When First We Met
Title: When First We Met
Author: aquariuslover
Pairing: Kyuhyun, Ryeowook
Rating: PG
Genre: Friendship
Beta: unicornsinger
A/N This story takes place in the TFAN/DMGD universe but reading those stories isn’t necessary to understand this story. It takes place first and is entirely capable of standing alone. Special thanks to Amy for always having the first read, and offering her wise wisdom. Comments are always appreciated.
Summary: The newest member of Super Junior is having a hard time adjusting to the group, but luckily for him he has found a friend in Ryeowook.
When First We Met
“They all hate me,” the newest member of Super Junior whined from his pallet on the floor in a very, very small room. He was sitting with his legs and arms crossed, looking very sour. “I don’t even get a bed.”
Ryeowook, who was sitting on his bed flipping though a magazine, looked down at the newest member on the floor. “I don’t hate you.”
“Really?” Kyuhyun asked, looking up with hopeful eyes and a big smile.
“Yes, really.”
Kyuhyun’s smile vanished, and a look Ryeowook couldn’t quite recognize appeared on the younger boy’s face. “They probably hate me because they sing like crap. You can sing, so you aren’t jealous of my talent.” Ryeowook’s mouth dropped open at the other boy’s conceit, but before he could comment, Kyuhyun continued, “Well, Yesung can sing…I gotta admit that.”
“You can’t say things like that. If they heard you, they really would hate you,” Ryeowook explained to the new member.
“They already do,” Kyuhyun whined as he fell back on the pallet.
Ryeowook peered at the other anguished boy on the floor and risked bringing up a very sore subject. “Donghae…seems like he likes you. He seems very friendly with you.”
Kyuhyun looked up curiously and met Ryeowook’s eyes as if he could sense something else in Ryeowook’s words. “Yeah, he’s nice enough.”
“So see it isn’t that bad…two of us like you,” Ryeowook reasoned with the boy, turning back to the magazine quickly to avoid his eyes…eyes that hid none of the other boy’s keen intelligence.
“Yeah, only two out of thirteen,” Kyuhyun complained, still pouting.
“Well, it’s pretty obvious that you like yourself, so it’s actually three out of thirteen,” Ryeowook mouthed back, unable to stop himself.
The fact that Donghae had instantly taken up with the new member irritated Ryeowook. Donghae had always been so cold to him…which was not natural for Donghae. Donghae was very friendly with the other members and got along with them just fine. Ryeowook was always fearful of Donghae and his reasons for not liking him - and what he might suspect.
“Very true,” Kyuhyun said, agreeing with Ryeowook. “What I think matters most…but I don’t like to be hated.”
Ryeowook’s guilt had him suddenly putting down his magazine and really looking at the other member, who the managers had thrust upon them earlier in the day without any kind of warning. The newest member had acted calm and controlled when he had been surrounded by the other members…who were not exactly embracing him with open arms. “It will get better.”
“You really think so?” Kyuhyun asked, looking up at Ryeowook, and there was wetness in his eyes now.
Ryeowook eagerly nodded his head, noticing how young and alone the new member….Kyuhyun, was. “It was the same way for me. Most of them trained together for so long, and they are just closer to each other. Also some of them are really sensitive about their age…some of them trained for years, so to see us just be given this chance…it hurts their pride.”
“Oh,” Kyuhyun muttered, understanding better now.
“Yeah, so you just have to give them a chance. We should go to bed now,” Ryeowook said, reaching behind him and turning off the lamp on the bedside table.
“Our room is like the littlest…my closet at home was almost this big,” Kyuhyun grumbled once the light was off.
“We are the youngest; it’s only natural we have the smallest room,” Ryeowook explained as he covered up under the blankets.
“Isn’t Kibum younger than you?”
Ryeowook frowned in the dark…he hated to be reminded of that fact. “Yes, but he’s very close with the other members, so they let him sleep with them.”
Kyuhyun rolled around on the pallet, trying to get comfortable. “We will just have to stick together then.”
Ryeowook couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, we will.”
***************
“I can’t sleep,” the soft whisper of a complaint from Kyuhyun awoke Ryeowook from his dreamless sleep for the fourth time since he had turned off the light earlier.
“Don’t worry…just sleep,” Ryeowook groaned in a drowsy voice.
Kyuhyun could be heard tossing and turning on his pallet. “I can’t sleep on the floor. I’ve always had a bed.”
“Just pretend it’s a hard bed,” Ryeowook moaned, rolling over on to his stomach and pulling his pillow over his head. “They work us really hard. You will wish you had slept…I will wish you had let me sleep.”
“Okay,” Kyuhyun said, appearing to relent.
After a few minutes had passed and Ryeowook hadn’t heard anything from Kyuhyun, he moved the pillow that was covering his head. Ryeowook immediately sat up when he heard the unmistakable sounds of sobbing coming from the floor beside his bed. Kyuhyun was crying…Ryeowook’s heart immediately melted into a pile of goo, and he quickly asked the younger boy, “You want to sleep with me?”
Kyuhyun coughed, trying to clear his throat. “I…I am not big…on physical contact.” Ryeowook frowned, wondering just what Kyuhyun had meant by that? His paranoia involving Donghae started creeping up on him, but dissolved away quickly when he felt Kyuhyun climb over him and settle down as close to the wall as he could get. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome,” Ryeowook told him, hoping that Kyuhyun would finally be able to sleep.
“I have never had to sleep with anybody before. I’ve always had my own bed,” Kyuhyun said as he got comfortable under the covers.
“Oh well, you should get used to it. The company always groups us together when we travel. We are lucky when we just have one roommate,” Ryeowook explained to him. “Please try to sleep now.”
“I will…Goodnight, Ryeowook.”
“Goodnight, Kyuhyun.”
*******************
The sound of other members moving around inside of the dorm awoke Ryeowook from a deep sleep. His eyes fluttered open, and he soon realized that Kyuhyun’s arm was flung out across his chest.
“Not big on physical contact…” Ryeowook mumbled, still half asleep, but amused. He turned his head and really looked at the boy sleeping beside him. Kyuhyun looked a hundred times more peaceful than he had the day before. He had creamy white skin, and really long eyelashes. He was more handsome than Ryeowook had initially thought. Suddenly, Ryeowook was very eager to hear Kyuhyun sing. Yesterday they had been told he had a golden voice, but he had not actually heard it.
A loud banging on the door had Ryeowook sitting up in bed fast. “Hey, Newbie get your ass up! We want breakfast now!” Kangin ordered through the door.
“Yeah, you better be in the kitchen in five minutes,” Leeteuk also commanded from the other side of the door.
Ryeowook quickly turned to look at Kyuhyun, who was still lying in bed on his back, but his eyes were opened wide. “Who were they?” Kyuhyun asked, unable to recognize voices yet.
“Leeteuk and Kangin,” Ryeowook answered as he slid to the side of the bed. “Usually Sungmin and I cook breakfast…but since you are the youngest now, they will want you to do it.”
“Sungmin? He was the one in the pink, right?” Kyuhyun asked as he moved to the side of the bed to sit beside Ryeowook.
“Yeah, he’s usually really nice. He always volunteers to help me in the kitchen.”
“He didn’t seem as bad as some of them,” Kyuhyun said, narrowing his eyes as he remembered the day before.
Ryeowook, who was watching Kyuhyun, quickly offered, “I will help you with breakfast…if they will let me.”
Kyuhyun turned and smiled at Ryeowook and said with a new wickedness, “That won’t be necessary. I am going to love making them breakfast.”
“You will?” Ryeowook asked, surprised, as he watched Kyuhyun stand up and stretch his arms over his head.
“Sure will,” Kyuhyun informed him, heading for the door. Kyuhyun paused before opening the door and turned around to look at Ryeowook again and gave him a mischievous grin. “Oh, and Ryeowook if I were you…I would feign a stomachache this morning. I don’t recommend my cooking,”
Ryeowook’s mouth dropped open in instant understanding as Kyuhyun opened the door and strolled out of the room with a newfound confidence. Ryeowook fell back on the bed and couldn’t help grinning. He knew he should he get up and warn the other members, but he didn’t. Instead, he just laid there in bed, thinking the members of Super Junior had finally gotten a maknae worthy of them.
