[Fanfic] File 28 Seats B&D (2/2)
Part 1
The next time Minho wakes up it's because of the dreadful sound of his phone disturbing his peace. He moves his hand without direction, hoping his phone to be within easy reach. It is, and he answers, quite sure that it's either Taemin or Jinki.
‘It was about fucking time! I’ve been calling you all day long! What’s up with you, Minho!’
Reality fades away in a sea of memories. He is one again smack in the eye of the hurricane, watching as the world is destroyed around him and this voice. He feels safe here, the type of safe that comes with the knowledge of darker times ahead.
“Jaejoong.”
He sits up, his ribs forcing a muffled moan of pain out of him. Jaejoong knows him well enough to recognize it for what it is and has lived enough years with Minho to develop a way to cover his worry with a thin layer of ice whenever they talk about Minho’s injuries.
‘What was it this time?’
“Incheon docks. Running after the suspect of three murders. I caught him just in time.”
‘Have you seen a doctor? And you sound as if you have a cold.’
“I do. I’ve been sleeping all day. And no, it was nothing much, really. I’m just tired.”
By now he is awake, or at least awake enough to notice the weirdness of their conversation. It's the first time they talk after the bittersweet goodbye at the airport. Jaejoong doesn’t sound bitter or regretful. In fact, there is an undertone to the rhythm of his words that tells Minho he is happy.
‘Well, I’ve been calling you all day. Changmin told me yesterday you had some free days. And I wanted to make sure you were eating properly and all that.’
“Jaejoong.”
Minho knows him. It can't be quite as easy as that because Jaejoong always manages to make everything complex and harder and just bordering impossible.
Jaejoong, of course, knows that Minho gets this and always asks, without questions, to get to the point faster.
‘Seriously. I wanted to check on you. We are still friends, aren’t we, Minho? ’
“I don’t know. Are we?”
‘Yeah. We are. I wasn’t sure until recently but I want you as a friend. You were a key piece of my life during five years. Losing you is stupid. However, I don’t like you quite like that anymore. I think I didn’t for a long time before my job offer. And you knew. ’
“I… it’s not that I knew per se," Minho says. "I wasn’t as madly in love with you as I had used to be. And you weren’t either. But I like your company, you like mine, and it was easy for us. I miss you, you know?”
‘You always sound so reasonable and calm and mature…’ there’s a slight hint of wonder and admiration in Jaejoong’s voice. It makes Minho smile. ‘Well, there was something else I wanted to tell you. ’
“You are in love with someone.” Minho smiles waiting for a confirmation he is sure he's about to get.
‘How do you know? ’ Jaejoong asks, half-shouting. On the background, there is a muffled complaint.
“Your voice. You sound happy. I’m really glad to hear it.”
‘You sound cold, really, but you are even less affected that Changmin thought you'd be. What’s going on? Have you moved on too? ’
“Uhm… Maybe. Maybe”, he says, an image of Taemin’s smile playing in his head.
‘You are! That’s great! Who is he? How does he look like? Is he much older than you? I’m taking for granted that he is pretty and attractive because you are picky with your lovers. What does he work as? Is he rich? Are you sure he isn’t after you because of your family and of the flat? ’
“Since when have I appointed you as my mother?” Minho laughs. “For your information, he is 25. Two years younger than me.”
‘It’s the first time you are the hyung in the relationship! I’m so proud of you! Come on, details, details. ’
“Jae, I really do have a cold. I’ll tell you next time, I promise.”
‘I’ll hold you to it. And you’ll tell me in person because I’m going back there for New Year's. Yunnie, my boyfriend, is from Seoul too. And I was thinking that we could go out, all of us, and watch the fireworks at Jongno, and maybe party around afterwards. What do you think? Wouldn’t it be fun? ’
“Yes, it would," Minho agrees. "Have you told Changmin? And is your new boyfriend really from Seoul? The world is a small place.”
‘Yeah. You’ll like him. Changmin and Yoochun were here a month ago and now they say they like him better than me. Can you believe it? And no, I haven't told Changmin about New Year - I just thought it up a moment ago. ’
“Yeah, I can believe it. We're talking about Changmin and Yoochun after all," Minho says. "See you in a month then. Take care, Jae.”
‘That's my line! You're stealing my line! Minho, ’ his voice changes and Minho visualizes his serious face with a fond smile, ‘just try to be happy. You deserve loving someone that loves you with the same passion you can offer back. ’
Minho hangs up and sighs.
He really is happy for Jaejoong. That Yunnie must be quite the personality if he already has Changmin and Yoochun in his pocket. Maybe when they finally meet Minho will be a bit more devious and act the role of the almighty ex-boyfriend. Jaejoong would love it.
He gets up and goes to the kitchen. He remembers leaving Taemin all alone and he finds the pot full of soup on the stove.
Love.
He snorts.
It’s too soon.
The problem is that he knows himself with such precision that there is no doubt that, in his heart, he already has given everything to Taemin.
It’s not the same as it was with Jaejoong. Similar yes, because Minho has a soft spot for pretty faces and big eyes. But there are differences, and those are the important part, obviously. Minho knows that there are many more of his emotions at play with Taemin than they were with Jaejoong.
The sad part is that Taemin is not ready for anything more than a good friend.
And so, Minho sets to be exactly that.
The following weeks they go for coffee every day. Taemin introduces him to his bosses. Minho takes an instant liking to them when he discovers that both are from Incheon, like him, and that both of them love football with the same burning passion that he does. They even root for the same team. After their first meeting Minho takes four tickets whenever he can, and they go watch the game with Taemin.
When that happens, Taemin takes him the next day to meet his flatmate and his flatmate's boyfriend, and they go out to dinner in a double date. Minho decides that he likes Key and Jonghyun two seconds into their conversation. In fact, he likes them so much that he starts going with Jonghyun to the gym.
It's Jonghyun who tells him about the performance both Taemin and Key have been working so hard to perfect.
Minho feels hurt that Taemin hasn’t invited him.
“What's happened that has you sulking so early in the morning?” Jinki asks as he appears in front of him. “Problems in paradise?”
“What paradise? Jinki! Don’t be weird!”
Jinki starts doing an odd dance.
“I asked first so I have the right to know first~~” he singsongs. Kyuhyun, from his desk, throws a paper ball at Jinki’s head.
“Shut up!” Kyuhyun shouts without taking his eyes off his game.
It has been a boring week. There are no cases, and there won’t be. Christmas is a time for boredom at the station. Criminals take about the idea of being nice during special dates very seriously.
“Hey, really now, tell me. Is something wrong with Taemin?”
“Not really," Minho says. "We are nothing but friends; what could be wrong?”
“Minhoooo…”
“He has this big Christmas performance and he hasn't told me about it. Jonghyun told me.”
