° One More Medicated Peaceful Moment, JunSeung
One More Medicated Peaceful Moment (2/?)
BEAST ° eventual JunSeung, one-sided DooSeung
pg13 ° au ° 1991words ° not mine, not even a little bit
if you spend your days longing for things you can never have, you'll miss the ones you can
an: guess I'm continuing this. must be a good sign
Hyunseung stares across Junhyung's coffee table, his attention completely held by his neighbor's best friend's antics. What had started out as a simple game of Monopoly had escalated into something far closer to drunken charades. In fact, Monopoly wasn't even involved anymore, unless you counted Yoseob's use of the fake money when he decided prizes were necessary. Hyunseung still doesn't understand how someone as aloof as Junhyung can stand to be around someone as bubbly as Yoseob for very long without trying to kill him just to get a little peace and quiet.
He stands from his seat on the couch, gathering their discarded dishes and empty glasses to carry them out to Junhyung's kitchen and place them in the sink. He glances out into the living room again before turning the sink on to wash them, too, when he sees that Yoseob is still in the middle of trying to get Junhyung to guess what he's acting out. In the two short weeks since Junhyung first invited him into his apartment, Hyunseung has spent nearly every evening there, and Junhyung's best friend was about as important to the experience as the loud music was. Loud music always does the trick. Yoseob has never asked why the music had to be so loud, but Hyunseung kind of figured Junhyung had already explained it to him.
Doojoon doesn't seem to care. He hasn't even spoken to Hyunseung in four days. Not that he's counting.
Hyunseung's hands still in the warm water of the sink as his mind starts to wander, not even noticing when some of the noise in the other room stops.
"What did I tell you was the first rule of hanging out over here?" Junhyung's voice startles him, making him drop the cup he was holding.
"What?"
"Rule number one."
"Oh um..." Hyunseung starts, trying to think.
"No thinking about The Jerk," Junhyung reminds him as he moves over, nudging his neighbor in the side so he can take his place and finish the dishes.
"I wasn't..." Hyunseung begins, shaking his head, then stops as he moves away as directed. "Don't call him that."
"Let me know when he stops acting like one. I'll consider calling him something else."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
"Hey!" Yoseob interrupts, running into the room and only stopping when Hyunseung reaches out to prevent the other from running right into Junhyung. "I'm done going to the bathroom."
"Good for you," Junhyung replies with a short laugh, setting the dishes aside to dry. "Did you remember to wash your hands?"
"I'm drunk, not five," Yoseob mutters, turning to face Hyunseung fully when Junhyung scoffs. "You should invite the loud one over."
"What?" Hyunseung asks.
"The Jerk," Junhyung corrects, laughing to himself again.
"Junhyung..." Hyunseung starts.
"No, Doojoon," Yoseob points out, raising an eyebrow at Hyunseung.
"Huh?"
Junhyung simply laughs again before shutting the water off and turning from the sink to face the other two. "I think that's a great idea."
"We're not inviting him," Hyunseung replies quickly.
"Why not?"
"Because. Because..."
Yoseob groans and rolls his eyes. "I thought you said he was your best friend."
"He is," Hyunseung answers quickly.
"It's decided, then," Junhyung announces, a little louder than his usual tone due to the alcohol he'd already consumed.
"No. Absolutely not," Hyunseung insists, stepping between Junhyung and the doorway, though unknowingly leaving the opportunity open to Yoseob. "Why do you want him over here anyway? You won't even call him by his real name. I don't think he'll like it if you keep calling him The Jerk."
"I know his name."
"Then use it," Hyunseung spits out, folding his arms over his chest. He was used to Junhyung being a bastard, but Doojoon wouldn't put up with it.
"Why are you so riled up tonight, sweetheart?" Junhyung teases, reaching out to push at Hyunseung's shoulder playfully. "Probably because you won't drink anything."
"I don't need to be drunk to have a good time," Hyunseung explains after a sigh, choosing to ignore Junhyung's term of endearment.
"Neither do I, but I do it anyway."
"It really is no wonder why you're single," Hyunseung points out, shaking his head.
"What are you talking about?" Junhyung asks, pretending to be offended, though the sham cracks in moments. "Besides, like you're one to judge."
Hyunseung sighs again, looking over to where he'd last seen Yoseob, only to jerk upright when he sees that he's not there anymore. He turns quickly when he hears the front door open, rushing to the doorway just in time to see Yoseob leading Doojoon into the apartment. He winces, turning back into the kitchen and moving over to the fridge to get out of the doorway.
