better, best
Title: better, best
Fandom: Super Junior
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Yesung, KRY, Sungmin/Ryeowook
Notes: birthday fic for EJ &hearts :D
i.
It’s six am and Kyuhyun and Yesung are on the highway to Byeonsan beach, short on sleep and visibly Ryeowook-less. Suffice to say, Kyuhyun is not happy at all. Neither is Yesung, but Kyuhyun could care less.
In retrospect, Kyuhyun should have recognized the warning signs. Ryeowook shifted a little too much in his seat and couldn’t loosen his grip on his pen when he asked Kyuhyun to come with him to the beach over the weekend, just to take pictures. Beside Ryeowook, Yesung had scowled and weaseled his way into Ryeowook’s good graces, saying, why are you inviting him and not me, Ryeowookie, and Ryeowook was just so unassuming and so imploring that Kyuhyun didn’t have the heart to say no.
“This is the worst vacation ever,” Kyuhyun informs Yesung, and Yesung doesn’t deign to even look at him, too busy paying attention to the highway, “is he still not calling back?”
“I don’t know,” Yesung says, reproachfully, “I don’t make it a habit to drive and check my phone at the same time.”
Kyuhyun thinks of how Yesung had screamed into his phone (screamed -- at Ryeowook) when Ryeowook calmly explained that no, he wouldn’t come with them, and yes, he would be with Sungmin in his apartment, alone, and if Yesung even thought about turning around…
Kyuhyun doesn’t know what he himself would have done. By then, Yesung had gone a little white in the face and spluttered even as Ryeowook cheerfully said goodbye and put the phone down. The thought of having to restrain Yesung from committing murder isn’t too far off, but Kyuhyun has to reconsider that it’s Ryeowook, so Yesung would probably channel all of his irritation at Sungmin, instead.
The bastard must have planned it, Kyuhyun thinks, tracing Ryeowook’s name into the window, and the letters stay imprinted for hour.
The bastard should be grateful Kyuhyun loves him too much to bear grudges.
ii.
"I'll kill him," Kyuhyun says, fingers curling into a fist.
Yesung bops him on the back of his head with as much force as he could afford to use without Kyuhyun complaining. "Unpack first, then plan Sungmin's death later," Yesung says, going through his pockets for the key Ryeowook gave him.
"I don't have signal," Kyuhyun says, dangerously, "why." He moves around the patio, even going so far as to where the soil ends and the sand begins, but it’s a fruitless search.
"There's no wifi either," Yesung says as he opens the door and makes his way inside, just to spite Kyuhyun.
"This is the worst vacation ever," Kyuhyun repeats, stuffing his phone inside his pocket, deeming it useless, and follows Yesung inside.
The den is all hardwood floors and angora carpeting. There aren’t any furnishings other than the couches and the coffee tables, but there’s a electric fireplace and a flat screen TV. Yesung whistles appreciatively, and Kyuhyun’s not surprised if he’s wondering how many women Sungmin’s brought to this place, if he even brought women along. Ryeowook, maybe, once, or twice, and they might have curled up on the carpeted floor and Sungmin could have mouthed kisses along Ryeowook’s hip, champagne on the table, no lights on save for the artificial lighting from the fireplace, Ryeowook’s fingers grappling for purchase as Sungmin --
"I’m sure there are other ways to pass the time," Yesung says, putting his bag down on the sofa, jolting Kyuhyun out of his thoughts. Kyuhyun bites his tongue to check himself, and he collapses on the larger couch, facedown.
"Like what?" Kyuhyun's voice comes out of the pillow he's attempting to suffocate himself with. It sounds despairing -- music to Yesung's ears.
"Well, I could drown you in the beach,” Yesung says, taking a seat beside Kyuhyun and patting his head in mock consolation, “but that would be my idea of fun, not yours."
"You're a riot," Kyuhyun deadpans.
"I do my best," Yesung says, modestly, and Kyuhyun laughs, short, stilted, layers and layers of disappointment hidden in the inflection of his tone.
ii.
They spend the first night alternating between semi-cheerful banter and periods of sulky silence. More of the latter, actually, and by the next morning, Yesung’s still in a snit and Kyuhyun is more tired than annoyed. Suddenly, responding seems like an unwanted chore, now.
