Forget Me Not (And Don't Move On) [3/7]
Forget Me Not (And Don't Move On)
III
He wakes to a headache and a message from an unknown number.
Jongin’s head pounds as he reaches blindly for the encrypted cellphone that lies under his pillow, right beside the 9mm he keeps for emergencies.
His hand closes around the device and pulls it out, thumb clicking the home button and screen lighting up. He blinks harshly, shying away from the brightness, rubbing his eyes as the words become less fuzzy.
The only thing he can make out is the time displayed in large numbers, reading 1:45 pm. In the profession that he has, he's lucky to find sleep whenever he can, so he had crawled into bed sometime around dawn after an exhausting night of sorting out his arms shipment. It's the longest he's slept in a while, normally stealing one- or two-hour naps on the chaise in his office. He yawns tiredly before rubbing his screen.
This is his “personal” phone, or as personal as a mob leader’s phone could be. Whenever he needs a phone for business purposes it's always a single use phone that Chanyeol has programmed to be untraceable. The only people who have this number are his four trusted senior officers and-
Kyungsoo, he remembers as the words on the screen come into focus. The number has no contact name in its preview but as everyone else on his phone does, it's obviously the shorter man who's contacting Jongin. He unlocks the phone and opens his messages.
From: 416.697.1288
Hi! (^-^)/ This is Do Kyungsoo, the film student from a few days ago! I was just wondering, are you free at all today to meet with me and my main actor? Not anything official, just as more of an orientation? Wait no not an orientation, that sounds too fancy. Just like a meet-and-greet you know, a get-to-know-you thing? I was just thinking that maybe if you met him it would give you a starting point? Sorry I'm rambling, but yeah, are you free to meet today? Thanks again so much!
P.s. Sorry if I caught you at a bad time! (T_T)
Jongin almost smiles as he reads the message that is quite literally all over the place. He adds Kyungsoo's name before typing a more formal response (he doesn't know how to write any other kind).
To: Do, Kyungsoo
Good afternoon, Kyungsoo. I am pleased that you found my number. I am free today at 6pm. Would that be alright?
The response is almost instantaneous, the eagerness a little more than obvious.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Yeah! That's perfect! (*^_^*)
Where can we meet??¿
To: Do, Kyungsoo
Do you know of Exodus?
From: Do, Kyungsoo
(O_O) Is that the one in Gangnam??!
Jongin laughs at Kyungsoo’s excessive use of emoticons. It's childish, but strangely Jongin finds it works when he envisions the shorter overenthusiastically smashing buttons on his phone.
To: Do, Kyungsoo
Indeed.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Woah okay that's amazing! I searched it up and the place looks so modern and just wowowow. I'll see you then Jongin (⌒▽⌒)
To: Do, Kyungsoo
See you.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
You should try using one of these! (^｡^) They're fun!
...
To: Do, Kyungsoo
V(^_^)V
Jongin feels like an idiot as soon as he sends the message. No one as formidable as him is permitted to send fucking emojis, and as he sees the message is read he cringes. But when Kyungsoo responds with a simple smiley face Jongin feels his head lightening, like he's done something good. Something for Kyungsoo. It's a nice feeling.
He swings himself out of bed and plods along the plush carpet to the bathroom. He teaches the marble sink and splashes his face with cold water before resting a hand on either side of the sink and looking at himself in the mirror.
He really has no fucking clue why he's doing this. Helping Kyungsoo, if you can even call it helping.
He looks tired, he notices, eye bags prominent and eyelids heavy, not that it does anything to mar his otherwise devastatingly handsome face. Maybe he could use something exciting. Something different. Chanyeol always tells him he needs to change things up, once offering to teach Jongin how to knit. Jongin's still unsure as to why the giant knows how to knit, but in any case it's safe to say that he didn't pick up the habit.
He sighs deeply before turning off the tap and exiting the bathroom. He has approximately four hours before he has to meet Kyungsoo, so he may as well get dressed now and finish up some things beforehand.
He throws on a maroon silk shirt and a matching maroon pair of satin pants, fitted around the thighs but loose in the calves. Without the black Italian dress shoes it would look like a pair of extremely pretentious pajamas on any other person, but on Jongin it makes him look elegantly casual. He has that talent, making anything look like it’s the right thing to wear, and he knows it.
He moves over to his bureau and runs some product through his hair, combing his fingers through the strands to give it a distinctly handsome bed head appearance.
