There's Always Room For One More; Minho/Key/Taemin
in which Minho and Key fall in love for the second time.
credits mintytaemin.tumblr
Author's Note: you're in for a surprise. i shall not reveal too much now to prevent myself from spoiling this oneshot (as if the title and tags don't do enough). but yeah. just a little warning. you may or may not be comfortable with what you're about to read. i, for one, struggled quite a bit on my decision to write this. obviously, i did in the end, and i don't regret it one bit. i can only say, if you don't like the pairing, please don't hate on this. and for the dear readers who decide to give this story a chance, my fingers are crossed that you'll like it as much as i enjoyed writing this! ps: there'll be another a/n waiting for you at the end~ ^^
Choi Minho and Kim Kibum fall in love at the exact same moment, at the exact same time. It is something they both realize when their eyes meet. In an instant, they recognize that particular look in the other’s eyes. It’s a look they’ve seen in each other before, and now, it is happening for the second time in their lives. Well, when there’s a first, there’s definitely a second.
“You were staring.” Kibum breaks the silence as he glances at his boyfriend who is sitting across him in a random café they have chosen to rest their tired legs midway through their shopping date.
Minho leans back against his chair and shrugs, “You were too.”
Kibum smiles knowingly, “You’re thinking what I’m thinking, aren’t you?”
Minho doesn’t hesitate to nod but he then goes on to say, “Bummie, you know I love you with all my heart and I won’t do anything to hurt you-”
“But you want him, don’t you?” Kibum cuts his boyfriend off (or actually, completes his sentence for him) and shoots Minho another question even though he already knows the answer, “The same way I can see he wants you too?”
“The exact same way you want him too…” Minho nods again, confirming their thoughts, before he adds, “And let’s face it, it’s obvious he has his eyes on you too.”
When Kibum notices that Minho is now looking past him, he turns slightly in his seat and follows the direction of his boyfriend’s eyes. He catches the young barista looking at them just in time before he realizes he has been caught staring by the couple and quickly busies himself with the espresso machine. Kibum smirks as he turns back to his boyfriend who he sees has the same expression on his face.
“What do we do now?” Kibum asks with a hint of playfulness in his voice.
“God, this is crazy, Kibum.” Minho laughs, shaking his head at what they both know they have in mind.
“I know… but you and I both know we want this.” Kibum casually replies, “So? What’s the plan?”
“Well, I could go up to him and-”
Kibum instantly shakes his head, “No way, if you’re going to do it the same way you approached me, it’s going to take forever.”
“But I still got you, didn’t I?” Minho pays careful attention not to pout and expose the childish side of him, especially when the cute barista is still sneaking peeks at them.
“Yes, baby, you’re good, I know that, but we can’t be all romantic on this one.” Kibum explains, “The situation’s different…”
“Right.” Minho knows Kibum has a point, “So what exactly do you suggest then?”
A smile grows on Kibum’s face, “You trust me?”
“Always have, always will.”
“Then leave it to me, love.”
With those final words, Kibum rummages through his messenger bag, pulls out a pen, and begins scribbling a set of numbers that Minho recognizes as Kibum’s phone number down on a serviette. When he is done, Kibum leans forward, gives Minho a lingering kiss before he finally stands up to make his way towards the counter with that serviette in his hands. Minho holds his breath as he watches his boyfriend and the young barista interact. And when the serviette ends up in the grinning barista’s hands and Kibum comes back with the prettiest smile, Minho is secretly celebrating for the both of them. Or actually, make that the three of them.
▷▷
Love is indeed a crazy little thing. Minho and Kibum know they are the one for each other but when they stepped into a random café on what turns out to be a not-so-ordinary day, they realize that they aren’t the only one for each other. They both know they are being greedy, almost cruel to drag someone else into their already unconventional life, but it’s something they both want. And what they want, they will get. Having been together for three years, Minho and Kibum don’t even have to talk about it to understand that they’re both perfectly alright (and actually excited) to be sitting at another coffee place, waiting nervously for their date to arrive.
And when he does, looking so different without his smart uniform but even more attractive in a simple grey knit sweater and black skinny jeans, their date takes their breath away. Minho and Kibum are even more certain than ever that this is what they want. Now, they just need to know their date wants it too.
“Hi!” The boy breathes out as he makes himself comfortable on the couch across Minho and Kibum, “Did I keep you waiting?”