"This is all your fault," Yesung says, glaring at every passerby in the more populated area of the beach. Kyuhyun makes an affronted noise but doesn't move to push the magazine Yesung whacks over his face to emphasize his point, "speak clearly, you idiot, what kind of voice major are you?"
The kind that actually has a voice Ryeowook wants to listen to everyday, Kyuhyun wants to retort, but it's a little too low, even for him. He can grant Yesung some small measure of mercy. "It's not as if I can leave," Kyuhyun groans, "you know how Ryeowook is."
And Yesung does. Ryeowook doesn't get angry often; he just seems to fold in on himself and radiate disappointment in waves. The last time Kyuhyun and Ryeowook fought, Kyuhyun had ended up feeling guiltier than he should have felt, considering it was Ryeowook who ate the last cup of yogurt in Kyuhyun’s fridge without even asking. Kyuhyun hopes he’s gotten the knack of making people feel as sorry for him as Ryeowook does, but he’ll probably never be as good at it.
He shoves the magazine back to Yesung, feeling light-headed and nauseous.
"Don't touch me," Yesung gripes, "it's too hot and sticky and--"
"I'm sunburnt," Kyuhyun mutters, rolling onto his stomach on the mat they’d spread out, “put some sunblock on my back.”
“Sure, just as long as I can lodge this down your throat later,” Yesung says, but obeys, anyway, more out of boredom than a genuine concern for Kyuhyun’s welfare.
You're gentler than you make it seem, Kyuhyun wants to say, but shuts his mouth and lets himself revel in the soft pads of Yesung's fingers smearing lotion all over his skin.
"I like you best when you're quiet," Kyuhyun says, smiling, and promptly falls asleep.
iii.
Yesung wakes him up by pressing a bottle of juice fresh from the cooler on his thigh, and Kyuhyun looks up, sleepy and disoriented.
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to fall asleep on the beach?” Yesung says, rolling his eyes, and Kyuhyun yawns and stretches.
"She taught me not to talk to strange men with unusual hobbies," Kyuhyun says, staring at the ceiling in an effort to conceal his own eye rolling.
"You don't do a lot of talking with your own kind, then," Yesung says, gravely, passing the bottle to Kyuhyun.
"Speak for yourself," Kyuhyun mutters under his breath, if only to have the last word. Never mind that Yesung can't hear it, what with his phone suddenly ringing at - Kyuhyun checks his cellphone - four in the afternoon.
“Hello?” Yesung says, and his smile suddenly turns strained as he listens to the other speaker.
“Who is it?” Kyuhyun asks, and Yesung shakes his head, putting the call on speakerphone.
“Hyung? Hello? Are you still mad?” Ryeowook says into the phone, a hurried jumble of words that Kyuhyun’s still hazy mind struggles to process.
I’m not talking to him, Yesung mouths, still clearly angry at Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun nods, waiting for the next stream of Ryeowook’s explanations.
“Are you listening to me?” Ryeowook continues, starting to falter, “or did you just press answer and leave the phone on the floor?”
“Ryeowook-ah,” Sungmin’s voice, this time, and both Yesung and Kyuhyun stiffen, “stop hovering over your phone and come back to play.” Kyuhyun makes a move to grab at the phone, but Yesung’s faster.
“Did Sungmin put you up to this?” Yesung growls, looking like he’s itching to punch someone in the face, just to start a fight.
"I'm sorry, this is all my fault, he didn’t do anything," Ryeowook says, sounding like he's near tears, and Yesung shuts his eyes, willing his voice away.
"Wait. What?" Kyuhyun demands, yanking the phone away from Yesung.
"It was my idea," Ryeowook admits, "I only got Sungmin-hyung to lend me his parents' beach house."
Yesung decides that it’s enough, and presses ‘end call’ before Kyuhyun can get another word in.
iv.
That night Kyuhyun dreams of Sungmin pressing lazy kisses along Ryeowook’s cheeks, fingers fumbling with the buttons of Ryeowook’s shirt. It starts, as all dreams do, in the middle of everything, without explanation for how they got to Kyuhyun’s bed in his own room in Seoul, or why they’re even about to do it, and it doesn’t occur to Kyuhyun to ask why Sungmin suddenly turns to Yesung and Ryeowook makes a keening noise in his throat, hiding his face in the hollow of Yesung’s neck. When he reaches up to kiss Yesung, it’s Kyuhyun, now, and Ryeowook’s gone.