******************
“You know, he seems nice enough…but I think we should do the cooking from now on,” Sungmin told Ryeowook as he rubbed his tummy.
Ryeowook cringed, wishing he had warned Sungmin now. “He is just really nervous…they are giving him a really hard time.”
“Well, it looks like things are improving for him,” Sungmin told Ryeowook, nodding in the direction of Kyuhyun, who was chatting away happily with Dong Bang Shin Ki’s maknae, Changmin.
Ryeowook couldn’t help smiling as he watched Kyuhyun ease into an easy friendship with Changmin. They were in a SM practice room learning dance moves, but the choreographer had given them a break when Dong Bang Shin Ki had arrived. Ryeowook wasn’t close with any of the members of Dong Bang Shin Ki. He had missed out on training with them, but many of the members of Super Junior had very close relationships with the DBSK members.
Eunhyuk and Junsu were in a deep discussion about something that involved lots of exaggerated arm movements. Sungmin had left Ryeowook and was on his way to join Eunhyuk and Junsu. Kangin, Donghae, and Heechul were laughing up a storm with Yunho. Hangeng and Yesung were talking with Jae, who was peeling an apple with a really big knife. Ryeowook looked around the room and didn’t find Yoochun. Ryeowook always felt that Yoochun also felt like an outsider when the two groups mingled.
“Ryeowook,” the sound of Kyuhyun’s voice snapped him away from his inner contemplations as he turned toward the newest member. Kyuhyun was quickly approaching him with Changmin by his side. “We should try to see if we can join Dong Bang Shin Ki.”
“You are funny. Dong Bang Shin Ki is already perfect. They don’t need any new members,” Ryeowook told the approaching boys, causing Changmin to smile.
Kyuhyun folded his arms, pouting. “They don’t torture Changmin. They don’t make him cook for them…or anything. They just feed him.”
Changmin chuckled. “Jae loves to cook, and he’s the oldest, so he gets what he wants.”
“Is he a good cook?” Ryeowook couldn’t help but asking. He knew on television shows, they were always going on about Jae’s cooking, but SM liked to create images that didn’t necessarily have anything to do with reality.
“Yeah,” Changmin admitted freely.
“And they aren’t ever mean to you?” Kyuhyun asked again, reinforcing his point.
Changmin shook his head, unable to stop laughing at the other boy. “They tease, but they aren’t mean.”
“See, we should join Dong Bang Shin Ki,” Kyuhyun insisted, reaching out and grabbing Ryeowook by the wrist.
Ryeowook laughed at him. “It doesn’t work that way…and you probably didn’t make any friends this morning. Poor Sungmin!”
“What did he do?” Changmin asked, his eyes lighting up, knowing he was going to approve of whatever Kyuhyun had done.
“I just made them breakfast,” Kyuhyun said with an innocent smile, as he swung Ryeowook’s arm back and forth.
“Did you poison them? Should I be worried?” Ryeowook asked, unable to keep from smiling at Kyuhyun.
“Well, did you?” Changmin inquired when Kyuhyun just smiled at them, not answering the question.
Kyuhyun grinned at them, very pleased with himself. “I assure you no permanent damage has been done.”
Changmin snorted. “I am definitely a good maknae compared to you…the evil maknae.”
“You wound me,” Kyuhyun protested, letting go of Ryeowook’s wrist and placing his hand over his heart.
“I seriously dou - ” Changmin stopped as Yunho suddenly appeared in front of them.
“Changmin, we have to go. They have to get back to practicing. Did you see where Jae went?”
Ryeowook, who was always acutely aware of Donghae, answered Yunho, “I saw him leave the practice room with Donghae not long ago.”
Yunho frowned. “With Donghae?”
“Do they even like each other?” Changmin asked Yunho, looking puzzled.
“Not…really; that’s strange,” Yunho answered, appearing to be in deep thought. “Maybe - ” Yunho trailed off as Jae suddenly appeared at his side, wrapping an arm around Yunho’s waist.
“Looking for me?” Jae asked as he peered up at Yunho. Ryeowook watched as Jae looked up at Yunho with what could only be described as love in his eyes.
Yunho looked down at Jae, who was smiling beautifully up at him, and any deep thoughts he was having before vanished. “Yeah, I was. We are being chased off. They need to practice.”
“Then we better go,” Jae said, reaching out to grab Changmin’s hand, and then he took Yunho’s hand, too, and pulled the two of them away toward the door.
“I am like really glad there isn’t anybody that pretty in Super Junior…that would be weird,” Kyuhyun told Ryeowook as he watched them walk away, his eyes on Jae.
“Don’t let Heechul hear you say that, or you will have a hell unleashed on you that you can’t even begin to imagine,” Ryeowook told Kyuhyun as he searched the room for Donghae.
Kyuhyun snarled; he didn’t think too much of Heechul or his posse. “He isn’t even half as - ” Kyuhyun stopped as he noticed Ryeowook’s eyes searching for somebody. “Who are you looking for?”
Ryeowook blushed. “Nobody.”
“Liar,” Kyuhyun told him with his eyebrows furrowed…he didn’t like Ryeowook looking for somebody else when he was talking to him.
Ryeowook looked up at the taller man and admitted, “I was looking for Donghae.”
Kyuhyun’s eyebrows remained furrowed. “Why?”
Ryeowook backed up toward the wall and slid to the ground and confessed, “He hates me.”
Kyuhyun blinked, surprised, and sat down beside Ryeowook and asked, “Why? Why would he hate you? You are, like, the nicest one.”
“I don’t know. He is nice to everybody else. He is a really nice person, so I don’t know why….but he always has. He just doesn’t like me, and it makes me nervous. I never did anything to him, but I can tell he doesn’t like me at all,” Ryeowook rambled on in relief at finally being able to share his secret…well, part of his secret.
Kyuhyun’s expression was full of confusion as he pondered Ryeowook’s words. “It just doesn’t make any sense…there has to be some kind of misunderstanding.”
“I wish I knew what it was,” Ryeowook told him, wistfully.
“Hey! Newbie, the choreographer wants you,” Heechul said, yelling for Kyuhyun.
Siwon who was standing next to Heechul, slapped him on the ass and told him loudly enough for to Kyuhyun to hear, “His name is Kyuhyun.”
Kyuhyun turned and looked at Ryeowook before getting up, and whispered, “Siwon might not be pure evil either.”
Ryeowook laughed as Kyuhyun climbed to his feet and hurried to the choreographer.
**********************
“That’s okay, you don’t have to cook,” Sungmin informed Kyuhyun later that night as they sat in the small kitchen in the Super Junior dorm. They were starving after a long day of practice.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind,” Kyuhyun told Sungmin sweetly. “I want to do my part.”
Eunhyuk, who was sitting with Donghae across from Kyuhyun, assured him, “No, it’s okay. You don’t have to cook at all…ever again.”
Sungmin got up from the table and walked to the stove. “I will just make some quick Ramen. It’s no problem…really.”
“Are we ever going to get to hear you sing?” Donghae asked Kyuhyun bluntly.
“Yeah, aren’t you supposed to have a fabulous voice?” Eunhyuk told Kyuhyun as he nudged Donghae. “Prove it.”
“Prove what?” Kangin asked, walking into the kitchen with Shindong.
“We want Kyuhyun to prove he has a voice worthy of Super Junior,” Eunhyuk informed Kangin and Shindong.
Kangin smiled and placed a hand on Kyuhyun’s shoulder and squeezed. “I think that’s a good idea.”
“Or we could just eat?” Sungmin suggested as he filled a pot full of water.
“We can eat after we hear him sing,” Shindong said as he slid into a seat beside Donghae.
Kangin sat down beside Kyuhyun. “Go on, kid, let’s hear it.”