“Not at all, Taemin.” Kibum answers, saying the name that Minho and he have been constantly talking about ever since the young barista contacted them via Kibum’s number, “We just got here too.”
Minho knows Kibum is lying because they actually reached the place half an hour earlier just because Kibum wanted to make sure they secured a good place at the coffee place. Of course, he doesn’t rattle on Kibum, keeping silent, as he openly admires how beautiful Taemin is. Minho can tell their date is cold and it takes everything within him not to leave Kibum’s side just to warm Taemin with a hug. He isn’t the only one who notices this because in the next moment, Kibum is pushing his hot cup of Americano towards Taemin and urging him to drink, or at least, hold it to warm himself up.
“Here, have this.” Kibum says with a genuine smile, “It’s cold today, isn’t it?”
Returning a grateful smile, Taemin nods and readily accepts the coffee. He brings it to his lips, slowly sipping at the hot coffee until he is satisfied before he places the cup back onto the plate. When his tongue pokes out to lick his lips clean, both Minho and Kibum are unable to take their eyes off their date.
“So… good…” Taemin sighs blissfully as he returns his attention to the dazed couple in front of him, “Thanks…”
“Key hyung, or you can call me Kibum hyung, whichever you want.” Kibum formally introduces himself first before he points at Minho, “And he’s Minho.”
“I would introduce myself if I could…” Minho says as he squeezes Kibum’s hand under the table, “But Kibum warned me not to talk because he doesn’t want me to screw things up.”
Kibum stares at his boyfriend, “Taemin doesn’t need to know that.”
Minho stares back and when a staring battle is just about to get going, Taemin lets out a laugh.
“You two are so cute together.” Taemin can’t stop himself from talking as he voices his next thought, “I want in.”
Minho and Kibum instantly look at the younger with shocked expressions.
Taemin smiles, “I can be greedy too.”
As much as Minho loves what he is hearing from the younger, there is something he has to ask before they decide to go on this whirlwind ride together.
“You sure you know what you’re getting yourself into, Taemin?”
“Love is not a choice.” Taemin answers as he leans forward and looks straight into Minho’s eyes first, “I like you… a lot.”
He then looks into Kibum’s eyes, “But I want you too... and I’m just glad I’m getting the both of you even though I only got one number.”
And that seals their fate together.
▷▷
Minho and Kibum have been together for three years but when Taemin joins them, it feels like the three of them have been together right from the start. Of course, it’s one heck of a rollercoaster ride being in such a relationship. It definitely isn’t easy, three people in a relationship, but they make things work. Most of the time, it’s Taemin who guides Minho and Kibum although he’s actually the least experienced when it comes to relationships. Even though he is the youngest, he seems to know exactly how to work things out. Occasionally, he takes the step back in their relationship when they hit a rough patch because he knows what Minho and Kibum share is irreplaceable (they share more memories that Taemin is no part of); and trust him, Taemin has no wish to break them apart. And he has no wish to leave them either. He is just thankful Minho and Kibum love him the same way he loves them and they love each other. Each day they spend together is another reason to prove why they should be together. Minho and Kibum know Taemin tries to make it easier for them to get used to him being in their relationship but the truth is, they don’t need Taemin to do all that because life keeps getting better with him around. Everything fits. Life is a bed of roses.
The average person will never understand their relationship but Taemin doesn’t give a damn. He knows Minho and Kibum don’t care as well. Outsiders may think they have to vie for each other’s love or scheme to make another jealous but no, it isn’t a matter of who loves who more, or who means more to the other. Their relationship is nothing like that. In fact, it feels like they were meant to be - Minho and Kibum meeting first, and Taemin joining after. What they have is special and Taemin will not trade it for the world.
It has been close to two years since their first date with Taemin and their relationship, without a doubt, is still going strong. To be honest, Minho didn’t think that it would work out but reality has proven otherwise. He is more than thankful to be blessed with not one, but two loves of his life.
When he is the first to wake up to a ringing phone and realizes he is trapped with Taemin on one side and Kibum on his other, Minho can’t help but chuckle out loud as he carefully stretches his arm across Kibum to grab the cordless phone off the bedside table.
“Hello?” Minho answers the call and becomes as courteous as can be upon hearing the voice on the other end of the line, “Morning, eomonim… Yes, we’re doing fine. Umm, yeah, hold on.”
It’s Kibum’s mother calling for Kibum and Minho has no choice but to gently nudge his boyfriend awake.