“Who's Jonghyun?”
“Key’s boyfriend. And Key is Taemin’s flatmate and colleague at the studio,” Minho clarifies, before his partner has time to ask. “It’s just… I’m not sure I can hold my feelings any more. Every day is harder and harder. Like. Two days ago. We went ice skating. Do you know how hard it was to resist the need to kiss him? Unlike Jaejoong, Taemin loves winter sports, has plenty of stamina from dancing all day long and has a competitive streak that rivals even mine.”
“And he is pretty. He's a monster made just for you. The bride to your Frankenstein.”
“Jinki.”
“Minho.” Jinki changes his demeanour from foolish to his other side, the one Minho finds dependable and he trusts with his life. “If you want to go see him, buy tickets. If you want to know why he hasn't said a word about it, ask. And, above all, you should tell him. You've said plenty of times that he isn’t ready for another relationship, not after his hard break-up with his ex, but don’t you think he should be the one taking that decision?”
Jinki goes back to his desk, his formal attitude evaporating with each step he takes. When he uses his brain for serious purposes, his words always make sense.
That leaves Minho with three options. The second and the third… well. He is too afraid of being rejected to ask openly. There are too many things at stake, and he likes being friends too much to risk making their relationship awkward just by asking.
That leaves the first option, so he turns to face his computer, logs in and buys two tickets for the premiere night of the show.
“You’ll come with me, right?” he asks, looking at Jinki.
Jinki frowns and tilts his head.
“Do the tickets come with a chicken dinner?”
“Yes, they do.”
“I’ll follow you to the ends of the world, comrade!”
Kyuhyun shuts him up throwing a pen at Jinki’s head. Again.
“I’m playing Starcraft. The next person to disturb me shall go on vigilance duty before breakfast with Changmin.”
It’s an effective threat and Minho and Jinki get back to minding their own business. In silence.
**
Minho doesn’t tell Taemin that he has bought tickets. He isn't sure if he wants to keep it to himself, surprise him or what. In this predicament, he decides that keeping quiet is what's best for now.
The performance is on the day before Christmas Eve. Minho doesn’t remember being that nervous ever before, and Jinki renounces temporarily to his daydreams of a feast of chicken to be the supportive friend he usually is. Their seats are towards the right wall and quite back.
Taemin is hardly going to see them. Jonghyun, as he makes his way to his seat in first line, does, though.
“Minho! Did Taemin invite you in the end?”
“No," Jinki says before Minho can even open his mouth to answer. "Minho bought the tickets himself.”
“Oh, did he?”
“Yeah. He's a nice guy and all, but sometimes it's quite pathetic to see him lusting after Taemin.”
“Jinki!”
Jonghyun laughs harder than Minho has ever seen someone laugh.
“I’ll have to get back, but Minho, you must introduce me to your friend. I’m Jonghyun, by the way.”
“Jinki. Minho's about to invite me to dinner. You should come too, right, Minho? Shouldn't Jonghyun come too?”
Minho puffs as response and Jinki and Jonghyun celebrate as if he had just promised to gift them the moon. The lights go down and Jonghyun apologizes and returns to his seat muttering something about Kibum killing him if he doesn’t pay attention to the opening number.
Minho doesn’t care. He squirms in his seat, unable to stop, until some strong music comes up. The curtains open.
The stage is empty. Or appears to be, at least. There is a strong beat and a pause, and the lights focus on a lonely figure in the center of the stage. Minho doesn’t need more than a second to know that it is Taemin.
The music gets louder. Taemin stays impassive and cold. Minho can’t see the expression on his face clearly, but he feels his eyes, cold and hard and dangerous, scanning the audience.
And then Taemin moves.
He is strong arms flying around in intricate patterns. He is fast feet that draw maps of undiscovered worlds on the floor. He is his burning eyes that compel everyone to look at him. He goes up and down, right and left, faster and faster and then suddenly slower than the average person. And then, when the song is getting ready for the climax, he opens his arms and Key, another guy and two girls come out to flank him.
From then on, Minho finds himself breathless. He looks at dark Taemin, the Prince of Hell, as he looks angelic while seducing the blond, petite and cute girl dressed in white to come to his side. When Taemin kisses her, tongue included, something raw stirs inside Minho. He breaths deeply, trying to control the need to get up and push him and do unspeakable things to him. He doesn’t believe he has such a monster inside.
But Jinki called him Frankenstein, and maybe the monster had been sleeping all alone and only a few could sense his presence. He turns to look at Jinki, as that Taemin disappears from the stage with the girl and finds him transfixed on what’s going on. Everyone is.
The story ends with Taemin’s death, consumed by his own lust and evilness. If the opening is incredible, then the scene of Taemin’s death is choreographed by a genius. The whole cast is on the stage. Junsu is in his white outfit as the prince of everything good. Key and the rest of the demons run around fighting Junsu’s angels and the converted girl is in front of Taemin, crying with a soul that she had lost, because she could see humanity within the devil himself and doesn’t want him to die.
Everyone is frenetic and hysteric, their movements uncontrolled and fast and there are outbreaks of violence everywhere on the stage.
Except for Taemin.
Taemin moves softly. It’s almost as if he could fly from one point to another. He is all beauty and calm and what he does looks more akin to ballet than anything any of them danced before.
He finds himself tearing up when Taemin finally falls to the floor and the world just stops for a second. There is no music, no more fights, only the girl and half the audience crying.
And the curtain closes.
Jinki is crying openly, holding Minho’s hand as if his life depends on it.
“Let’s go,” Minho says. Jinki is so out of the loop that he has to repeat himself. “Let’s go. Dinner. Home.”
“But… aren’t you going to say anything to him? He was brilliant!”
“He is brilliant. And no, I’m not staying. Are you coming?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
They go to Jinki’s favourite restaurant and Minho drives them home. Jinki only comments on the dinner and the pretty girl in white, the one crying. There is a dreamy look in his eyes and Minho wishes he could smile, but the monster inside his chest has taken control of his muscles.
It's easy to avoid the world for the next days. He says ahead of time that his family gets together on Christmas day and that he won’t be available until he gets back to Seoul on the 28th.
Taemin texts him a few times on the first day and Minho excuses himself from replying by saying that his coverage is not good and that he is sorry. Guilt bites his insides after lying so blatantly but he has no capacity to deal with Taemin. He is way too lost within his fears, with a universe of ‘ifs’ that has him believing in hypothesis that can’t be possible.
He doesn’t talk much the next few days and is eternally glad that his grandfather likes him better than his cousins because he can’t get into ‘who is dating whom’ conversations. No one is going to feel offended if he leaves the living room and sits at the balcony.
