Windfall (3) ; Nichkhun/Wooyoung
Title: Windfall (3)
Rating: PG-13 to R
Fandom: 2PM
Pairing(s): Nichkhun/Wooyoung
Word count: 11320 (total)
Disclaimer: This is only fiction.
Windfall: III
It's Tuesday night, after a variety show recording and dinner with Wooyoung, when Nichkhun finds a tube of lubricant and box of condoms sitting innocently Wooyoung's bedside table, hidden from view by a photo frame.
Nichkhun picks up the lubricant and turns to Wooyoung, who's sprawled on the bed, staring at the screen of his laptop. "Wooyoung," he says. "When did you get this?"
Wooyoung looks up and when he sees what Nichkhun is holding, he lets out something akin to a squeak. "Oh my God," he scrambles to put his laptop down, lunges across the bed and snatches the tube from Nichkhun's hand. "I haven't been with anyone else, I swear," he says, and he's staring intently at Nichkhun's face, seemingly terrified that Nichkhun has gotten the wrong idea.
Nichkhun looks from the tube of lube in Wooyoung's hands to Wooyoung's face and then at the box of condoms on the table. "I know you haven't," he says and he stares at the tube of lube in Wooyoung's hands. "It's just," he continues. "I didn't think you - "
"It doesn't mean anything!" Wooyoung raises his voice. "You don't have to feel like you have to - or anything like that - it was just in case," he says, and Nichkhun watches with mild amusement as Wooyoung flushes a deep red.
"I had no idea that you'd thought about this," Nichkhun says. "I thought it was just me."
Wooyoung studies him for a while, his gaze raking Nichkhun from top to toe and he finally meets Nichkhun's eyes with a slightly exasperated expression on his face. "So are you going to come over now?" Wooyoung demands, and it's an invitation.
Nichkhun's heart is pounding as he tackles Wooyoung onto the bed. He wrestles the tube of lubricant from Wooyoung's grip. He bites Wooyoung's ear playfully, grabbing his wrists and pinning them to the bed.
"Fuck you," Wooyoung growls, struggling against Nichkhun.
"No, the other way round," Nichkhun says and he smiles.
Wooyoung goes still and Nichkhun pulls away. "Did you change your mind?" he asks worriedly. "Because it's okay if you don't want to."
Wooyoung stares at the ceiling. "It's going to hurt, isn't it?"
"I think so," Nichkhun says hesitantly. "Let's just not," he decides, rolling off Wooyoung.
He is interrupted when Wooyoung leans over and kisses him, his hands moving to unbuckle Nichkhun's pants clumsily. "Just know that if it sucks, we're never doing it, ever again," Wooyoung whispers. He reaches over, plucks the box of condoms from the table and throws it at Nichkhun's face.
When he guides himself into Wooyoung, slowly and carefully, Wooyoung winces, pain flickering into his eyes. "Oh fucking hell," Wooyoung says, his fingers knotting themselves in Nichkhun's hair. "Ouch."
"I'm sorry," Nichkhun pants, rocking forward slowly. He closes his eyes and tries to regulate his breathing, when he opens his eyes again, Wooyoung has tears running down his face and he can't seem to speak.
"Should I stop?" Nichkhun asks desperately.
Wooyoung shakes his head. "No, it's okay, I'm fine," he says, and manages to hold this pretence together for all of five seconds before he gives up and leans forward to bite Nichkhun hard on the shoulder, hard enough to leave an angry mark. "It's not fair if I hurt alone," he says. "Now, just do it."
Nichkhun's thoughts are fragmenting into nonsense, but he forces himself to angle every thrust differently, watching Wooyoung's face for a reaction. He's sweating, the perspiration sliding down his back and chest.
Nichkhun knows he's finally got it right when Wooyoung's eyes widen and his jaw slackens. "Oh," he says breathlessly.
"Yes? No?" Nichkhun mimics the previous movement anxiously.
"Yes," Wooyoung says, his grip tightening on Nichkhun's arms. "Oh my God."
It is over embarrassingly fast for Nichkhun, and Wooyoung yelps in agony when he pulls out. "Ouch, ouch, ouch," Wooyoung chants, and he watches Nichkhun drop the used condom into the bin.
"It'll be better next time?" Nichkhun tries, resting a hand on Wooyoung's knee. "Anyway, I'll make up for it," he says, and before Wooyoung can ask how, he leans over and licks a long tantalizing stripe from Wooyoung's collarbone to his navel. Then, he looks up and flashes Wooyoung a wicked smile, promising good things to come.
Nichkhun wakes up to his cellphone vibrating on the table. He reluctantly reaches over, presses the phone to his face and answers the call. "What?" he grunts.
Next to him, Wooyoung is curled up into a ball, fast asleep. Nichkhun's hands move of their own accord to touch Wooyoung's face gently.
"Khun." It's Jaebum.
"What?" Nichkhun repeats, throwing a hand across his eyes to block out the sunlight streaming in from the window.
"You haven't seen it, have you?" Jaebum sounds too serious, and this makes Nichkhun sits up.
"Seen what?" Nichkhun says warily.
"It's not good," Jaebum says. "I think you need to see the newspapers now. Or, wait, a computer? Do you have a computer with you now?"
Nichkhun gets onto his feet and remembers seeing a laptop sitting on the table in the living room. He walks out to check if he's right. "Yes, I do," he says, sitting down on the sofa and moving the laptop onto his lap. "What? Jaebum, just get to the point."
"Just switch the computer on, and check your email," Jaebum says and ends the call.
Nichkhun hesitates, wondering if he should wake Wooyoung up and ask for permission to use the computer. It's still early in the morning and he decides to let Wooyoung sleep in. He turns on the computer, and waits for it start up.
When he checks his email, he finds that there are three new messages in his inbox. The most recent one is from Jaebum, sent barely a minute ago, and it contains nothing but a link to an entertainment news website which Nichkhun was well acquainted with. He clicks on it.
The page opens up and Nichkhun nearly drops the laptop. His heart pounding, he clutches tightly onto the side of the laptop to keep it from falling, staring at the headlines of the website. With shaking hands, he clicks on the gigantic words screaming Nichkhun and his gay lover?
He skips the paragraph of words, scrolling down until he sees the photographs. Photographs taken of them the previous evening, probably after dinner. Nichkhun can't barely think straight.
The first one, Wooyoung pulling Nichkhun against him, one arm circled around Nichkhun's waist, their faces bent close together. In the second one, Nichkhun is leaning against Wooyoung, Wooyoung's face pressed against Nichkhun's neck, their faces hidden from view. The last one, probably the most incriminating of all the photos, makes Nichkhun's stomach start to throb in pain. In the photograph, Wooyoung has one hand up Nichkhun's shirt, sliding against the skin of his back, and his mouth grazing the side of Nichkhun's jaw.