Ryeowook, who was on his way to the kitchen, paused before entering after hearing the other members goading Kyuhyun into singing. Ryeowook was thinking of what would be the best way to help Kyuhyun when a rich, beautiful voice broke through the dorm, silencing everybody. Ryeowook gasped as Kyuhyun’s voice took his breath away as the younger man sang ‘I Believe’ from the movie Sassy Girl. Ryeowook stood frozen in place, unable to move, as Kyuhyun’s unwavering voice filled the dorm.
When Kyuhyun finished, Ryeowook rediscovered the use of his legs and was on his way to the kitchen to praise Kyuhyun, when Donghae’s voice stopped him. “Where did you learn to sing like that?”
Eunhyuk sniffled. “That was amazing.”
“It was so amazing and beautiful,” Sungmin concurred, his cooking forgotten.
“That was fantastic, Kid,” Kangin told him, in full agreement with the others.
Shindong stared at Kyuhyun, smiling like mad. “You do have a golden voice.”
“We are so lucky to have you in the group!” Donghae said, full of excitement.
At Donghae’s words of praise, Ryeowook frowned, turned around, and headed for his room. He knew Kyuhyun’s awkwardness with the group would soon be gone…and he would be welcomed with loving arms by all.
****************
“Are you mad at me? Kyuhyun asked Ryeowook later that night.
“No,” Ryeowook lied, because he was annoyed with the younger member who had just climbed into bed with him without even asking.
“I think you are lying.”
Ryeowook frowned in the dark. It was true, of course, but he hated admitting it. “Last night I let you sleep with me because you were crying…I didn’t say you could sleep with me every night.”
Kyuhyun sat up quickly. “I wasn’t crying…I have allergies.”
“Just sleep on your pallet,” Ryeowook ordered. He hated that he was so annoyed with the younger man….because he shouldn’t be. He was just jealous. Jealous that Kyuhyun had won Donghae’s approval so easily.
Kyuhyun quickly got out of the bed and got on his pallet. “I am sorry,” Kyuhyun whispered to Ryeowook.
“Why are you sorry?” Ryeowook asked, flipping over to lie on his side.
“Because you were the first person that was nice to me…and I don’t know why you are mad, but I am sorry,” Kyuhyun admitted, bewildered by Ryeowook’s behavior.
“I am just being moody…it isn’t you. I heard you sing earlier…and you have a wonderful voice,” Ryeowook told him, eager to change the subject.
Kyuhyun hated the dark that kept him from seeing Ryeowook’s expression. “I didn’t know…you heard. I didn’t see you.”
“I was in the doorway listening. They all liked it…even Donghae.”
“Donghae?” Kyuhyun repeated, understanding more. “If he really hates you…then I will hate him for you.”
“What!”
“You heard me. You are my first friend…and if he really hates you, then I have no use for him,” Kyuhyun told Ryeowook, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “It isn’t okay for him to hate you.”
Ryeowook was glad it was dark, so Kyuhyun couldn’t see his smile. “No, don’t do that. I am sure he has his reasons.”
“Stupid reasons,” Kyuhyun assured Ryeowook as he yawned.
“Go to bed, Kyuhyun,” Ryeowook said, amused and touched at the same time. He secretly suspected why Donghae hated him…and he prayed that nobody else ever found out.
“I wasn’t crying last night,” Kyuhyun blurted out, unable to let it go.
Ryeowook giggled at the indignation in the younger boy’s voice. “Okay, it was allergies,” Ryeowook told him, attempting to soothe him.
“Yeah, it was just allergies,” Kyuhyun confirmed quickly.
“Goodnight, Kyuhyun!” Ryeowook said more forcibly.
“Goodnight, Ryeowook,” Kyuhyun said, relenting, as he rolled around on the pallet, getting more comfortable.
****************
Ryeowook and Kyuhyun were sitting together at a piano at the studio days later, as they waited for Yesung to finish up with a song the producers had the three of them putting the finishing touches on. “Wouldn’t it be cool?”
“What?” Ryeowook asked Kyuhyun as his fingers gently flew over the keys, playing a song Kyuhyun didn’t recognize.
“The three of us in our own subgroup?”
“Yeah, that would be cool…but they haven’t decided anything for sure yet.
Kyuhyun watched Ryeowook’s hands as he played. “My mom got permission to take me out to eat Thursday night. You want to come?”
“Ummm…if I can.”
“I’m sure you can.”
Ryeowook stopped playing and looked at Kyuhyun curiously. “Do you have any siblings?”
“I never mentioned Ahra?” Kyuhyun asked, completely shocked. He couldn’t believe that he had never mentioned his older sister.
“No, is that your sister?”
“Yeah, my older sister. She’s at home right now. She will be leaving for Paris soon to study…she’s older than me,” Kyuhyun explained, still finding it difficult to believe that he hadn’t mentioned the older sister he adored. “We argue a lot…but she’s kinda awesome. Don’t tell her I said that, though.”
“Okay,” Ryeowook agreed, laughing at the look on Kyuhyun’s face. “Do you have any other siblings?”
“No, just her. Do you have any?”
“No, I am an only child,” Ryeowook said sadly. He had often wondered what it would have been like to have a brother or a sister…perhaps he wouldn’t have always felt so lonely.
“Sometimes I wish I was an only child. The older my sister gets, the more annoying she gets. She thinks I’m clingy,” Kyuhyun complained with a snarl. “Clingy? I didn’t even mention her to you, so how clingy could I be?”
“Not very, but - ” Ryeowook trailed off as the producer’s young assistant walked into the room, all smiles for Kyuhyun.
“Do you two need anything? Yesung is going to be a little longer. Water…anything?” She asked them both, but her eyes were only on Kyuhyun.
“No,” Kyuhyun told her, none too friendly, looking her over critically, as if he was inspecting a future purchase.
Ryeowook elbowed Kyuhyun and told the assistant in a very kind voice. “Thanks for asking, but we don’t need anything now.” The young assistant nodded her head at Ryeowook and hurried out of the room.
Ryeowook was about to start a lecture to Kyuhyun on manners when Kyuhyun asked, “Are you a virgin?”
“What? No…No! No…no,” Ryeowook blabbered on, shocked at Kyuhyun’s audacity.
“I am…well technically, I suppose. Blow jobs don’t count as losing your virginity, do they?” Kyuhyun asked, his eyes on the door where the young assistant had departed through.
Ryeowook just looked at Kyuhyun, flabbergasted at his ability to bring up one of the most sensitive subjects ever, as if it were nothing at all to him. “I don’t think so.”
Kyuhyun frowned and nodded his head in agreement. “I mean I could have had sex, but I just never really wanted to. I need to, though, and I bet she would be willing. I never really had girlfriends before. I don’t like all that touchy-feely crap.”
Ryeowook blinked. “Not big on physical contact - ” Ryeowook repeated back Kyuhyun’s words from that first night they had shared a room.
“Exactly! I mean I know a blow job is physical contact…but it’s nice contact. She wasn’t my girlfriend or anything, and she wasn’t very pretty……but it isn’t like I had to look at her.”
“Kyuhyun!” Ryeowook said, full of disapproval as he whacked the younger man on the arm. “That’s horrible!’
“I know! I can’t help it, though! I could have lots of girlfriends if I wanted…because girls always want boyfriends. I just don’t want a girlfriend. If you have a girlfriend, they want you to call them, and for you to remember stupid stuff. I would rather just have sex without emotional attachments,” Kyuhyun told Ryeowook, being completely serious.
“Most men would,” Ryeowook had to admit, amused.
Kyuhyun smiled devilishly. “And now that I am going to be famous...my chances of having sex have probably increased a lot. Also the company said I can’t have a girlfriend, so I have the perfect excuse now.”
“So, you are just going to use some future girl for sex and blame it on the company?” Ryeowook asked, trying his best not to laugh.
“I sure am,” Kyuhyun said, smiling brightly. “I mean I don’t see myself declaring my love to anybody…ever.”
****************
“You should run…don’t walk, don’t skip, don’t jog, but run as fast as you can,” Kyuhyun’s older sister told Ryeowook when Kyuhyun got up to go to the salad bar.
“What?” Ryeowook asked, shocked, as he sat his tea back down on the table and stared at his Kyuhyun’s sister, confused. Ryeowook was with the Cho family, eating at a small cozy Italian restaurant.