He collects his phone from the nightstand before making his way out of his security-ridden penthouse and to the driver waiting downstairs.
It's nearing 3 o'clock when he arrives at HQ, as Chanyeol has dubbed it a few years back. He makes his way to his office and slinks into his chair, pulling up a report that someone has placed on his desk, presumably Yixing according to its contents.
It's an inventory of every piece of weaponry that was delivered last night, every last gun and grenade as promised. It's inked with a small note written in sloppy Korean handwriting, an apology of sorts.
Sir, sorry for the inconvenience. But 47 hours, as agreed. Take care.
-Yixing
Jongin blinks. Maybe he was a little harsh on Yixing. But then again, maybe not, because both of them know that Jongin would never actually off the assassin. He’s too invaluable, too skilled at what he does.
Jongin closes the report and rips it cleanly in two. He puts the pieces in the trash bin by his desk and leans back, feet crossing on top of his desk. He twists his bangle before sending Minseok a message.
To: Kim, Minseok
Give Yixing a bonus.
From: Kim, Minseok
Already done.
Jongin sighs before placing his phone down on his desk. He had wanted to take care of a few things while he was in, but all he can think about right now is meeting with Kyungsoo and Byun Baekhyun, who he still isn't fond of. Necessarily.
He doesn't know what he's going to say. He's an excellent bullshitter and he knows this, but this feels like it's something completely different. How, he has no idea.
Is he supposed to just give general tips then and there and be done with it? Is he supposed to stay with Kyungsoo throughout the project as some kind of assistant director or some shit? And oh God, is he supposed to spend time alone with Baekhyun? There's so many unanswered questions in his mind but Jongin steels himself. He's never had anxiety before so why start now. It's a business deal, although he's unclear as to what the benefit is to him. That is, why he volunteered in the first place.
He shakes his head when there's a rap on his door. Minseok pokes his head in and Jongin motions for him to enter. He stays awkwardly by the door, seeming to be in some kind of dilemma.
“What is it, Minseok?”
Minseok fidgets with one hand on the doorknob, almost as if he's prepared to flee. Jongin finds it strange though, because Minseok doesn't fidget.
“Jongin I- forgive me if I'm intruding but I just had a question.” He drags his gaze up to Jongin's eyes and when he sees no protest in them takes it as a sign to continue. “I was just wondering what you're getting yourself into. With Kyungsoo. Is it worth the trouble?”
Jongin clicks his tongue. “Now that, I cannot tell you.” He waits a moment. “I don't quite understand why either Minseok, but something is telling me to do it. ” Jongin laughs then, a businessman’s laugh. “You never know Minseok, he could be a part-time employee at the bank for all we know. A perfect way to get in, don't you think?” Jongin says with a politician's smile.
“Maybe,” Minseok says slowly. “But whatever this turns out to be, be careful. You don't really have any room for personal attachments, not that you need me to remind you. Just… keep a distance, be cautious, all that.”
“I'm always cautious.” Jongin replies, deep timbre of his voice running smooth.
Minseok gives a somewhat doubtful smile before nodding his leave and exiting as quickly as he had come. Jongin rolls his neck once and closes his eyes.
He counts to ten.
It's going to be a long evening.
•
“Stop fidgeting, Kyung, you're making me nervous.”
Baekhyun berates Kyungsoo for what must be the millionth time as the latter adjusts his tie. He wears a skinny black one over a baby blue dress shirt, overlaid by a beige cashmere sweater. He chose black slacks this morning, and when Baekhyun had laughed at Kyungsoo’s choice in pants the film student had said that they matched his tie, to which Baekhyun replied that he looked like someone a mom would want her daughter to date, sarcastic snigger clearly heard. Kyungsoo had just grumbled before snapping at Baekhyun to get dressed up, because they were going to Gangnam.
And that's where they sit now, in a Michelin-star restaurant called Exodus, where everything is black and reflective and the chandeliers are crystal. The tablecloth is white silk, a pop of contrast among the otherwise mysterious setting. Kyungsoo tugs at his collar again, worried because he's just remembered that he wore brown dress shoes. With black dress pants. Ugh.
“I swear to God if you're worried about your shoes not matching your pants I will kill you.”
“WHAT THE FUCK BAEKHYUN?!” Kyungsoo whisper-yells. “Why didn't you say anything?”