Nichkhun recalls that brief moment which neither of them expected to be witnessed by someone else. It could not have been more than a few seconds, but someone had caught it, captured the essence of the moment in three snapshots. The quality of the pictures were low, probably taken using a phone. It could be anyone.
"You're up."
Nichkhun twists around and sees Wooyoung standing behind him, blinking the sleep from his eyes.
"I borrowed your laptop, there's an emergency," Nichkhun says, his tongue feeling like lead in his mouth.
Wooyoung moves next to him and Nichkhun can pin down the exact moment where Wooyoung sees the photographs, because everything about him changes. The sparks in his eyes go out, his jaw clenches and the colour drains from his face. "Oh God," he says. "How did this happen?"
"I don't know," Nichkhun says. He closes his eyes and collects himself. "I have to go now," he says, handing the laptop to Wooyoung. "I need to go back to the company, we need to do something. Why? Why - it's only two months since the previous - I - screw this." He looks miserable and it breaks Wooyoung's heart a little.
Before Nichkhun leaves, he kisses Wooyoung goodbye - it could be his imagination, but it's as though Wooyoung's grip on him is tighter than it has ever been before. He pulls Wooyoung closer, hoping he understands the silent don't worry, I'm never letting you go.
This scandal is worse than the previous scandal, because first of all, Jang Wooyoung is a boy. And secondly, those photographs are painfully intimate in a way that just cannot be brushed off as displays of friendship.
Wooyoung turns on the television, worry gnawing away at him. He has to wait a few minutes, but eventually it happens. The photographs flash onto the screen, and the anchorwoman speaks rapidly, speculating who this mysterious boy pressed up against Nichkhun could possibly be, and Wooyoung feels a headache form between his eyes.
"Nichkhun's management has released an official statement, two days after these photographs have been released. Apparently, Nichkhun was pounced on by an overly excited male fan, and was too stunned to react for a few moments. This was when the photographs were taken. Nichkhun's management asserts that such assaults are common, and are not to be taken seriously. The issue is currently being resolved between - "
The remote control falls from Wooyoung's hand and hits the floor with a loud clatter.
Wooyoung's phone rings. He pulls it out of his pocket and answers. "Hello," he says blankly.
"Jang Wooyoung? This is Nichkhun's manager. I need you to - "
"I'll do it," Wooyoung says, leaning backwards and staring at the ceiling. "Just tell me how and when."
"You did all of this without my permission," Nichkhun says, staring down at the various new reports about an official statement denying the rumours. "Why?"
"There was no other choice," his manager says. "What else could we have done?"
"A rabid male fan? A rabid - " Nichkhun reads from one of the particularly large headlines and nearly chokes on his anger. "What? Couldn't you have just said that we were drunk and not rational? What do you mean there is no other choice? Why would you - did you - what if he - "
His manager ignores him, picks up the remote control on the table and switches the television on. "It should be showing about now," he says under his breath.
"What?" Nichkhun snaps. "More reports? Look, I don't want to see - "
His manager turns the volume up, and Nichkhun glances at the screen irritably. "The identity of the mysterious male photographed with the increasingly popular pop star, Nichkhun, has been confirmed as of today to be 20 year old Jang Wooyoung. When approached by the media, Mr. Jang was initially reluctant to talk, but eventually admitted to assaulting Nichkhun."
Nichkhun feels his heart fall into his stomach. A shaky camera swings upwards to show Wooyoung's pale anxious face.
"I was too excited," Wooyoung says, his voice trembling and unsure. He backs away from the reporters around him, visibly shaken. "I have already apologized to him for my hasty and thoughtless actions and his management company has been kind enough to overlook this incident. Please do not continue the rumours any longer, I am just a fan." He looks desperately into the camera. "Please - " And then he is cut off.
"After this statement from Mr. Jang, it seems that the previous gay and relationship rumours have been shattered, although there is no doubt that Nichkhun's reputation has taken a hit, but perhaps the dent can be repaired quickly, especially with - "
His manager turns the television off, and looks satisfied. "He did well," he says in approval.
"What did you do?" Nichkhun asks, staring at the blank television screen and only seeing the terrified look on Wooyoung's face. "What did you do?" He turns to look at his manager and picks up the closest thing on the desk - one of those disgusting articles - and throws it at the older man. "You just screwed everything up," Nichkhun says, his voice cracking. "You can't do this. I won't let you."
Please, Wooyoung begs, his voice ringing in Nichkhun's head. Please what? Nichkhun wonders, what exactly did Wooyoung say that they had cut off? Please stop. Please let me off. Please let me go. Please let us be.
Nichkhun heads straight for Wooyoung's apartment, and rejects all seven calls from his manager until he's tired of it and turns his phone off. He bangs on Wooyoung's door, and he is almost about to give up when the door parts slightly.
Wooyoung peers out cautiously. "Who is it?"
"Me," Nichkhun says, pushing the door open quickly, in case Wooyoung refuses to let him in. He shoves his way into the apartment, closing the door behind him. "Listen to me," he says firmly. "I only knew about everything today. I can't believe it - why did you - how could they - "
"I said I'd do it," Wooyoung says. "It's for the best."
"You should never have gotten involved," Nichkhun says. "If I had my way, I'd have - " Protected you. Loved you better. Given you what you deserve.
Wooyoung smiles, shaky but reassuring. "It was a little scary, but it fixed everything, didn't it?"
"Did it?" Nichkhun says, trying for a smile. "Really?"
"Do you think maybe - "
"Don't say it," Nichkhun says desperately, reaching forward and fisting his hands into the front of Wooyoung's shirt. "Please don't break up with me."
Wooyoung looks torn between surprise and exasperation. "I wasn't going to break up with you," he says in a strangled voice.
"Oh," Nichkhun says, feeling a little foolish. He loosens his fists from Wooyoung's shirt, his hands falling limply to his sides.
"In fact, I wasn't aware that we were together or anything of the sort," Wooyoung continues.
"What?" Nichkhun says.
"I mean, we can't be anything more than this, right?" Wooyoung says. "Why should we be anything more than this?"
"What are you talking about?" Nichkhun says.
Wooyoung tilts his head sideways. "I haven't been naive enough to fantasize about us making it to happily ever after, you know. You don't have to worry about breaking my heart. When the time comes, just tell me and I'll - "
"What are you talking about?" Nichkhun repeats. "When what time comes?"
"We can't stay like this forever, can we?" Wooyoung asks.
"You're crazy," Nichkhun says. "You're out of your mind. Why are you talking about such things? Let's just drop this topic, okay, it's ridiculous and we're never going to talk about this ever again."
"No," Wooyoung says, raising his voice. "Listen to me."
Nichkhun snaps his mouth shut in surprise.
"Look, this is how things are," Wooyoung says slowly. "You earn in one month what I earn in, what, a year? People on the street know your name. You appear on television, in magazines, and you have a bloody big fan club, of which I am a fucking member of. I am a waiter in a café who may never amount to anything. I will never be good enough for you. Never. Do you understand?"
