close to you
changmin/junsu
romance, drama / pg13 / 2/?
Max, the temperamental rockstar, finds himself granting a fanboy's wish after the said fanboy continuously rang his doorbell at six in the morning, camped out of his house and befriended his manager.
“What’s the photoshoot for?”
“Magazine interview.”
“Do I have anything else after this?”
“The actual interview.”
“Right.” he pauses and stares at his manager. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like that. You know I don’t do puppy eyes.”
“I wasn’t giving you puppy eyes or any kind of eyes. I was only staring.”
Changmin scoffs. “Then you admit staring at me.”
“I never denied anything.”
The rockstar waves a hand, silently telling his hairstylist to leave him and his manager for a while. The hairstylist gets the message, bows and leaves the room. “Okay…what’s this all about?”
Yunho shrugs. “Dunno what you’re talking about.” When Changmin gives him a look which says I don’t believe you, he sighs. “There’s really nothing to tell, man. I’ll go call the stylist.” he gives him a pat on the back and walks off, pointedly ignoring the other man’s calls of I still don’t believe you, you liar!
Yunho might not admit it but Changmin knows he is hiding something from him. Yes, he’s definitely curious but there must be a reason as to why the man is keeping mum about it so decides not to bring it up again. If Yunho tells him, then well and good. But if he doesn’t, maybe it’s not something he has to know.
Much to his relief, the fanboy is nowhere to be found as soon as he gets home. Good for him, he thinks, because honestly, he’s only wasting time and energy waiting for him like a fool when he’s only going to get ignored. Changmin has made his intention of not entertaining any other request than an autograph clear from the start.
“He better not come back again.”
And come back the boy does.
The infuriated star finds himself waking up a little past six in the morning when his doorbell starts to ring continuously. “Déjà vu,” he mutters bitterly but doesn’t make a move to get up. Is that kid insane? He’s a fan, he says, but he doesn’t really seem like it. He doesn’t seem concerned about him at all. If he actually is, he wouldn’t bother him in his sleep knowing that he doesn’t have all the time in the world to get some rest like any normal person who isn’t as busy as he is. “Oh, well fuck,”
Right.
The kid is a stalker fan. Stalker fans are heartless. They don’t care about anything at all. If hurting him would be the only way to get a rare photo of him, they’d do it with no hesitation.
Well, at least the kid hasn’t sneaked in his house yet.
On the third day, when he spots the same grinning kid camping outside his house, he makes a beeline for the front door, ignoring the other calling out for him as he gets in his car and drives off to Yunho’s house. “Yunho, you’re my manager, do something about that stupid kid!” he demands, slamming his can of beer on the table. “He’s driving me nuts!”
Yunho looks at him and shakes his head. “You really shouldn’t have ignored him.”
“You know something.” Changmin shoots him a glare. “I knew it. You know something but you’re not telling me. What is it? What did that goddamn sasaeng tell you?”
“Sasaeng? Changmin, he’s not a sasaeng.”
He snorts. “His actions and words tell me otherwise.”
“I’m serious. If only you took some time to get to know him.”
“I’m not you. I’m not a saint. And I certainly don’t talk to people who piss me off.”
“You talk to me.” He flips him off. Yunho sighs. “Alright. The point is, Junsu is a fan. A real one. He just…he just wants to spend a few days with you.”
“Does he think he’s special? No fucking way. He might have planned on killing me, chopping my body parts off and then sell it to his fellow sasaengs. He’d be goddamn rich if that happens.”
Yunho reaches out to pat him on the head. “You have a very wild imagination. But no, he’s very persistent because he’s running out of time.”
A chuckle. “What, is he dying?”
“Yes.”
He blinks, and blinks some more, unable to respond. It isn’t the answer he expected. He masks his surprise with a clear of the throat. “What makes you think I’d believe that?”
“He actually showed me some documents, health records and all because he knew you wouldn’t believe him. He brought it just in case.”
“Fake documents, Yunho.”
“Does it really matter?” Yunho replies with a frown, annoyance obvious in his tone. “Would it hurt to believe him? Okay so what if the kid is lying? Then let his conscience eat him up alive. As long as you made someone happy, that’s what should matter. And besides, I doubt he’s faking it. He knows you’ll see through his lie.”
Changmin lets Yunho’s words sink in. The man has a point but he’s only being careful. He’s suffered from fans like him before, he doesn’t want to go through all that again. He sighs. Whatever he says would be useless because no matter how he looks at it, Yunho is right. Come to think of it, the kid is pretty harmless; all he did was annoy him with his doorbell ringing but other than that, he did nothing that would put him in danger.
“You’re too nice and I don’t want it rubbing off me. Just this once, Yunho. Just this once. Three days with the kid and that’s it.”