Baekhyun shrugs. “Wasn't my place.”
“I'm getting a new roommate. You're being evicted.”
“Oh come on Soo, you'd miss me.”
“Yeah, kind of like how you miss getting laid.”
“Ouch. Completely hurtful, and totally inaccurate.”
“You'll survive.”
“Hardly.”
Thankfully Kyungsoo is saved from having to deal with a butthurt Baekhyun as the waiter approaches them. He's dressed a white dress shirt and black bow tie and slacks, midnight shoes squeaky clean.
“Good evening, gentlemen, how may I help you?”
“Well, personally, I’d greatly appreciate it if you removed my roommate here.” Baekhyun says unhelpfully, gesturing to Kyungsoo.
The latter sighs.
“Please ignore him, he has issues. And three waters would be great, thank you.”
“You’re my issue.” Baekhyun mumbles as the waiter walks away.
Baekhyun starts grumpily messing with his cutlery, putting the once perfectly placed setting into complete disarray.
Kyungsoo frowns disapprovingly. “Stop that, you’re acting like you’re five Baek.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Grow the fuck up.”
“Don’t swear in a fancy restaurant you inconsiderate asshole.”
“Hypocrite.”
“Oh look someone approaches.”
Two sets of eyes look up to find a tall, dark, and mysterious man approaching them.
And if Kyungsoo thought that Jongin in casual wear was devastating then he may as well find the nearest tornado and throw himself into it.
Jongin looks casual, but he doesn’t. He looks dressed up, but he doesn’t. He looks like he just walked out of a photo shoot, and the smirk he flashes at Kyungsoo as their eyes meet is doing weird things to his body that he’s trying very hard to ignore.
As Jongin approaches the small round table and pulls out the remaining chair, Kyungsoo awkwardly shoots up and sticks his hand out to Jongin. He takes a deep breath as Jongin grasps his fingers in a firm shake. Warm, he notes, his hands are really warm.
He clears his throat. “Thank you for coming, Jongin! This is amazing, really.”
Jongin shrugs elegantly, not that Kyungsoo knew that was even possible. “A promise is a promise.” He says smoothly, and out of the corner of his eye Kyungsoo can see Baekhyun flipping shit at the sound of Jongin’s voice. He glares.
“Still, I really appreciate it.” Kyungsoo says, turning his focus back to Jongin with a dazzling smile (or well at least it is to Jongin).
Jongin nods and motions for Kyungsoo to take his seat again.
As the two standing sit down Kyungsoo kicks Baekhyun and he jerks with a start, causing Jongin to glance over at him. There’s a moment as the two stare at each other, Baekhyun just looking kind of stupid and starstruck while Jongin on the other hand looks like he just saw a hair in his food.
Well this will be interesting.
“You must be the famous Baekhyun then,” Jongin starts as he settles into his chair.
Baekhyun doesn’t say anything for at least 10 seconds and it’s awfully awkward, transitioning into into awfully horrible as 10 turns into 20.
“...”
“Holy shit you’re hot.”
“Baek!”
“He is!”
“Ugh.”
Baekhyun seems to remember himself then, nodding to Jongin and smiling. “Yes that would be me, the famous Baekhyun. Although, not as famous as you I hear.” He smirks, and Kyungsoo groans internally. “Kyungsoo here has told me an awful lot about you.” He says suggestively, reaching around the table to grasp Kyungsoo’s elbow. He shakes him off.
“Hm.” Jongin looks smugly pleased. “Well I’m glad to know that Kyungsoo has told you about myself.” He smiles at Baekhyun but the latter shivers at the tone. It sounds… possessive, to say the least. He’s not sure he likes it.
Kyungsoo, comparatively, just smiles at Jongin dreamily, staring in fascination at the trio of freckles he’s just noticed on his face. He wants to see them from a closer distance, for purely scientific reasons of course.
The waiter comes back with three glasses of water, bringing Kyungsoo back to attention. He shakes his head and smiles again as Jongin motions that they need another minute.
Kyungsoo coughs. “So, Jongin, scheduling. Do you what days you might be free? And when?”
Jongin blinks and replies slowly. “Unfortunately, my schedule is kind of up in the air. I’ll have free time sporadically, but I’m hoping that since the two of you live together, it won’t be too much of an issue.”