"Thinking you might need that drink after all?"
Hyunseung glares at Junhyung when he hears him laugh, but he's already grabbing a few beers out of the fridge.
"Bring one for The Jerk, too," Junhyung suggests, though he lowers his voice so only Hyunseung can hear him. "Just in case Yoseob can't keep his mouth shut, we'll want your boyfriend nice and loose so nobody gets punched."
"Junhyung, I swear," Hyunseung starts, raising his voice as he tries to decide whether or not he's going to hit his neighbor with one of the bottles in his hands.
"Whoa, what did I miss?" Yoseob's voice cuts in from the doorway.
Hyunseung flinches, nearly dropping the bottles when he realizes that Doojoon is standing right there, too.
"Seungie..." his best friend starts, glancing around at the others in the room. "You don't drink."
Hyunseung doesn't have to look at Junhyung to know that the other's eyebrows have disappeared into his hairline at the nickname, but he sends him a warning glare, anyway.
"It must be the company I've been keeping," Hyunseung forces out past clenched teeth, though he's smiling as he does so.
"I was wondering where you'd been hiding," Doojoon admits, leaning against the doorway comfortably.
"You should have asked."
"I guess it really wasn't any of my business," Doojoon replies, then reaches out to take one of the bottles from his friend.
"I thought you guys were best friends," Yoseob comments, taking the other bottle from Hyunseung who simply sighs at the loss of his beverages.
"We are," Doojoon agrees with a nod. "Do you tell your best friend about the people you date?"
"His name was Kikwang, wasn't it?" Junhyung asks Yoseob, who nods in agreement.
"We're not..." Hyunseung starts, but hesitates once he feels everyone's gaze on him. "Dating. If that's what you're thinking."
"Then why are you over here every night?" Doojoon asks with a grin.
"I have other friends," Hyunseung answers, though his voice is so low that he's not even sure anyone else even heard him until Junhyung clears his throat and moves toward the doorway, trying to usher all of his guests back out into the living room. It takes a few moments for Hyunseung to respond, as well, and when he finally forces himself to follow, he finds that the only seat left available is to Junhyung's right on the couch. He notes that it's the furthest seat from where Doojoon is seated. He knows Junhyung did it on purpose.
Yoseob is up and jumping around again by the time Hyunseung sits down. "These two really suck at charades," he informs Doojoon, who is nearly half done with his beer already.
"Thanks," Junhyung replies, offering his best friend a grin.
"You can be on my team," Yoseob continues, tugging on Doojoon's sleeve.
"Yeah," Doojoon starts, giving the younger man a once-over, an act that doesn't go unnoticed by the others in the room. "Sure."
"How about we do something else," Junhyung suggests after glancing over at Hyunseung.
"Like what? Your ideas are always boring," Yoseob mutters before throwing himself down in his chair dramatically.
"We can watch a movie."
"Boring."
"Hey, you brought one over-"
"I said boring," Yoseob snaps, but immediately smiles when he realizes everyone is looking at him. "I don't want to watch that right now."
"You want to get drunk and pass out on the floor," Hyunseung adds with a small smile of his own.
"Drunk, yes. Pass out, no," Yoseob corrects before finishing his drink in a few final gulps. "But you two are so boring that I'm being forced to drag strangers into it."
"Then why don't you leave," Junhyung suggests, impatience growing in his voice.
"Maybe I will."
"Maybe you should."
"Fine, but I'm taking Doojoon," Yoseob announces, jumping up again and grabbing Doojoon's sleeve to pull him toward the door. Doojoon doesn't fight it. Hyunseung doesn't expect him to.
"But-" Hyunseung starts, rising to his feet, as well, when Doojoon turns back to wave goodbye.
"Let them go," Junhyung growls, folding his arms over his chest.
Hyunseung follows them to the door, anyway, trying to convince either of them to stay. He doesn't know why he's even trying. He hadn't wanted Doojoon to come over, and Yoseob is far too loud sometimes, but he already knew what Doojoon was planning based completely on the short exchange in the living room, and he couldn't let Yoseob get hurt like that. He stands in the open doorway long after they disappear from the building, trying to figure out some other way to prevent it, only turning when he hears Junhyung sigh.
"In or out."