Kyuhyun shoots up, panting and looking half-crazed.
"Bad dream?" Yesung says, sleepily, from the other bed. Kyuhyun stares at Yesung's tongue as it peeks out of his mouth to run over Yesung's lower lip, thinks of futility and empty release and what it would feel like to explore the possibility of having more, and when he speaks, his throat is dry.
"It was a nightmare," Kyuhyun says, honestly, "I dreamt of you."
Yesung throws him his alarm clock in retaliation.
v.
Two days after Ryeowook’s last phone call, Yesung finds a liquor store in town and goes all out.
They drink in the patio, staring at passing fishermen’s boats in between small talk, and Kyuhyun thinks this is perfectly domestic, in a quaint sort of way. Yesung, on the other hand, can ruin perfectly normal, perfectly safe situations when he runs his mouth.
"The whole point of drinking is that you release your inhibitions," Yesung says sternly as he looks on at Kyuhyun’s slow sips at his own beer, a contrast to Yesung’s more generous swigs, “is this why your alcohol tolerance is so high?”
"You plagiarized that from a song," Kyuhyun says, sounding vaguely put off.
"Stop veering away from the topic," Yesung yells, waving his can of beer in the air. Some of its contents hit Kyuhyun's cheek. It isn't very amusing to both parties, "you're too tense around me!"
How could I not be when you're wearing that shirt, Kyuhyun thinks, shutting his eyes as if to expel the image of Yesung's exposed collarbones from his mind. It doesn't work.
"You know," Kyuhyun says, tightening his hold on his drink, "it's hard to take you seriously when you're like this."
"I could say the same for you," Yesung scoffs, and there’s a brief silence as Yesung stares into his drink, as if looking for answers in all the wrong places. Kyuhyun gives him the reprieve to go through his muddled thoughts, if only to distract the wandering of his own eyes.
"I know you like Ryeowook," Yesung finally says. It sounds like he’s struggling with something inside himself.
"I know you like him too," Kyuhyun nods, staring at him and not quite comprehending what Yesung’s getting at
"So what happens now?" Yesung says, folding his arms over his chest and looking away, "neither of us are inclined to give up, but Ryeowook doesn't seem to -- he doesn't..."
Oh. Kyuhyun knows that look of frustration all too well. He's used it several times now. Ryeowook's never good for his heart, that boy.
"Understand?" Kyuhyun supplies helpfully. Yesung laughs, only a sharp, short bark.
"Notice, more like."
"Ah," Kyuhyun nods.
It’s times like these that Kyuhyun thinks he could be a little in love with Yesung, when Yesung looks so unsure of himself and there’s none of his usual bravado. It’s always the insecure ones, Kyuhyun thinks, tracing the rim of his beer can with a shaking finger, and he blames it on the isolation and the alcohol when he inches closer and presses his lips to Yesung’s jaw.
"About that other way to pass the time..." Kyuhyun says, boldly, and Yesung kisses him.
He thinks this is the saddest kiss he’s ever had, Yesung mouth pliant and warm but still holding back, and Kyuhyun’s fingers curling into Yesung’s hair with a desperation that comes from months of investing in unrequited affection. There’s no flirtation or coyness in the slide of Yesung’s tongue across Kyuhyun’s lower lip, or the tentative press of Yesung’s fingers to Kyuhyun’s jaw. When he pulls back, Yesung smiles, a bit strained.
"I'm not really drunk," Yesung says. Kyuhyun stands up, and when he steps out of the patio, Yesung follows him.
It isn’t just sand in the beaches. Sediments aren’t as small as that. The pebbles under his feet sting. He tries not to think of how much it hurts. It is of no consequence. Skin can heal. Hearts, maybe, after some time. Would Yesung be able to cope, he wonders.
The difference between Yesung and Kyuhyun is that he doesn't believe in things like broken hearts, doesn't think that there's something infinite in loving Ryeowook, even if Kyuhyun would rather die than admit that much. Yesung, on the other hand, believes in it wholeheartedly.
"I know," Kyuhyun says, finally, "I'm not Ryeowook. I'm not -- I can't --"
Yesung leans his head against Kyuhyun’s shoulder, fists the hem of Kyuhyun’s shirt in his hand and smiles. "I never thought of you as Ryeowook."
vi.
When they arrive in Seoul, Ryeowook’s slumped in front of Yesung’s doorstep, looking nervous and positively repentant.