Kyungsoo shakes his head. “Not at all! I was thinking of filming a lot in our apartment anyways. We’re kind of on a budget.” He says with a light laugh. “I can give you our address then? And whenever you have time you can just let us know. Our schedules are pretty free anyways.”
Baekhyun interjects. “Well, that may be the case for you Kyung, but as it stands, I have a very active social life.”
“You have no active social life whatsoever.”
“True, but I have you.” Baekhyun says cheekily. He’s doing it on purpose, trying to gauge Jongin’s reaction. He’s extremely overprotective of Kyungsoo, and the admittedly handsome man had set off his mom bells as soon as he had seen the way he looked at his roommate. Kyungsoo didn’t notice because he’s just oblivious like that, but while he had been talking Baekhyun had watched Jongin stare Kyungsoo down with an almost predatory gaze. It was weird.
He’s pleased when Jongin, who had been casually observing their interaction, stiffens.
“It’s true,” Kyungsoo says to Jongin, who flinches. “We’ve unfortunately been best friends for longer than I’m proud of. But, I’m sure he’ll do an amazing job and be an absolute pleasure to work with, won’t you Baekhyun?” Kyungsoo asks with a pointedly cheery smile.
Baekhyun grins. “Of course, anything for my Kyungie.” He says cutely, and Kyungsoo gives him a nod and a small smile.
Out of the corner of his eye, however, He sees Jongin clenching his jaw and grinding his teeth. The brunette looks like he wants to insert several miles of distance between Baekhyun and Kyungsoo, and Baekhyun sends him an angelic smile as he squeezes Kyungsoo’s hand.
Kyungsoo notices Jongin’s discomfort and looks concerned. “Is everything okay Jongin?”
“Peachy.” The other replies as he stares at Kyungsoo and Baekhyun’s still connected hands.
“Okay.” Kyungsoo says with a shy smile. This seems to satiate Jongin a bit, who lowers from a bristling level to a just-barely-contained one.
“Anyways, Jongin I was, um, wondering if we could talk about the actual film for a minute. I just wanted to see if you had any advice to give us before we started. Or well, to give Baekhyun. I don’t do cameras.” A nervous chuckle.
Jongin smiles. “Well I’d hope you do cameras, otherwise I’m not entirely sure what we’ll be doing these next few weeks.”
“I can think of some other things you two can do.” Baekhyun pipes up unhelpfully.
Kyungsoo blushes beet red and stammers out- “I-I mean that I don’t like being in front of the camera. I like being behind them. Yeah. I like being behind.”
Baekhyun sighs.
“You like being behind? Well, I’ll be sure to take note of that.” Jongin says over the top of his glass as he takes a sip, eyebrow raised.
Even Baekhyun sputters at that, clearly not expecting Jongin to be so… forward. But when Jongin smiles too sweetly at Baekhyun, he understands that the other is simply marking his territory, as it were.
“Uh, haha, yeah. Great. Anyways. Um. Baekhyun. What can you tell him?”
Jongin shifts his amused gaze from Kyungsoo to Baekhyun, leaning back casually in his chair. “I’ll just say this. Make sure you understand the motivation. Where everything is coming from. Don’t let anything be done on screen that isn’t deliberate. Make every single second count, because you only have 600 of them.”
“Wow.” Baekhyun says appreciatively. “That’s an awful lot of pressure for ten minutes.”
“Well, it would really be a shame if you were to ruin this for Kyungsoo.” It’s a threat and Baekhyun can hear it, unlike Kyungsoo who is just giving Jongin googly eyes.
“Trust me, I won’t.” He says with just a lot of sass.
“Good.” Jongin grits.
“Great!” Kyungsoo chirps.
Dinner lasts for a long time.
•
Jongin gets back to headquarters and storms down the hallway, not even pausing as he yells- “Get me Minseok! Now!” - to no one in particular. He hears scrambling behind him as he bangs open the door to his office, huffing to his chair and plopping down.
He whips the nearest object off his desk and across the room, watching in satisfaction as the crystal paperweight shatters with a crash.
Minseok walks into his office then, eyes doing a onceover of the damage.
He raises a brow at Jongin. “It went well then?”
“Shut the door.” Jongin growls.
“Down boy,” Minseok jokes as he closes the door and moves to sit across from Jongin. No more than two seconds after he sits Jongin springs up and walks around the desk, pacing agitatedly in the space in front.
“Minseok, give me something to do. Anything.”
