of them driving over to the next city for a movie or to eat. But there were only so many Fridays, and it wasn’t always certain they’d even be able to meet.
“You have to come, Taemin-ah. You never hang with us on the weekends.”
Taemin sat on the park bench with Kibum staring up at the clouds. They had come together to watch Minho play soccer in the field with some of his friends or teammates or whoever. Taemin didn’t even know what was going on around him as his eyes followed Minho’s in the field. He was amazed at how quick and agile the elder was with the white and black ball between his feet. The expressions he made when he’d score or steal from an opposing player were of pure concentration. Taemin could see that for Minho, soccer was the epitome of happiness.
“I can’t, hyung. I have plans.”
Kibum scoffed. “I thought you said you didn’t know if those plans were still on?” Taemin shrugged. “Every time I ask how your weekend went you claim it was nothing big. Why don’t you ever play with me or Minho?”
Taemin felt his fingers itching and his mouth run dry. He really really really wanted to smoke. He cracked his knuckles, trying to ignore the pack burning a whole in his pocket. He hated being questioned, by anyone really. It made him nervous for some unknown reason, and it bothered him. Kibum was just asking a simple question and here he was ready to start a forest fire of cigarette smoke.
“I always have plans every Friday, hyung. But there’s really no guaranteeing they will stick through.” That was as good of an excuse he could offer. Of course he could skip out on Haeri and Jonghyun, they’d canceled plans all the time before. But there was no way he could just admit his real reason for not accompanying Kibum and Minho on the weekends.
Minho loved his alone time with Kibum. And Taemin didn’t need anyone to verbally tell him for him to know. It was obvious in the way the he’d smiled brighter when their hyung was around. Or when he’d offered for the three of them to go to the amusement park before indirectly uninviting Taemin by ‘losing his ticket’. And there was even that time when Minho invited his hyung from work, Jinki, so he could keep Taemin busy and Kibum’s attention would be solely on Minho.
“Well, why can’t you not guarantee your presence this Friday? And who are these people that stand you up? You’re too cute to be stood up as much as you do,” Kibum held a deep frown as he watched the younger stare at the sky.
“It’s not their faults that they have lives outside of me, hyung.”
“Well, you have a life outside of them. You will be coming with me and Jinki and Minho. We’re going bowling. What does it look like with only three people?” Kibum smiled and patted his arm. “So you’re coming.”
Taemin looked out at Minho and bit his lip. If Taemin didn’t go, Jinki would have more than likely canceled as well, leaving Kibum and Minho alone. It was how it went all the time. It was the third weekend Jinki was invited to hang out with them that he’d read into the situation spot on.
‘But you like him, don’t you?’ Taemin was beyond shocked that a near stranger could read the feelings he so desperately tried hiding. ‘Why do you force yourself away from them?’
‘He likes Kibum hyung. If I weren’t here, he’d be getting all of hyung’s attention. That’s the way he wants it.’ Taemin eyed his two hyungs as they walked ahead of them, leading the way to the ice cream parlor.
‘That’s not fair to you. What about what you want?’
Taemin smiled. ‘It doesn’t matter what I want, hyung. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be ok.’
Ever since that day, Jinki dubbed himself protector over his dongsaeng. He and Taemin would bow out of any plans with Kibum and Minho to do their own thing. Sometimes Jinki would even go out with Taemin and Jonghyun and Haeri.
“Come on, Taemin-ah. You know you want to spend time with Minho.”
Taemin looked over at Kibum, who held a smug smirk, and sighed. “Hyung, I told you-”
“Yeah, yeah. ‘You don’t like him like that.’ Whatever. That stupid love-sick grin begs to differ.” He smiled as Taemin covered his mouth with his hand. “When are you going to tell him?”
“I’m not.”
“Why not?” Kibum whined. “You two would be perfect together.”
“Hyung, trust me, I’m far from perfect.”
“I know! I can help,” he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Please don’t,” Taemin skeptically stared at the elder.
“I will,” Kibum nodded eagerly. “I can keep Jinki hyung busy while you work on Minho with your naturally adorable charms. It’s brilliant!”
“I said no!” Kibum jumped and stared at Taemin with widened eyes. “Nothing could possibly happen with me and Minho, so just drop it, ok?!”
His eyes burned with tears that threatened to fall. His face grew hot and red from trying to hold it in. He didn’t mean to yell. But thinking about all the reasons why he couldn’t be with Minho hurt. He preferred to pretend there were no feelings and forget about everything.
“I’m sorry,” Kibum broke the tense silence. “I got carried away.”
After regaining control of himself, Taemin let out a sigh and shook his head. “I didn’t mean to yell, hyung. I’m sorry.”