Ahra flung both of her hands in the air and told Ryeowook in a voice full of forewarning, “He has latched on to you. You better run while you can. He is extremely clingy, and he has targeted you!”
“Ahra!” Mrs. Cho scolded her daughter. Mr. Cho tried to fight down his laughter as he ate his pizza.
Ryeowook looked at her, completely shocked. “It’s fine…he doesn’t bother me any.”
Ahra snorted. “You say that now, but in fifty years from now, when you realize you have spent your life in the company of my brother, don’t come crying to me.”
Ryeowook sputtered. “We are just friends.”
“Somebody is just jealous that their little brother isn’t giving them enough attention lately,” Mrs. Cho said as she reached out and ran a hand through her daughter’s hair.
“I agree. Ahra, don’t worry he still loves you best,” Mr. Cho said, winking at his wife as they both teased their oldest child.
“I am not jealous! I am glad that leech has decided to latch onto somebody else! It’s about time! You have no idea what it was like growing up with him!”
Mrs. Cho smiled at her daughter. “Whatever, darling.”
Ahra turned her focus on Ryeowook. “Don’t listen to them. They only encourage his behavior. They are crazy, too.”
“Who is crazy?” Kyuhyun asked, returning to the table and sitting down beside Ryeowook.
“Our parents,” Ahra informed him.
“Yeah,” Kyuhyun agreed absentmindedly as he picked at his salad. “I don’t like the idea of a salad bar. What keeps people from spitting in the food?”
“What a thing to say,” Mr. Cho said, shaking his head.
“Kyuhyun, stop picking at your salad,” Mrs. Cho told her son. “They brought the spaghetti out. Eat it.”
Kyuhyun’s eyes immediately went to the spaghetti and lit up as he reached for it. “I love spaghetti.”
“We know!” Kyuhyun’s parents and sister said at the same time, causing Ryeowook to smile.
“Ryeowook, do you enjoy being in Super Junior?” Mrs. Cho asked as her son filled his plate full of spaghetti.
Ryeowook nodded his head quickly. “I love it.”
“Did you always plan on being an entertainer?” Mr. Cho asked.
“It was always my dream. I always loved to sing, and I also like to play the piano,” Ryeowook told Mr. Cho, causing both of the Cho parents to smile. “Oh, and I like to cook, too.”
“You like to cook?” Kyuhyun asked suddenly, with a mouth full of spaghetti. “I thought they just made you, since you were one of the youngest.”
“They do, but luckily for me, I enjoy it. I’ve always liked to cook.”
Kyuhyun smiled as a wondrous thought entered his mind. “Do you know how to make pancakes?”
“Tell him, no!” Ahra said, interrupting quickly, causing Kyuhyun to glare at her.
Ryeowook giggled. “I am sure I could learn.”
Kyuhyun grinned and told Ryeowook, “I love pancakes.”
“And spaghetti,” Ryeowook added with a smile.
“Yes, this is so great that you can cook! I knew I liked you!” Kyuhyun told Ryeowook as he reached over and patted Ryeowook’s arm.
“I warned you,” Ahra muttered as she sipped on her drink.
“Ryeowook, did Kyuhyun tell you that Ahra is going to be leaving for Paris soon?” Mrs. Cho asked, hoping to change the subject before her children started fighting.
“Yes, he said she was going to study there.”
Kyuhyun’s eyes lit up in delight. “I didn’t tell him till a couple days ago, though…he didn’t even know I had a sister. Guess I am not so clingy after all,” Kyuhyun told them proudly as he sneered at his sister.
Arha rolled her eyes, then looked at her brother, then to Ryeowook, and then back to her brother, and told him, “I guess I was wrong.”
“Yes, you were!” Kyuhyun said jubilantly, missing his sister’s sarcasm completely.
*************
Ryeowook stumbled into the small bedroom he shared with Kyuhyun and collapsed on the bed. Ryeowook had drunk two bottles of Soju, and he knew he would regret if he had anymore. Kyuhyun was still in the living room with the other members enjoying drinking. Once Kangin has decided to accept Kyuhyun, everything seemed to get easier for the youngest member. Kangin wasn’t the leader, but he was a strong force within Super Junior. He had both Heechul and Leeteuk’s ear. Ryeowook could see Heechul’s cold exterior start to thaw where the mouthy new maknae was concerned, but Leeteuk remained distant from him.
Ryeowook would have stayed in the living room with them to provide Kyuhyun moral support, but Donghae had arrived…and he always felt so uncomfortable around him. Ryeowook always got emotional when he was drunk, and he didn’t want to say or do something he couldn’t take back. He knew Sungmin and Eunhyuk were both fond of Kyuhyun now and would watch out for him, along with a very protective Kangin. So Ryeowook drifted off to sleep, while the others laughed and had a jolly old time in the living room, filling the newest member full of stories.
Later that night, Ryeowook was awakened, when Kyuhyun stumbled into the dark room, turned on the light, and then fell down on his pallet, not making any effort to be quiet.
“Kyuhyun, turn off the light,” Ryeowook hissed, digging himself deeper under the covers.
“Ryeowook, the leader hates me,” Kyuhyun said in a drunken, heartbroken voice.
Ryeowook pulled the covers away from his face and wiped his sleep-filled eyes. He then turned his head to face the red-faced, puffy-cheeked younger boy. “It just takes time with him. He doesn’t warm to people quickly.”
Kyuhyun shook his head as tears glided down his cheeks. “You are wrong…he hates me so much. He hates me.”
“How much Soju did you have?” Ryeowook asked, not sitting up, but just looking at his distraught roommate.
Kyuhyun gave him a puzzled look and started sobbing louder. “I don’t even know, and I used to be so good at math.”
Ryeowook resisted the urge to laugh and told the overly emotional maknae. “You want to sleep in the bed?”
“Yes, I hate the floor,” Kyuhyun answered, sniffling and crying louder as he crawled up on the bed with Ryeowook.
To Ryeowook’s shock, Kyuhyun didn’t move beside Ryeowook, but just collapsed on top of him, digging his face into Ryeowook’s chest as he continued to sob. Ryeowook hesitantly reached up a hand and gently rubbed the other boy’s back. “It will be okay…he doesn’t hate you.”
“Yes, he does,” Kyuhyun mumbled into Ryeowook’s chest.
“No, he doesn’t. He was like this with me, too, at first, but it got better.”
“You think so?”
“Yes,” Ryeowook answered quickly, hoping the boy would soon feel better and stop smashing him.
“I think you are wrong.”
“No, I am right.”
“You were wrong about Donghae,” Kyuhyun said, turning his head so it laid flat against Ryeowook’s chest.
Multiple alarms went off inside of Ryeowook’s head, and the hand that was rubbing Kyuhyun’s back stopped. “What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t hate you. I asked him.”
Ryeowook’s eyes widened as fear shot through him. “What did he say?”
“Rub my back it felt - ”
“Kyuhyun, tell me now what he said,” Ryeowook snapped, interrupting Kyuhyun.
Kyuhyun cleared his throat. “He said you were rude to him. You didn’t acknowledge his greeting or something like that.”
A relief greater than any that Ryeowook had ever known flooded over him…Donghae thought he was rude. “Rude?” Ryeowook replied, his voice full of joy. “He thought I was rude?”
“Yeah, I know. Crazy,” a drunken Kyuhyun told him now, sounding very sleepy, but making no effort to move away from Ryeowook.
Ryeowook started rubbing Kyuhyun’s back again in reward for lifting a ten thousand pound weight from his soul. Donghae didn’t think he was…different. He just thought he was rude. Ryeowook smiled and felt his own eyes fill with tears of relief. He would apologize tomorrow to Donghae for appearing rude. “Tomorrow is going to be a great day.”
“Will you make pancakes?” Kyuhyun mumbled half asleep.
“If we have the ingredients, I will make you pancakes,” Ryeowook promised the drunken boy on top of him. “Kyuhyun, I thought you didn’t like physical contact?”
“Hmmm…I think you…might…be the exception,” Kyuhyun muttered, barely getting out the words before hedrifted off to sleep.
