Jonghyun's teaser is just so inspiring.
Happy Trail
“Now with this new concept, you boys will be…”
They were all somewhat tuning out the lead coordinator. Not that they didn’t like her, but over the years, the ‘boys’ of SHINee had learned one thing very quickly. Coordinators are evil and somewhat psychotic. Stay on their good side and you’ll survive. In fact, everyone, even the trainees had learned this after a mouthy Minho had gotten his hair chopped off just prior to Lucifer promotions.
This time, the members had vowed, no matter what, to not disobey the frightening coordinators.
“And Jonghyun, you’re going to have to shave.”
The second oldest blinked in surprise.
“Shave?”
“Yes. For the concept photo,” she glared, pointing at his stomach.
Jonghyun looked at her in shock for a moment before nodding in acceptance. The rest of the meeting went peacefully after that, but the car ride back was anything but.
“French boys?” Minho finally asked incredulously from the back. Kibum shrugged at him, speechless. On his other side, Taemin was relentless crushing the keys of his phone, texting his older brother of the atrocity of getting extensions again.
“At least, you’ll get to eat,” Jinki murmured tiredly, eyes already closed. The youngest three gave their leader a sympathetic look. The coordinator hadn’t been kind when she had ripped into SHINee’s leader for the extra weight he had put on since being injured.
“I’ll make you lots of smoothies, hyung,” Kibum offered, trying to comfort the elder young man. Jinki just smiled before huddling farther into himself. Kibum’s face dropped at the lack of response and he turned to glare at Jonghyun.
The second eldest sighed and nodded at the diva. Carefully, Jonghyun leaned forward to press his lips close to Jinki’s ear.
“Hyung, are you sure you’re okay to come back with us?” he asked carefully.
Jinki blinked at him in surprise before frowning.
“I’m fine Jjong.”
Surprised by the icy response, Jonghyun slumped into his own seat.
--
“Hyung, you’re sulking.”
Jonghyun looked up from his bed at the maknae who was currently using his laptop to twitter-stalk Emma Watson. The older young man sighed and then flipped onto his stomach.
“I’m not sulking. I’m angsting. There’s a difference Taemin-ah.”
Taemin rolled his eyes at that.
“Just go talk to Jinki-hyung already,” the maknae ordered dryly. “I’m sick of him being all someone-killed-my-bunny-face.”
Jonghyun lifted his head from the bed to give Taemin a deadpan look.
“Killed-my-bunny-face? Taemin, how the hell did you graduate high school and I didn’t?”
The maknae just shrugged. “I actually attended class,” he snarked back with a grin.
Jonghyun growled in response as he got off the bed and gave Taemin a noogie. The youngest laughed and punched Jonghyun’s chest, making the older man huff and head for the door in frustration.
“Give him a kiss from me!” Taemin called jokingly as Jonghyun stepped into the hallway.
--
Jonghyun found Jinki in his room, curled up with his laptop. Kicking off his slippers, Jonghyun crawled into the leader’s bed and cuddled up right next to the older man.
“Jjong,” Jinki frowned as he hit pause. “I’m right at the point that Karen finds the necklace.”
Jonghyun stared at the leader for a moment and then sighed, eyes falling to the laptop instead.
“Do you want me to leave?” he whispered quietly.
Jinki rolled onto his opposite hip to face him. For a moment, Jonghyun felt his body struggle to stay still as the leader just stared at him. Finally, Jinki reached forward and threw an arm around Jonghyun’s shoulders, letting the younger man bury his face into Jinki’s shoulder.
“I’m just stressed,” Jinki confessed against Jonghyun’s hair.
Jonghyun nodded in response.
“Are you mad at me about the concept?”
Jinki froze and Jonghyun detached from him, ready to leave the bed. Before he could go, Jinki grabbed his wrist and pulled him down.
“No. Jonghyun, I’m not mad at you,” he reassured before ducking his head and blushing. “I didn’t mean to make you think that. I just don’t like the concept.” Jinki then looked back and matched eyes with Jonghyun. “And I like your hair right where it is.”
Jonghyun blushed at the frank response and ducked his head.
“I’ll leave you to Karen and Harry,” he whispered before fleeing out the door.
--
“Jonghyun, what is that?!”
The screech of the coordinator had the members looking at their lead singer in surprise as he stepped onto the set. His photos had been scheduled first and so the rest had decided to sit back and relax.
But the rage emanating from the coordinator had them ready to rush Jonghyun. Minho was already out of his chair while Kibum had grabbed Taemin’s hand to keep him from saying anything when Jinki gasped.
Standing in the middle of the set, Jonghyun shrugged at the enraged woman who glaring at the trail of hair still visible on his stomach.
“I forgot,” he replied, one hand scratching the back of his neck. “I mean, it’s not that big of deal. Can’t you guys just edit it out with Photoshop or something?”
The youngest three stared at Jonghyun in horror as he replied with flippancy. The woman seemed to steam in rage for a moment before their manager stepped in and pulled her away, whispering furiously. The members sat in shock as Jonghyun walked over to them calmly, taking Taemin’s banana milk and draining it.
It was Kibum who first found his voice. “You’re insane. She’s going to kill you.”
Jonghyun shrugged.
“I talked to Gyeongshik-hyung and he agreed to help me.”
That had them dumbfounded until Minho started chuckling, grabbing Taemin and Kibum by their arms.
“Come on. Let’s go,” he commanded as he dragged them away, Taemin protesting that he didn’t have his cell phone.
Jonghyun stared at them for a few moments before facing Jinki uneasily.
“Kibum’s right,” the leader deadpanned at him before breaking out into a warm smile. “Thank you.”
Jonghyun blushed and grinned.
Jinki reached forward and slid his palm over Jonghyun’s stomach, brushing the dark hair.
“They named this aptly,” he murmured before shooting Jonghyun a teasing smirk. “It really does make me happy.”
--
A/N: I saw some complaints like "SM, why couldn't you show all of Jonghyun?/ Where are the abs?/You show us the skinny boys' stomach, but not the muscular guy's?" and a light bulb went off in my head.
Seriously, I am willing to forgive SM for no abs show as long as that happy trail is right where it's supposed to be. :P
I swear, I'm working--kinda struggling--prostinating--crying--working on Hunters. My muse just doesn't want to help me. T.T