Behind the Scenes 1/5
Title: Behind the Scenes
Pairing: Yunho/Changmin
Summary: Yunho, a successful novelist, has taken to writing his books in a spare room in his best friend's photo studio. Once he learns that Changmin would like to star in one of those books, that idea quickly begins to lead a life of its own.
NOTE: Does anyone remember that, over a year ago, I made a post in which I asked what I should write next?
Well, I do, and I'm finally doing something with that. I combined all the suggestions and ended up with eight fic ideas. I won't promise I'll actually write all eight of them (or that they'll be good). But I'm going to give this a go, because I really appreciate your supportive messages.
This story is for: changmin_amour, hannacorsino and shunluv
Their combined request was: HoMin, friends to boyfriends, hopefully NC-17, Changmin's love for Yunho's thighs.
I'll post all of the chapters today, so you won't have to wait months for the final one again (how many times has that happened before? too many).
Chapter One
"Why is he a suspect?" detective inspector Bruce Savez picked up the file in front of him and studied the picture in the corner. A uniquely handsome young man stared almost defiantly into the camera, making it quite the opposite of your usual dull-eyed passport photo. Was he wearing make-up as well? They must have taken this from a fashion magazine or something.
"He has a connection to all three of the victims, sir," someone answered his question, someone he had nicknamed Coffee. Coffee had handed him a steaming mug and then put the files on his desk, which was the correct order. Savez would have to learn the names of his new team members, but first he needed them to fill him in on this case. His brain was itching to finally get back to work.
"Didn't you say all three of them worked on the same runway show?" I imagine there were quite a lot of people involved in that."
"True," Coffee said. "But mister Kim was the main model that night, and both the stylist and make-up artist had worked with him on multiple other occasions. The lighting technician only worked at this venue, but two witnesses claim mister Kim had a brief conversation with him before the show."
Savez nodded. He hadn't put the file down yet. A top model? The man certainly looked the part. "That is indeed suspicious, but surely not enough to make him a murder suspect. Those aren't very personal relationships. What about a motive? An alibi?"
"An alibi will be hard. Everyone backstage had access to the water dispenser and cups all through the event. And since there are no witnesses to the adding of the poison, we don't know exactly when it happened. We don't have a motive either...yet."
"We have a suspect without a motive and only a strictly professional relationship to the victims? That's a weak accusation."
"But he was the most suspicious person there, sir."
Savez raised an eyebrow. "How was he suspicious?"
"Well, he wasn't very cooperative during the interview. And most of the background information his agency has on him is false. It seems he's fabricated a life story for himself, sir. Wouldn't that mean he's got something to hide?"
Savez finally put the file down. "We'll see," he said. "Thank you for the coffee."
Yunho paused his typing and looked at the page he'd just written. He was so immersed in the story that the clunk of a mug being set on the table to his right made him jump.
"Tea," Changmin explained curtly.
Yunho gave him a wide smile. "Thank you." He preferred coffee, but according to Changmin tea was a lot healthier.
"You were doing it again," Changmin said.
"What?" Yunho closed his laptop.
"You were writing like you forgot there is a world outside of your fictional universe. Did I ruin your flow?"
"Not at all." Yunho swung his legs back over the arm of the chair so he was sitting like a normal person and picked up the mug. "I was just getting thirsty."
Changmin gave him a look, a look that would certainly make Yunho uncomfortable had he been one of Changmin's models. "You do remember my sister is coming over this afternoon, right?"
"Of course. Why?"
"She's coming for a photo, but I told her you'd be here, so it's going to be mostly about you." Changmin sighed. "Do you have to dress like that every day?"
Yunho looked down. "I love comfortable sweaters and shorts. They're the best combination and it's only a matter of time before your fashion industry catches on."
Changmin sighed again and shook his head. He was great at disagreeing with something most strongly in a nonverbal way. There were a few traits like that which Yunho was sure stemmed from his model days.
"Well," Changmin finally said. "She's a fan. I'm sure she won't mind." He flicked his fringe out of his eyes, another trait.
"You can't tell her what I'm working on," Yunho said. "My agent hates leaks. Nothing against your sister personally, but..."
"Sure," Changmin nodded. "I don't even know what you're writing myself. Is it the next part of your mystery series?"
"Maybe."
"So yes." It was impossible to fool Changmin. Not that Yunho really tried. Changmin wouldn't talk.