“The kid has a name.”
“Do I look like I care?”
Yunho stretches his arms, yawning. “Nope. But you should start caring.”
Should he or should he not grant Junsu's wishes? Sure, he said he’d spend three days with him but it’s not like he promised, right? He never really promised Yunho anything, and Yunho would understand why he didn’t stick to his words.
Okay, so maybe Yunho wouldn’t understand and give him a beating, and even if he didn’t make a promise, the fact that he said something about it means a lot. He’s Changmin, and Shim Changmin is a man of his words. It’s his and one else’s fault that he let Yunho’s words get to him. He could only sigh as he parks his car, immediately spotting Junsu - he really has to get used to calling the kid by his name - sitting like a fool on his porch.
“Smiley,” he says, slamming his car door shut. The boy’s head snaps up, his lips automatically forming into a grin. Changmin finally talked to him. “Come on, get up.” In an instant, Junsu’s already standing behind him. He invites him in his house and tells him - with much difficulty - to make himself feel at home.
“Thank you.” Junsu says once the rockstar hands him a glass of juice. Changmin sits beside him on the couch and nods. “Am I a bother?”
“To be honest? Yes.” I was actually going to continue ignoring you if it weren’t for Yunho and your condition, he wants to add but realises it’s unnecessary to do so. “First off,” He glances at Junsu and sees him staring at him, still with that stupid grin on his face. He frowns. “Wait, stop. Don’t…don’t smile too much. I’m going to go blind. Relax your muscles and stop grinning for an hour or something.” Junsu scratches his head and mumbles a soft sorry. “As I was saying,” he continues, relieved that the fanboy isn’t grinning that creepy grin of his. “I’m only giving you three days. Take it or leave it. We’ll do whatever it is that you wish to do. I’m going to be nice and treat you as a friend.” He doesn’t expect himself saying that, words just flowed smoothly out of his mouth. Junsu might already have an idea that he knows of his sickness and that’s fine, but he’s not going to tell the kid that. If Yunho wants him happy, then he’s going to try and make him happy. It’s only for three days anyway, he reminds himself. It’s not going to be hard, is it?
“But,” he adds. “I’m allowed to decline a wish if I’m not comfortable with it.”
“Okay.” Junsu agrees and Changmin takes note of his raspy voice. It doesn’t seem to suit his face which is kind of cute. Kind of. And then the rockstar proceeds to mentally slap himself for thinking such inappropriate thoughts. “Even just a day with you is more than enough for me. But who am I to say no to three days? Thank you.” Junsu looks at him and blinks. He asks him what the problem is and the boy replies, “Can I smile now because I feel like smiling right now?”
He nods and then he sees that stupid and ridiculous grin again. Rolling his eyes, he props his feet up his coffee table and takes off his shirt. “You don’t mind, do you?” he asks the gaping boy who eventually shakes his head in response. “Good. Consider yourself lucky.”
“I already have. Ever since you told me to get the hell out of here.”
Changmin chooses to ignore that. “Let’s get to know each other or something.”
“Don’t you have a recording session later?” Junsu asks. He raises a brow asking how the hell did you know that because no one was supposed to know about it. “Oh, well, I saw it on twitter and…and…I swear I’m no stalker! I just happen to like you a lot.”
“And stalkers happen to like me a lot too.”
“But I’m not one of them.” He protests. He seems determined to prove the rockstar wrong- that he’s not a stalker fan like what he thinks he is. “You can trust me.”
Trust? Yeah, okay. Changmin laughs. “Trust is a big word. Don’t use it lightly like that.”
“But-“
“Whatever.” He takes out a notebook and a pen under his coffee table and hands it to the now frowning Junsu. “List it down. Your wishes. Keep in mind that I don’t accept wishes like kisses, hugs, sex or any form of skinship.”
“One wish. I only have one wish.”
“Okay? Somehow, I’m not feeling good about this. Let me hear it.”
Junsu looks at him straight in the eyes as he answers, “I want us to pretend like we’re a couple.” The taller man looks at the boy as if he’s gone mad. He probably has but, “Hear me out.” Ignoring his glare, Junsu continues, “I mean, it’s only three days, nothing more. Take it as a vacation. I’m sure Yunho hyung wouldn’t mind cancelling things. And besides, I really can’t go out that much. I’m sure you know why. I’d rather stay home…here…with you.” The rockstar watches as he fidgets. “I’ll take care of you.” he adds as an afterthought, just in case.
Changmin doesn’t know whether to laugh or throw his slippers at Junsu. Instead, he settles for a, “You’re funny.” Junsu blinks at him, eyes questioning. “You must be sick in the head for thinking I’d do that for you. No. Go ask someone else who’s willing to play house with you.”