He can’t see the stars; the lights down on Incheon are too strong. It doesn’t matter that his grandfather’s house is in the expensive residential hill south of the city. He toys with the idea of asking for the keys of the beach house. That one is in a small village and Minho has always loved how easy is to see the night sky from there.
“What are you doing here?” his grandfather asks, throwing a blanket on top of Minho.
“I like the cold.”
“That was not what I asked.”
Minho knows he learned his manners from his grandfather. He still hasn’t surpassed him, however, and the tone of voice he uses has much more power than Minho’s.
“I yearned for some fresh air.”
“I would never think you as stupid as some of your cousins. What are you doing in my house when your head is somewhere else? Get back to Seoul and fix whatever it is.”
“You don’t mind?”
“No. Behave like I teach you to. Don’t run away. Don’t hide at my place.”
“Thanks.” Minho hugs him and smiles for the first time since he saw Taemin’s performance. He is about to leave when he remembers his earlier thoughts about the beach house. “Grandpa, can I go to the beach house for a few days?”
His grandfather nods. “Take the keys whenever you want.”
He leaves his grandfather sitting on the balcony and Minho runs down to the kitchen, where he knows the keys are. He stops to say goodbye to his mother and his father.
Being Christmas, there’s barely any traffic and he makes it to Seoul in record time. He doesn’t bother going to his place and simply calls Taemin when he is two blocks away from his building.
‘Minho? ’ Taemin sounds surprised. ‘Didn’t you say you were going to be busy? I thought I wouldn’t see you until next Wednesday! ’
“I’m almost at your place. I need to leave the car someplace, but could you please come down for a second?”
When Minho parks and goes back to Taemin’s door Taemin is there, changing the weight of his body from one foot to the other and playing with his hands. It's the type of anxious movement Minho is used to see in victims and suspects alike.
“Minho! Did anything happen?” Taemin jumps as soon as he sees him, and Minho stops. There isn’t the faintest trace of a smile on his face. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I just wanted to talk.” He inhales deeply, preparing himself for the possibility of his world crumbling down. “I attended your performance the other day. I was hurt - you hadn't even mentioned it to me. I wanted to see you dancing. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were there?” Taemin looks like a deer caught under painfully strong lights. His eyes seem twice their real size and his body is frozen in place.
“Yeah. I bought tickets and took Jinki with me. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I… I wanted to,” he starts, blushing under Minho’s gaze, “but it was my first big role and I was just so nervous… In the end, Key and Junsu told me to wait until the show ran through a few performances before letting you know. By then, I would feel comfortable enough in front of the public to just worry about youwatching me.” He looks up at Minho. “I’m really sorry you felt hurt. How can I make it up to you? It wasn’t my intention, I swear. You have to believe me.”
He does. He believes Taemin with every fibre of his being. He wants to erase the hunted look from his eyes.
Minho acts by impulse.
At first, all he feels is his head light from the softness of Taemin’s lips. Then, he notices Taemin isn't moving at all.
That is a clear answer by itself. He retreats his arms, freeing Taemin of his embrace, and is about to let go of his lips too when a strong pair of arms press him to Taemin’s body.
Taemin’s lips start responding and he makes Minho open his mouth. He moans into the kiss when their tongues start playing the first and only game Minho doesn’t care if he loses or not. Not if Taemin is the one he is playing it with.
Somehow, without breaking the kiss, Minho moves until Taemin’s back is against the cold surface of the building door. Setting one of his legs between Taemin’s is a matter of instinct, as is flexing it to caress Taemin’s thigh and just a bit above, somewhat out of course.
Taemin breaks apart from the kiss to moan his approval and Minho smirks, happy with how easily things are going. Then he realizes that they are still on the street and could be arrested if they keep going at it, and it takes him some effort to break away.
“Come with me,” he says, smiling.
“Yes. Wherever you want.”
**
When Taemin wakes up hours later, he is curled up against Minho. They are at the Minho’s family beach house. Taemin had little time to explore it the night before, as they arrived busy and rushed and weren't in the mood to go on a tour around the manor-ish house.
He is satisfied after such explosive sex. It is as if Minho knows what to do in the exact moment to have Taemin transformed into a whimpering, begging mess.
Everything feels intense with Minho, even small acts as simple as removing a lock of hair from his eyes.
Half of his thoughts come from his post-sex high, Taemin knows. Still, he has this certainty on having found what he had yearned for. Minho is the person that complements him until the point where he wants to share everything he is, everything he does with him. He was so afraid, for the interminable moment before the kiss, that somehow he had ruined them, their friendship and the love he had not yet confessed…
He smiles, glad that Minho is braver than him, and caresses Minho’s bare torso with his fingertips.
He feels on top of the world and curls up even closer to him. Minho shifts so Taemin can accommodate himself better and holds him. He is so handsome when he sleeps that Taemin remembers that first time he saw it and ran away from Minho’s flat.
He was afraid they would end in bed and things would turn sour afterwards. He is so silly sometimes.
He feels like he can’t go a day without knowing Minho is okay. It’s not like he needs to talk with him all day. No. Just a short text. A word. Whatever but something.
Minho stirs and opens an eye, hugging Taemin closer.
“Morning”, he says, his voice rough from sleep. Taemin kisses his collarbone. It's the part of Minho’s body closest to his lips.
“Morning.”
“Have you been awake long?”
“Nah,” he lies, smiling and kissing Minho again before moving out of his arms. “I'd like some breakfast now, please.”
Minho laughs, and Taemin decides there's nothing in the whole world worthier of getting waking up for than Minho's laughter.
They eat breakfast and step out into the beach. The morning is cold yet sunny. They talk about everything and nothing while walking with linked hands and running in a futile attempt of escaping from a mischievous Minho..
The two days they pass at the beach are like a dream, something Taemin wouldn’t change for the world.
They have sex. They have lots of sex. Sometimes it is slow and exploring every inch of skin. Sometimes it is rushed and passionate. Other times are somewhere in between that greyscale of sensations and extremes Taemin is learning to worship. What they create together is incredible and never in his life has Taemin being so proud of losing his wallet.
When they return to Seoul Minho kisses Taemin goodbye at the front door of his building.
“Call me tonight,” he says, before he closes the door and gets out.
When he gets home, Key and Jonghyun are sitting on the sofa watching some Christmas special or another.
“Oh my god!” Jonghyun shouts as soon as he sees him. “You are glowing with a ‘thoroughly fucked’ aura! It shines too much! My eyes!”
“My guess is that you and Minho finally went at it like bunnies, and about time you did, right?”
“My sexual life is not something you should care about,” Taemin says stiffly.
“Of course we do! Who would make you blush this hard if not us?”
“Oh, shut up!” Taemin flops down on the coach, crushing them. “But yes, I’m thoroughly fucked, Minho and I are together. Now, I’d like a shower and a coffee. Is it okay or do you have any other plan for me?”