“I just want my two dongsaengs to be happy,” Kibum pushed his lips out and furrowed his brow in his trademark pout.
Taemin shook his head. “Minho hyung is plenty happy without me. See?” They both turned to see Minho waving at them with a large smile plastered over his face. “All he needs is his sports…” And you, Taemin added internally.
“You guys weren’t even watching me.”
The two looked up to see Minho standing before them chugging down a water bottle while wiping his face with his t-shirt. Taemin’s eyes caught the sliver of toned skin revealed by the lifted hem of the shirt and found his mouth watering. He felt Kibum nudge him in the side and quickly averted his eyes elsewhere.
“Whatever. You still won,” Kibum dismissed with a wave. “In other news, Taemin is coming bowling with us tonight.”
“Really?” Minho glanced over to the red head, whose gaze was on a couple of kids playing with a dog.
“No. I have plans.”
“’Plans’ that he’ll be canceling.”
“But that’s not fair to my friends. I see you guys almost everyday. I’ll be lucky if I can see them once a week.”
Minho nodded. “Plus it’s a prior promise, hyung. How can he break a promise?” Taemin fought the urge to roll his eyes. He expected nothing less from him. “Maybe next week?”
“Yeah, maybe.” Taemin stood and smiled down at Kibum. “I’ve got work, so I’ll talk to you later?” Kibum once again pouted and he nodded reluctantly. Taemin pulled out a cigarette and his lighter. He opened his arms. “I advise you get one before I light up.”
Minho watched with mild disappointment as Kibum gave the youngest a hug. “What happened to your promise?” He really didn’t take too well to Taemin’s smoking. It wasn’t something someone so young should have acquired already.
Taemin raised one eyebrow. “I promised not to smoke around hyung. I’m about to leave, so I’m still keeping that promise.”
“Taemimn-ah,” Kibum glared at the white offensive cylinder. “When are you going to stop?”
The youngest looked back and forth between his hyungs and gave a knowing smile. “Hyung,” he nodded to Minho. “Will you love me?”
“Not on your life,” Minho responded immediately, glancing frantically between the red head and his hyung.
“Yah! Choi Minho, what the hell?!” Kibum screamed, shock etched in his expression.
Taemin shrugged. “So to answer your question, Kibum hyung, I’ll stop smoking when I die.”
“Taemin,” Kibum growled angrily-no, more than angrily, he was pissed-as the younger retreated.
He’d turned on his heel and lit the bud, ignoring the calls of his hyungs. His hands shook noticeably as he lifted it to his lips. He inhaled, trying to calm himself. A trail of wet salt rolled down his cheeks as he trudged further and further away until he was unable to hold them all in. Once he sat at the bench of his bus stop he let them rip, not caring if he made the ahjumma next to him uncomfortable with his sniffling.
He didn’t even know why he was crying. It wasn’t like Minho’s response was something new. It was his usual answer for Taemin’s usual question. Whenever the taller wanted Taemin to do something (like quitting smoking, or wearing glasses over contacts, or growing his hair out and coloring it the same blonde tint as Kibum’s) the younger would ask him the same question. And at first it had freaked the older out. When the two had originally agreed to have this…this thing, it had been with ‘no strings attached’ and it seemed the younger was alright with it. And because his answer had always been the same, indifferent ‘no’ he figured Taemin was just asking for a joke or something, which was why his answers came so much easier than the awkward stuttering rejections they had once been.
And though it wasn’t a joke to him, Taemin still managed to wear his heart on his sleeve around Minho. There were times he was yielding to the elder when he didn’t even realize it. Like every Thursday when they’d wait at the café near Taemin and Kibum’s school for the elder hyung to get out of class. Those were one of the rare days when Minho didn’t mind being with Taemin, since Kibum would be joining soon anyway. They’d order and sit and talk and just be cordial with each other. Thursdays were days Taemin adored just for these times. Yet, unknown to Minho, the red head would order around any sugary caffeinated drink that contained cinnamon (knowing Minho was highly, deathly, allergic to the spice by just smelling it) even though those had always been his favorite. If it meant spending the short time with a happy hyung, Taemin had no problem ditching the tasty goodness.
Taemin was broken from his thoughts by his vibrating phone in his pocket. He pulled it from his jacket and read the screen. ‘Jinki hyung’ flashed across the LED and he quickly answered it. “Hello?”
“Taemin-ah? It’s Jinki.”
Taemin chuckled, promptly clearing his throat so not to sound as if he were crying-which he was. “Yeah, I got that, hyung. What’s up?” He could hear movement on Jinki’s end and something scratching against the receiver.
“Kibum just called complaining that you bowed out of the plans…again.”