“Get up,” Yesung says, sighing and holding his hand out. Ryeowook takes it, gratefully, “I’m not angry.”
“He isn’t, really,” Kyuhyun says, opening the door to Yesung’s apartment as Ryeowook envelopes Yesung in a properly apologetic hug, “he’s been practicing this speech since this morning.
"Cheeky bastard," Yesung says affectionately, and Ryeowook beams, looking proud of them.
"See, I knew this was a good idea," Ryeowook says, "wait, why are you locking the door?"
Kyuhyun and Yesung don't let him protest for the rest of the night.
omake:
one
The best way to keep Yesung and Kyuhyun in check is to deprive them of attention. Ryeowook says that, but Sungmin thinks it’s a load of bullshit to begin with, since Yesung and Kyuhyun already act like they’re always starving for attention in the first place.
“I’m training them with love,” Ryeowook says, “so they’d visit me more.”
“Love?” Sungmin repeats. More like cruelty, he thinks.
“Just watch,” Ryeowook says, and Sungmin looks on, unimpressed, as Ryeowook punches in Yesung’s home number into Sungmin’s phone.
“I’m at Sungmin’s, hyung,” Ryeowook says cheerfully into the phone, “I probably won’t be back by tomorrow, so if you and Kyuhyun could make dinner for yourselves, that would be wonderful.”
Sungmin hears the first stream of Yesung’s indignant squawks of I’M COMING OVER RIGHT NOW before Ryeowook primly puts the phone down. "You're a devious asshole when you want to be," Sungmin says, mouth agape. "that's kind of hot."
"See you tomorrow, Sungmin," Ryeowook says, calmly shutting the door in Sungmin's face before he can think of propositioning him in broad daylight.
two
"Suppose Ryeowook went along," Kyuhyun says, keeping his tone perfectly neutral, "would you even bother to talk to me?"
"No," Yesung says honestly, "I'd poison you before you could even get in the car."
"I could say the same for you," Kyuhyun sighs, "but thank you for that rare show of sincerity."
"You never shut up," Yesung whispers, snaking an arm around Kyuhyun's neck and pulling him in for a kiss.
Fandom: Super Junior
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Yesung, KRY, Sungmin/Ryeowook
Notes: birthday fic for EJ &hearts :D
i.
It’s six am and Kyuhyun and Yesung are on the highway to Byeonsan beach, short on sleep and visibly Ryeowook-less. Suffice to say, Kyuhyun is not happy at all. Neither is Yesung, but Kyuhyun could care less.
In retrospect, Kyuhyun should have recognized the warning signs. Ryeowook shifted a little too much in his seat and couldn’t loosen his grip on his pen when he asked Kyuhyun to come with him to the beach over the weekend, just to take pictures. Beside Ryeowook, Yesung had scowled and weaseled his way into Ryeowook’s good graces, saying, why are you inviting him and not me, Ryeowookie, and Ryeowook was just so unassuming and so imploring that Kyuhyun didn’t have the heart to say no.
“This is the worst vacation ever,” Kyuhyun informs Yesung, and Yesung doesn’t deign to even look at him, too busy paying attention to the highway, “is he still not calling back?”
“I don’t know,” Yesung says, reproachfully, “I don’t make it a habit to drive and check my phone at the same time.”
Kyuhyun thinks of how Yesung had screamed into his phone (screamed -- at Ryeowook) when Ryeowook calmly explained that no, he wouldn’t come with them, and yes, he would be with Sungmin in his apartment, alone, and if Yesung even thought about turning around…
Kyuhyun doesn’t know what he himself would have done. By then, Yesung had gone a little white in the face and spluttered even as Ryeowook cheerfully said goodbye and put the phone down. The thought of having to restrain Yesung from committing murder isn’t too far off, but Kyuhyun has to reconsider that it’s Ryeowook, so Yesung would probably channel all of his irritation at Sungmin, instead.
The bastard must have planned it, Kyuhyun thinks, tracing Ryeowook’s name into the window, and the letters stay imprinted for hour.
The bastard should be grateful Kyuhyun loves him too much to bear grudges.
ii.
"I'll kill him," Kyuhyun says, fingers curling into a fist.
Yesung bops him on the back of his head with as much force as he could afford to use without Kyuhyun complaining. "Unpack first, then plan Sungmin's death later," Yesung says, going through his pockets for the key Ryeowook gave him.