“Hmm?” Kibum stirs awake and peeks an eye open as he licks his dry lips.
“Your mum.” Minho mouths as he places the phone against Kibum’s ear.
“Umma?” Kibum says into the receiver as Minho watches his boyfriend continue to reply, “Mmm, morning… yes…. I know… okay, I will. Mmm yupp, see you.”
When the phone call ends, Kibum moves his shoulder in an attempt to get the phone off his ear. Minho gets the hint as he moves the phone away and stuffs it under the pillow before he brings his boyfriend into his arms.
Minho kisses Kibum softly on the smooth expanse of Kibum’s neck before he speaks against his soft skin, “What did she say?”
Kibum yawns, feeling more awake now, and then answers curtly, “She wants me home for Christmas.”
Minho freezes and he slowly and discreetly releases Kibum from his hug. Of course, Kibum instantly notices his boyfriend’s action and he opens his eyes fully to glare at him.
“Choi Minho, you-”
Minho quickly turns to his other side and swiftly pulls a sleeping Taemin on top of him, shifting backwards at the same time, as he easily lifts Taemin above him and lays the maknae back down in the space he has created between Kibum and him. By then, Taemin is already waking up and he is slowly coming to his senses.
“Ask Taemin!” Minho hurriedly says, “He’s better with your family.”
“Huh?” Taemin says as he wakes up to Kibum looking straight at him, “Ask me what? What’s happening?”
“Baby, come home with me on Christmas?” Kibum instantly softens as he pleads his younger boyfriend.
Taemin’s eyes immediately grow wider. In the next second, he flips his body towards Minho and pouts at the elder.
“I went home with him last Christmas.” Taemin hisses, “It’s your turn this year!”
“But you’re good with them,” Minho kisses Taemin on his forehead in hopes of coaxing the maknae, “And they love you more than they love me.”
“Only because of my aegyo! You can win them over with it too! I know you have it in you, hyung.” Taemin argues and then grumbles, “And you know how much I hate aegyo… I was so tired because I had to use it the entire time…”
Minho ignores his boyfriend and kisses Taemin on his lips, “You can do it again. I know you can.”
“Come on, Minho hyung, it’s not like they hate you. Plus you already managed to excuse yourself last Christmas, you can’t do that again this-”
Taemin doesn’t get to finish his sentence because a door slamming shut silences the entire room. Minho and Taemin first exchange looks with each other before they both look to the side where Kibum should have been lying down. When they see no one there, they look at each other again with worried frowns.
Yes. They are definitely in trouble.
In less than a second, they are both out of bed and rushing towards the bathroom door. Not even bothering to check if it is locked, Minho starts knocking while Taemin begins pleading.
“Key hyung…” Taemin whines in a way he knows makes Kibum defenseless, “We’re sorry, you know we love you… and we love your family… please open the door.”
When Taemin is done, Minho takes over. “Bum… open up, don’t lock yourself inside. Come out, I’ll make you your favourite pancakes!”
“You will?” Taemin is instantly distracted, “Can you add chocolate chips too?”
“Taemin…” Minho groans and eyes the closed door.
Taemin sticks his tongue out, admitting his mistake, and regains his focus on his task at hand, “Yeah, come on hyung, you know you can’t be there all day when you need breakfast…”
It is then the door opens and Kibum comes out with his arms folded as he stares at his lovers.
“Who’s coming home with me this Christmas?”
Minho and Taemin share a look with each other.
“Taem.”
“Minho hyung.”
“Taemin!”
“Hyung!!”
Kibum sighs as he walks away and leaves his two lovers to decide their fate while he is left to wonder why on earth having two boyfriends is still not enough. Maybe he should threaten to find a third one…
▷▷
Ultimately, on Christmas day, both Minho and Taemin are at the Kim’s residence. And Kibum is secretly glad that his boyfriends have no wish to share him with anyone else. His love triangle is perfect just the way it is.
➤
Author's Note: I HAVE LOADS TO SAY. but i'll spare you from my blabbering and try to keep this short and simple. not too sure if everyone knows this but taemin and key are my biases in shinee. and my otps are 2min and minkey. so basically i just love 2minkey, truly, madly, deeply. my OT3 indefinitely. but i don’t like that most, if not all, fics on OT3 pairings revolve around smut and threesomes. so here's a ball of fluff because that's my specialty. merry christmas, lovely readers! (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)