"Didn't the guy get demoted at the end of the last one, for sleeping with the chief inspector's ex wife or something?"
"You read it?" Changmin wasn't a big fan of reading.
"My sister told me." Changmin sounded a bit apologetic, which was the reason why Yunho never asked his friends about his books. They could read them if they wanted to. But he couldn't help feeling a little bit curious.
"You discuss my books with your sister?"
"I wouldn't call it that. Sometimes she just starts talking about something and there's no stopping her. I only listen. I think she liked it, if you were wondering. She was worried about what would happen to you after that last one."
"...you mean what would happen to my main character?"
Changmin rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. Stop pretending that inspector guy isn't secretly you."
"It's not me. It's a fictional character."
"Hey, I'm not judging," Changmin said "If I wrote books I'd make myself the hero as well."
Yunho cleared his throat. "Anyway, inspector Savez, who is not my alter ego, did not get demoted. He didn't really do anything wrong. He just pissed off his chief, which was uncomfortable, so he got transferred to a different team."
"Let me guess," Changmin said, "he breaks it off with the ex wife because he hadn't really been in love and he doesn't want to hurt her. Then he takes a moment to wonder if he'll ever find someone to replace the hole in his heart left by his tragic first love, but mainly he focusses on his job again and solves all the impossible cases."
"You know a lot about this series for someone who's never read a book," Yunho said, raising an eyebrow.
Changmin stood up and shrugged it off. "I know you, so it's not that hard. Do you want some more tea?" He walked away without waiting for an answer.
"Hey," Yunho said, raising his voice when Changmin disappeared into the next room. "What's that supposed to mean? It's not an autobiographical character! And I did not have a tragic first love!"
He could hear Changmin laugh from the kitchen and shout: "It was just a guess!"
"So you are the famous Maxim Kim?"
"You sound skeptical."
"I apologise." Inspector Savez held out his hand and introduced himself properly. "I have to admit I'm not familiar with the world of fashion and modelling."
The model looked him up and down, ignoring the offered hand, and gave a derogatory snort. "I can tell."
Savez flicked open his notebook and said: "model with attitude problem" while writing it down.
Maxim ignored it, so Savez moved straight on to the questions. "Do you think the three people who died were targeted, or could they have accidentally drunk from someone else's cup?"
"I don't know. I always bring my own water. I would never take someone else's. And I have no idea what other people do."
Savez tried not to sigh. "What was your relationship with the victims?"
That question seemed to break through the mask that carefully hid Maxim's emotions until now. "Am I a suspect?" he asked, suddenly less confident.
"Everyone who was in that room that night is a possible suspect," Savez said. "I do hope you're taking our investigation seriously. We're quite sure this wasn't an accident. It was murder. Poison was added to specific reusable cups. Three people were murdered."
He carefully observed Maxim's reaction. The man was young and arrogant, but not completely insensitive. There was shock and sadness in his eyes, nothing about him really set off alarm bells in his detective instinct. But, Savez thought bitterly, he had been wrong before.
"Oh my god, Jung Yunho! You're really the Jung Yunho?!"
Yunho looked up from his laptop and then quickly closed it. A young woman stood at the other side of the coffee table, visibly trying to contain her excitement. Changmin stood behind her, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. His look was slightly amused.
"Yes," Yunho said, "I am. You must be Changmin's sister."
"Jiyeon, I'm Jiyeon. I've read all of your books."
"Changmin has told me about you," Yunho said. "And I'm flattered."
She smiled and looked so genuinely happy that some of the awkwardness that always came with meeting a fan subsided.
"Can I sit down?" she asked.
Changmin cleared his throat. "This is my studio. You can sit down whenever and wherever you want with my permission, not his."
Jiyeon shot her brother a look and sat down on the couch. "Didn't you say this room is practically his work space now?" Then she turned to Yunho. "I have no idea how you put up with him. I was so happy when he moved out."
Yunho smiled. "I got used to it, but I know what you mean."
"I'll go get you two conspirators something to drink," Changmin said.
"How did you and my brother meet?" Jiyeon asked. "He won't tell me."
Yunho smiled at the memory. "Funny story. My publisher was bugging me about a new author photo. I didn't like the idea, because I don't think I'm very photogenic, but they said it really wasn't good for my image to keep using a ten year old photo. So I went to this place that I knew because I walked past it on my way home that said Photo Studio on the window. I figured it was one of those places you go to get your photo taken for a passport or family reunion."