“Oh, we can help you shower, if you want. But we had plans, didn’t we Kibummie?”
Taemin is lucky that Jonghyun’s puppy eyes never fail to make Key sidetrack. They start bitching, quickly going off topic and soon enough, they don’t notice Taemin. He smiles and lets them be.
Once in his room, Taemin changes his clothes and gets ready to go to the studio. He doesn’t have any work, but he feels like dancing and it is easier for him to ask Junsu and Eunhyuk if they had any plans as they will be there for sure.
Once he opens the door, he hears music being played and goes directly to the room that it comes from. He wonders who is dancing that song because it isn’t something someone apart from him would like to dance. It's not Junsu’s style nor Eunhyuk’s, and no one else is supposed to be there.
It's Yunho.
Taemin freezes but can’t help but look at him from head to toes. His dancing is better. There is a new spirit to each of his movements. They’re clean, as always, but strong and daring and Taemin admires him so much it isn’t even funny.
And it stops there: admiration from one dancer to another.
When he finishes, Taemin claps and smiles. Yunho seems surprised seeing him. It takes him a second to find a smile and walk to him. Once there, Taemin is the one surprised when he feels Yunho hugging him.
“Taeminnie! How have you been? Junsu told me you were impressive in your debut as main dancer.”
“He exaggerates. It was okay.”
They fall into an awkward silence until Yunho snorts.
“I’m sorry for not calling you earlier. I kept on telling myself to go for it but I kept pushing it back. At first, I was angry you hadn't come.”
“I did,” Taemin says. Yunho looks at him as if he can't believe it. “I went to the airport determined to go with you. I didn’t make it in time.”
“I… I didn’t know. I was sure you didn’t care.”
“Well, I didn’t care about L.A. I cared about you.”
“I’m sorry, Taeminnie," Yunho says. He looks sincere. "I was an asshole with you, always asking too much, always wanting you to do what I thought better. I pressed you so much - you are so talented that it pained me to see your potential wasted here, in such a small world, when you could be out there.”
“I like it here.”
Taemin shrugs and the silence covers all the holes between them. Sharing silence with Yunho feels unnatural and uncomfortable. It has nothing to do with the peaceful feeling he gets when it’s Minho and him.
He is so in love with Minho…
Yunho catches his smile and responds it with one as bright.
“Junsu told me about Minho. He thinks you should stop fooling around and get together. Apparently, you are in love.”
“I am," Taemin says. "I think Minho is, too. And we have already stopped fooling around.”
“You must introduce us. I have to check him out and tell your parents.”
“Maybe. How have you been in America? Do you like it there? Your dancing has improved a lot.”
Yunho smiles. “I like the people I work with. And… I’m in love. I met a guy, Jaejoongie, on the plane there and have kept in contact with him since then.”
“That’s great!”
Seeing Yunho so happy and proud at the mention of this other guy is what moves Taemin to tell him about Minho’s vague plan for New Year's Eve. Yunho doesn’t agree to anything, but asking his boyfriend, and Taemin accepts that.
They say goodbye, for the first time in Taemin’s life, with a warm heart and promises of e-mails. He doesn’t mind having his mentor and older brother figure back in his life.
Minho calls when he is halfway to his house and asks Taemin to go to his place. He does, and calls Key to say he won’t be going home that night. There’s another round of jokes at his expenses but he cares little about them. After all, he has Minho, they’re organizing an epic night out with all their friends, and how could a year begin any better than that?
Minho opens the door with his hair wet under a white towel. Taemin’s mouth dries instantly.
“I finished just now on the shower. Come in.”
Minho goes back to his bedroom and Taemin leaves his shoes and coat scattered on the entrance.
“Do you have any banana milk left?”
“I think there’re still a couple of cartoons you didn’t drink on Movie Night with Jinki.”
Taemin opens the door of the fridge. It takes him a while to find the banana milk. He grabs one, pokes the lid the straw and sips before deciding if how should he go about his encounter with Yunho. Of course, he wants to tell Minho. He has to, really. The problem is that what they have is too new and recent and Minho is going to feel threatened.
There is no other option than being straightforward.
“I saw Yunho today!” Taemin shouts. It barely takes ten seconds for Minho to be at the kitchen’s doorframe looking at him with worry reflected in the deeps of his eyes. He had guessed right. Taemin tries to be nonchalant before going on. “I didn’t know he was back. Apparently, he came to spend New Year here and brought his new boyfriend. I’m so glad he's happy there!”
“How are you?”
Taemin smiles and sips his banana milk. He doesn't quite know what to say next because making Minho worry could be fun, if a bit cruel. But… Minho is wet and half-naked in front of him. They could be doing better things than talking about ex-boyfriends.
“Well, that's an easy one to answer. I’m thirsty. And besides thirsty… I’m still glad he is happy. It's good for his dancing. But… maybe you'll want know what I told Yunho about you. Because, of course, Junsu told him that I was in love with you.”
“He… did?” says Minho. His voice is rough, as if he hasn’t used it in half his life.
“Yeah. Junsu has this annoying ability to know everything that happens around him. Anyways, I told Yunho that yeah, I'm happily in love. But, you know, on top of all that, I’m still wondering why are you still there and not here and kissing me senseless already.”
Minho doesn’t need to be told twice. He shortens the space between them and grabs Taemin by his waist. He pulls him up and sits him on the counter, where he has a better position to do what Taemin has suggested: kissing him senseless.
“I love you. Tae, I love you so much… And it's crazy, I know. This whole week has been crazy. But. I just love you so much, Taemin…” he says, taking Taemin’s clothes off.
Eventually, they make their way to the bedroom. Taemin is, again, the first one to wake up. New Year's Eve is two days away and Taemin loves fireworks. He has a soft spot for winter ones -he thinks that everything during winter is better than during the rest of the year. Their friends will be there. Also, being with Minho every second of every day has a magical overtone. Minho plus fireworks plus his friends… that shall make for a night to remember.
He curls closer to Minho and feels sleepiness fighting a hard battle with his daydreams.
He wants to dance, to fly, to kiss and be kissed. He wants to jump up and down below the fireworks, excited as a child. He wants to sing and to shout and to do crazy things. He wants to hold on to Minho forever. He wants to wake up to see him still sleeping and enjoy those minutes of observing him in his most innocent state.
He knows all those wishes could be a confused reaction because their story is just beginning, but…
No. He isn’t. Being with Minho feels like it has no clear beginning. His life before Minho pales and his memories blur. Yesterday disappears from Taemin’s memory. He is too busy with now, with every forever he imprints in smiles that only Minho understands. As long as they are together, all Taemin wants to do is to paint Minho’s skin with love songs every day of their lives.