Hyunseung looks over his shoulder at Junhyung. "What?"
"You're letting the heat out. Either get inside or go home."
Hyunseung hesitates before returning to his friend's living room, closing the door firmly as he steps forward. "You shouldn't have let them go."
"Why? So we could sit here watching Yoseob throw himself at your boyfriend while you cry over your broken heart and don't participate? Sounds like a party."
"You knew what he was doing? Junhyung..." Hyunseung sighs, taking another step closer. "You know how Doojoon is."
"So you've stopped denying that you're in love with him."
Hyunseung closes his eyes, forcing himself to keep calm. "That's not what I'm talking about. Stop changing the subject. Yoseob is your best friend."
"The Jerk is yours."
"What?"
"Your best friend."
"And we both know how he is. Call Yoseob. Tell him to come back."
"I'm not calling him."
"Then I will." Hyunseung doesn't get halfway through the number before Junhyung knocks it out of his hand. "What is wrong with you?"
"Let it go. Yoseob can take care of himself. Just trust me."
Hyunseung sighs again as he watches Junhyung return to the couch and settle back into his seat. He doesn't trust Doojoon, and he doesn't trust that Yoseob really can take care of himself, but there isn't anything he can do, short of running after them. He doesn't move for a while, opting to stand at the end of the couch, deep in thought, until he feels a sharp jab to his thigh. He looks down to find Junhyung with his leg extended, foot poised to jab him again if need be.
"Come on," Junhyung starts, pushing back to make room on the couch. "We can watch this stupid movie and wait until The Jerk comes back, a broken and rejected man."
"What do you mean?"
"I told you. Yoseob can handle himself."
Hyunseung hesitates before moving to sit on the couch beside his friend. He waits as Junhyung sets up the movie and hits play before finally relaxing into the cushions.
"He's your friend, too, you know," Junhyung announces after the movie starts.
"What?"
"Yoseob. You don't think he'd really try to steal The Jerk from you, right?"
It takes a few moments for Hyunseung to respond, and when he does, it's in the form of a rather painful punch to Junhyung's shoulder. "Don't call him that," he mutters as he settles back again. "Bastard," he adds after a moment, causing Junhyung to flash that unsettling grin and laugh to himself as he tries to make any sense of the movie.
BEAST ° eventual JunSeung, one-sided DooSeung
pg13 ° au ° 1991words ° not mine, not even a little bit
if you spend your days longing for things you can never have, you'll miss the ones you can
an: guess I'm continuing this. must be a good sign
Hyunseung stares across Junhyung's coffee table, his attention completely held by his neighbor's best friend's antics. What had started out as a simple game of Monopoly had escalated into something far closer to drunken charades. In fact, Monopoly wasn't even involved anymore, unless you counted Yoseob's use of the fake money when he decided prizes were necessary. Hyunseung still doesn't understand how someone as aloof as Junhyung can stand to be around someone as bubbly as Yoseob for very long without trying to kill him just to get a little peace and quiet.
He stands from his seat on the couch, gathering their discarded dishes and empty glasses to carry them out to Junhyung's kitchen and place them in the sink. He glances out into the living room again before turning the sink on to wash them, too, when he sees that Yoseob is still in the middle of trying to get Junhyung to guess what he's acting out. In the two short weeks since Junhyung first invited him into his apartment, Hyunseung has spent nearly every evening there, and Junhyung's best friend was about as important to the experience as the loud music was. Loud music always does the trick. Yoseob has never asked why the music had to be so loud, but Hyunseung kind of figured Junhyung had already explained it to him.
Doojoon doesn't seem to care. He hasn't even spoken to Hyunseung in four days. Not that he's counting.
Hyunseung's hands still in the warm water of the sink as his mind starts to wander, not even noticing when some of the noise in the other room stops.
"What did I tell you was the first rule of hanging out over here?" Junhyung's voice startles him, making him drop the cup he was holding.
"What?"
"Rule number one."
"Oh um..." Hyunseung starts, trying to think.
"No thinking about The Jerk," Junhyung reminds him as he moves over, nudging his neighbor in the side so he can take his place and finish the dishes.
"I wasn't..." Hyunseung begins, shaking his head, then stops as he moves away as directed. "Don't call him that."
"Let me know when he stops acting like one. I'll consider calling him something else."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
"Hey!" Yoseob interrupts, running into the room and only stopping when Hyunseung reaches out to prevent the other from running right into Junhyung. "I'm done going to the bathroom."