"And that was this studio?" Jiyeon asked, incredulous. "And my brother didn't kick you out?"
"I wanted to," Changmin said, placing a tray with tea and cookies on the table. "But there was something endearing about this poorly dressed man just barging in here asking me to take his picture with no idea who I was. I think I was tempted to capture that moment on film. And you have to admit he doesn't look too bad...overall."
Jiyeon nodded. "He looks great."
Yunho shifted in his chair. It wasn't so much what Jiyeon said but the way Changmin was looking at him that made him slightly uncomfortable. "I did," he said, "in the pictures Changmin took. I'd never looked so good before in my life. Of course it was afterwards that I found out what a big name he is in the fashion world and I felt appropriately embarrassed."
Changmin laughed. "You never felt embarrassed. You came right back here and talked about how this would be such a great writing environment and then you sat down in that chair and never left."
"That's your version," Yunho said. "In my version we became friends first and you offered me this room as an office."
"Why is this a good spot for writing?" Jiyeon asked. She looked around. "It's just the break room of a small photo studio."
"First of all," Yunho said, sitting up, completely serious. "This is a great chair. It offers exactly the right amount of space and support for my favourite writing position. Secondly, the sounds coming from the studio and dressing room next door are perfect; flashes, props and lights being dragged around, chatting assistants and models. My brain needs that kind of background noise to really focus on a story. And finally, Changmin brings me tea and talks to me when he runs out of inspiration for a shoot. That's just the amount of social interaction I need to keep functioning as a human being while I'm nearing a deadline."
Jiyeon laughed. "You're just as funny in real life as in your books."
"You think I'm only half serious," Yunho said, "so does Changmin, but neither of you have any idea how perfect this spot is." He affectionally stroked the arm of his chair.
"He's right about the deadline part," Changmin said. "He goes all quiet and doesn't eat or sleep. If it weren't for me he'd be dead already. Now, do you want me to take your picture or not? Finish your tea."
"Inspector, there is news about the runway case that I think you'd want to know."
"I always want to know everything," Savez said. "What is it?"
"Mister Kim has received a death threat."
"The model?"
"Yes, sir, he contacted us immediately. This is a copy of the letter he got."
Savez took the paper and studied it. Three words, it was more a note than a letter, really. The letters were cut out of a news paper, no, a magazine, judging by the font and colours. A fashion magazine? The message was simple.
YOU ARE NEXT
"So he's a target, not a suspect? And this could be the reason why people around him died?"
"Seems like it, sir."
"How do we know he didn't fabricate this to throw us off? He knows we suspect him."
"He's asked for protection.. Surely if he were guilty.."
"Either he's innocent or extremely confident we won't find anything. Good. I'll go. I'll stay close, let him think it's for protection, and try to find evidence. If he did it, there has to be something, no matter how confident he is. Just one slip of the tongue could betray him."
Savez didn't usually volunteer to take boring time-consuming jobs like this one. But Maxim intrigued him. As a potential suspect, of course. There was no other reason he wouldn't mind being close to him for a while.
"What are you working on?"
Yunho almost had a heart attack when he heard the sudden voice behind him. Changmin never sneaked up on him like that. Well, he did, but at least he was a little more subtle about it. He quickly closed his laptop.
"I thought you would be in there longer. Changmin is usually quite meticulous about his photos."
"Not with family," Jiyeon said, " and I only need this picture for a resume. It's not like it has to portray the deep emotions embedded in a state of the art watch or a dress...or whatever. But what were you working on?"
"It's a secret," Changmin replied for him. He walked into the room again.
Jiyeon ignored him. "It it the new Crime Over Love? Please tell me it is. Blink once for yes."
Yunho laughed. "Don't tell anyone or I'll get in trouble with my agent, but yes."
Jiyeon cheered and turned to Changmin "Did you hear that? I'll finally get to know what happens to inspector Savez!"
"It will still be a while before it comes out," Yunho warned her. "I've only just started working on the first draft. I'm simultaneously putting the finishing touches on another book. That one is almost ready for print and has priority."
"He says that," Changmin says, "but he'll only start revising when his editor comes out here and makes him. He likes to start on something new before he's finished the old. I've seen them argue over it lots of times."
"Books are never finished," Yunho complained.
"I'm sure I'll love it," Jiyeon said. She sighed happily. "Your books are the fuel of my dreams."