"No, you don't understand," Nichkhun says, starting to feel angry. "I can't walk down the street without wearing gigantic sunglasses and a cap. And even so, I get recognized. I can't take you on normal dates. I can't hold your hand in public. My Korean is awful and my working hours are all over the place. I am terrified of not being able to make you happy, so you are the one who needs to know what you are getting into."
Wooyoung gapes at him.
"So, do you understand now?" Nichkhun says quietly. He tips Wooyoung's chin upwards, like a child carefully unwrapping a precious gift, and kisses him until he goes soft in Nichkhun's arms.
"I want you," Nichkhun murmurs into the kiss. "I want you." In the back of his mind, he wonders when exactly he turned into such a romantic sap, and he can't help but think that if Jaebum knew, he'd never hear the end of this.
Usually it takes a little longer than two weeks for a scandal like this to die down, but one week later, some actor is exposed to have gotten a girl half his age pregnant, and Nichkhun's scandal is brushed aside, more or less.
It's still a pain, because Nichkhun can't be seen in public with Wooyoung. There's always a possibility of being recognized even when he's disguised.
Instead, they have to settle for meeting at Wooyoung's apartment - not Nichkhun's, because that's too dangerous and someone might spot them. They'd make love, fall asleep with their limbs tangled together, watch television, and cook simple meals. It nearly always ends up with the two of them sitting with a pot of ramyeon between them, passing the lid to one another and slurping noodles off it. It's either ramyeon or kimchi fried rice, anything more complicated than that would probably end up disastrous.
A Wednesday, one of the rare times Nichkhun's schedules ends in the evening, he goes grocery shopping and carries the bags to Wooyoung's apartment.
"What're you doing?" Wooyoung asks, staring at the bulging shopping bags, looking amused.
"I'm going to cook you something fancy," Nichkhun says smugly. He goes into the kitchen, unpacks the shopping bags, and chases Wooyoung out, insisting that he doesn't need any help.
Wooyoung sits in the living room, looking worriedly in the direction of the kitchen door whenever there's a particularly loud noise. Five minutes later, Nichkhun calls for help because he can't find the can opener.
Wooyoung goes in to get the can opener for him, but they end up kissing, Wooyoung's back against the refrigerator, and Nichkhun dropping the can opener absently onto the top of the microwave. Whatever Nichkhun wanted to cook never got completed.
An hour later, Wooyoung puts all the food away, and Nichkhun boils water for ramyeon, the two of them standing side by side, kicking at each other with their bare feet.
Wooyoung does not realize how deeply Nichkhun has rooted himself into his heart until he goes through the entire day at work glancing at the entrance every few minutes, expecting Nichkhun to appear any moment. Then, he belatedly remembers that Nichkhun has gone to Thailand and he won't be coming.
Wooyoung goes home feeling a little lost. It's the weekend tomorrow, he realises, and he doesn't know what to do with himself.
He wakes up the next morning and decides to spend the day cleaning up his apartment. He starts with his bedroom first, then the kitchen and finally, the living room. The living room is the worst of the lot. Everything is every where - there are clothes under the sofa, and sweet wrappers on the floor and magazines strewn around.
Wooyoung attacks the clothes first, throwing them all into the washing machine. Then he finds all the magazines and stacks them up on the table.
At least half of the magazines have Nichkhun's face beaming at him from the covers, and Wooyoung glares at frozen images as if it's their fault Wooyoung is alone right now, on a Saturday night, cleaning his apartment.
When he is finally done with collecting every single magazine in the room, he has a small tower of them on the table. Exhausted, he sinks down onto the sofa. He picks the magazine right on top of the stack and leafs through it. The pages automatically flip open to where he has marked them before.
Nichkhun winks at him from the glossy pages. And then Wooyoung sees it - the scrawled signature at the bottom of the page. He sits up and stares. It's unmistakeable, that autograph.
Wooyoung goes through the entire stack of magazines, and finds a few other magazines also sport Nichkhun's signature. Nichkhun had apparently also taken the liberty to vandalizing the pages with his handwriting. I know you love me, he writes. I am too charming and too irresistible.
I woke up next to you this morning, and I haven't felt so happy in a long, long time.
Wooyoung reaches for his phone, and forget international call rates, he is making this call.
Nichkhun has just opened the door to his hotel room when his phone starts vibrating in his pocket. Exhausted and famished, he groans in irritation. He holds the door open with one foot as he fishes his phone out.
"Hello?" he says, clamping the phone to his ear with a shoulder. He lets the door swing shut behind him and dives onto the bed.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice how you vandalized my magazines?"
"Wooyoung," Nichkhun says, when he hears the familiar voice. "Why are you calling?"
Wooyoung repeats himself and Nichkhun laughs. "You finally realised," Nichkhun says, rolling onto his stomach and staring out of the window. "I was wondering when you'd say something about it."
Wooyoung starts talking, and Nichkhun can only process half of it. He grunts every once in a while to let Wooyoung know he's still there but the only thing he can register is the sound of Wooyoung's voice and not the words.
"I know you're not listening to me," Wooyoung says, after a few minutes of the one-sided conversation.
"Hmm," Nichkhun murmurs.
"I miss you, I love you," Wooyoung says experimentally, and he's met with a long silence telling him that Nichkhun has already fallen asleep. Wooyoung laughs, and says the words again before hanging up.
Three days after Nichkhun left for Thailand, Park Jaebum turns up on Wooyoung's doorstep.
Wooyoung debates between saying what the hell are you doing here and do you know it's almost midnight?
"Hi," Park Jaebum says, holding up a hand in greeting. He adjusts the electric blue cap he's wearing and walks into Wooyoung's apartment. "I thought I'd drop by."
"What for?" Wooyoung asks, resigned to the fact that Jaebum has invited himself in and shuts the door behind him. "Do you want a drink?"
"Anything is fine," Jaebum says. "No reason exactly. I'm Khun's best friend after all and I thought it'd be nice if I got to know you too."
Wooyoung pauses on his way to the kitchen. "What? Why?"
"We should get together sometime, because it's been a long time since I've spent time with Nichkhun - he's always here or looking for you at the café." Jaebum stops in front of the stack of magazines next to the sofa and picks up the first one. "You're hopeless," he says, seeing Nichkhun's face on the cover. "It's kind of cute and kind of disgusting."
Wooyoung gets a can of soda from the fridge and throws it at Jaebum. "Put that down," he says, annoyed. "It's late and I have work tomorrow."
"And why did Nichkhun ever like you?" Jaebum says, staring at him through narrowed eyes. "You're so mean." He pops the can open and drinks. He moves to set the can on top of the magazine and Wooyoung lunges over.
"Not on the magazines," he says, grabbing the can from Jaebum and setting it on the table.