It’s okay, really, because Taemin always gets what he really wants.
The next time Minho wakes up it's because of the dreadful sound of his phone disturbing his peace. He moves his hand without direction, hoping his phone to be within easy reach. It is, and he answers, quite sure that it's either Taemin or Jinki.
‘It was about fucking time! I’ve been calling you all day long! What’s up with you, Minho!’
Reality fades away in a sea of memories. He is one again smack in the eye of the hurricane, watching as the world is destroyed around him and this voice. He feels safe here, the type of safe that comes with the knowledge of darker times ahead.
“Jaejoong.”
He sits up, his ribs forcing a muffled moan of pain out of him. Jaejoong knows him well enough to recognize it for what it is and has lived enough years with Minho to develop a way to cover his worry with a thin layer of ice whenever they talk about Minho’s injuries.
‘What was it this time?’
“Incheon docks. Running after the suspect of three murders. I caught him just in time.”
‘Have you seen a doctor? And you sound as if you have a cold.’
“I do. I’ve been sleeping all day. And no, it was nothing much, really. I’m just tired.”
By now he is awake, or at least awake enough to notice the weirdness of their conversation. It's the first time they talk after the bittersweet goodbye at the airport. Jaejoong doesn’t sound bitter or regretful. In fact, there is an undertone to the rhythm of his words that tells Minho he is happy.
‘Well, I’ve been calling you all day. Changmin told me yesterday you had some free days. And I wanted to make sure you were eating properly and all that.’
“Jaejoong.”
Minho knows him. It can't be quite as easy as that because Jaejoong always manages to make everything complex and harder and just bordering impossible.
Jaejoong, of course, knows that Minho gets this and always asks, without questions, to get to the point faster.
‘Seriously. I wanted to check on you. We are still friends, aren’t we, Minho? ’
“I don’t know. Are we?”
‘Yeah. We are. I wasn’t sure until recently but I want you as a friend. You were a key piece of my life during five years. Losing you is stupid. However, I don’t like you quite like that anymore. I think I didn’t for a long time before my job offer. And you knew. ’
“I… it’s not that I knew per se," Minho says. "I wasn’t as madly in love with you as I had used to be. And you weren’t either. But I like your company, you like mine, and it was easy for us. I miss you, you know?”
‘You always sound so reasonable and calm and mature…’ there’s a slight hint of wonder and admiration in Jaejoong’s voice. It makes Minho smile. ‘Well, there was something else I wanted to tell you. ’
“You are in love with someone.” Minho smiles waiting for a confirmation he is sure he's about to get.
‘How do you know? ’ Jaejoong asks, half-shouting. On the background, there is a muffled complaint.
“Your voice. You sound happy. I’m really glad to hear it.”
‘You sound cold, really, but you are even less affected that Changmin thought you'd be. What’s going on? Have you moved on too? ’
“Uhm… Maybe. Maybe”, he says, an image of Taemin’s smile playing in his head.
‘You are! That’s great! Who is he? How does he look like? Is he much older than you? I’m taking for granted that he is pretty and attractive because you are picky with your lovers. What does he work as? Is he rich? Are you sure he isn’t after you because of your family and of the flat? ’
“Since when have I appointed you as my mother?” Minho laughs. “For your information, he is 25. Two years younger than me.”
‘It’s the first time you are the hyung in the relationship! I’m so proud of you! Come on, details, details. ’
“Jae, I really do have a cold. I’ll tell you next time, I promise.”
‘I’ll hold you to it. And you’ll tell me in person because I’m going back there for New Year's. Yunnie, my boyfriend, is from Seoul too. And I was thinking that we could go out, all of us, and watch the fireworks at Jongno, and maybe party around afterwards. What do you think? Wouldn’t it be fun? ’
“Yes, it would," Minho agrees. "Have you told Changmin? And is your new boyfriend really from Seoul? The world is a small place.”
‘Yeah. You’ll like him. Changmin and Yoochun were here a month ago and now they say they like him better than me. Can you believe it? And no, I haven't told Changmin about New Year - I just thought it up a moment ago. ’
“Yeah, I can believe it. We're talking about Changmin and Yoochun after all," Minho says. "See you in a month then. Take care, Jae.”
‘That's my line! You're stealing my line! Minho, ’ his voice changes and Minho visualizes his serious face with a fond smile, ‘just try to be happy. You deserve loving someone that loves you with the same passion you can offer back. ’
Minho hangs up and sighs.
He really is happy for Jaejoong. That Yunnie must be quite the personality if he already has Changmin and Yoochun in his pocket. Maybe when they finally meet Minho will be a bit more devious and act the role of the almighty ex-boyfriend. Jaejoong would love it.
He gets up and goes to the kitchen. He remembers leaving Taemin all alone and he finds the pot full of soup on the stove.
Love.
He snorts.
It’s too soon.
The problem is that he knows himself with such precision that there is no doubt that, in his heart, he already has given everything to Taemin.
It’s not the same as it was with Jaejoong. Similar yes, because Minho has a soft spot for pretty faces and big eyes. But there are differences, and those are the important part, obviously. Minho knows that there are many more of his emotions at play with Taemin than they were with Jaejoong.
The sad part is that Taemin is not ready for anything more than a good friend.
And so, Minho sets to be exactly that.
The following weeks they go for coffee every day. Taemin introduces him to his bosses. Minho takes an instant liking to them when he discovers that both are from Incheon, like him, and that both of them love football with the same burning passion that he does. They even root for the same team. After their first meeting Minho takes four tickets whenever he can, and they go watch the game with Taemin.
When that happens, Taemin takes him the next day to meet his flatmate and his flatmate's boyfriend, and they go out to dinner in a double date. Minho decides that he likes Key and Jonghyun two seconds into their conversation. In fact, he likes them so much that he starts going with Jonghyun to the gym.
It's Jonghyun who tells him about the performance both Taemin and Key have been working so hard to perfect.
Minho feels hurt that Taemin hasn’t invited him.
“What's happened that has you sulking so early in the morning?” Jinki asks as he appears in front of him. “Problems in paradise?”
“What paradise? Jinki! Don’t be weird!”
Jinki starts doing an odd dance.
“I asked first so I have the right to know first~~” he singsongs. Kyuhyun, from his desk, throws a paper ball at Jinki’s head.
“Shut up!” Kyuhyun shouts without taking his eyes off his game.
It has been a boring week. There are no cases, and there won’t be. Christmas is a time for boredom at the station. Criminals take about the idea of being nice during special dates very seriously.
“Hey, really now, tell me. Is something wrong with Taemin?”
“Not really," Minho says. "We are nothing but friends; what could be wrong?”
“Minhoooo…”
“He has this big Christmas performance and he hasn't told me about it. Jonghyun told me.”
“Who's Jonghyun?”