"Good for you," Junhyung replies with a short laugh, setting the dishes aside to dry. "Did you remember to wash your hands?"
"I'm drunk, not five," Yoseob mutters, turning to face Hyunseung fully when Junhyung scoffs. "You should invite the loud one over."
"What?" Hyunseung asks.
"The Jerk," Junhyung corrects, laughing to himself again.
"Junhyung..." Hyunseung starts.
"No, Doojoon," Yoseob points out, raising an eyebrow at Hyunseung.
"Huh?"
Junhyung simply laughs again before shutting the water off and turning from the sink to face the other two. "I think that's a great idea."
"We're not inviting him," Hyunseung replies quickly.
"Why not?"
"Because. Because..."
Yoseob groans and rolls his eyes. "I thought you said he was your best friend."
"He is," Hyunseung answers quickly.
"It's decided, then," Junhyung announces, a little louder than his usual tone due to the alcohol he'd already consumed.
"No. Absolutely not," Hyunseung insists, stepping between Junhyung and the doorway, though unknowingly leaving the opportunity open to Yoseob. "Why do you want him over here anyway? You won't even call him by his real name. I don't think he'll like it if you keep calling him The Jerk."
"I know his name."
"Then use it," Hyunseung spits out, folding his arms over his chest. He was used to Junhyung being a bastard, but Doojoon wouldn't put up with it.
"Why are you so riled up tonight, sweetheart?" Junhyung teases, reaching out to push at Hyunseung's shoulder playfully. "Probably because you won't drink anything."
"I don't need to be drunk to have a good time," Hyunseung explains after a sigh, choosing to ignore Junhyung's term of endearment.
"Neither do I, but I do it anyway."
"It really is no wonder why you're single," Hyunseung points out, shaking his head.
"What are you talking about?" Junhyung asks, pretending to be offended, though the sham cracks in moments. "Besides, like you're one to judge."
Hyunseung sighs again, looking over to where he'd last seen Yoseob, only to jerk upright when he sees that he's not there anymore. He turns quickly when he hears the front door open, rushing to the doorway just in time to see Yoseob leading Doojoon into the apartment. He winces, turning back into the kitchen and moving over to the fridge to get out of the doorway.
"Thinking you might need that drink after all?"
Hyunseung glares at Junhyung when he hears him laugh, but he's already grabbing a few beers out of the fridge.
"Bring one for The Jerk, too," Junhyung suggests, though he lowers his voice so only Hyunseung can hear him. "Just in case Yoseob can't keep his mouth shut, we'll want your boyfriend nice and loose so nobody gets punched."
"Junhyung, I swear," Hyunseung starts, raising his voice as he tries to decide whether or not he's going to hit his neighbor with one of the bottles in his hands.
"Whoa, what did I miss?" Yoseob's voice cuts in from the doorway.
Hyunseung flinches, nearly dropping the bottles when he realizes that Doojoon is standing right there, too.
"Seungie..." his best friend starts, glancing around at the others in the room. "You don't drink."
Hyunseung doesn't have to look at Junhyung to know that the other's eyebrows have disappeared into his hairline at the nickname, but he sends him a warning glare, anyway.
"It must be the company I've been keeping," Hyunseung forces out past clenched teeth, though he's smiling as he does so.
"I was wondering where you'd been hiding," Doojoon admits, leaning against the doorway comfortably.
"You should have asked."
"I guess it really wasn't any of my business," Doojoon replies, then reaches out to take one of the bottles from his friend.
"I thought you guys were best friends," Yoseob comments, taking the other bottle from Hyunseung who simply sighs at the loss of his beverages.
"We are," Doojoon agrees with a nod. "Do you tell your best friend about the people you date?"
"His name was Kikwang, wasn't it?" Junhyung asks Yoseob, who nods in agreement.
"We're not..." Hyunseung starts, but hesitates once he feels everyone's gaze on him. "Dating. If that's what you're thinking."
"Then why are you over here every night?" Doojoon asks with a grin.
"I have other friends," Hyunseung answers, though his voice is so low that he's not even sure anyone else even heard him until Junhyung clears his throat and moves toward the doorway, trying to usher all of his guests back out into the living room. It takes a few moments for Hyunseung to respond, as well, and when he finally forces himself to follow, he finds that the only seat left available is to Junhyung's right on the couch. He notes that it's the furthest seat from where Doojoon is seated. He knows Junhyung did it on purpose.