Jaebum walks around the room, looking around with interest. "I was quite horrified when Nichkhun liked you, at the start. After a while, I realised he was serious, and well, you seem to make him very happy." He browses through Wooyoung's CD collection with interest, pulling faces whenever he spots Nichkhun's albums. "Your boyfriend is a great guy, you know, there are a lot of girls who'd fight you for him."
"He's not my boyfriend," Wooyoung says automatically. "If you're here to tell me I'm not good enough for him, you can save it, because I already know.
Jaebum pulls a face. "What do you mean he's not your boyfriend? It's no use lying to me," he says. "And that's not what I wanted to say. What I mean is that it's hard dating a celebrity, especially an idol star like Nichkhun. I just hope that even though it's difficult, you can hang in there with him. He's a great guy and he's worth it." Jaebum picks up the can of soda and drinks from it. "I should leave now, before I outstay my welcome." He pats Wooyoung on the shoulder and smiles. "Thanks for the drink."
Wooyoung walks him to the door. "Thank you," he says. "It is difficult, you're right, but I'm not the kind of person who gives up easily."
Jaebum looks at him for a few moments. "He's my best friend, and I want to see him happy." He waves goodbye and walks down the corridor, disappearing around a corner.
Wooyoung watches him leave, and makes a mental note to tell Nichkhun that he should invite Jaebum over one of these days, and the three of them should have dinner together.
It's late when Wooyoung unlocks the door and steps into the apartment. His back aches, and he's incredibly thirsty. He drops his bag on the floor and walks into the kitchen.
He takes his favourite glass, fills it to the brim and drinks. A few mouthfuls later, he pauses and sets the glass down slowly. Something is off. The faint taste of fruit juice. He leaves the glass on the kitchen counter and walks into the living room.
And there, next to the sofa, is a suitcase.
Wooyoung walks into the bedroom, and Nichkhun is curled up on the bed, sound asleep. He must have come straight from the airport.
"I knew it," Wooyoung whispes, smiling. "I knew you must be back."
He lowers himself onto the bed quietly, taking care not to wake Nichkhun. The mattress sinks under his weight and he carefully fits himself against Nichkhun, and buries his nose into Nichkhun's hair, inhaling deeply until he falls asleep.
Wooyoung makes mistakes, Nichkhun makes mistakes and sometimes, they disagree.
Wooyoung nearly always ends up saying things he doesn't mean, and then nearly always ends up sulking by himself, feeling both guilty and miserable.
He's not good with apologies, they tend to get stuck in his throat, behind his teeth, knotted around his tongue, trapped in his mouth along with the I miss you's and I love you's. Wooyoung is only good at saying these things when he doesn't mean them. With Nichkhun, he always does - which is why it's so difficult and so painful when Nichkhun comes back.
Nichkhun always comes back and apologizes, even for the things that are not his fault. He wraps his arms around Wooyoung's waist and murmurs into his shoulder.
"Don't," Wooyoung says, because it makes him feel even worse knowing that Nichkhun is swallowing his pride for him. "Just don't, please."
Still no matter how Wooyoung is determined to be difficult sometimes, Nichkhun is Nichkhun, and he must know magic, because he fixes everything with a kiss. And when Wooyoung wakes up again the next day with Nichkhun sprawled beside him, it's like nothing has ever been broken.
Neither of them will admit it, but they are as romantic as most of the couples they make fun of. During the gaps in Nichkhun's promotion periods when his workload lightens, they spend Saturday nights together, go to Wooyoung's apartment and make love. Sunday mornings, they chase each other around the tiny apartment, getting drunk on each other's laughter and smiles.
One Sunday, Nichkhun gives in entirely too easily, letting Wooyoung tackle him onto the sofa.
"You suck," Wooyoung says, frowning.
Nichkhun grins. "I don't know what you mean."
Wooyoung bites him on the shoulder, smiling when he howls. "It's not fun when you give up so easily."
Nichkhun doesn't retaliate, and as revenge, Wooyoung lies on top of Nichkhun, digging his elbows lightly into Nichkhun's sides playfully. He gets tired of doing that when Nichkhun just continues smiling at him indulgently.
After a few minutes, Nichkhun looks as though he might be falling asleep and so Wooyoung kisses him fiercely to wake him up.
"We can't do this forever," Wooyoung says, in between urgent kisses. "I want to," he adds, getting breathless. "But we can't."
With his mouth pressed against Wooyoung's jaw, Nichkhun murmurs something unintelligible. He moves away and tries again. "Why not?" he says.
Wooyoung shrugs. "Things change, people change."
"Sooner or later, I'll have to leave the entertainment industry," Nichkhun says. "Eventually I'll fade away from the scene, or maybe I'll get tired of it. When that happens, I want to take you somewhere. Some place where we can run our own little café - you'll make the coffee, and I'll drink it." He smiles and Wooyoung laughs at the pretty picture he paints.
"I don't think so," Wooyoung says, grinning. "I'll make the coffee, and you'll wash the cups."
Nichkhun shrugs, still smiling widely. "Anything you want," he agrees. "So long as you wait for me."
Wooyoung senses Nichkhun watching him closely, waiting for a reaction, an answer, a promise. He rolls off Nichkhun, and off the sofa. "If I wait for you," he says carefully. "What should I do when I'm waiting?"
"You can do anything you like," Nichkhun says, running a finger down the back of Wooyoung's neck. "If you want, you can continue working in the café, or you can go to university, or find another job."
"If I wait for you," Wooyoung says again. "It could be a very long time."
Nichkhun is quiet, but there's the sound of movement as he slides down the sofa to sit down next to Wooyoung. He leans towards Wooyoung, letting the sides of their heads touch.
"It could be a very long time," Wooyoung says, reaching out for Nichkhun's hand. "But you're worth it, so I guess I could wait."
But wait, let's stick to beginnings.
Before a rustle in the chest, there were first meetings
in crowds and along unremarkable corridors. A grin, a look
and the memory shrinks to the here and now, re-playable
for future use in the hour before sleep, the hours before
they meet again.
-- Accelerando, Cyril Wong
Nichkhun walks with Jaebum by his side, listening to his best friend chatter on absently. "I'm thirsty, let's stop and get a drink," he says, tugging at Jaebum's elbow. There's a café just across the street, and he drags Jaebum over.
They push the door open, their entrance announced by the crisp tinkling of bells.
They walk to the counter and Nichkhun is in the middle of a sentence when the employee at the counter looks up and smiles at them. Nichkhun's voice trails off and he stares as the boy across him asks him what he'd like to have.
Jaebum frowns at the menu and orders something or the other, Nichkhun isn't listening. He's watching the way the waiter's tongue peeks out from the corner of his mouth briefly and the movement of his fingers.
"And you?" the waiter asks, turning to look at him.
Nichkhun looks back at him, speechless and breathless. He forces himself to look down at the menu, repeats the name of the first drink he sees, and when he follows Jaebum to a table, he doesn't feel like he's walking - he feels like he's falling. Falling into new beginnings.