“Key’s boyfriend. And Key is Taemin’s flatmate and colleague at the studio,” Minho clarifies, before his partner has time to ask. “It’s just… I’m not sure I can hold my feelings any more. Every day is harder and harder. Like. Two days ago. We went ice skating. Do you know how hard it was to resist the need to kiss him? Unlike Jaejoong, Taemin loves winter sports, has plenty of stamina from dancing all day long and has a competitive streak that rivals even mine.”
“And he is pretty. He's a monster made just for you. The bride to your Frankenstein.”
“Jinki.”
“Minho.” Jinki changes his demeanour from foolish to his other side, the one Minho finds dependable and he trusts with his life. “If you want to go see him, buy tickets. If you want to know why he hasn't said a word about it, ask. And, above all, you should tell him. You've said plenty of times that he isn’t ready for another relationship, not after his hard break-up with his ex, but don’t you think he should be the one taking that decision?”
Jinki goes back to his desk, his formal attitude evaporating with each step he takes. When he uses his brain for serious purposes, his words always make sense.
That leaves Minho with three options. The second and the third… well. He is too afraid of being rejected to ask openly. There are too many things at stake, and he likes being friends too much to risk making their relationship awkward just by asking.
That leaves the first option, so he turns to face his computer, logs in and buys two tickets for the premiere night of the show.
“You’ll come with me, right?” he asks, looking at Jinki.
Jinki frowns and tilts his head.
“Do the tickets come with a chicken dinner?”
“Yes, they do.”
“I’ll follow you to the ends of the world, comrade!”
Kyuhyun shuts him up throwing a pen at Jinki’s head. Again.
“I’m playing Starcraft. The next person to disturb me shall go on vigilance duty before breakfast with Changmin.”
It’s an effective threat and Minho and Jinki get back to minding their own business. In silence.
**
Minho doesn’t tell Taemin that he has bought tickets. He isn't sure if he wants to keep it to himself, surprise him or what. In this predicament, he decides that keeping quiet is what's best for now.
The performance is on the day before Christmas Eve. Minho doesn’t remember being that nervous ever before, and Jinki renounces temporarily to his daydreams of a feast of chicken to be the supportive friend he usually is. Their seats are towards the right wall and quite back.
Taemin is hardly going to see them. Jonghyun, as he makes his way to his seat in first line, does, though.
“Minho! Did Taemin invite you in the end?”
“No," Jinki says before Minho can even open his mouth to answer. "Minho bought the tickets himself.”
“Oh, did he?”
“Yeah. He's a nice guy and all, but sometimes it's quite pathetic to see him lusting after Taemin.”
“Jinki!”
Jonghyun laughs harder than Minho has ever seen someone laugh.
“I’ll have to get back, but Minho, you must introduce me to your friend. I’m Jonghyun, by the way.”
“Jinki. Minho's about to invite me to dinner. You should come too, right, Minho? Shouldn't Jonghyun come too?”
Minho puffs as response and Jinki and Jonghyun celebrate as if he had just promised to gift them the moon. The lights go down and Jonghyun apologizes and returns to his seat muttering something about Kibum killing him if he doesn’t pay attention to the opening number.
Minho doesn’t care. He squirms in his seat, unable to stop, until some strong music comes up. The curtains open.
The stage is empty. Or appears to be, at least. There is a strong beat and a pause, and the lights focus on a lonely figure in the center of the stage. Minho doesn’t need more than a second to know that it is Taemin.
The music gets louder. Taemin stays impassive and cold. Minho can’t see the expression on his face clearly, but he feels his eyes, cold and hard and dangerous, scanning the audience.
And then Taemin moves.
He is strong arms flying around in intricate patterns. He is fast feet that draw maps of undiscovered worlds on the floor. He is his burning eyes that compel everyone to look at him. He goes up and down, right and left, faster and faster and then suddenly slower than the average person. And then, when the song is getting ready for the climax, he opens his arms and Key, another guy and two girls come out to flank him.
From then on, Minho finds himself breathless. He looks at dark Taemin, the Prince of Hell, as he looks angelic while seducing the blond, petite and cute girl dressed in white to come to his side. When Taemin kisses her, tongue included, something raw stirs inside Minho. He breaths deeply, trying to control the need to get up and push him and do unspeakable things to him. He doesn’t believe he has such a monster inside.
But Jinki called him Frankenstein, and maybe the monster had been sleeping all alone and only a few could sense his presence. He turns to look at Jinki, as that Taemin disappears from the stage with the girl and finds him transfixed on what’s going on. Everyone is.
The story ends with Taemin’s death, consumed by his own lust and evilness. If the opening is incredible, then the scene of Taemin’s death is choreographed by a genius. The whole cast is on the stage. Junsu is in his white outfit as the prince of everything good. Key and the rest of the demons run around fighting Junsu’s angels and the converted girl is in front of Taemin, crying with a soul that she had lost, because she could see humanity within the devil himself and doesn’t want him to die.
Everyone is frenetic and hysteric, their movements uncontrolled and fast and there are outbreaks of violence everywhere on the stage.
Except for Taemin.
Taemin moves softly. It’s almost as if he could fly from one point to another. He is all beauty and calm and what he does looks more akin to ballet than anything any of them danced before.
He finds himself tearing up when Taemin finally falls to the floor and the world just stops for a second. There is no music, no more fights, only the girl and half the audience crying.
And the curtain closes.
Jinki is crying openly, holding Minho’s hand as if his life depends on it.
“Let’s go,” Minho says. Jinki is so out of the loop that he has to repeat himself. “Let’s go. Dinner. Home.”
“But… aren’t you going to say anything to him? He was brilliant!”
“He is brilliant. And no, I’m not staying. Are you coming?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
They go to Jinki’s favourite restaurant and Minho drives them home. Jinki only comments on the dinner and the pretty girl in white, the one crying. There is a dreamy look in his eyes and Minho wishes he could smile, but the monster inside his chest has taken control of his muscles.
It's easy to avoid the world for the next days. He says ahead of time that his family gets together on Christmas day and that he won’t be available until he gets back to Seoul on the 28th.
Taemin texts him a few times on the first day and Minho excuses himself from replying by saying that his coverage is not good and that he is sorry. Guilt bites his insides after lying so blatantly but he has no capacity to deal with Taemin. He is way too lost within his fears, with a universe of ‘ifs’ that has him believing in hypothesis that can’t be possible.
He doesn’t talk much the next few days and is eternally glad that his grandfather likes him better than his cousins because he can’t get into ‘who is dating whom’ conversations. No one is going to feel offended if he leaves the living room and sits at the balcony.