"Thank you," Yunho said, a bit awkwardly and trying not to blush. "Wait," he picked up his notebook from the table and pulled a pen from one of the pockets of his woollen sweater. "Do you mind if I write that down?"
Jiyeon smiled and shook her head. "Not at all. Is that a notebook filled with quotes from fans?"
"It's his idea book," Changmin explained. "When he sees or hears something funny or pretty or sad, he writes it down or describes it so he can use it for inspiration later. I suspect there are quite a few quotes from me in there, though I can't imagine what he would use them for."
"That's awesome," Jiyeon says. "Hey, have you ever based a character on my brother? I don't think.. I think I would have noticed, but.."
Yunho looked up from his notebook and met Changmin's eyes. There was an awkward silence. Jiyeon looked from one to the other. "What did I say? Is this a sensitive subject?"
"He doesn't have my permission to base a character on me," Changmin says. "Technically he does, but there are conditions."
"Like what?" Jiyeon asked.
"The character needs to be relevant, so not the neighbour's gardener who may or may not have witnessed something. And he needs to be wildly attractive, and gay, of course."
"So?" Jiyeon asked, looking at Yunho. "You can't do it because it's impossible to write my brother as someone who's wildly attractive? I feel you. But maybe you could work something out anyway?"
Yunho wanted to laugh, but the look on Changmin's face held him back.
"Not that part," Changmin said. "He doesn't want to write a gay character. Not a main gay character."
Jiyeon's head snapped back to Yunho. "What?" she demanded.
Changmin smirked and took a step back, as if he'd just released a wild beast upon his enemy and prepared to watch from a safe distance.
Yunho raised his hands defensively. "I'm not personally opposed to the idea of a gay character, not at all. But I have built a specific audience over the years and my publisher...my agent.. It's complicated."
Jiyeon was looking at him very differently all of a sudden. Yunho got the feeling he'd just lost a fan. "Are you serious? What age is this?" she asked. Surprisingly, she didn't sound angry. "I understand that it can be scary, but don't you want to stand up for yourself?"
"..excuse me?" Yunho said.
"I mean," Jiyeon continued, "I thought gay authors would be so important to help change the world, especially them, because they know how it feels, and-"
"Wait," Yunho interrupted. "I'm not gay."
"...what?" If the previous revelation had been a shock to her, it was nothing compared to this one. She even looked around at her brother to check if maybe it was a joke.
Changmin only shrugged as if to say 'you said it, don't involve me'.
"Do I really look that gay?" Yunho asked, looking at both of them. "Why do people keep assuming that?"
"Well," Jiyeon said slowly, "I'm sorry. I know this is probably offensive, but I think you come across a lot more gay than my brother. Not that that's difficult. We didn't even believe him when he came out to us, but still..."
"I'm not offended," Yunho said. "I don't mind that people think I'm gay. I'm just...surprised."
"I don't see it either," Changmin suddenly said. "Gay men generally dress better, but look at him. His legs and torso don't even dress for the same season."
"I'm a writer," Yunho said. "I'm supposed to be eccentric. Why don't you dress more like a professional photographer? Don't those usually have really weird quirks like always walking around barefoot or dying their hair multiple colours?"
"Excuse me," Changmin said, "for wanting to look professional and stylish. Not all photographers are former models like me. I have a reputation to uphold."
"Don't fight," Jiyeon said. She turned to Yunho again: "I am disappointed. I understand you can't just suddenly make inspector Savez gay, but why would it be a problem for another important character? I'm sure most people would actually like it. And if it's difficult for you to build a character like that, you can just ask my brother, right?"
"I'll...I'll talk to my agent about it," Yunho said.
She seemed hardly satisfied. But she let it go. "I did wonder why you two were only friends even though my brother thinks you're kind of hot."
Changmin scoffed. "I never said anything of the sort! And it's time for you to go. Yunho and I both have work to do."
Yunho watched as Changmin ushered his sister out of the door. He didn't think it was right to offer her an autograph after disappointing her like that.
Why had she said Changmin thought he was hot? That could obviously not be true. But still he wondered how he'd feel if it were.
He opened his idea book and flipped through the pages he filled during the past month, until he found the quote he was looking for. There was no date, but Yunho remembered the day he'd heard this and decided to write this down as if it was yesterday.
Changmin (drunk): "You know, I would really really like it if you could write me into one of your books someday. I do read them. They're good."
He stared at the lines for a moment. Then he sighed and closed the notebook. He shifted back to his favourite writing position and pulled his laptop onto his lap.