Author: aquariuslover
Pairing: Kyuhyun, Ryeowook
Rating: PG
Genre: Friendship
Beta: unicornsinger
A/N This story takes place in the TFAN/DMGD universe but reading those stories isn’t necessary to understand this story. It takes place first and is entirely capable of standing alone. Special thanks to Amy for always having the first read, and offering her wise wisdom. Comments are always appreciated.
Summary: The newest member of Super Junior is having a hard time adjusting to the group, but luckily for him he has found a friend in Ryeowook.
When First We Met
“They all hate me,” the newest member of Super Junior whined from his pallet on the floor in a very, very small room. He was sitting with his legs and arms crossed, looking very sour. “I don’t even get a bed.”
Ryeowook, who was sitting on his bed flipping though a magazine, looked down at the newest member on the floor. “I don’t hate you.”
“Really?” Kyuhyun asked, looking up with hopeful eyes and a big smile.
“Yes, really.”
Kyuhyun’s smile vanished, and a look Ryeowook couldn’t quite recognize appeared on the younger boy’s face. “They probably hate me because they sing like crap. You can sing, so you aren’t jealous of my talent.” Ryeowook’s mouth dropped open at the other boy’s conceit, but before he could comment, Kyuhyun continued, “Well, Yesung can sing…I gotta admit that.”
“You can’t say things like that. If they heard you, they really would hate you,” Ryeowook explained to the new member.
“They already do,” Kyuhyun whined as he fell back on the pallet.
Ryeowook peered at the other anguished boy on the floor and risked bringing up a very sore subject. “Donghae…seems like he likes you. He seems very friendly with you.”
Kyuhyun looked up curiously and met Ryeowook’s eyes as if he could sense something else in Ryeowook’s words. “Yeah, he’s nice enough.”
“So see it isn’t that bad…two of us like you,” Ryeowook reasoned with the boy, turning back to the magazine quickly to avoid his eyes…eyes that hid none of the other boy’s keen intelligence.
“Yeah, only two out of thirteen,” Kyuhyun complained, still pouting.
“Well, it’s pretty obvious that you like yourself, so it’s actually three out of thirteen,” Ryeowook mouthed back, unable to stop himself.
The fact that Donghae had instantly taken up with the new member irritated Ryeowook. Donghae had always been so cold to him…which was not natural for Donghae. Donghae was very friendly with the other members and got along with them just fine. Ryeowook was always fearful of Donghae and his reasons for not liking him - and what he might suspect.
“Very true,” Kyuhyun said, agreeing with Ryeowook. “What I think matters most…but I don’t like to be hated.”
Ryeowook’s guilt had him suddenly putting down his magazine and really looking at the other member, who the managers had thrust upon them earlier in the day without any kind of warning. The newest member had acted calm and controlled when he had been surrounded by the other members…who were not exactly embracing him with open arms. “It will get better.”
“You really think so?” Kyuhyun asked, looking up at Ryeowook, and there was wetness in his eyes now.
Ryeowook eagerly nodded his head, noticing how young and alone the new member….Kyuhyun, was. “It was the same way for me. Most of them trained together for so long, and they are just closer to each other. Also some of them are really sensitive about their age…some of them trained for years, so to see us just be given this chance…it hurts their pride.”
“Oh,” Kyuhyun muttered, understanding better now.
“Yeah, so you just have to give them a chance. We should go to bed now,” Ryeowook said, reaching behind him and turning off the lamp on the bedside table.
“Our room is like the littlest…my closet at home was almost this big,” Kyuhyun grumbled once the light was off.
“We are the youngest; it’s only natural we have the smallest room,” Ryeowook explained as he covered up under the blankets.
“Isn’t Kibum younger than you?”
Ryeowook frowned in the dark…he hated to be reminded of that fact. “Yes, but he’s very close with the other members, so they let him sleep with them.”
Kyuhyun rolled around on the pallet, trying to get comfortable. “We will just have to stick together then.”
Ryeowook couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, we will.”
***************
“I can’t sleep,” the soft whisper of a complaint from Kyuhyun awoke Ryeowook from his dreamless sleep for the fourth time since he had turned off the light earlier.
“Don’t worry…just sleep,” Ryeowook groaned in a drowsy voice.
Kyuhyun could be heard tossing and turning on his pallet. “I can’t sleep on the floor. I’ve always had a bed.”
“Just pretend it’s a hard bed,” Ryeowook moaned, rolling over on to his stomach and pulling his pillow over his head. “They work us really hard. You will wish you had slept…I will wish you had let me sleep.”
“Okay,” Kyuhyun said, appearing to relent.
After a few minutes had passed and Ryeowook hadn’t heard anything from Kyuhyun, he moved the pillow that was covering his head. Ryeowook immediately sat up when he heard the unmistakable sounds of sobbing coming from the floor beside his bed. Kyuhyun was crying…Ryeowook’s heart immediately melted into a pile of goo, and he quickly asked the younger boy, “You want to sleep with me?”
Kyuhyun coughed, trying to clear his throat. “I…I am not big…on physical contact.” Ryeowook frowned, wondering just what Kyuhyun had meant by that? His paranoia involving Donghae started creeping up on him, but dissolved away quickly when he felt Kyuhyun climb over him and settle down as close to the wall as he could get. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome,” Ryeowook told him, hoping that Kyuhyun would finally be able to sleep.
“I have never had to sleep with anybody before. I’ve always had my own bed,” Kyuhyun said as he got comfortable under the covers.
“Oh well, you should get used to it. The company always groups us together when we travel. We are lucky when we just have one roommate,” Ryeowook explained to him. “Please try to sleep now.”
“I will…Goodnight, Ryeowook.”
“Goodnight, Kyuhyun.”
*******************
The sound of other members moving around inside of the dorm awoke Ryeowook from a deep sleep. His eyes fluttered open, and he soon realized that Kyuhyun’s arm was flung out across his chest.
“Not big on physical contact…” Ryeowook mumbled, still half asleep, but amused. He turned his head and really looked at the boy sleeping beside him. Kyuhyun looked a hundred times more peaceful than he had the day before. He had creamy white skin, and really long eyelashes. He was more handsome than Ryeowook had initially thought. Suddenly, Ryeowook was very eager to hear Kyuhyun sing. Yesterday they had been told he had a golden voice, but he had not actually heard it.
A loud banging on the door had Ryeowook sitting up in bed fast. “Hey, Newbie get your ass up! We want breakfast now!” Kangin ordered through the door.
“Yeah, you better be in the kitchen in five minutes,” Leeteuk also commanded from the other side of the door.
Ryeowook quickly turned to look at Kyuhyun, who was still lying in bed on his back, but his eyes were opened wide. “Who were they?” Kyuhyun asked, unable to recognize voices yet.
“Leeteuk and Kangin,” Ryeowook answered as he slid to the side of the bed. “Usually Sungmin and I cook breakfast…but since you are the youngest now, they will want you to do it.”
“Sungmin? He was the one in the pink, right?” Kyuhyun asked as he moved to the side of the bed to sit beside Ryeowook.
“Yeah, he’s usually really nice. He always volunteers to help me in the kitchen.”
“He didn’t seem as bad as some of them,” Kyuhyun said, narrowing his eyes as he remembered the day before.
Ryeowook, who was watching Kyuhyun, quickly offered, “I will help you with breakfast…if they will let me.”
Kyuhyun turned and smiled at Ryeowook and said with a new wickedness, “That won’t be necessary. I am going to love making them breakfast.”
“You will?” Ryeowook asked, surprised, as he watched Kyuhyun stand up and stretch his arms over his head.
“Sure will,” Kyuhyun informed him, heading for the door. Kyuhyun paused before opening the door and turned around to look at Ryeowook again and gave him a mischievous grin. “Oh, and Ryeowook if I were you…I would feign a stomachache this morning. I don’t recommend my cooking,”
Ryeowook’s mouth dropped open in instant understanding as Kyuhyun opened the door and strolled out of the room with a newfound confidence. Ryeowook fell back on the bed and couldn’t help grinning. He knew he should he get up and warn the other members, but he didn’t. Instead, he just laid there in bed, thinking the members of Super Junior had finally gotten a maknae worthy of them.