Minseok looks dumb for a second. “Um. Jongin, I work for you. I can’t tell you what to-”
“This fucking kid! I swear to God I will deliver Yixing to his fucking door.” Jongin fumes.
“Woah, woah, woah, calm down there. What kid? Kyungsoo?”
Jongin stops moving and stares stupidly at Minseok. “Not Kyungsoo, goddamnit, he’s perfect. Fucking Byun Baekhyun and his fucking face and he needs to back the fuck up because he’s way too fucking close all the fucking time!”
Minseok’s eyes widen at the sudden outburst. It’s extremely unlike the mob leader to be so… expressive. “Jongin, sit down. You’re giving me a headache.”
“Minseok, I apologize, but really, remind me not to call Yixing anytime soon.” He moves back to his chair and sits with a huff. “So, met with Kyungsoo. Good man. Extremely nice, not that I like nice people. But his friend, Baekhyun, absolute nightmare. Touching Kyungsoo, joking with Kyungsoo, making Kyungsoo smile, making Kyungsoo laugh. Honestly, the nerve of this kid.” Jongin sounds almost out of breath.
“Wow. Sounds like some next level best friend shit.” Minseok muses.
Jongin looks exasperated, a look Minseok isn’t used to seeing on his face.
“I’m serious Minseok.”
“So am I.” He says with a shrug. “Really, it just sounds like they’re good friends. What’s the issue?”
“Well, Minseok,” Jongin begins, voice dripping with sarcasm, “The issue is that-” He cuts off, looking confused for a moment because if he listens to Minseok he might actually see that there is no issue. “That’s- that’s besides the point. I personally am just a believer of personal space, and Baekhyun is way too close to Kyungsoo. Statistically speaking, having someone that close to you all the time just makes you more susceptible and vulnerable to them. It’s strategic. I need Baekhyun to stay away from Kyungsoo. Wait no. Kyungsoo needs Baekhyun to stay away from Kyungsoo. Yes.”
Minseok smiles. “Sounds like you’ve got a real problem on your hands. By the way, did I hear you say that Kyungsoo is perfect?”
Jongin huffs. “Obviously not. What do you take me for Minseok?”
“An idiot.”
“I can fire you.”
“No you can’t. I’ll spill all of your mob secrets.”
“I can kill you.”
“No you can’t. Yixing likes me.”
“I have more hitmen than Yixing.”
“Yeah, but you don’t trust any of them.”
“Fuck you, Minseok.”
“I think you’d rather fuck Kyungsoo.”
“He’s got pretty lips.”
“Has he?”
“He has.”
“I see.”
“It’s awful.”
“Pretty lips?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I want those lips doing things other than speaking.”
“Ah.”
“I’m fucked.”
“You are.”
Jongin sighs, slumping forward onto his desk. “I don’t get it Minseok. I haven’t been attracted to a person in years, and I just met this kid too. But, I want to see him again. I don’t know why.”
Minseok thinks for a second. “First of all, please stop saying you’re attracted to a kid, it’s weird. Second, I don’t know either, but whatever the reason is, don’t let it get to you. You don’t get to have the luxury of relationships in your position.”
“I know Minseok, I know. I don’t want a relationship. God no. I just, there’s something about him.”
“Is that something a dick?” Minseok jokes.
“Ha ha, very funny Minseok.” Jongin replies dryly.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. But just be careful. I don’t want you getting into something you can’t get out of.”
“I won’t. Promise.” It’s silent. “Speaking of which though, have you found new leads for the bank? I swear to God if the Syndicate gets to that vault before us I will hunt down Lee Taemin to the ends of the Earth.”
Minseok nods, secretly impressed by Jongin’s ability to switch so effortlessly into business. “Actually, there is one. Oh Sehun, new member on the Board of Directors. Voted in after the… unfortunate death of Song. The best bit, he’s inexperienced. Only 27, no one has any clue how he managed to get enough votes. Some sort of child prodigy. Anyways, I’ve been thinking we can work the young angle. Being two handsome fellows like yourself, surely you’ll find something to bond over. Pussy. Dick. Both. Who knows.”
Jongin runs a hand through his hair. “Can you please not be so vulgar while we’re discussing business? It confuses me.”
“Yeah, cause you need to get some.” MInseok whispers under his breath.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Anyways, I like it. When can I meet him?”