NEXT
Pairing: Yunho/Changmin
Summary: Yunho, a successful novelist, has taken to writing his books in a spare room in his best friend's photo studio. Once he learns that Changmin would like to star in one of those books, that idea quickly begins to lead a life of its own.
NOTE: Does anyone remember that, over a year ago, I made a post in which I asked what I should write next?
Well, I do, and I'm finally doing something with that. I combined all the suggestions and ended up with eight fic ideas. I won't promise I'll actually write all eight of them (or that they'll be good). But I'm going to give this a go, because I really appreciate your supportive messages.
This story is for: changmin_amour, hannacorsino and shunluv
Their combined request was: HoMin, friends to boyfriends, hopefully NC-17, Changmin's love for Yunho's thighs.
I'll post all of the chapters today, so you won't have to wait months for the final one again (how many times has that happened before? too many).
Chapter One
"Why is he a suspect?" detective inspector Bruce Savez picked up the file in front of him and studied the picture in the corner. A uniquely handsome young man stared almost defiantly into the camera, making it quite the opposite of your usual dull-eyed passport photo. Was he wearing make-up as well? They must have taken this from a fashion magazine or something.
"He has a connection to all three of the victims, sir," someone answered his question, someone he had nicknamed Coffee. Coffee had handed him a steaming mug and then put the files on his desk, which was the correct order. Savez would have to learn the names of his new team members, but first he needed them to fill him in on this case. His brain was itching to finally get back to work.
"Didn't you say all three of them worked on the same runway show?" I imagine there were quite a lot of people involved in that."
"True," Coffee said. "But mister Kim was the main model that night, and both the stylist and make-up artist had worked with him on multiple other occasions. The lighting technician only worked at this venue, but two witnesses claim mister Kim had a brief conversation with him before the show."
Savez nodded. He hadn't put the file down yet. A top model? The man certainly looked the part. "That is indeed suspicious, but surely not enough to make him a murder suspect. Those aren't very personal relationships. What about a motive? An alibi?"
"An alibi will be hard. Everyone backstage had access to the water dispenser and cups all through the event. And since there are no witnesses to the adding of the poison, we don't know exactly when it happened. We don't have a motive either...yet."
"We have a suspect without a motive and only a strictly professional relationship to the victims? That's a weak accusation."
"But he was the most suspicious person there, sir."
Savez raised an eyebrow. "How was he suspicious?"
"Well, he wasn't very cooperative during the interview. And most of the background information his agency has on him is false. It seems he's fabricated a life story for himself, sir. Wouldn't that mean he's got something to hide?"
Savez finally put the file down. "We'll see," he said. "Thank you for the coffee."
Yunho paused his typing and looked at the page he'd just written. He was so immersed in the story that the clunk of a mug being set on the table to his right made him jump.
"Tea," Changmin explained curtly.
Yunho gave him a wide smile. "Thank you." He preferred coffee, but according to Changmin tea was a lot healthier.
"You were doing it again," Changmin said.
"What?" Yunho closed his laptop.
"You were writing like you forgot there is a world outside of your fictional universe. Did I ruin your flow?"
"Not at all." Yunho swung his legs back over the arm of the chair so he was sitting like a normal person and picked up the mug. "I was just getting thirsty."
Changmin gave him a look, a look that would certainly make Yunho uncomfortable had he been one of Changmin's models. "You do remember my sister is coming over this afternoon, right?"
"Of course. Why?"
"She's coming for a photo, but I told her you'd be here, so it's going to be mostly about you." Changmin sighed. "Do you have to dress like that every day?"
Yunho looked down. "I love comfortable sweaters and shorts. They're the best combination and it's only a matter of time before your fashion industry catches on."
Changmin sighed again and shook his head. He was great at disagreeing with something most strongly in a nonverbal way. There were a few traits like that which Yunho was sure stemmed from his model days.
"Well," Changmin finally said. "She's a fan. I'm sure she won't mind." He flicked his fringe out of his eyes, another trait.
"You can't tell her what I'm working on," Yunho said. "My agent hates leaks. Nothing against your sister personally, but..."
"Sure," Changmin nodded. "I don't even know what you're writing myself. Is it the next part of your mystery series?"
"Maybe."
"So yes." It was impossible to fool Changmin. Not that Yunho really tried. Changmin wouldn't talk.
"Didn't the guy get demoted at the end of the last one, for sleeping with the chief inspector's ex wife or something?"