"I don't have signal," Kyuhyun says, dangerously, "why." He moves around the patio, even going so far as to where the soil ends and the sand begins, but it’s a fruitless search.
"There's no wifi either," Yesung says as he opens the door and makes his way inside, just to spite Kyuhyun.
"This is the worst vacation ever," Kyuhyun repeats, stuffing his phone inside his pocket, deeming it useless, and follows Yesung inside.
The den is all hardwood floors and angora carpeting. There aren’t any furnishings other than the couches and the coffee tables, but there’s a electric fireplace and a flat screen TV. Yesung whistles appreciatively, and Kyuhyun’s not surprised if he’s wondering how many women Sungmin’s brought to this place, if he even brought women along. Ryeowook, maybe, once, or twice, and they might have curled up on the carpeted floor and Sungmin could have mouthed kisses along Ryeowook’s hip, champagne on the table, no lights on save for the artificial lighting from the fireplace, Ryeowook’s fingers grappling for purchase as Sungmin --
"I’m sure there are other ways to pass the time," Yesung says, putting his bag down on the sofa, jolting Kyuhyun out of his thoughts. Kyuhyun bites his tongue to check himself, and he collapses on the larger couch, facedown.
"Like what?" Kyuhyun's voice comes out of the pillow he's attempting to suffocate himself with. It sounds despairing -- music to Yesung's ears.
"Well, I could drown you in the beach,” Yesung says, taking a seat beside Kyuhyun and patting his head in mock consolation, “but that would be my idea of fun, not yours."
"You're a riot," Kyuhyun deadpans.
"I do my best," Yesung says, modestly, and Kyuhyun laughs, short, stilted, layers and layers of disappointment hidden in the inflection of his tone.
ii.
They spend the first night alternating between semi-cheerful banter and periods of sulky silence. More of the latter, actually, and by the next morning, Yesung’s still in a snit and Kyuhyun is more tired than annoyed. Suddenly, responding seems like an unwanted chore, now.
"This is all your fault," Yesung says, glaring at every passerby in the more populated area of the beach. Kyuhyun makes an affronted noise but doesn't move to push the magazine Yesung whacks over his face to emphasize his point, "speak clearly, you idiot, what kind of voice major are you?"
The kind that actually has a voice Ryeowook wants to listen to everyday, Kyuhyun wants to retort, but it's a little too low, even for him. He can grant Yesung some small measure of mercy. "It's not as if I can leave," Kyuhyun groans, "you know how Ryeowook is."
And Yesung does. Ryeowook doesn't get angry often; he just seems to fold in on himself and radiate disappointment in waves. The last time Kyuhyun and Ryeowook fought, Kyuhyun had ended up feeling guiltier than he should have felt, considering it was Ryeowook who ate the last cup of yogurt in Kyuhyun’s fridge without even asking. Kyuhyun hopes he’s gotten the knack of making people feel as sorry for him as Ryeowook does, but he’ll probably never be as good at it.
He shoves the magazine back to Yesung, feeling light-headed and nauseous.
"Don't touch me," Yesung gripes, "it's too hot and sticky and--"
"I'm sunburnt," Kyuhyun mutters, rolling onto his stomach on the mat they’d spread out, “put some sunblock on my back.”
“Sure, just as long as I can lodge this down your throat later,” Yesung says, but obeys, anyway, more out of boredom than a genuine concern for Kyuhyun’s welfare.
You're gentler than you make it seem, Kyuhyun wants to say, but shuts his mouth and lets himself revel in the soft pads of Yesung's fingers smearing lotion all over his skin.
"I like you best when you're quiet," Kyuhyun says, smiling, and promptly falls asleep.
iii.
Yesung wakes him up by pressing a bottle of juice fresh from the cooler on his thigh, and Kyuhyun looks up, sleepy and disoriented.
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to fall asleep on the beach?” Yesung says, rolling his eyes, and Kyuhyun yawns and stretches.
"She taught me not to talk to strange men with unusual hobbies," Kyuhyun says, staring at the ceiling in an effort to conceal his own eye rolling.
"You don't do a lot of talking with your own kind, then," Yesung says, gravely, passing the bottle to Kyuhyun.