“The bank is throwing an induction party this Friday. 8pm, Seoul Grand Palace.”
“Perfect. Order me a new suit. My one from last week has blood on it.”
“Will do Sir. Anything else?”
“Yeah. Make Byun Baekhyun go to hell.”
“I’m afraid only the devil can drag someone to hell. I believe that’s up to you then.” Minseok gets up with a wink.
Jongin dismisses him and he’s almost out the door before he turns arounds suddenly. Jongin quirks an eyebrow.
“Just… whatever you decide to do, good luck Jongin.”
“Thanks Min.”
“Call me if you need anything.”
He leaves and Jongin lets out a breath. He really has no clue what he’s doing, but he knows he has to get to Oh Sehun before the Syndicate can. He reminds himself to run a background check on the man and see how he can work himself in. He pulls out his phone to ask Chanyeol when he notices that he has no less than seven new messages from Kyungsoo.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
HI Jongin! I just wanted to say thanks again for coming today! It really was a huge help , and I hope you can meet again soon! Just let me know when you’ll be free! :))))
Jongin thinks for a second. It’s Wednesday, so technically he has tomorrow to meet with Kyungsoo before Friday. He should be doing research into Oh Sehun, but he has Chanyeol, and the giant probably owes him one from somewhere down the line. He sighs and keeps reading.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Actually, are you free tomorrow? Baekhyun and I are going to visit his parents on the weekend and he wants to head up Friday afternoon. If it’s inconvenient just let me know! ^_^
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Baekhyun is telling me I’m being pushy owo. Not that I show him our conversations! Haha nope o(^_-)O
From: Do, Kyungsoo
But yeah, tomorrow? Just let me know!!
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Sorry to bother you by the way!
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Ahahha, now Baekhyun is saying that he doubts I’m bothering you. He’s crazy aha
From: Do, Kyungsoo
V(^_^)V
Jongin smiles at his phone. He’s a hard person, he knows. The only people he has ever remotely felt anything besides nothing for are Minseok and maybe Chanyeol. But there’s something about Do Kyungsoo. Maybe it’s his smile, Jongin doesn’t know. He’s only just met Kyungsoo but something tells him that the hatred he feels towards Baekhyun is not normal. Minseok is right; Baekhyun hasn’t really done anything wrong. But still. He needs to stay away from Kyungsoo. Like, way away.
To: Do, Kyungsoo
Tomorrow works for me. Does two in the afternoon work for you? I need your address.
A minute later there’s a reply:
From: Do, Kyungsoo
2 is perfect! I’ll text u the address later, Baekhyun wants me to go to a movie with him now
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Baek wants your number to “warn you about stranger danger” :) just kidding he says he wants to ask you some questions. Can I give it to him?
To: Do, Kyungsoo
I suppose. I’ll see you tomorrow, Kyungsoo.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Okay thank you! See you, Jongin.
At this Jongin can imagine the way Kyungsoo says his name when it’s just him and the shorter male, and the memory of his chocolatey voice sends a delicious shiver down Jongin’s spine. He would never admit it, but something in him stirs at the thought of seeing Kyungsoo tomorrow.
He prays to God that Baekhyun caught on to his signals today at dinner and backs up.
From: 888.145.0232
Hey Jongin this is Baekhyun! Can I call you Jongin? Yes? Great! Just remember, stranger danger! Bring your pepper spray ㅋㅋㅋ. Not that kyung and I are murderers or something :))) Cya tomorrow!!!!!
Okay. Maybe not.
•
Jongin walks up to the slightly decrepit apartment complex and lets his eyes wander upwards. It’s only four stories tall but from the outside and it looks like it should be condemned. The brick looks like it’s crumbling in some areas, and on the fourth floor he sees a boarded window. He can only hope that no one lives in that apartment.
He makes his way inside and away from the cold, shrugging off his jacket as he enters the building. He’s dressed in a horizontally striped black-and-white sweater and tight black slacks. It’s the most casual he’s going to get, but he figured he’s try so he didn’t look like an idiot.
He walks down the first-floor corridor to the elevator at the end that looks like it came straight out of the thirties, and presses the button for the third floor. The elevator is creaky and loud as it ascends, the noises grinding into Jongin’s skull.
When the doors open he makes his way down the hallway, searching for apartment 3E. He spots the brass characters hanging to his right and knocks.