2 <<
MASTERLIST OF FICS HERE
Rating: PG-13 to R
Fandom: 2PM
Pairing(s): Nichkhun/Wooyoung
Word count: 11320 (total)
Disclaimer: This is only fiction.
Windfall: III
It's Tuesday night, after a variety show recording and dinner with Wooyoung, when Nichkhun finds a tube of lubricant and box of condoms sitting innocently Wooyoung's bedside table, hidden from view by a photo frame.
Nichkhun picks up the lubricant and turns to Wooyoung, who's sprawled on the bed, staring at the screen of his laptop. "Wooyoung," he says. "When did you get this?"
Wooyoung looks up and when he sees what Nichkhun is holding, he lets out something akin to a squeak. "Oh my God," he scrambles to put his laptop down, lunges across the bed and snatches the tube from Nichkhun's hand. "I haven't been with anyone else, I swear," he says, and he's staring intently at Nichkhun's face, seemingly terrified that Nichkhun has gotten the wrong idea.
Nichkhun looks from the tube of lube in Wooyoung's hands to Wooyoung's face and then at the box of condoms on the table. "I know you haven't," he says and he stares at the tube of lube in Wooyoung's hands. "It's just," he continues. "I didn't think you - "
"It doesn't mean anything!" Wooyoung raises his voice. "You don't have to feel like you have to - or anything like that - it was just in case," he says, and Nichkhun watches with mild amusement as Wooyoung flushes a deep red.
"I had no idea that you'd thought about this," Nichkhun says. "I thought it was just me."
Wooyoung studies him for a while, his gaze raking Nichkhun from top to toe and he finally meets Nichkhun's eyes with a slightly exasperated expression on his face. "So are you going to come over now?" Wooyoung demands, and it's an invitation.
Nichkhun's heart is pounding as he tackles Wooyoung onto the bed. He wrestles the tube of lubricant from Wooyoung's grip. He bites Wooyoung's ear playfully, grabbing his wrists and pinning them to the bed.
"Fuck you," Wooyoung growls, struggling against Nichkhun.
"No, the other way round," Nichkhun says and he smiles.
Wooyoung goes still and Nichkhun pulls away. "Did you change your mind?" he asks worriedly. "Because it's okay if you don't want to."
Wooyoung stares at the ceiling. "It's going to hurt, isn't it?"
"I think so," Nichkhun says hesitantly. "Let's just not," he decides, rolling off Wooyoung.
He is interrupted when Wooyoung leans over and kisses him, his hands moving to unbuckle Nichkhun's pants clumsily. "Just know that if it sucks, we're never doing it, ever again," Wooyoung whispers. He reaches over, plucks the box of condoms from the table and throws it at Nichkhun's face.
When he guides himself into Wooyoung, slowly and carefully, Wooyoung winces, pain flickering into his eyes. "Oh fucking hell," Wooyoung says, his fingers knotting themselves in Nichkhun's hair. "Ouch."
"I'm sorry," Nichkhun pants, rocking forward slowly. He closes his eyes and tries to regulate his breathing, when he opens his eyes again, Wooyoung has tears running down his face and he can't seem to speak.
"Should I stop?" Nichkhun asks desperately.
Wooyoung shakes his head. "No, it's okay, I'm fine," he says, and manages to hold this pretence together for all of five seconds before he gives up and leans forward to bite Nichkhun hard on the shoulder, hard enough to leave an angry mark. "It's not fair if I hurt alone," he says. "Now, just do it."
Nichkhun's thoughts are fragmenting into nonsense, but he forces himself to angle every thrust differently, watching Wooyoung's face for a reaction. He's sweating, the perspiration sliding down his back and chest.
Nichkhun knows he's finally got it right when Wooyoung's eyes widen and his jaw slackens. "Oh," he says breathlessly.
"Yes? No?" Nichkhun mimics the previous movement anxiously.
"Yes," Wooyoung says, his grip tightening on Nichkhun's arms. "Oh my God."
It is over embarrassingly fast for Nichkhun, and Wooyoung yelps in agony when he pulls out. "Ouch, ouch, ouch," Wooyoung chants, and he watches Nichkhun drop the used condom into the bin.
"It'll be better next time?" Nichkhun tries, resting a hand on Wooyoung's knee. "Anyway, I'll make up for it," he says, and before Wooyoung can ask how, he leans over and licks a long tantalizing stripe from Wooyoung's collarbone to his navel. Then, he looks up and flashes Wooyoung a wicked smile, promising good things to come.
Nichkhun wakes up to his cellphone vibrating on the table. He reluctantly reaches over, presses the phone to his face and answers the call. "What?" he grunts.
Next to him, Wooyoung is curled up into a ball, fast asleep. Nichkhun's hands move of their own accord to touch Wooyoung's face gently.
"Khun." It's Jaebum.
"What?" Nichkhun repeats, throwing a hand across his eyes to block out the sunlight streaming in from the window.
"You haven't seen it, have you?" Jaebum sounds too serious, and this makes Nichkhun sits up.
"Seen what?" Nichkhun says warily.
"It's not good," Jaebum says. "I think you need to see the newspapers now. Or, wait, a computer? Do you have a computer with you now?"
Nichkhun gets onto his feet and remembers seeing a laptop sitting on the table in the living room. He walks out to check if he's right. "Yes, I do," he says, sitting down on the sofa and moving the laptop onto his lap. "What? Jaebum, just get to the point."
"Just switch the computer on, and check your email," Jaebum says and ends the call.
Nichkhun hesitates, wondering if he should wake Wooyoung up and ask for permission to use the computer. It's still early in the morning and he decides to let Wooyoung sleep in. He turns on the computer, and waits for it start up.
When he checks his email, he finds that there are three new messages in his inbox. The most recent one is from Jaebum, sent barely a minute ago, and it contains nothing but a link to an entertainment news website which Nichkhun was well acquainted with. He clicks on it.
The page opens up and Nichkhun nearly drops the laptop. His heart pounding, he clutches tightly onto the side of the laptop to keep it from falling, staring at the headlines of the website. With shaking hands, he clicks on the gigantic words screaming Nichkhun and his gay lover?
He skips the paragraph of words, scrolling down until he sees the photographs. Photographs taken of them the previous evening, probably after dinner. Nichkhun can't barely think straight.
The first one, Wooyoung pulling Nichkhun against him, one arm circled around Nichkhun's waist, their faces bent close together. In the second one, Nichkhun is leaning against Wooyoung, Wooyoung's face pressed against Nichkhun's neck, their faces hidden from view. The last one, probably the most incriminating of all the photos, makes Nichkhun's stomach start to throb in pain. In the photograph, Wooyoung has one hand up Nichkhun's shirt, sliding against the skin of his back, and his mouth grazing the side of Nichkhun's jaw.