******************
“You know, he seems nice enough…but I think we should do the cooking from now on,” Sungmin told Ryeowook as he rubbed his tummy.
Ryeowook cringed, wishing he had warned Sungmin now. “He is just really nervous…they are giving him a really hard time.”
“Well, it looks like things are improving for him,” Sungmin told Ryeowook, nodding in the direction of Kyuhyun, who was chatting away happily with Dong Bang Shin Ki’s maknae, Changmin.
Ryeowook couldn’t help smiling as he watched Kyuhyun ease into an easy friendship with Changmin. They were in a SM practice room learning dance moves, but the choreographer had given them a break when Dong Bang Shin Ki had arrived. Ryeowook wasn’t close with any of the members of Dong Bang Shin Ki. He had missed out on training with them, but many of the members of Super Junior had very close relationships with the DBSK members.
Eunhyuk and Junsu were in a deep discussion about something that involved lots of exaggerated arm movements. Sungmin had left Ryeowook and was on his way to join Eunhyuk and Junsu. Kangin, Donghae, and Heechul were laughing up a storm with Yunho. Hangeng and Yesung were talking with Jae, who was peeling an apple with a really big knife. Ryeowook looked around the room and didn’t find Yoochun. Ryeowook always felt that Yoochun also felt like an outsider when the two groups mingled.
“Ryeowook,” the sound of Kyuhyun’s voice snapped him away from his inner contemplations as he turned toward the newest member. Kyuhyun was quickly approaching him with Changmin by his side. “We should try to see if we can join Dong Bang Shin Ki.”
“You are funny. Dong Bang Shin Ki is already perfect. They don’t need any new members,” Ryeowook told the approaching boys, causing Changmin to smile.
Kyuhyun folded his arms, pouting. “They don’t torture Changmin. They don’t make him cook for them…or anything. They just feed him.”
Changmin chuckled. “Jae loves to cook, and he’s the oldest, so he gets what he wants.”
“Is he a good cook?” Ryeowook couldn’t help but asking. He knew on television shows, they were always going on about Jae’s cooking, but SM liked to create images that didn’t necessarily have anything to do with reality.
“Yeah,” Changmin admitted freely.
“And they aren’t ever mean to you?” Kyuhyun asked again, reinforcing his point.
Changmin shook his head, unable to stop laughing at the other boy. “They tease, but they aren’t mean.”
“See, we should join Dong Bang Shin Ki,” Kyuhyun insisted, reaching out and grabbing Ryeowook by the wrist.
Ryeowook laughed at him. “It doesn’t work that way…and you probably didn’t make any friends this morning. Poor Sungmin!”
“What did he do?” Changmin asked, his eyes lighting up, knowing he was going to approve of whatever Kyuhyun had done.
“I just made them breakfast,” Kyuhyun said with an innocent smile, as he swung Ryeowook’s arm back and forth.
“Did you poison them? Should I be worried?” Ryeowook asked, unable to keep from smiling at Kyuhyun.
“Well, did you?” Changmin inquired when Kyuhyun just smiled at them, not answering the question.
Kyuhyun grinned at them, very pleased with himself. “I assure you no permanent damage has been done.”
Changmin snorted. “I am definitely a good maknae compared to you…the evil maknae.”
“You wound me,” Kyuhyun protested, letting go of Ryeowook’s wrist and placing his hand over his heart.
“I seriously dou - ” Changmin stopped as Yunho suddenly appeared in front of them.
“Changmin, we have to go. They have to get back to practicing. Did you see where Jae went?”
Ryeowook, who was always acutely aware of Donghae, answered Yunho, “I saw him leave the practice room with Donghae not long ago.”
Yunho frowned. “With Donghae?”
“Do they even like each other?” Changmin asked Yunho, looking puzzled.
“Not…really; that’s strange,” Yunho answered, appearing to be in deep thought. “Maybe - ” Yunho trailed off as Jae suddenly appeared at his side, wrapping an arm around Yunho’s waist.
“Looking for me?” Jae asked as he peered up at Yunho. Ryeowook watched as Jae looked up at Yunho with what could only be described as love in his eyes.
Yunho looked down at Jae, who was smiling beautifully up at him, and any deep thoughts he was having before vanished. “Yeah, I was. We are being chased off. They need to practice.”
“Then we better go,” Jae said, reaching out to grab Changmin’s hand, and then he took Yunho’s hand, too, and pulled the two of them away toward the door.
“I am like really glad there isn’t anybody that pretty in Super Junior…that would be weird,” Kyuhyun told Ryeowook as he watched them walk away, his eyes on Jae.
“Don’t let Heechul hear you say that, or you will have a hell unleashed on you that you can’t even begin to imagine,” Ryeowook told Kyuhyun as he searched the room for Donghae.
Kyuhyun snarled; he didn’t think too much of Heechul or his posse. “He isn’t even half as - ” Kyuhyun stopped as he noticed Ryeowook’s eyes searching for somebody. “Who are you looking for?”
Ryeowook blushed. “Nobody.”
“Liar,” Kyuhyun told him with his eyebrows furrowed…he didn’t like Ryeowook looking for somebody else when he was talking to him.
Ryeowook looked up at the taller man and admitted, “I was looking for Donghae.”
Kyuhyun’s eyebrows remained furrowed. “Why?”
Ryeowook backed up toward the wall and slid to the ground and confessed, “He hates me.”
Kyuhyun blinked, surprised, and sat down beside Ryeowook and asked, “Why? Why would he hate you? You are, like, the nicest one.”
“I don’t know. He is nice to everybody else. He is a really nice person, so I don’t know why….but he always has. He just doesn’t like me, and it makes me nervous. I never did anything to him, but I can tell he doesn’t like me at all,” Ryeowook rambled on in relief at finally being able to share his secret…well, part of his secret.
Kyuhyun’s expression was full of confusion as he pondered Ryeowook’s words. “It just doesn’t make any sense…there has to be some kind of misunderstanding.”
“I wish I knew what it was,” Ryeowook told him, wistfully.
“Hey! Newbie, the choreographer wants you,” Heechul said, yelling for Kyuhyun.
Siwon who was standing next to Heechul, slapped him on the ass and told him loudly enough for to Kyuhyun to hear, “His name is Kyuhyun.”
Kyuhyun turned and looked at Ryeowook before getting up, and whispered, “Siwon might not be pure evil either.”
Ryeowook laughed as Kyuhyun climbed to his feet and hurried to the choreographer.
**********************
“That’s okay, you don’t have to cook,” Sungmin informed Kyuhyun later that night as they sat in the small kitchen in the Super Junior dorm. They were starving after a long day of practice.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind,” Kyuhyun told Sungmin sweetly. “I want to do my part.”
Eunhyuk, who was sitting with Donghae across from Kyuhyun, assured him, “No, it’s okay. You don’t have to cook at all…ever again.”
Sungmin got up from the table and walked to the stove. “I will just make some quick Ramen. It’s no problem…really.”
“Are we ever going to get to hear you sing?” Donghae asked Kyuhyun bluntly.
“Yeah, aren’t you supposed to have a fabulous voice?” Eunhyuk told Kyuhyun as he nudged Donghae. “Prove it.”
“Prove what?” Kangin asked, walking into the kitchen with Shindong.
“We want Kyuhyun to prove he has a voice worthy of Super Junior,” Eunhyuk informed Kangin and Shindong.
Kangin smiled and placed a hand on Kyuhyun’s shoulder and squeezed. “I think that’s a good idea.”
“Or we could just eat?” Sungmin suggested as he filled a pot full of water.
“We can eat after we hear him sing,” Shindong said as he slid into a seat beside Donghae.
Kangin sat down beside Kyuhyun. “Go on, kid, let’s hear it.”