Yoseob is up and jumping around again by the time Hyunseung sits down. "These two really suck at charades," he informs Doojoon, who is nearly half done with his beer already.
"Thanks," Junhyung replies, offering his best friend a grin.
"You can be on my team," Yoseob continues, tugging on Doojoon's sleeve.
"Yeah," Doojoon starts, giving the younger man a once-over, an act that doesn't go unnoticed by the others in the room. "Sure."
"How about we do something else," Junhyung suggests after glancing over at Hyunseung.
"Like what? Your ideas are always boring," Yoseob mutters before throwing himself down in his chair dramatically.
"We can watch a movie."
"Boring."
"Hey, you brought one over-"
"I said boring," Yoseob snaps, but immediately smiles when he realizes everyone is looking at him. "I don't want to watch that right now."
"You want to get drunk and pass out on the floor," Hyunseung adds with a small smile of his own.
"Drunk, yes. Pass out, no," Yoseob corrects before finishing his drink in a few final gulps. "But you two are so boring that I'm being forced to drag strangers into it."
"Then why don't you leave," Junhyung suggests, impatience growing in his voice.
"Maybe I will."
"Maybe you should."
"Fine, but I'm taking Doojoon," Yoseob announces, jumping up again and grabbing Doojoon's sleeve to pull him toward the door. Doojoon doesn't fight it. Hyunseung doesn't expect him to.
"But-" Hyunseung starts, rising to his feet, as well, when Doojoon turns back to wave goodbye.
"Let them go," Junhyung growls, folding his arms over his chest.
Hyunseung follows them to the door, anyway, trying to convince either of them to stay. He doesn't know why he's even trying. He hadn't wanted Doojoon to come over, and Yoseob is far too loud sometimes, but he already knew what Doojoon was planning based completely on the short exchange in the living room, and he couldn't let Yoseob get hurt like that. He stands in the open doorway long after they disappear from the building, trying to figure out some other way to prevent it, only turning when he hears Junhyung sigh.
"In or out."
Hyunseung looks over his shoulder at Junhyung. "What?"
"You're letting the heat out. Either get inside or go home."
Hyunseung hesitates before returning to his friend's living room, closing the door firmly as he steps forward. "You shouldn't have let them go."
"Why? So we could sit here watching Yoseob throw himself at your boyfriend while you cry over your broken heart and don't participate? Sounds like a party."
"You knew what he was doing? Junhyung..." Hyunseung sighs, taking another step closer. "You know how Doojoon is."
"So you've stopped denying that you're in love with him."
Hyunseung closes his eyes, forcing himself to keep calm. "That's not what I'm talking about. Stop changing the subject. Yoseob is your best friend."
"The Jerk is yours."
"What?"
"Your best friend."
"And we both know how he is. Call Yoseob. Tell him to come back."
"I'm not calling him."
"Then I will." Hyunseung doesn't get halfway through the number before Junhyung knocks it out of his hand. "What is wrong with you?"
"Let it go. Yoseob can take care of himself. Just trust me."
Hyunseung sighs again as he watches Junhyung return to the couch and settle back into his seat. He doesn't trust Doojoon, and he doesn't trust that Yoseob really can take care of himself, but there isn't anything he can do, short of running after them. He doesn't move for a while, opting to stand at the end of the couch, deep in thought, until he feels a sharp jab to his thigh. He looks down to find Junhyung with his leg extended, foot poised to jab him again if need be.
"Come on," Junhyung starts, pushing back to make room on the couch. "We can watch this stupid movie and wait until The Jerk comes back, a broken and rejected man."
"What do you mean?"
"I told you. Yoseob can handle himself."
Hyunseung hesitates before moving to sit on the couch beside his friend. He waits as Junhyung sets up the movie and hits play before finally relaxing into the cushions.
"He's your friend, too, you know," Junhyung announces after the movie starts.
"What?"
"Yoseob. You don't think he'd really try to steal The Jerk from you, right?"
It takes a few moments for Hyunseung to respond, and when he does, it's in the form of a rather painful punch to Junhyung's shoulder. "Don't call him that," he mutters as he settles back again. "Bastard," he adds after a moment, causing Junhyung to flash that unsettling grin and laugh to himself as he tries to make any sense of the movie.