"You read it?" Changmin wasn't a big fan of reading.
"My sister told me." Changmin sounded a bit apologetic, which was the reason why Yunho never asked his friends about his books. They could read them if they wanted to. But he couldn't help feeling a little bit curious.
"You discuss my books with your sister?"
"I wouldn't call it that. Sometimes she just starts talking about something and there's no stopping her. I only listen. I think she liked it, if you were wondering. She was worried about what would happen to you after that last one."
"...you mean what would happen to my main character?"
Changmin rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. Stop pretending that inspector guy isn't secretly you."
"It's not me. It's a fictional character."
"Hey, I'm not judging," Changmin said "If I wrote books I'd make myself the hero as well."
Yunho cleared his throat. "Anyway, inspector Savez, who is not my alter ego, did not get demoted. He didn't really do anything wrong. He just pissed off his chief, which was uncomfortable, so he got transferred to a different team."
"Let me guess," Changmin said, "he breaks it off with the ex wife because he hadn't really been in love and he doesn't want to hurt her. Then he takes a moment to wonder if he'll ever find someone to replace the hole in his heart left by his tragic first love, but mainly he focusses on his job again and solves all the impossible cases."
"You know a lot about this series for someone who's never read a book," Yunho said, raising an eyebrow.
Changmin stood up and shrugged it off. "I know you, so it's not that hard. Do you want some more tea?" He walked away without waiting for an answer.
"Hey," Yunho said, raising his voice when Changmin disappeared into the next room. "What's that supposed to mean? It's not an autobiographical character! And I did not have a tragic first love!"
He could hear Changmin laugh from the kitchen and shout: "It was just a guess!"
"So you are the famous Maxim Kim?"
"You sound skeptical."
"I apologise." Inspector Savez held out his hand and introduced himself properly. "I have to admit I'm not familiar with the world of fashion and modelling."
The model looked him up and down, ignoring the offered hand, and gave a derogatory snort. "I can tell."
Savez flicked open his notebook and said: "model with attitude problem" while writing it down.
Maxim ignored it, so Savez moved straight on to the questions. "Do you think the three people who died were targeted, or could they have accidentally drunk from someone else's cup?"
"I don't know. I always bring my own water. I would never take someone else's. And I have no idea what other people do."
Savez tried not to sigh. "What was your relationship with the victims?"
That question seemed to break through the mask that carefully hid Maxim's emotions until now. "Am I a suspect?" he asked, suddenly less confident.
"Everyone who was in that room that night is a possible suspect," Savez said. "I do hope you're taking our investigation seriously. We're quite sure this wasn't an accident. It was murder. Poison was added to specific reusable cups. Three people were murdered."
He carefully observed Maxim's reaction. The man was young and arrogant, but not completely insensitive. There was shock and sadness in his eyes, nothing about him really set off alarm bells in his detective instinct. But, Savez thought bitterly, he had been wrong before.
"Oh my god, Jung Yunho! You're really the Jung Yunho?!"
Yunho looked up from his laptop and then quickly closed it. A young woman stood at the other side of the coffee table, visibly trying to contain her excitement. Changmin stood behind her, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. His look was slightly amused.
"Yes," Yunho said, "I am. You must be Changmin's sister."
"Jiyeon, I'm Jiyeon. I've read all of your books."
"Changmin has told me about you," Yunho said. "And I'm flattered."
She smiled and looked so genuinely happy that some of the awkwardness that always came with meeting a fan subsided.
"Can I sit down?" she asked.
Changmin cleared his throat. "This is my studio. You can sit down whenever and wherever you want with my permission, not his."
Jiyeon shot her brother a look and sat down on the couch. "Didn't you say this room is practically his work space now?" Then she turned to Yunho. "I have no idea how you put up with him. I was so happy when he moved out."
Yunho smiled. "I got used to it, but I know what you mean."
"I'll go get you two conspirators something to drink," Changmin said.
"How did you and my brother meet?" Jiyeon asked. "He won't tell me."
Yunho smiled at the memory. "Funny story. My publisher was bugging me about a new author photo. I didn't like the idea, because I don't think I'm very photogenic, but they said it really wasn't good for my image to keep using a ten year old photo. So I went to this place that I knew because I walked past it on my way home that said Photo Studio on the window. I figured it was one of those places you go to get your photo taken for a passport or family reunion."
"And that was this studio?" Jiyeon asked, incredulous. "And my brother didn't kick you out?"