Nichkhun recalls that brief moment which neither of them expected to be witnessed by someone else. It could not have been more than a few seconds, but someone had caught it, captured the essence of the moment in three snapshots. The quality of the pictures were low, probably taken using a phone. It could be anyone.
"You're up."
Nichkhun twists around and sees Wooyoung standing behind him, blinking the sleep from his eyes.
"I borrowed your laptop, there's an emergency," Nichkhun says, his tongue feeling like lead in his mouth.
Wooyoung moves next to him and Nichkhun can pin down the exact moment where Wooyoung sees the photographs, because everything about him changes. The sparks in his eyes go out, his jaw clenches and the colour drains from his face. "Oh God," he says. "How did this happen?"
"I don't know," Nichkhun says. He closes his eyes and collects himself. "I have to go now," he says, handing the laptop to Wooyoung. "I need to go back to the company, we need to do something. Why? Why - it's only two months since the previous - I - screw this." He looks miserable and it breaks Wooyoung's heart a little.
Before Nichkhun leaves, he kisses Wooyoung goodbye - it could be his imagination, but it's as though Wooyoung's grip on him is tighter than it has ever been before. He pulls Wooyoung closer, hoping he understands the silent don't worry, I'm never letting you go.
This scandal is worse than the previous scandal, because first of all, Jang Wooyoung is a boy. And secondly, those photographs are painfully intimate in a way that just cannot be brushed off as displays of friendship.
Wooyoung turns on the television, worry gnawing away at him. He has to wait a few minutes, but eventually it happens. The photographs flash onto the screen, and the anchorwoman speaks rapidly, speculating who this mysterious boy pressed up against Nichkhun could possibly be, and Wooyoung feels a headache form between his eyes.
"Nichkhun's management has released an official statement, two days after these photographs have been released. Apparently, Nichkhun was pounced on by an overly excited male fan, and was too stunned to react for a few moments. This was when the photographs were taken. Nichkhun's management asserts that such assaults are common, and are not to be taken seriously. The issue is currently being resolved between - "
The remote control falls from Wooyoung's hand and hits the floor with a loud clatter.
Wooyoung's phone rings. He pulls it out of his pocket and answers. "Hello," he says blankly.
"Jang Wooyoung? This is Nichkhun's manager. I need you to - "
"I'll do it," Wooyoung says, leaning backwards and staring at the ceiling. "Just tell me how and when."
"You did all of this without my permission," Nichkhun says, staring down at the various new reports about an official statement denying the rumours. "Why?"
"There was no other choice," his manager says. "What else could we have done?"
"A rabid male fan? A rabid - " Nichkhun reads from one of the particularly large headlines and nearly chokes on his anger. "What? Couldn't you have just said that we were drunk and not rational? What do you mean there is no other choice? Why would you - did you - what if he - "
His manager ignores him, picks up the remote control on the table and switches the television on. "It should be showing about now," he says under his breath.
"What?" Nichkhun snaps. "More reports? Look, I don't want to see - "
His manager turns the volume up, and Nichkhun glances at the screen irritably. "The identity of the mysterious male photographed with the increasingly popular pop star, Nichkhun, has been confirmed as of today to be 20 year old Jang Wooyoung. When approached by the media, Mr. Jang was initially reluctant to talk, but eventually admitted to assaulting Nichkhun."
Nichkhun feels his heart fall into his stomach. A shaky camera swings upwards to show Wooyoung's pale anxious face.
"I was too excited," Wooyoung says, his voice trembling and unsure. He backs away from the reporters around him, visibly shaken. "I have already apologized to him for my hasty and thoughtless actions and his management company has been kind enough to overlook this incident. Please do not continue the rumours any longer, I am just a fan." He looks desperately into the camera. "Please - " And then he is cut off.
"After this statement from Mr. Jang, it seems that the previous gay and relationship rumours have been shattered, although there is no doubt that Nichkhun's reputation has taken a hit, but perhaps the dent can be repaired quickly, especially with - "
His manager turns the television off, and looks satisfied. "He did well," he says in approval.
"What did you do?" Nichkhun asks, staring at the blank television screen and only seeing the terrified look on Wooyoung's face. "What did you do?" He turns to look at his manager and picks up the closest thing on the desk - one of those disgusting articles - and throws it at the older man. "You just screwed everything up," Nichkhun says, his voice cracking. "You can't do this. I won't let you."
Please, Wooyoung begs, his voice ringing in Nichkhun's head. Please what? Nichkhun wonders, what exactly did Wooyoung say that they had cut off? Please stop. Please let me off. Please let me go. Please let us be.
Nichkhun heads straight for Wooyoung's apartment, and rejects all seven calls from his manager until he's tired of it and turns his phone off. He bangs on Wooyoung's door, and he is almost about to give up when the door parts slightly.
Wooyoung peers out cautiously. "Who is it?"
"Me," Nichkhun says, pushing the door open quickly, in case Wooyoung refuses to let him in. He shoves his way into the apartment, closing the door behind him. "Listen to me," he says firmly. "I only knew about everything today. I can't believe it - why did you - how could they - "
"I said I'd do it," Wooyoung says. "It's for the best."
"You should never have gotten involved," Nichkhun says. "If I had my way, I'd have - " Protected you. Loved you better. Given you what you deserve.
Wooyoung smiles, shaky but reassuring. "It was a little scary, but it fixed everything, didn't it?"
"Did it?" Nichkhun says, trying for a smile. "Really?"
"Do you think maybe - "
"Don't say it," Nichkhun says desperately, reaching forward and fisting his hands into the front of Wooyoung's shirt. "Please don't break up with me."
Wooyoung looks torn between surprise and exasperation. "I wasn't going to break up with you," he says in a strangled voice.
"Oh," Nichkhun says, feeling a little foolish. He loosens his fists from Wooyoung's shirt, his hands falling limply to his sides.
"In fact, I wasn't aware that we were together or anything of the sort," Wooyoung continues.
"What?" Nichkhun says.
"I mean, we can't be anything more than this, right?" Wooyoung says. "Why should we be anything more than this?"
"What are you talking about?" Nichkhun says.
Wooyoung tilts his head sideways. "I haven't been naive enough to fantasize about us making it to happily ever after, you know. You don't have to worry about breaking my heart. When the time comes, just tell me and I'll - "
"What are you talking about?" Nichkhun repeats. "When what time comes?"
"We can't stay like this forever, can we?" Wooyoung asks.
"You're crazy," Nichkhun says. "You're out of your mind. Why are you talking about such things? Let's just drop this topic, okay, it's ridiculous and we're never going to talk about this ever again."
"No," Wooyoung says, raising his voice. "Listen to me."
Nichkhun snaps his mouth shut in surprise.
"Look, this is how things are," Wooyoung says slowly. "You earn in one month what I earn in, what, a year? People on the street know your name. You appear on television, in magazines, and you have a bloody big fan club, of which I am a fucking member of. I am a waiter in a café who may never amount to anything. I will never be good enough for you. Never. Do you understand?"