“But you said-“
“I won’t agree with anything that makes me uncomfortable. I remember saying that, yes. I’ll cancel everything for the next three days but no fake marriage, fake relationship, no nothing. I don’t do couple shit.” He turns sideways and starts crawling towards the startled fan, lips quirking into a smirk as he settles down Junsu’s lap, accidentally knocking out the glass of juice from his hand, contents spilling over them. He gasps and lets the glass roll over the floor. “Oops. Not such a careful lover, aren’t I?”
“W-wha- no… no skinship you said…” Junsu stutters, obviously taken aback by the rockstar’s actions. A frown decorates his face when Changmin wraps his arms around his neck, pulling him close. “Max…” he says, voice sounding more like a whisper. Uncomfortable is an understatement to describe what he’s feeling at the moment. He’s cold and sticky from the juice and Changmin latching onto him is making things harder- no pun intended - for him to comprehend.
They engage in a staring contest, Changmin staring at him and he stares right back, not exactly knowing what is going on. He just stares because he thinks it’s what he’s supposed to be doing. He stares more, not wanting to lose the silly game when Changmin bursts out laughing, detaching himself from the horrified fan. Out of embarrassment, Junsu pushes him off the couch and crosses his arms with a huff as he watches the laughing rockstar fall on the floor. “I hate you.”
“You…y-you don’t…mean…that…” Changmin replies in between laughs to which he responds with a soft I don’t. The laughter dies down eventually and he extends an arm towards Junsu who looks pleasantly surprised. “My pants are wet, my ass is sticky and your crotch doesn’t look too good either. There’s a bathroom across the hall, take a shower. I’ll let you borrow some of my clothes.”
Junsu takes his hand and he pulls him up, and then pushes him to the general direction of the bathroom. He has no idea what has gotten into him and he let himself be that comfortable with the fan. Refusing to think about it, he heads to his bedroom to take a shower as well, not before handing his guest an oversized shirt and a pair of fresh boxers he pulled out from his closet.
“I’d rather you wear nothing but boxers.”
“W-what?!”
“Oh. You dropped your towel, smiley. Your thingy says hi-“
That is the first time someone has ever slammed a door in his face.
Looking up from the magazine he’s been reading, he almost smiles at the sight of Junsu tugging on the hem of his shirt which was a little too huge that no one could tell if he’s wearing something underneath. He whistles, stubbing out his cigarette and drops it in the ashtray. “What took you so long?” he asks. With the way Junsu is looking anywhere but him, he doesn’t really have to ask, does he? He sighs and pats the space beside him on the couch. “I was messing around. Don’t take everything seriously.”
“I know.” Junsu replies quietly as he claims the spot beside him. “So, back then…it meant…”
“Nothing. It meant nothing. Don’t entertain inappropriate thoughts, smiley.”
“Junsu. At least call me by my name.”
He notices the hurt in the other’s eyes but ignores it. If his actions have lead the other on, then he’s sorry. He honestly doesn’t mean to. He just thought that it’d help him loosen up seeing as how he’s a little uptight. Changmin isn’t a fan of relationships. He doesn’t want to think he has commitment issues. It’s just that, it’s not for him. Nothing good would come out from it so he’s long ago decided that it’s best to be alone. That way, he wouldn’t have to constantly worry about someone else, wouldn’t feel bad if he hurts someone in any way, wouldn’t have to suffer from blue balls when he’s overseas and his lover couldn’t tag along. And wouldn’t be restless thinking if his fans have harassed his lover yet because if he actually has a lover and he finds out about his stupid fans mauling said lover, he’d scream bloody murder and would end up in jail.
“Alright, Junsu. I think I’ve already made it clear that I’m not interested in any kind of relationship, be it fake or not. Just no. We could be friends, that’s the best I could offer you.”
I’m sorry. He wants to say, but his pride wouldn’t let him.
“I’ll take what I can get.” Junsu smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
He has constantly reminded himself that the man before him isn’t in a very good condition and the last thing he’d want to do is make him feel depressed. However, as much as he wants to give in, the rational part of him is telling him that it’s not such a good idea. What if the three days are up? They’d have to bid farewell to each other and Changmin is pretty sure that three days isn’t enough for him to develop feelings for Junsu. Not that he wants to, no. He couldn’t and would never let that happen.
If he happens to fall in love with Junsu and his health deteriorates and passes away, how’s he going to cope with the loss? What’s going to be left of him? No matter how he looks at it, it’s just not going to work.
Clearly, they’re just not meant for each other.
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so the updates are a little fast because i've written quite a lot already but it'll go slow eventually so yeah. if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. cross-posted on my aff :)