It seems like an eternity before he hears footsteps running followed by a- “One second!”- that sounds muffled through the doorway. A moment later the door opens a little and a small head peeks through.
“Hi, how can I- Oh! Jongin! Come on in!” Kyungsoo greets as he fully opens the door and gestures for Jongin to enter. As the taller crosses the threshold he’s immediately met with an overwhelming sense of home, like this is a place you should come home to every night and put up your feet on the coffee table. He sees a small living room with an old albeit comfortable-looking couch and a wooden coffee table, and small kitchen that pretty much counts as a kitchenette. Across the living room he sees three doors, presumably two bedrooms and a bathroom. Overall, the apartment looks cozy, and in the back of his mind Jongin decides he could get used to it.
He turns his attention back to Kyungsoo when he hears a throat being cleared. And it’s a shame that Jongin was too busy looking around the apartment before because Kyungsoo looks just, well, just.
Um.
Jongin’s mind draws a temporary blank as he rakes in every inch of Kyungsoo’s figure. His midnight black hair is mussed and just slightly gelled, and it looks like he just woke up from a nap. His eyelids are still puffy and Jongin wants to cool them down with kisses. Wait no. No he doesn’t.
Kyungsoo wears a white cashmere sweater that’s just a little too large on him, sleeves cutely going past his palms and neckline showing a tantalizing glimpse of alabaster skin. A little further down and Jongin is met with light blue skinny jeans that hug the shorter man’s thighs perfectly and leave Jongin’s mouth to water at the corners.
He looks back up to Kyungsoo’s face and sees a nervous expression there, probably because Jongin has been staring at Kyungsoo like he’s tonight’s dinner for the past sixty seconds. He clears his throat and smiles brightly.
“Hi Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo blinks and seems to relax a bit as he returns the greeting. “Hi,” He says quietly, shy smile gracing his face. “Baekhyun just ran out to go pick up some stuff, but he’ll be back soon. Can I, uhm, get you something to drink while we wait?”
“I’m alright, thank you.” Jongin says.
“Oh, okay, perfect. Would you like to, um, take a seat then? We can sit over here.” Kyungsoo leads them to living room and plops down onto the couch, facing jongin who sits on the other end and tucking his knees up to his chest. Everything about Kyungsoo’s position is cute right now, from the way he rests his chin on his knees to the way he blows the hair out of his face.
Jongin crosses one leg over the other and turns to face Kyungsoo diagonally on the couch. It’s quiet for a moment before Kyungsoo speaks up.
“How was your morning?” Jongin is momentarily surprised at the smalltalk, not being accustomed to it. The only questions he ever received about his day came from Chanyeol, and it was normally better to just ignore those.
“It was… okay.” It had been a bit more than okay, truthfully. He had finally been able to take inventory of his shipment, Chanyeol had given him a background check on Sehun, which he had yet to look at, and Yixing had informed him that Yifan was sending Jongin another shipment of semis as compensation for the earlier confusion. But, of course, he can’t say that to Kyungsoo, so he settles for returning the question.
“It was okay too.” Kyungsoo responds with a humorous smile. “I got to finish my book today.”
Jongin returns the smile. “And the ending?”
“A secret. No spoilers.”
Jongin chuckles. It’s a deep sound the seems to make the room a little bit warmer, especially when Kyungsoo’s lips stretch into a full heart-shaped smile.
There’s a moment when neither of them speak before Kyungsoo remembers why Jongin is at his apartment.
“So, um, today I was thinking of filming some stuff for the beginning of the short. Like when the idea of running away initially comes to Baekhyun. It’ll mostly be closeups and stuff, but I think Baek might need some help with this more serious kind of stuff. He’s more of a comedian, if you couldn’t tell.” He says with a laugh.
Jongin looks at him slowly. “I’ll do what I can.”
“Thanks.” A smile.
“Kyungsoo?”
“Mmm?”
“Why did you run?”
“Me?”
“Yes. You.”
“Um.” Kyungsoo seems to think about his answer for a second. “I-I probably wouldn’t normally tell you this, because only Baek knows, but I guess it’s the least I can do.” He starts shyly.
“Kyungsoo, if it makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to.” Jongin amends as his eyebrow scrunches up in concern.
“It’s alright. I don’t mind.” He flashes a reassuring smile.
“I just, I hate conflict. I hate it. Everything about it. I hate getting mad at people, I hate raising my voice, but most of all I hate it when people are mad at me. When I disappoint them. And I think, yeah, that’s what happened with my parents.”