"No, you don't understand," Nichkhun says, starting to feel angry. "I can't walk down the street without wearing gigantic sunglasses and a cap. And even so, I get recognized. I can't take you on normal dates. I can't hold your hand in public. My Korean is awful and my working hours are all over the place. I am terrified of not being able to make you happy, so you are the one who needs to know what you are getting into."
Wooyoung gapes at him.
"So, do you understand now?" Nichkhun says quietly. He tips Wooyoung's chin upwards, like a child carefully unwrapping a precious gift, and kisses him until he goes soft in Nichkhun's arms.
"I want you," Nichkhun murmurs into the kiss. "I want you." In the back of his mind, he wonders when exactly he turned into such a romantic sap, and he can't help but think that if Jaebum knew, he'd never hear the end of this.
Usually it takes a little longer than two weeks for a scandal like this to die down, but one week later, some actor is exposed to have gotten a girl half his age pregnant, and Nichkhun's scandal is brushed aside, more or less.
It's still a pain, because Nichkhun can't be seen in public with Wooyoung. There's always a possibility of being recognized even when he's disguised.
Instead, they have to settle for meeting at Wooyoung's apartment - not Nichkhun's, because that's too dangerous and someone might spot them. They'd make love, fall asleep with their limbs tangled together, watch television, and cook simple meals. It nearly always ends up with the two of them sitting with a pot of ramyeon between them, passing the lid to one another and slurping noodles off it. It's either ramyeon or kimchi fried rice, anything more complicated than that would probably end up disastrous.
A Wednesday, one of the rare times Nichkhun's schedules ends in the evening, he goes grocery shopping and carries the bags to Wooyoung's apartment.
"What're you doing?" Wooyoung asks, staring at the bulging shopping bags, looking amused.
"I'm going to cook you something fancy," Nichkhun says smugly. He goes into the kitchen, unpacks the shopping bags, and chases Wooyoung out, insisting that he doesn't need any help.
Wooyoung sits in the living room, looking worriedly in the direction of the kitchen door whenever there's a particularly loud noise. Five minutes later, Nichkhun calls for help because he can't find the can opener.
Wooyoung goes in to get the can opener for him, but they end up kissing, Wooyoung's back against the refrigerator, and Nichkhun dropping the can opener absently onto the top of the microwave. Whatever Nichkhun wanted to cook never got completed.
An hour later, Wooyoung puts all the food away, and Nichkhun boils water for ramyeon, the two of them standing side by side, kicking at each other with their bare feet.
Wooyoung does not realize how deeply Nichkhun has rooted himself into his heart until he goes through the entire day at work glancing at the entrance every few minutes, expecting Nichkhun to appear any moment. Then, he belatedly remembers that Nichkhun has gone to Thailand and he won't be coming.
Wooyoung goes home feeling a little lost. It's the weekend tomorrow, he realises, and he doesn't know what to do with himself.
He wakes up the next morning and decides to spend the day cleaning up his apartment. He starts with his bedroom first, then the kitchen and finally, the living room. The living room is the worst of the lot. Everything is every where - there are clothes under the sofa, and sweet wrappers on the floor and magazines strewn around.
Wooyoung attacks the clothes first, throwing them all into the washing machine. Then he finds all the magazines and stacks them up on the table.
At least half of the magazines have Nichkhun's face beaming at him from the covers, and Wooyoung glares at frozen images as if it's their fault Wooyoung is alone right now, on a Saturday night, cleaning his apartment.
When he is finally done with collecting every single magazine in the room, he has a small tower of them on the table. Exhausted, he sinks down onto the sofa. He picks the magazine right on top of the stack and leafs through it. The pages automatically flip open to where he has marked them before.
Nichkhun winks at him from the glossy pages. And then Wooyoung sees it - the scrawled signature at the bottom of the page. He sits up and stares. It's unmistakeable, that autograph.
Wooyoung goes through the entire stack of magazines, and finds a few other magazines also sport Nichkhun's signature. Nichkhun had apparently also taken the liberty to vandalizing the pages with his handwriting. I know you love me, he writes. I am too charming and too irresistible.
I woke up next to you this morning, and I haven't felt so happy in a long, long time.
Wooyoung reaches for his phone, and forget international call rates, he is making this call.
Nichkhun has just opened the door to his hotel room when his phone starts vibrating in his pocket. Exhausted and famished, he groans in irritation. He holds the door open with one foot as he fishes his phone out.
"Hello?" he says, clamping the phone to his ear with a shoulder. He lets the door swing shut behind him and dives onto the bed.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice how you vandalized my magazines?"
"Wooyoung," Nichkhun says, when he hears the familiar voice. "Why are you calling?"
Wooyoung repeats himself and Nichkhun laughs. "You finally realised," Nichkhun says, rolling onto his stomach and staring out of the window. "I was wondering when you'd say something about it."
Wooyoung starts talking, and Nichkhun can only process half of it. He grunts every once in a while to let Wooyoung know he's still there but the only thing he can register is the sound of Wooyoung's voice and not the words.
"I know you're not listening to me," Wooyoung says, after a few minutes of the one-sided conversation.
"Hmm," Nichkhun murmurs.
"I miss you, I love you," Wooyoung says experimentally, and he's met with a long silence telling him that Nichkhun has already fallen asleep. Wooyoung laughs, and says the words again before hanging up.
Three days after Nichkhun left for Thailand, Park Jaebum turns up on Wooyoung's doorstep.
Wooyoung debates between saying what the hell are you doing here and do you know it's almost midnight?
"Hi," Park Jaebum says, holding up a hand in greeting. He adjusts the electric blue cap he's wearing and walks into Wooyoung's apartment. "I thought I'd drop by."
"What for?" Wooyoung asks, resigned to the fact that Jaebum has invited himself in and shuts the door behind him. "Do you want a drink?"
"Anything is fine," Jaebum says. "No reason exactly. I'm Khun's best friend after all and I thought it'd be nice if I got to know you too."
Wooyoung pauses on his way to the kitchen. "What? Why?"
"We should get together sometime, because it's been a long time since I've spent time with Nichkhun - he's always here or looking for you at the café." Jaebum stops in front of the stack of magazines next to the sofa and picks up the first one. "You're hopeless," he says, seeing Nichkhun's face on the cover. "It's kind of cute and kind of disgusting."
Wooyoung gets a can of soda from the fridge and throws it at Jaebum. "Put that down," he says, annoyed. "It's late and I have work tomorrow."
"And why did Nichkhun ever like you?" Jaebum says, staring at him through narrowed eyes. "You're so mean." He pops the can open and drinks. He moves to set the can on top of the magazine and Wooyoung lunges over.
"Not on the magazines," he says, grabbing the can from Jaebum and setting it on the table.