"I wanted to," Changmin said, placing a tray with tea and cookies on the table. "But there was something endearing about this poorly dressed man just barging in here asking me to take his picture with no idea who I was. I think I was tempted to capture that moment on film. And you have to admit he doesn't look too bad...overall."
Jiyeon nodded. "He looks great."
Yunho shifted in his chair. It wasn't so much what Jiyeon said but the way Changmin was looking at him that made him slightly uncomfortable. "I did," he said, "in the pictures Changmin took. I'd never looked so good before in my life. Of course it was afterwards that I found out what a big name he is in the fashion world and I felt appropriately embarrassed."
Changmin laughed. "You never felt embarrassed. You came right back here and talked about how this would be such a great writing environment and then you sat down in that chair and never left."
"That's your version," Yunho said. "In my version we became friends first and you offered me this room as an office."
"Why is this a good spot for writing?" Jiyeon asked. She looked around. "It's just the break room of a small photo studio."
"First of all," Yunho said, sitting up, completely serious. "This is a great chair. It offers exactly the right amount of space and support for my favourite writing position. Secondly, the sounds coming from the studio and dressing room next door are perfect; flashes, props and lights being dragged around, chatting assistants and models. My brain needs that kind of background noise to really focus on a story. And finally, Changmin brings me tea and talks to me when he runs out of inspiration for a shoot. That's just the amount of social interaction I need to keep functioning as a human being while I'm nearing a deadline."
Jiyeon laughed. "You're just as funny in real life as in your books."
"You think I'm only half serious," Yunho said, "so does Changmin, but neither of you have any idea how perfect this spot is." He affectionally stroked the arm of his chair.
"He's right about the deadline part," Changmin said. "He goes all quiet and doesn't eat or sleep. If it weren't for me he'd be dead already. Now, do you want me to take your picture or not? Finish your tea."
"Inspector, there is news about the runway case that I think you'd want to know."
"I always want to know everything," Savez said. "What is it?"
"Mister Kim has received a death threat."
"The model?"
"Yes, sir, he contacted us immediately. This is a copy of the letter he got."
Savez took the paper and studied it. Three words, it was more a note than a letter, really. The letters were cut out of a news paper, no, a magazine, judging by the font and colours. A fashion magazine? The message was simple.
YOU ARE NEXT
"So he's a target, not a suspect? And this could be the reason why people around him died?"
"Seems like it, sir."
"How do we know he didn't fabricate this to throw us off? He knows we suspect him."
"He's asked for protection.. Surely if he were guilty.."
"Either he's innocent or extremely confident we won't find anything. Good. I'll go. I'll stay close, let him think it's for protection, and try to find evidence. If he did it, there has to be something, no matter how confident he is. Just one slip of the tongue could betray him."
Savez didn't usually volunteer to take boring time-consuming jobs like this one. But Maxim intrigued him. As a potential suspect, of course. There was no other reason he wouldn't mind being close to him for a while.
"What are you working on?"
Yunho almost had a heart attack when he heard the sudden voice behind him. Changmin never sneaked up on him like that. Well, he did, but at least he was a little more subtle about it. He quickly closed his laptop.
"I thought you would be in there longer. Changmin is usually quite meticulous about his photos."
"Not with family," Jiyeon said, " and I only need this picture for a resume. It's not like it has to portray the deep emotions embedded in a state of the art watch or a dress...or whatever. But what were you working on?"
"It's a secret," Changmin replied for him. He walked into the room again.
Jiyeon ignored him. "It it the new Crime Over Love? Please tell me it is. Blink once for yes."
Yunho laughed. "Don't tell anyone or I'll get in trouble with my agent, but yes."
Jiyeon cheered and turned to Changmin "Did you hear that? I'll finally get to know what happens to inspector Savez!"
"It will still be a while before it comes out," Yunho warned her. "I've only just started working on the first draft. I'm simultaneously putting the finishing touches on another book. That one is almost ready for print and has priority."
"He says that," Changmin says, "but he'll only start revising when his editor comes out here and makes him. He likes to start on something new before he's finished the old. I've seen them argue over it lots of times."
"Books are never finished," Yunho complained.
"I'm sure I'll love it," Jiyeon said. She sighed happily. "Your books are the fuel of my dreams."
"Thank you," Yunho said, a bit awkwardly and trying not to blush. "Wait," he picked up his notebook from the table and pulled a pen from one of the pockets of his woollen sweater. "Do you mind if I write that down?"