He can’t see the stars; the lights down on Incheon are too strong. It doesn’t matter that his grandfather’s house is in the expensive residential hill south of the city. He toys with the idea of asking for the keys of the beach house. That one is in a small village and Minho has always loved how easy is to see the night sky from there.
“What are you doing here?” his grandfather asks, throwing a blanket on top of Minho.
“I like the cold.”
“That was not what I asked.”
Minho knows he learned his manners from his grandfather. He still hasn’t surpassed him, however, and the tone of voice he uses has much more power than Minho’s.
“I yearned for some fresh air.”
“I would never think you as stupid as some of your cousins. What are you doing in my house when your head is somewhere else? Get back to Seoul and fix whatever it is.”
“You don’t mind?”
“No. Behave like I teach you to. Don’t run away. Don’t hide at my place.”
“Thanks.” Minho hugs him and smiles for the first time since he saw Taemin’s performance. He is about to leave when he remembers his earlier thoughts about the beach house. “Grandpa, can I go to the beach house for a few days?”
His grandfather nods. “Take the keys whenever you want.”
He leaves his grandfather sitting on the balcony and Minho runs down to the kitchen, where he knows the keys are. He stops to say goodbye to his mother and his father.
Being Christmas, there’s barely any traffic and he makes it to Seoul in record time. He doesn’t bother going to his place and simply calls Taemin when he is two blocks away from his building.
‘Minho? ’ Taemin sounds surprised. ‘Didn’t you say you were going to be busy? I thought I wouldn’t see you until next Wednesday! ’
“I’m almost at your place. I need to leave the car someplace, but could you please come down for a second?”
When Minho parks and goes back to Taemin’s door Taemin is there, changing the weight of his body from one foot to the other and playing with his hands. It's the type of anxious movement Minho is used to see in victims and suspects alike.
“Minho! Did anything happen?” Taemin jumps as soon as he sees him, and Minho stops. There isn’t the faintest trace of a smile on his face. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I just wanted to talk.” He inhales deeply, preparing himself for the possibility of his world crumbling down. “I attended your performance the other day. I was hurt - you hadn't even mentioned it to me. I wanted to see you dancing. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were there?” Taemin looks like a deer caught under painfully strong lights. His eyes seem twice their real size and his body is frozen in place.
“Yeah. I bought tickets and took Jinki with me. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I… I wanted to,” he starts, blushing under Minho’s gaze, “but it was my first big role and I was just so nervous… In the end, Key and Junsu told me to wait until the show ran through a few performances before letting you know. By then, I would feel comfortable enough in front of the public to just worry about youwatching me.” He looks up at Minho. “I’m really sorry you felt hurt. How can I make it up to you? It wasn’t my intention, I swear. You have to believe me.”
He does. He believes Taemin with every fibre of his being. He wants to erase the hunted look from his eyes.
Minho acts by impulse.
At first, all he feels is his head light from the softness of Taemin’s lips. Then, he notices Taemin isn't moving at all.
That is a clear answer by itself. He retreats his arms, freeing Taemin of his embrace, and is about to let go of his lips too when a strong pair of arms press him to Taemin’s body.
Taemin’s lips start responding and he makes Minho open his mouth. He moans into the kiss when their tongues start playing the first and only game Minho doesn’t care if he loses or not. Not if Taemin is the one he is playing it with.
Somehow, without breaking the kiss, Minho moves until Taemin’s back is against the cold surface of the building door. Setting one of his legs between Taemin’s is a matter of instinct, as is flexing it to caress Taemin’s thigh and just a bit above, somewhat out of course.
Taemin breaks apart from the kiss to moan his approval and Minho smirks, happy with how easily things are going. Then he realizes that they are still on the street and could be arrested if they keep going at it, and it takes him some effort to break away.
“Come with me,” he says, smiling.
“Yes. Wherever you want.”
**
When Taemin wakes up hours later, he is curled up against Minho. They are at the Minho’s family beach house. Taemin had little time to explore it the night before, as they arrived busy and rushed and weren't in the mood to go on a tour around the manor-ish house.
He is satisfied after such explosive sex. It is as if Minho knows what to do in the exact moment to have Taemin transformed into a whimpering, begging mess.
Everything feels intense with Minho, even small acts as simple as removing a lock of hair from his eyes.
Half of his thoughts come from his post-sex high, Taemin knows. Still, he has this certainty on having found what he had yearned for. Minho is the person that complements him until the point where he wants to share everything he is, everything he does with him. He was so afraid, for the interminable moment before the kiss, that somehow he had ruined them, their friendship and the love he had not yet confessed…
He smiles, glad that Minho is braver than him, and caresses Minho’s bare torso with his fingertips.
He feels on top of the world and curls up even closer to him. Minho shifts so Taemin can accommodate himself better and holds him. He is so handsome when he sleeps that Taemin remembers that first time he saw it and ran away from Minho’s flat.
He was afraid they would end in bed and things would turn sour afterwards. He is so silly sometimes.
He feels like he can’t go a day without knowing Minho is okay. It’s not like he needs to talk with him all day. No. Just a short text. A word. Whatever but something.
Minho stirs and opens an eye, hugging Taemin closer.
“Morning”, he says, his voice rough from sleep. Taemin kisses his collarbone. It's the part of Minho’s body closest to his lips.
“Morning.”
“Have you been awake long?”
“Nah,” he lies, smiling and kissing Minho again before moving out of his arms. “I'd like some breakfast now, please.”
Minho laughs, and Taemin decides there's nothing in the whole world worthier of getting waking up for than Minho's laughter.
They eat breakfast and step out into the beach. The morning is cold yet sunny. They talk about everything and nothing while walking with linked hands and running in a futile attempt of escaping from a mischievous Minho..
The two days they pass at the beach are like a dream, something Taemin wouldn’t change for the world.
They have sex. They have lots of sex. Sometimes it is slow and exploring every inch of skin. Sometimes it is rushed and passionate. Other times are somewhere in between that greyscale of sensations and extremes Taemin is learning to worship. What they create together is incredible and never in his life has Taemin being so proud of losing his wallet.
When they return to Seoul Minho kisses Taemin goodbye at the front door of his building.
“Call me tonight,” he says, before he closes the door and gets out.
When he gets home, Key and Jonghyun are sitting on the sofa watching some Christmas special or another.
“Oh my god!” Jonghyun shouts as soon as he sees him. “You are glowing with a ‘thoroughly fucked’ aura! It shines too much! My eyes!”
“My guess is that you and Minho finally went at it like bunnies, and about time you did, right?”
“My sexual life is not something you should care about,” Taemin says stiffly.
“Of course we do! Who would make you blush this hard if not us?”
“Oh, shut up!” Taemin flops down on the coach, crushing them. “But yes, I’m thoroughly fucked, Minho and I are together. Now, I’d like a shower and a coffee. Is it okay or do you have any other plan for me?”