Jaebum walks around the room, looking around with interest. "I was quite horrified when Nichkhun liked you, at the start. After a while, I realised he was serious, and well, you seem to make him very happy." He browses through Wooyoung's CD collection with interest, pulling faces whenever he spots Nichkhun's albums. "Your boyfriend is a great guy, you know, there are a lot of girls who'd fight you for him."
"He's not my boyfriend," Wooyoung says automatically. "If you're here to tell me I'm not good enough for him, you can save it, because I already know.
Jaebum pulls a face. "What do you mean he's not your boyfriend? It's no use lying to me," he says. "And that's not what I wanted to say. What I mean is that it's hard dating a celebrity, especially an idol star like Nichkhun. I just hope that even though it's difficult, you can hang in there with him. He's a great guy and he's worth it." Jaebum picks up the can of soda and drinks from it. "I should leave now, before I outstay my welcome." He pats Wooyoung on the shoulder and smiles. "Thanks for the drink."
Wooyoung walks him to the door. "Thank you," he says. "It is difficult, you're right, but I'm not the kind of person who gives up easily."
Jaebum looks at him for a few moments. "He's my best friend, and I want to see him happy." He waves goodbye and walks down the corridor, disappearing around a corner.
Wooyoung watches him leave, and makes a mental note to tell Nichkhun that he should invite Jaebum over one of these days, and the three of them should have dinner together.
It's late when Wooyoung unlocks the door and steps into the apartment. His back aches, and he's incredibly thirsty. He drops his bag on the floor and walks into the kitchen.
He takes his favourite glass, fills it to the brim and drinks. A few mouthfuls later, he pauses and sets the glass down slowly. Something is off. The faint taste of fruit juice. He leaves the glass on the kitchen counter and walks into the living room.
And there, next to the sofa, is a suitcase.
Wooyoung walks into the bedroom, and Nichkhun is curled up on the bed, sound asleep. He must have come straight from the airport.
"I knew it," Wooyoung whispes, smiling. "I knew you must be back."
He lowers himself onto the bed quietly, taking care not to wake Nichkhun. The mattress sinks under his weight and he carefully fits himself against Nichkhun, and buries his nose into Nichkhun's hair, inhaling deeply until he falls asleep.
Wooyoung makes mistakes, Nichkhun makes mistakes and sometimes, they disagree.
Wooyoung nearly always ends up saying things he doesn't mean, and then nearly always ends up sulking by himself, feeling both guilty and miserable.
He's not good with apologies, they tend to get stuck in his throat, behind his teeth, knotted around his tongue, trapped in his mouth along with the I miss you's and I love you's. Wooyoung is only good at saying these things when he doesn't mean them. With Nichkhun, he always does - which is why it's so difficult and so painful when Nichkhun comes back.
Nichkhun always comes back and apologizes, even for the things that are not his fault. He wraps his arms around Wooyoung's waist and murmurs into his shoulder.
"Don't," Wooyoung says, because it makes him feel even worse knowing that Nichkhun is swallowing his pride for him. "Just don't, please."
Still no matter how Wooyoung is determined to be difficult sometimes, Nichkhun is Nichkhun, and he must know magic, because he fixes everything with a kiss. And when Wooyoung wakes up again the next day with Nichkhun sprawled beside him, it's like nothing has ever been broken.
Neither of them will admit it, but they are as romantic as most of the couples they make fun of. During the gaps in Nichkhun's promotion periods when his workload lightens, they spend Saturday nights together, go to Wooyoung's apartment and make love. Sunday mornings, they chase each other around the tiny apartment, getting drunk on each other's laughter and smiles.
One Sunday, Nichkhun gives in entirely too easily, letting Wooyoung tackle him onto the sofa.
"You suck," Wooyoung says, frowning.
Nichkhun grins. "I don't know what you mean."
Wooyoung bites him on the shoulder, smiling when he howls. "It's not fun when you give up so easily."
Nichkhun doesn't retaliate, and as revenge, Wooyoung lies on top of Nichkhun, digging his elbows lightly into Nichkhun's sides playfully. He gets tired of doing that when Nichkhun just continues smiling at him indulgently.
After a few minutes, Nichkhun looks as though he might be falling asleep and so Wooyoung kisses him fiercely to wake him up.
"We can't do this forever," Wooyoung says, in between urgent kisses. "I want to," he adds, getting breathless. "But we can't."
With his mouth pressed against Wooyoung's jaw, Nichkhun murmurs something unintelligible. He moves away and tries again. "Why not?" he says.
Wooyoung shrugs. "Things change, people change."
"Sooner or later, I'll have to leave the entertainment industry," Nichkhun says. "Eventually I'll fade away from the scene, or maybe I'll get tired of it. When that happens, I want to take you somewhere. Some place where we can run our own little café - you'll make the coffee, and I'll drink it." He smiles and Wooyoung laughs at the pretty picture he paints.
"I don't think so," Wooyoung says, grinning. "I'll make the coffee, and you'll wash the cups."
Nichkhun shrugs, still smiling widely. "Anything you want," he agrees. "So long as you wait for me."
Wooyoung senses Nichkhun watching him closely, waiting for a reaction, an answer, a promise. He rolls off Nichkhun, and off the sofa. "If I wait for you," he says carefully. "What should I do when I'm waiting?"
"You can do anything you like," Nichkhun says, running a finger down the back of Wooyoung's neck. "If you want, you can continue working in the café, or you can go to university, or find another job."
"If I wait for you," Wooyoung says again. "It could be a very long time."
Nichkhun is quiet, but there's the sound of movement as he slides down the sofa to sit down next to Wooyoung. He leans towards Wooyoung, letting the sides of their heads touch.
"It could be a very long time," Wooyoung says, reaching out for Nichkhun's hand. "But you're worth it, so I guess I could wait."
But wait, let's stick to beginnings.
Before a rustle in the chest, there were first meetings
in crowds and along unremarkable corridors. A grin, a look
and the memory shrinks to the here and now, re-playable
for future use in the hour before sleep, the hours before
they meet again.
-- Accelerando, Cyril Wong
Nichkhun walks with Jaebum by his side, listening to his best friend chatter on absently. "I'm thirsty, let's stop and get a drink," he says, tugging at Jaebum's elbow. There's a café just across the street, and he drags Jaebum over.
They push the door open, their entrance announced by the crisp tinkling of bells.
They walk to the counter and Nichkhun is in the middle of a sentence when the employee at the counter looks up and smiles at them. Nichkhun's voice trails off and he stares as the boy across him asks him what he'd like to have.
Jaebum frowns at the menu and orders something or the other, Nichkhun isn't listening. He's watching the way the waiter's tongue peeks out from the corner of his mouth briefly and the movement of his fingers.
"And you?" the waiter asks, turning to look at him.
Nichkhun looks back at him, speechless and breathless. He forces himself to look down at the menu, repeats the name of the first drink he sees, and when he follows Jaebum to a table, he doesn't feel like he's walking - he feels like he's falling. Falling into new beginnings.
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