Jiyeon smiled and shook her head. "Not at all. Is that a notebook filled with quotes from fans?"
"It's his idea book," Changmin explained. "When he sees or hears something funny or pretty or sad, he writes it down or describes it so he can use it for inspiration later. I suspect there are quite a few quotes from me in there, though I can't imagine what he would use them for."
"That's awesome," Jiyeon says. "Hey, have you ever based a character on my brother? I don't think.. I think I would have noticed, but.."
Yunho looked up from his notebook and met Changmin's eyes. There was an awkward silence. Jiyeon looked from one to the other. "What did I say? Is this a sensitive subject?"
"He doesn't have my permission to base a character on me," Changmin says. "Technically he does, but there are conditions."
"Like what?" Jiyeon asked.
"The character needs to be relevant, so not the neighbour's gardener who may or may not have witnessed something. And he needs to be wildly attractive, and gay, of course."
"So?" Jiyeon asked, looking at Yunho. "You can't do it because it's impossible to write my brother as someone who's wildly attractive? I feel you. But maybe you could work something out anyway?"
Yunho wanted to laugh, but the look on Changmin's face held him back.
"Not that part," Changmin said. "He doesn't want to write a gay character. Not a main gay character."
Jiyeon's head snapped back to Yunho. "What?" she demanded.
Changmin smirked and took a step back, as if he'd just released a wild beast upon his enemy and prepared to watch from a safe distance.
Yunho raised his hands defensively. "I'm not personally opposed to the idea of a gay character, not at all. But I have built a specific audience over the years and my publisher...my agent.. It's complicated."
Jiyeon was looking at him very differently all of a sudden. Yunho got the feeling he'd just lost a fan. "Are you serious? What age is this?" she asked. Surprisingly, she didn't sound angry. "I understand that it can be scary, but don't you want to stand up for yourself?"
"..excuse me?" Yunho said.
"I mean," Jiyeon continued, "I thought gay authors would be so important to help change the world, especially them, because they know how it feels, and-"
"Wait," Yunho interrupted. "I'm not gay."
"...what?" If the previous revelation had been a shock to her, it was nothing compared to this one. She even looked around at her brother to check if maybe it was a joke.
Changmin only shrugged as if to say 'you said it, don't involve me'.
"Do I really look that gay?" Yunho asked, looking at both of them. "Why do people keep assuming that?"
"Well," Jiyeon said slowly, "I'm sorry. I know this is probably offensive, but I think you come across a lot more gay than my brother. Not that that's difficult. We didn't even believe him when he came out to us, but still..."
"I'm not offended," Yunho said. "I don't mind that people think I'm gay. I'm just...surprised."
"I don't see it either," Changmin suddenly said. "Gay men generally dress better, but look at him. His legs and torso don't even dress for the same season."
"I'm a writer," Yunho said. "I'm supposed to be eccentric. Why don't you dress more like a professional photographer? Don't those usually have really weird quirks like always walking around barefoot or dying their hair multiple colours?"
"Excuse me," Changmin said, "for wanting to look professional and stylish. Not all photographers are former models like me. I have a reputation to uphold."
"Don't fight," Jiyeon said. She turned to Yunho again: "I am disappointed. I understand you can't just suddenly make inspector Savez gay, but why would it be a problem for another important character? I'm sure most people would actually like it. And if it's difficult for you to build a character like that, you can just ask my brother, right?"
"I'll...I'll talk to my agent about it," Yunho said.
She seemed hardly satisfied. But she let it go. "I did wonder why you two were only friends even though my brother thinks you're kind of hot."
Changmin scoffed. "I never said anything of the sort! And it's time for you to go. Yunho and I both have work to do."
Yunho watched as Changmin ushered his sister out of the door. He didn't think it was right to offer her an autograph after disappointing her like that.
Why had she said Changmin thought he was hot? That could obviously not be true. But still he wondered how he'd feel if it were.
He opened his idea book and flipped through the pages he filled during the past month, until he found the quote he was looking for. There was no date, but Yunho remembered the day he'd heard this and decided to write this down as if it was yesterday.
Changmin (drunk): "You know, I would really really like it if you could write me into one of your books someday. I do read them. They're good."
He stared at the lines for a moment. Then he sighed and closed the notebook. He shifted back to his favourite writing position and pulled his laptop onto his lap.
NEXT