"Speak for yourself," Kyuhyun mutters under his breath, if only to have the last word. Never mind that Yesung can't hear it, what with his phone suddenly ringing at - Kyuhyun checks his cellphone - four in the afternoon.
“Hello?” Yesung says, and his smile suddenly turns strained as he listens to the other speaker.
“Who is it?” Kyuhyun asks, and Yesung shakes his head, putting the call on speakerphone.
“Hyung? Hello? Are you still mad?” Ryeowook says into the phone, a hurried jumble of words that Kyuhyun’s still hazy mind struggles to process.
I’m not talking to him, Yesung mouths, still clearly angry at Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun nods, waiting for the next stream of Ryeowook’s explanations.
“Are you listening to me?” Ryeowook continues, starting to falter, “or did you just press answer and leave the phone on the floor?”
“Ryeowook-ah,” Sungmin’s voice, this time, and both Yesung and Kyuhyun stiffen, “stop hovering over your phone and come back to play.” Kyuhyun makes a move to grab at the phone, but Yesung’s faster.
“Did Sungmin put you up to this?” Yesung growls, looking like he’s itching to punch someone in the face, just to start a fight.
"I'm sorry, this is all my fault, he didn’t do anything," Ryeowook says, sounding like he's near tears, and Yesung shuts his eyes, willing his voice away.
"Wait. What?" Kyuhyun demands, yanking the phone away from Yesung.
"It was my idea," Ryeowook admits, "I only got Sungmin-hyung to lend me his parents' beach house."
Yesung decides that it’s enough, and presses ‘end call’ before Kyuhyun can get another word in.
iv.
That night Kyuhyun dreams of Sungmin pressing lazy kisses along Ryeowook’s cheeks, fingers fumbling with the buttons of Ryeowook’s shirt. It starts, as all dreams do, in the middle of everything, without explanation for how they got to Kyuhyun’s bed in his own room in Seoul, or why they’re even about to do it, and it doesn’t occur to Kyuhyun to ask why Sungmin suddenly turns to Yesung and Ryeowook makes a keening noise in his throat, hiding his face in the hollow of Yesung’s neck. When he reaches up to kiss Yesung, it’s Kyuhyun, now, and Ryeowook’s gone.
Kyuhyun shoots up, panting and looking half-crazed.
"Bad dream?" Yesung says, sleepily, from the other bed. Kyuhyun stares at Yesung's tongue as it peeks out of his mouth to run over Yesung's lower lip, thinks of futility and empty release and what it would feel like to explore the possibility of having more, and when he speaks, his throat is dry.
"It was a nightmare," Kyuhyun says, honestly, "I dreamt of you."
Yesung throws him his alarm clock in retaliation.
v.
Two days after Ryeowook’s last phone call, Yesung finds a liquor store in town and goes all out.
They drink in the patio, staring at passing fishermen’s boats in between small talk, and Kyuhyun thinks this is perfectly domestic, in a quaint sort of way. Yesung, on the other hand, can ruin perfectly normal, perfectly safe situations when he runs his mouth.
"The whole point of drinking is that you release your inhibitions," Yesung says sternly as he looks on at Kyuhyun’s slow sips at his own beer, a contrast to Yesung’s more generous swigs, “is this why your alcohol tolerance is so high?”
"You plagiarized that from a song," Kyuhyun says, sounding vaguely put off.
"Stop veering away from the topic," Yesung yells, waving his can of beer in the air. Some of its contents hit Kyuhyun's cheek. It isn't very amusing to both parties, "you're too tense around me!"
How could I not be when you're wearing that shirt, Kyuhyun thinks, shutting his eyes as if to expel the image of Yesung's exposed collarbones from his mind. It doesn't work.
"You know," Kyuhyun says, tightening his hold on his drink, "it's hard to take you seriously when you're like this."
"I could say the same for you," Yesung scoffs, and there’s a brief silence as Yesung stares into his drink, as if looking for answers in all the wrong places. Kyuhyun gives him the reprieve to go through his muddled thoughts, if only to distract the wandering of his own eyes.
"I know you like Ryeowook," Yesung finally says. It sounds like he’s struggling with something inside himself.
"I know you like him too," Kyuhyun nods, staring at him and not quite comprehending what Yesung’s getting at
"So what happens now?" Yesung says, folding his arms over his chest and looking away, "neither of us are inclined to give up, but Ryeowook doesn't seem to -- he doesn't..."