Taemin nodded, not really caring about the fact his hyung couldn’t see him. “Yeah. I didn’t want to cancel plans with Jonghyun hyung and Haeri. Are you still meeting us at the movie theater?” He flicked the clump of ashes of his bud to the cement ground and watched the trail of smoke rise from them before it burned out.
“Yeah. Seven, right?”
“Neh,” Taemin inhaled the bud slowly. “Seven.”
How did this happen?
That was the only thought swimming through Taemin’s mind. After work, Jonghyun had swung by the shop to pick him up for the movie Jinki would meet them at. Haeri ended up going out with her boyfriend so it was just going to be the three of them. They had gotten the tickets and snacks from the concession stand when coincidentally they’d run into Minho and Kibum also with hands of popcorn and drinks. It wasn’t peaceful reunion between Kibum and Taemin and Jinki, what with the blonde’s fierce glare boring into their very souls.
“So you don’t want to hang out with me, but you invite Jinki hyung to your get together?” It was hard for the youngest to miss the hurt in his tone.
“Ah, no-I, um…” Taemin sunk his teeth into his bottom lip trying to think up an excuse.
“Sorry, Kibum-ah,” Jinki threw his arm around Taemin’s shoulders reassuringly. “When Taemin told me about the movie I sort of invited myself.”
Kibum narrowed his eyes at the both of them. “But just earlier you didn’t even know if your plans were still in motion.” He looked at Jinki. “And you! You said you couldn’t come because of a family emergency.”
“Yes, I did. But it turns out there wasn’t really an emergency. It was a really bad false alarm. Mianhae.”
Kibum stared at them for a few more seconds before begrudgingly pulling Taemin in for a hug. “Fine. I’ll leave it for now.” He sniffed the younger’s shoulder and scrunched his nose up. “Did you dump an ashtray on yourself?” His eyes moved to Jonghyun standing behind Taemin and Jinki. “Who’s this?”
“Ah, hyung,” he grabbed Jonghyun’s arm and pulled him forward. “This is Jonghyun hyung. Hyung, this is Kibum and Minho.”
“Oh, I’ve heard about you two,” Jonghyun nodded with a smile, eying each boy.
“Funny,” Kibum frowned, looking at the young red head. “I haven’t heard a thing about you.”
“Taemin, how can you not speak of your most favorite hyung to your friends?” Jonghyun crossed his arms and glared at the red head mockingly.
“Mianhae,” Taemin rolled his eyes before glancing at Minho. “Hyung…?” Taemin separated from the others as he went to stand next to Minho. “Why are you so quiet?”
“No reason.” Taemin bit his lip to hold in the sob caught in his throat when Minho stared longingly at Kibum, who was conversing animatedly with Jinki and Jonghyun about the movie he was going to see.
“Sorry, Minho.”
Minho looked back at Taemin in confusion. “For what?”
“I don’t know,” Taemin forced a smile on his face. For not being perfect. Maybe if I were perfect, you’d look at me like that. “What movie are you guys seeing?”
“I don’t even know,” Minho scratched his head abashedly. “Hyung got the tickets and I got the snacks. What about you guys?”
Taemin shrugged. “Same. Jinki hyung got the snacks and Jonghyun got my ticket. I just hope it’s got explosions.”
“And some authorities with guns,” Minho added hopping from foot to foot.
“And people that defy said authorities!”
“And there has to be a chase scene!”
“What’s an action movie without a chase scene, hyung?”
“Not a very good one.”
Taemin nodded in agreement. “That’s true. I just hope there’s not too much romance. It takes away from the bad ass effect.”
Minho grimaced. “Ah, knowing hyung, our movie is nothing but sappy romance.”
“Jonghyun hyung, too. He may look all tough and manly, but he’s a real softy on the inside.” Taemin tapped his chin gently. “Maybe I can exchange the ticket if it’s a bad movie,” he muttered to himself.
Minho laughed and mussed through his hair. “Yah, Taemin-ah, that’s rude. Just sit through the movie like a good dongsaeng.”
“Are you guys done yet?” Startled, they both turned to see their hyungs watching them. Kibum’s arms were crossed and there was a proud smirk set in his features. “Whenever you two are finished insulting us, we should go before the movie starts.” He held up two tickets with a smile. “Apparently, we all opted for the same movie. Go figure.”
Jonghyun grabbed Taemin’s arm and pulled him away from Minho. “Yeah, let’s go, Taemin-ah.” He dragged the youngest off in some random direction.
“Yah!” Kibum pointed in the opposite direction. “It’s this way!” He shook his head and put himself between the two as he dragged them in the right direction. “Minho-yah, hyung, let’s go!”