Pairing: domestic!JongKey
Rating: PG
Genre: tooth-rotting, rainbow-barfing Fluff
Summary:
It was long overdue, anyway.
A Matter of Change ||
A Matter of Linguistics,
Part 2,
Part 3 ||
A Matter of Balance ||
A Matter of Perseverance ||
A Matter of Surprises || A Matter of Wishful Thinking
A/N: This one takes place around the year 2045 or so. Key and Jonghyun are (yup!) around 55 and their kids are around 20-22 or something. I know this is only 3 decades from now but with a bit of wishful thinking, it might not be so far-fetched to think that things can change by then.
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It was a quiet affair, considering their joint and past stardom. Neither felt the need to advertise it, to make it big; it was long overdue, anyway.
“Better late than never,” Kibum had said with a smile, all those nights ago when the bill had just been passed.
Most people didn’t agree with it, though, hence the modest gathering of close friends and family on a warm fall evening. It took place outdoors, in a residential garden coloured by the vibrant hues of trees about to shed their leaves for the wintertime - Kibum’s idea. The live band, however, was Jonghyun’s. The blue brooch pinned to the lapel of Kibum’s tuxedo, that was Suhyun’s.
“It’s something borrowed and pearl aqua blue,” she’d said with that playful smile of hers. Kibum had clearly recognized the hair clip he had bought for his daughter when she was only five, the fake jewels still shiny and untarnished by time. “I had it mounted onto a pin so that you could match dad,” she’d added knowingly, in a way that had Kibum frowning - last he remembered, they had both purchased white tuxedos - but it all made sense a while later when he saw a small, blue flower sticking out of Jonghyun’s breast pocket, courtesy of Myungki. He hadn’t fancied flowers on this day, but he guessed it was okay as long as it was on Jonghyun. Kibum rolled his eyes in good humour; his children knew him far too well.
They walked down the makeshift aisle together, holding hands, because who needed tradition when this was unconventional to begin with. Jinki, Minho and Taemin were already waiting in front, all smiles, and Kibum remembered looking up to them and feeling relieved, peaceful. This wasn’t so much a union as it was a celebration of everything past and of everything yet to come. To feel their friends’ support behind them was still just as soothing, even after so long.
Jonghyun didn’t seem to be in the same mindset, however. When Suhyun and Myungki brought the rings, Jonghyun’s hand began feeling suspiciously moist and surely enough, he was shaking when came the time to slide the golden band onto Kibum’s finger. The latter found it utterly endearing, somehow, but the emotions caught up to him as well once he noticed a tear streaking down the elder’s cheek after they were pronounced husband and husband.
It was a short ceremony; they had been together for so long already, this night was simply a way to reaffirm it all. A veritable feast followed, constantly interrupted by hugs and wishes and wedding gifts - even despite the couple’s protests that those were unnecessary. The cake was huge and Kibum may or may not have indulged in one particular custom, unable to hold back from smearing the white icing onto Jonghyun’s cheek. Not that he seemed to mind, especially when Kibum licked it off.
As soon as the sun began to set, a projector was placed in front a drop-down screen. Jonghyun and Kibum looked at each other inquisitively, wondering what it was for but the surprise became apparent once the slideshow began. Pictures faded in and out one after the other, sometimes accompanied by a date and a short caption. The very first picture was that of Jonghyun as a (balding) baby with big eyes, then came Key as a toddler with his purple ribbon, embarrassing school pictures, selcas taken side by side in front of mirrors, and so on. Soon there were pictures of SHINee, of their debut days and after sneaking a glance at their ex-leader, Kibum noticed Jinki looking rather teary-eyed. Every picture held such special memories and as simple as they were they made Kibum, Key, proud. SHINee holding awards, Jonghyun crying on stage - that one gave the audience quite a laugh - Jonghyun crying some more, overseas promotions in an endless succession of cities, concert venues, private polaroids from Kibum’s trusted camera; everything up to their farewell tour prior to their enrollment.
Then the setting changed into the familiar surroundings of their first home, with Jonghyun holding a bundled up newborn in one arm and a bottle in the other. The next one had Kibum sitting cross-legged on an empty stage in one of his musicals’ outfits, cradling Myungki in his lap. Most pictures then featured the little boy, interspersed with images from Jonghyun’s solo activities or Kibum’s radio and design adventures. Soon, another baby entered the frame and it was strange but so rewarding to see her literally grow up alongside her brother. Kibum was especially fond of the picture where Jonghyun was seated beside a seven-year-old Suhyun on their piano’s bench. Then Juliette, their dog, came along as well as family gatherings and boat trips; a photograph showed Jonghyun with Suhyun in his lap behind the steering wheel of the first boat Kibum had bought, while the next showed Kibum at the back waving wildly to Myungki who looked like he was struggling to stand up on his wakeboard.
Seeing Myungki, then Suhyun in graduation caps had Kibum holding back tears anew, although when he looked to his side he figured there was no need to hold back since Jonghyun had been tearing up for the past fifty or so pictures. He chuckled at the sight, a light-hearted happiness bubbling up inside of him unexpectedly, feeling so blessed and lucky when he thought of all the things that had yet to come their way. The slideshow ended with them at the altar that very day, surrounded by life-long friends, and Kibum deemed it perfect - all of it.
The next thing he knew, there were fingers beneath his chin and he was being pulled into a kiss. It was a bit silly, because you would think he’d have gotten used to it, but Kibum couldn’t hear their guests’ applause over the sound of his pounding heart.