Oh. Kyuhyun knows that look of frustration all too well. He's used it several times now. Ryeowook's never good for his heart, that boy.
"Understand?" Kyuhyun supplies helpfully. Yesung laughs, only a sharp, short bark.
"Notice, more like."
"Ah," Kyuhyun nods.
It’s times like these that Kyuhyun thinks he could be a little in love with Yesung, when Yesung looks so unsure of himself and there’s none of his usual bravado. It’s always the insecure ones, Kyuhyun thinks, tracing the rim of his beer can with a shaking finger, and he blames it on the isolation and the alcohol when he inches closer and presses his lips to Yesung’s jaw.
"About that other way to pass the time..." Kyuhyun says, boldly, and Yesung kisses him.
He thinks this is the saddest kiss he’s ever had, Yesung mouth pliant and warm but still holding back, and Kyuhyun’s fingers curling into Yesung’s hair with a desperation that comes from months of investing in unrequited affection. There’s no flirtation or coyness in the slide of Yesung’s tongue across Kyuhyun’s lower lip, or the tentative press of Yesung’s fingers to Kyuhyun’s jaw. When he pulls back, Yesung smiles, a bit strained.
"I'm not really drunk," Yesung says. Kyuhyun stands up, and when he steps out of the patio, Yesung follows him.
It isn’t just sand in the beaches. Sediments aren’t as small as that. The pebbles under his feet sting. He tries not to think of how much it hurts. It is of no consequence. Skin can heal. Hearts, maybe, after some time. Would Yesung be able to cope, he wonders.
The difference between Yesung and Kyuhyun is that he doesn't believe in things like broken hearts, doesn't think that there's something infinite in loving Ryeowook, even if Kyuhyun would rather die than admit that much. Yesung, on the other hand, believes in it wholeheartedly.
"I know," Kyuhyun says, finally, "I'm not Ryeowook. I'm not -- I can't --"
Yesung leans his head against Kyuhyun’s shoulder, fists the hem of Kyuhyun’s shirt in his hand and smiles. "I never thought of you as Ryeowook."
vi.
When they arrive in Seoul, Ryeowook’s slumped in front of Yesung’s doorstep, looking nervous and positively repentant.
“Get up,” Yesung says, sighing and holding his hand out. Ryeowook takes it, gratefully, “I’m not angry.”
“He isn’t, really,” Kyuhyun says, opening the door to Yesung’s apartment as Ryeowook envelopes Yesung in a properly apologetic hug, “he’s been practicing this speech since this morning.
"Cheeky bastard," Yesung says affectionately, and Ryeowook beams, looking proud of them.
"See, I knew this was a good idea," Ryeowook says, "wait, why are you locking the door?"
Kyuhyun and Yesung don't let him protest for the rest of the night.
omake:
one
The best way to keep Yesung and Kyuhyun in check is to deprive them of attention. Ryeowook says that, but Sungmin thinks it’s a load of bullshit to begin with, since Yesung and Kyuhyun already act like they’re always starving for attention in the first place.
“I’m training them with love,” Ryeowook says, “so they’d visit me more.”
“Love?” Sungmin repeats. More like cruelty, he thinks.
“Just watch,” Ryeowook says, and Sungmin looks on, unimpressed, as Ryeowook punches in Yesung’s home number into Sungmin’s phone.
“I’m at Sungmin’s, hyung,” Ryeowook says cheerfully into the phone, “I probably won’t be back by tomorrow, so if you and Kyuhyun could make dinner for yourselves, that would be wonderful.”
Sungmin hears the first stream of Yesung’s indignant squawks of I’M COMING OVER RIGHT NOW before Ryeowook primly puts the phone down. "You're a devious asshole when you want to be," Sungmin says, mouth agape. "that's kind of hot."
"See you tomorrow, Sungmin," Ryeowook says, calmly shutting the door in Sungmin's face before he can think of propositioning him in broad daylight.
two
"Suppose Ryeowook went along," Kyuhyun says, keeping his tone perfectly neutral, "would you even bother to talk to me?"
"No," Yesung says honestly, "I'd poison you before you could even get in the car."
"I could say the same for you," Kyuhyun sighs, "but thank you for that rare show of sincerity."
"You never shut up," Yesung whispers, snaking an arm around Kyuhyun's neck and pulling him in for a kiss.