Ryeowook, who was on his way to the kitchen, paused before entering after hearing the other members goading Kyuhyun into singing. Ryeowook was thinking of what would be the best way to help Kyuhyun when a rich, beautiful voice broke through the dorm, silencing everybody. Ryeowook gasped as Kyuhyun’s voice took his breath away as the younger man sang ‘I Believe’ from the movie Sassy Girl. Ryeowook stood frozen in place, unable to move, as Kyuhyun’s unwavering voice filled the dorm.
When Kyuhyun finished, Ryeowook rediscovered the use of his legs and was on his way to the kitchen to praise Kyuhyun, when Donghae’s voice stopped him. “Where did you learn to sing like that?”
Eunhyuk sniffled. “That was amazing.”
“It was so amazing and beautiful,” Sungmin concurred, his cooking forgotten.
“That was fantastic, Kid,” Kangin told him, in full agreement with the others.
Shindong stared at Kyuhyun, smiling like mad. “You do have a golden voice.”
“We are so lucky to have you in the group!” Donghae said, full of excitement.
At Donghae’s words of praise, Ryeowook frowned, turned around, and headed for his room. He knew Kyuhyun’s awkwardness with the group would soon be gone…and he would be welcomed with loving arms by all.
****************
“Are you mad at me? Kyuhyun asked Ryeowook later that night.
“No,” Ryeowook lied, because he was annoyed with the younger member who had just climbed into bed with him without even asking.
“I think you are lying.”
Ryeowook frowned in the dark. It was true, of course, but he hated admitting it. “Last night I let you sleep with me because you were crying…I didn’t say you could sleep with me every night.”
Kyuhyun sat up quickly. “I wasn’t crying…I have allergies.”
“Just sleep on your pallet,” Ryeowook ordered. He hated that he was so annoyed with the younger man….because he shouldn’t be. He was just jealous. Jealous that Kyuhyun had won Donghae’s approval so easily.
Kyuhyun quickly got out of the bed and got on his pallet. “I am sorry,” Kyuhyun whispered to Ryeowook.
“Why are you sorry?” Ryeowook asked, flipping over to lie on his side.
“Because you were the first person that was nice to me…and I don’t know why you are mad, but I am sorry,” Kyuhyun admitted, bewildered by Ryeowook’s behavior.
“I am just being moody…it isn’t you. I heard you sing earlier…and you have a wonderful voice,” Ryeowook told him, eager to change the subject.
Kyuhyun hated the dark that kept him from seeing Ryeowook’s expression. “I didn’t know…you heard. I didn’t see you.”
“I was in the doorway listening. They all liked it…even Donghae.”
“Donghae?” Kyuhyun repeated, understanding more. “If he really hates you…then I will hate him for you.”
“What!”
“You heard me. You are my first friend…and if he really hates you, then I have no use for him,” Kyuhyun told Ryeowook, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “It isn’t okay for him to hate you.”
Ryeowook was glad it was dark, so Kyuhyun couldn’t see his smile. “No, don’t do that. I am sure he has his reasons.”
“Stupid reasons,” Kyuhyun assured Ryeowook as he yawned.
“Go to bed, Kyuhyun,” Ryeowook said, amused and touched at the same time. He secretly suspected why Donghae hated him…and he prayed that nobody else ever found out.
“I wasn’t crying last night,” Kyuhyun blurted out, unable to let it go.
Ryeowook giggled at the indignation in the younger boy’s voice. “Okay, it was allergies,” Ryeowook told him, attempting to soothe him.
“Yeah, it was just allergies,” Kyuhyun confirmed quickly.
“Goodnight, Kyuhyun!” Ryeowook said more forcibly.
“Goodnight, Ryeowook,” Kyuhyun said, relenting, as he rolled around on the pallet, getting more comfortable.
****************
Ryeowook and Kyuhyun were sitting together at a piano at the studio days later, as they waited for Yesung to finish up with a song the producers had the three of them putting the finishing touches on. “Wouldn’t it be cool?”
“What?” Ryeowook asked Kyuhyun as his fingers gently flew over the keys, playing a song Kyuhyun didn’t recognize.
“The three of us in our own subgroup?”
“Yeah, that would be cool…but they haven’t decided anything for sure yet.
Kyuhyun watched Ryeowook’s hands as he played. “My mom got permission to take me out to eat Thursday night. You want to come?”
“Ummm…if I can.”
“I’m sure you can.”
Ryeowook stopped playing and looked at Kyuhyun curiously. “Do you have any siblings?”
“I never mentioned Ahra?” Kyuhyun asked, completely shocked. He couldn’t believe that he had never mentioned his older sister.
“No, is that your sister?”
“Yeah, my older sister. She’s at home right now. She will be leaving for Paris soon to study…she’s older than me,” Kyuhyun explained, still finding it difficult to believe that he hadn’t mentioned the older sister he adored. “We argue a lot…but she’s kinda awesome. Don’t tell her I said that, though.”
“Okay,” Ryeowook agreed, laughing at the look on Kyuhyun’s face. “Do you have any other siblings?”
“No, just her. Do you have any?”
“No, I am an only child,” Ryeowook said sadly. He had often wondered what it would have been like to have a brother or a sister…perhaps he wouldn’t have always felt so lonely.
“Sometimes I wish I was an only child. The older my sister gets, the more annoying she gets. She thinks I’m clingy,” Kyuhyun complained with a snarl. “Clingy? I didn’t even mention her to you, so how clingy could I be?”
“Not very, but - ” Ryeowook trailed off as the producer’s young assistant walked into the room, all smiles for Kyuhyun.
“Do you two need anything? Yesung is going to be a little longer. Water…anything?” She asked them both, but her eyes were only on Kyuhyun.
“No,” Kyuhyun told her, none too friendly, looking her over critically, as if he was inspecting a future purchase.
Ryeowook elbowed Kyuhyun and told the assistant in a very kind voice. “Thanks for asking, but we don’t need anything now.” The young assistant nodded her head at Ryeowook and hurried out of the room.
Ryeowook was about to start a lecture to Kyuhyun on manners when Kyuhyun asked, “Are you a virgin?”
“What? No…No! No…no,” Ryeowook blabbered on, shocked at Kyuhyun’s audacity.
“I am…well technically, I suppose. Blow jobs don’t count as losing your virginity, do they?” Kyuhyun asked, his eyes on the door where the young assistant had departed through.
Ryeowook just looked at Kyuhyun, flabbergasted at his ability to bring up one of the most sensitive subjects ever, as if it were nothing at all to him. “I don’t think so.”
Kyuhyun frowned and nodded his head in agreement. “I mean I could have had sex, but I just never really wanted to. I need to, though, and I bet she would be willing. I never really had girlfriends before. I don’t like all that touchy-feely crap.”
Ryeowook blinked. “Not big on physical contact - ” Ryeowook repeated back Kyuhyun’s words from that first night they had shared a room.
“Exactly! I mean I know a blow job is physical contact…but it’s nice contact. She wasn’t my girlfriend or anything, and she wasn’t very pretty……but it isn’t like I had to look at her.”
“Kyuhyun!” Ryeowook said, full of disapproval as he whacked the younger man on the arm. “That’s horrible!’
“I know! I can’t help it, though! I could have lots of girlfriends if I wanted…because girls always want boyfriends. I just don’t want a girlfriend. If you have a girlfriend, they want you to call them, and for you to remember stupid stuff. I would rather just have sex without emotional attachments,” Kyuhyun told Ryeowook, being completely serious.
“Most men would,” Ryeowook had to admit, amused.
Kyuhyun smiled devilishly. “And now that I am going to be famous...my chances of having sex have probably increased a lot. Also the company said I can’t have a girlfriend, so I have the perfect excuse now.”
“So, you are just going to use some future girl for sex and blame it on the company?” Ryeowook asked, trying his best not to laugh.
“I sure am,” Kyuhyun said, smiling brightly. “I mean I don’t see myself declaring my love to anybody…ever.”
****************
“You should run…don’t walk, don’t skip, don’t jog, but run as fast as you can,” Kyuhyun’s older sister told Ryeowook when Kyuhyun got up to go to the salad bar.
“What?” Ryeowook asked, shocked, as he sat his tea back down on the table and stared at his Kyuhyun’s sister, confused. Ryeowook was with the Cho family, eating at a small cozy Italian restaurant.
