Trouble Maker
Title: Trouble Maker
Pairing: Kris/Sooyoung
Rating: G
Genre: Fluff
“Hey, noona.”
Sooyoung does not need to turn around to know who owns that low voice. Oh, she has been accustomed to it already, that husky growl that makes her wonder whether he is bored or exhausted or both. Wasn't it the same tone he used when he cornered her one afternoon in one of the lesser populated lobbies of SM Entertainment? The same timbre he exploited as he watched goose bumps form on her arms as he leaned forward and whispered oh-so-softly his invitation.
'Come to our showcase.'
It was neither request nor announcement. It was a demand; which he subtly dulcorates with a shy curve of his lips.
That, Sooyoung concluded, that precious millisecond when his serious expression melts into the brightness of his smile, is something she should be careful of.
“Noona.”
He repeats. She could imagine the smirk accompanying the call; especially that she knows that she cannot fake not hearing him as they are now in some deserted parking area far from the ruckus of screaming fans. She turns around to face him.
“What now, buffalo boy?”
His ringing laughter breaks the eerie silence of the parking area and Sooyoung freezes. She had violated her rules. She forgets what it was that she should be careful about; her image, her seniority, her name - everything is thrown into the gutter as her mind fails to register everything else but how wonderful his laughter sounds like in her ear.
“What was that you called me, Sooyoung?”
He tries to suppress the smile forcing its way out of his lips. He fails to notice the look of panic that crossed her features as he settles on the more comfortable smirk as his eyes bore through hers.
“Roll like a buffalo.” Sooyoung snorts as she remembers the line. “Is that really what it should be like?” she bursts into a fit of giggles before she clears her throat and continues. “And where has the ‘noona’ gone?”
“I was calling you that a while ago but you pretended not to hear.”
He is always frank, Sooyoung thinks. Frank, to the extent of being blunt - but it doesn't matter. She likes him that way. She likes him that way even back when he was still Wu Fan, that dark-skinned Chinese kid who every other trainee looks up to. Wu Fan, who you’d think has nothing to offer his sunbaes but a thrifty smile and unlimited supply of ninety-degree bows but would not back down in conversing with them once the conversation picks up. Wu Fan, who takes pride in his magic tricks as if it would rake him money but would decline whenever she asks him for one magical performance. Wu Fan, who tries to replicate Han Geng's sorry-my-Korean-is-a-bucketful-of-flaws-so-please-do-not-talk-to-me cover but fails because Sooyoung knows.
She knows and she won't take shit for it (because she also knows how it feels like to be thrown at strange country where the only statement you can arm yourself with is a monosyllabic affirmative word). So despite the continual menacing glares of SNSD's manager, ('you are a senior do not be so comfortable with them') she drops by and watches the boys labor their way to their debut, being particularly fond of the non-Koreans in the group - and of course, that tall, dark-skinned boy with his bushy eyebrows and mischievous smile.
“Sorry.” She relaxes her stance. “I was lost in thought.”
“About what?” Kris advances and she takes a step back. Her brows crease as she wonders why she is suddenly being all nervous in front of this kid. This kid she has practically seen grow up before her eyes despite the fact that she’s only a few months older than he is.
She swallows a lump on her throat and replies cheekily.
“Whether buffaloes roll.”
Kris blinks furiously; the look of confusion on his face sending Sooyoung into another fit of giggles. It does not take long before he joins in and both try to find their balance against the stationary car resting near them.
“Seriously, Sooyoung-sunbae, have we done well?”
He puts the formal mask back on and another man speaks. Kris, the leader. Kris, the man who heads EXO-M. Sooyoung studies the look on his face for a few seconds. To some, the cheerful, active Wu Fan is gone. Replaced by Kris - the no-nonsense-I-mean-serious-business gege every noona is fawning for. The Canadian-bred boy got inside SM with his sun-burnt skin and toothy grin only to go out many shades lighter but with lips pursed tightly as if his smile is a National Treasure only a few people are allowed to see.
But Sooyoung knows that nothing has changed. Wu Fan then is still Kris now. He just doesn’t show it much. He just doesn’t show it yet.
“You’ve done amazingly well, Wu Fan.” She bites her lip but the name has already left her tongue.
They stare at each other. Neither wanting to blink, as if time has stopped and blinking would make it run twice as fast and both of them will be left behind.
“Thank you, Sooyoung.”
Kris speaks softly; breaking the moment that has stretched too long. Yet he keeps his eyes pegged on hers. She blinks; once, twice. The connection is still there; shielded by the strong pull of his gaze.
“You miss out on calling me noona once more and I’ll shave your eyebrows with a kitchen knife.” She throws him a menacing look but gets rewarded with another set of laughter from him.
“But we are of the same age, Sooyoung-ssi.” He adjusts the side mirror of the car and checks his reflection. “And wasn’t that you who called us ‘oppa’ first?” He reminds her of the teasing UFO reply she once gave; albeit, not letting her know about the fuss it created among the EXO members.
She says nothing; instead, she gives a mirthful laugh and turns her back on him.
“It’s getting late, Kris. The management won’t be too happy if they find out you’re loafing on the night of your first public appearance.”
He follows her as she strides quickly to where her car was located. A muffled beep and by the next second, her car door slams shut as she takes a seat behind the wheel.
Kris leans forward and knocks nonchalantly on the glass window of her car.
“What?” She rolls down the window and snaps at him.
He lets the silence linger. She waits for him.
“Thank you for coming.” He gives him that smile, that smile she swear she should be avoiding; that smile which sends an army of butterflies going berserk in her stomach, that smile which could only mean trouble.
“Thank you." He repeats. "It means much.”
He stands up, signaling her that he has finally done what he has been trying to do all that time they’re dillydallying in the parking lot.
“Okay. See you then.”
She gives him a thrifty smile before throwing him a casual wave. She rolls the windows back up and starts the engine of her car.
No lingering touches, no words of any double-meaning but he knows. If there is anything his debut had significantly altered in his life, it is that he no longer feels the impalpable gap between him and his seniors. He knows it is still there; but somehow, less suffocating.
Kris watches silently as her car disappears into a curve. He smiles that rare smile before walking back to the building.
“See you, Sooyoung.”
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A/N: O HAI, WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT? YEA SOOKRIS. OKAY I CANNOT SPEAK ANYMORE. I REFUSE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WHEN I DO I MIGHT NOT STOP. HUUU ;A; No really, I don't want to ship Sooyoung and Kris because I know that I will eventually lose the fight and will end up shipping them someday. I just don't want to ship them now ok ajksfnakjf anyway, this is for my loves flow19, unknowntoyou18, cookiedrabbles, eiibelle,and mekimigure. And of course, for the person who started all this Kris/Sooyoung shizz, lov3s-ang3l-19. :D