“Oh, we can help you shower, if you want. But we had plans, didn’t we Kibummie?”
Taemin is lucky that Jonghyun’s puppy eyes never fail to make Key sidetrack. They start bitching, quickly going off topic and soon enough, they don’t notice Taemin. He smiles and lets them be.
Once in his room, Taemin changes his clothes and gets ready to go to the studio. He doesn’t have any work, but he feels like dancing and it is easier for him to ask Junsu and Eunhyuk if they had any plans as they will be there for sure.
Once he opens the door, he hears music being played and goes directly to the room that it comes from. He wonders who is dancing that song because it isn’t something someone apart from him would like to dance. It's not Junsu’s style nor Eunhyuk’s, and no one else is supposed to be there.
It's Yunho.
Taemin freezes but can’t help but look at him from head to toes. His dancing is better. There is a new spirit to each of his movements. They’re clean, as always, but strong and daring and Taemin admires him so much it isn’t even funny.
And it stops there: admiration from one dancer to another.
When he finishes, Taemin claps and smiles. Yunho seems surprised seeing him. It takes him a second to find a smile and walk to him. Once there, Taemin is the one surprised when he feels Yunho hugging him.
“Taeminnie! How have you been? Junsu told me you were impressive in your debut as main dancer.”
“He exaggerates. It was okay.”
They fall into an awkward silence until Yunho snorts.
“I’m sorry for not calling you earlier. I kept on telling myself to go for it but I kept pushing it back. At first, I was angry you hadn't come.”
“I did,” Taemin says. Yunho looks at him as if he can't believe it. “I went to the airport determined to go with you. I didn’t make it in time.”
“I… I didn’t know. I was sure you didn’t care.”
“Well, I didn’t care about L.A. I cared about you.”
“I’m sorry, Taeminnie," Yunho says. He looks sincere. "I was an asshole with you, always asking too much, always wanting you to do what I thought better. I pressed you so much - you are so talented that it pained me to see your potential wasted here, in such a small world, when you could be out there.”
“I like it here.”
Taemin shrugs and the silence covers all the holes between them. Sharing silence with Yunho feels unnatural and uncomfortable. It has nothing to do with the peaceful feeling he gets when it’s Minho and him.
He is so in love with Minho…
Yunho catches his smile and responds it with one as bright.
“Junsu told me about Minho. He thinks you should stop fooling around and get together. Apparently, you are in love.”
“I am," Taemin says. "I think Minho is, too. And we have already stopped fooling around.”
“You must introduce us. I have to check him out and tell your parents.”
“Maybe. How have you been in America? Do you like it there? Your dancing has improved a lot.”
Yunho smiles. “I like the people I work with. And… I’m in love. I met a guy, Jaejoongie, on the plane there and have kept in contact with him since then.”
“That’s great!”
Seeing Yunho so happy and proud at the mention of this other guy is what moves Taemin to tell him about Minho’s vague plan for New Year's Eve. Yunho doesn’t agree to anything, but asking his boyfriend, and Taemin accepts that.
They say goodbye, for the first time in Taemin’s life, with a warm heart and promises of e-mails. He doesn’t mind having his mentor and older brother figure back in his life.
Minho calls when he is halfway to his house and asks Taemin to go to his place. He does, and calls Key to say he won’t be going home that night. There’s another round of jokes at his expenses but he cares little about them. After all, he has Minho, they’re organizing an epic night out with all their friends, and how could a year begin any better than that?
Minho opens the door with his hair wet under a white towel. Taemin’s mouth dries instantly.
“I finished just now on the shower. Come in.”
Minho goes back to his bedroom and Taemin leaves his shoes and coat scattered on the entrance.
“Do you have any banana milk left?”
“I think there’re still a couple of cartoons you didn’t drink on Movie Night with Jinki.”
Taemin opens the door of the fridge. It takes him a while to find the banana milk. He grabs one, pokes the lid the straw and sips before deciding if how should he go about his encounter with Yunho. Of course, he wants to tell Minho. He has to, really. The problem is that what they have is too new and recent and Minho is going to feel threatened.
There is no other option than being straightforward.
“I saw Yunho today!” Taemin shouts. It barely takes ten seconds for Minho to be at the kitchen’s doorframe looking at him with worry reflected in the deeps of his eyes. He had guessed right. Taemin tries to be nonchalant before going on. “I didn’t know he was back. Apparently, he came to spend New Year here and brought his new boyfriend. I’m so glad he's happy there!”
“How are you?”
Taemin smiles and sips his banana milk. He doesn't quite know what to say next because making Minho worry could be fun, if a bit cruel. But… Minho is wet and half-naked in front of him. They could be doing better things than talking about ex-boyfriends.
“Well, that's an easy one to answer. I’m thirsty. And besides thirsty… I’m still glad he is happy. It's good for his dancing. But… maybe you'll want know what I told Yunho about you. Because, of course, Junsu told him that I was in love with you.”
“He… did?” says Minho. His voice is rough, as if he hasn’t used it in half his life.
“Yeah. Junsu has this annoying ability to know everything that happens around him. Anyways, I told Yunho that yeah, I'm happily in love. But, you know, on top of all that, I’m still wondering why are you still there and not here and kissing me senseless already.”
Minho doesn’t need to be told twice. He shortens the space between them and grabs Taemin by his waist. He pulls him up and sits him on the counter, where he has a better position to do what Taemin has suggested: kissing him senseless.
“I love you. Tae, I love you so much… And it's crazy, I know. This whole week has been crazy. But. I just love you so much, Taemin…” he says, taking Taemin’s clothes off.
Eventually, they make their way to the bedroom. Taemin is, again, the first one to wake up. New Year's Eve is two days away and Taemin loves fireworks. He has a soft spot for winter ones -he thinks that everything during winter is better than during the rest of the year. Their friends will be there. Also, being with Minho every second of every day has a magical overtone. Minho plus fireworks plus his friends… that shall make for a night to remember.
He curls closer to Minho and feels sleepiness fighting a hard battle with his daydreams.
He wants to dance, to fly, to kiss and be kissed. He wants to jump up and down below the fireworks, excited as a child. He wants to sing and to shout and to do crazy things. He wants to hold on to Minho forever. He wants to wake up to see him still sleeping and enjoy those minutes of observing him in his most innocent state.
He knows all those wishes could be a confused reaction because their story is just beginning, but…
No. He isn’t. Being with Minho feels like it has no clear beginning. His life before Minho pales and his memories blur. Yesterday disappears from Taemin’s memory. He is too busy with now, with every forever he imprints in smiles that only Minho understands. As long as they are together, all Taemin wants to do is to paint Minho’s skin with love songs every day of their lives.
It’s okay, really, because Taemin always gets what he really wants.