Ahra flung both of her hands in the air and told Ryeowook in a voice full of forewarning, “He has latched on to you. You better run while you can. He is extremely clingy, and he has targeted you!”
“Ahra!” Mrs. Cho scolded her daughter. Mr. Cho tried to fight down his laughter as he ate his pizza.
Ryeowook looked at her, completely shocked. “It’s fine…he doesn’t bother me any.”
Ahra snorted. “You say that now, but in fifty years from now, when you realize you have spent your life in the company of my brother, don’t come crying to me.”
Ryeowook sputtered. “We are just friends.”
“Somebody is just jealous that their little brother isn’t giving them enough attention lately,” Mrs. Cho said as she reached out and ran a hand through her daughter’s hair.
“I agree. Ahra, don’t worry he still loves you best,” Mr. Cho said, winking at his wife as they both teased their oldest child.
“I am not jealous! I am glad that leech has decided to latch onto somebody else! It’s about time! You have no idea what it was like growing up with him!”
Mrs. Cho smiled at her daughter. “Whatever, darling.”
Ahra turned her focus on Ryeowook. “Don’t listen to them. They only encourage his behavior. They are crazy, too.”
“Who is crazy?” Kyuhyun asked, returning to the table and sitting down beside Ryeowook.
“Our parents,” Ahra informed him.
“Yeah,” Kyuhyun agreed absentmindedly as he picked at his salad. “I don’t like the idea of a salad bar. What keeps people from spitting in the food?”
“What a thing to say,” Mr. Cho said, shaking his head.
“Kyuhyun, stop picking at your salad,” Mrs. Cho told her son. “They brought the spaghetti out. Eat it.”
Kyuhyun’s eyes immediately went to the spaghetti and lit up as he reached for it. “I love spaghetti.”
“We know!” Kyuhyun’s parents and sister said at the same time, causing Ryeowook to smile.
“Ryeowook, do you enjoy being in Super Junior?” Mrs. Cho asked as her son filled his plate full of spaghetti.
Ryeowook nodded his head quickly. “I love it.”
“Did you always plan on being an entertainer?” Mr. Cho asked.
“It was always my dream. I always loved to sing, and I also like to play the piano,” Ryeowook told Mr. Cho, causing both of the Cho parents to smile. “Oh, and I like to cook, too.”
“You like to cook?” Kyuhyun asked suddenly, with a mouth full of spaghetti. “I thought they just made you, since you were one of the youngest.”
“They do, but luckily for me, I enjoy it. I’ve always liked to cook.”
Kyuhyun smiled as a wondrous thought entered his mind. “Do you know how to make pancakes?”
“Tell him, no!” Ahra said, interrupting quickly, causing Kyuhyun to glare at her.
Ryeowook giggled. “I am sure I could learn.”
Kyuhyun grinned and told Ryeowook, “I love pancakes.”
“And spaghetti,” Ryeowook added with a smile.
“Yes, this is so great that you can cook! I knew I liked you!” Kyuhyun told Ryeowook as he reached over and patted Ryeowook’s arm.
“I warned you,” Ahra muttered as she sipped on her drink.
“Ryeowook, did Kyuhyun tell you that Ahra is going to be leaving for Paris soon?” Mrs. Cho asked, hoping to change the subject before her children started fighting.
“Yes, he said she was going to study there.”
Kyuhyun’s eyes lit up in delight. “I didn’t tell him till a couple days ago, though…he didn’t even know I had a sister. Guess I am not so clingy after all,” Kyuhyun told them proudly as he sneered at his sister.
Arha rolled her eyes, then looked at her brother, then to Ryeowook, and then back to her brother, and told him, “I guess I was wrong.”
“Yes, you were!” Kyuhyun said jubilantly, missing his sister’s sarcasm completely.
*************
Ryeowook stumbled into the small bedroom he shared with Kyuhyun and collapsed on the bed. Ryeowook had drunk two bottles of Soju, and he knew he would regret if he had anymore. Kyuhyun was still in the living room with the other members enjoying drinking. Once Kangin has decided to accept Kyuhyun, everything seemed to get easier for the youngest member. Kangin wasn’t the leader, but he was a strong force within Super Junior. He had both Heechul and Leeteuk’s ear. Ryeowook could see Heechul’s cold exterior start to thaw where the mouthy new maknae was concerned, but Leeteuk remained distant from him.
Ryeowook would have stayed in the living room with them to provide Kyuhyun moral support, but Donghae had arrived…and he always felt so uncomfortable around him. Ryeowook always got emotional when he was drunk, and he didn’t want to say or do something he couldn’t take back. He knew Sungmin and Eunhyuk were both fond of Kyuhyun now and would watch out for him, along with a very protective Kangin. So Ryeowook drifted off to sleep, while the others laughed and had a jolly old time in the living room, filling the newest member full of stories.
Later that night, Ryeowook was awakened, when Kyuhyun stumbled into the dark room, turned on the light, and then fell down on his pallet, not making any effort to be quiet.
“Kyuhyun, turn off the light,” Ryeowook hissed, digging himself deeper under the covers.
“Ryeowook, the leader hates me,” Kyuhyun said in a drunken, heartbroken voice.
Ryeowook pulled the covers away from his face and wiped his sleep-filled eyes. He then turned his head to face the red-faced, puffy-cheeked younger boy. “It just takes time with him. He doesn’t warm to people quickly.”
Kyuhyun shook his head as tears glided down his cheeks. “You are wrong…he hates me so much. He hates me.”
“How much Soju did you have?” Ryeowook asked, not sitting up, but just looking at his distraught roommate.
Kyuhyun gave him a puzzled look and started sobbing louder. “I don’t even know, and I used to be so good at math.”
Ryeowook resisted the urge to laugh and told the overly emotional maknae. “You want to sleep in the bed?”
“Yes, I hate the floor,” Kyuhyun answered, sniffling and crying louder as he crawled up on the bed with Ryeowook.
To Ryeowook’s shock, Kyuhyun didn’t move beside Ryeowook, but just collapsed on top of him, digging his face into Ryeowook’s chest as he continued to sob. Ryeowook hesitantly reached up a hand and gently rubbed the other boy’s back. “It will be okay…he doesn’t hate you.”
“Yes, he does,” Kyuhyun mumbled into Ryeowook’s chest.
“No, he doesn’t. He was like this with me, too, at first, but it got better.”
“You think so?”
“Yes,” Ryeowook answered quickly, hoping the boy would soon feel better and stop smashing him.
“I think you are wrong.”
“No, I am right.”
“You were wrong about Donghae,” Kyuhyun said, turning his head so it laid flat against Ryeowook’s chest.
Multiple alarms went off inside of Ryeowook’s head, and the hand that was rubbing Kyuhyun’s back stopped. “What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t hate you. I asked him.”
Ryeowook’s eyes widened as fear shot through him. “What did he say?”
“Rub my back it felt - ”
“Kyuhyun, tell me now what he said,” Ryeowook snapped, interrupting Kyuhyun.
Kyuhyun cleared his throat. “He said you were rude to him. You didn’t acknowledge his greeting or something like that.”
A relief greater than any that Ryeowook had ever known flooded over him…Donghae thought he was rude. “Rude?” Ryeowook replied, his voice full of joy. “He thought I was rude?”
“Yeah, I know. Crazy,” a drunken Kyuhyun told him now, sounding very sleepy, but making no effort to move away from Ryeowook.
Ryeowook started rubbing Kyuhyun’s back again in reward for lifting a ten thousand pound weight from his soul. Donghae didn’t think he was…different. He just thought he was rude. Ryeowook smiled and felt his own eyes fill with tears of relief. He would apologize tomorrow to Donghae for appearing rude. “Tomorrow is going to be a great day.”
“Will you make pancakes?” Kyuhyun mumbled half asleep.
“If we have the ingredients, I will make you pancakes,” Ryeowook promised the drunken boy on top of him. “Kyuhyun, I thought you didn’t like physical contact?”
“Hmmm…I think you…might…be the exception,” Kyuhyun muttered, barely getting out the words before hedrifted off to sleep.