Kyungsoo takes a shaky breath and Jongin unwittingly finds himself sliding closer, placing a comforting hand on Kyungsoo’s ankle.
“They- they just couldn’t accept the fact that I wanted to do something other than be a doctor. Or a lawyer. I mean, what parent wants their kid to be fucking filmmaker? I’m no James Cameron, no Steven Spielberg. I don’t want that. To make the biggest features, have the best cast. I just want to do what I like. Which is this. Small films that probably won’t reach more than a couple thousand people, but holy shit will those people love them. I guess my parents just couldn’t see that. They think I lack ambition, and drive, but I just have it in a different way than they do.
“When my parents found out that I had applied to KAFA anyways, they lost it. They started yelling at me, telling me how disappointing I was and how much of a stupid idea it was. And I couldn’t handle it. I didn’t want to see the looks of resentment in their eyes every time I saw them, so I left.” He pauses. “That was three years ago. I haven’t talked to them since then.”
Jongin is silent. He doesn’t like to get tangled up in business. That’s when attachments form, and that’s when things get messy. But he can’t help it as he slides his hand up Kyungsoo’s calf to his knee, giving it a light squeeze and unwittingly sending shivers across Kyungsoo’s skin.
“So yeah, that’s why. It doesn’t bother me too much though. I have Baekhyun, and that’s all I really need. He keeps me grounded.” A laugh. “I guess that’s why we’re so close. I would never say it to him, and I’d kill you if you did, but I need him a bit more than I let on. He’s the only person I have left.” Kyungsoo says with a bittersweet smile.
“You have me.”
It’s out of Jongin’s mouth before he can even stop it, and Kyungsoo’s head whips up. He looks confused, mostly, and maybe a little bit hopeful. Which hurts. Jongin wishes Kyungsoo wouldn’t look at him like that. He’s no good.
“I-” Jongin never gets to find out what Kyungsoo is going to say because Byun fucking Baekhyun chooses that moment to barge in the door with arms loaded full of grocery bags.
“Kyungie, my beautiful wife, I have brought home the bread with which you may make me dinner!” He singsongs.
He then gets a look at the couch and sees Jongin and Kyungsoo seated there with Jongin’s hand still on the other’s knee, their bodies perhaps a bit closer than they need to be.
“Ah, the wife is having an affair.” Baekhyun narrates flatly.
“Shove off Baek,” Kyungsoo says with a smile as he gets up to help his roommate with the groceries. Jongin follows suit and lingers at the edges of the kitchen.
He watches the two friends as they unpack everything, laughing and smiling and eyes crinkling around the edges as Baekhyun tells the other of some crazy lady he saw at the grocery store who was trying to steal frozen pizzas. Baekhyun and Kyungsoo go so well together, and Jongin can’t help but wish that it was his name in that sentence instead of Baekhyun’s.
Kyungsoo seems to remember that Jongin is standing there and turns his attention back to him.
“Oh Jongin, I forgot to ask. Did you want to stay for dinner? I’m cooking. Unless you’re busy of course, which is okay too!” He rushes out in one breath.
Baekhyun approaches from behind and lays his head on Kyungsoo’s shoulder.
“Personally Jongin, I would cancel any plans you have for the evening, because there is literally nothing better than Kyungsoo’s cooking. Literally. Not even his sister.”
“YAH!” Kyungsoo shouts indignantly, turning around to smack Baekhyun.
“What? Your sister is a beautiful woman!” Baekhyun curls away from his roommate’s attack.
Jongin can’t help the laugh that bubbles up as Baekhyun runs away from Kyungsoo. The shorter male may be small, but he’s got a lot of fight in him. Jongin admires that.
“I would love to.” He says, bringing Kyungsoo and Baekhyun back to attention.
“Awesome!” Baekhyun pipes up first. “You guys can cook together! Oh my God this is going to be so cute I’m going to just sit on the couch and watch you guys omg I love this.” He spews as he walks away.
Kyungsoo blushes beet red and looks at his feet.
“Sorry.” He mumbles. “Let’s go.”
They go.
•
They now reside in Kyungsoo’s bedroom, which is doing weird things to Jongin’s body. It smells overwhelmingly like the shorter, which Jongin discovers to be a mix of vanilla and cologne. The bed lies in the centre, a decently-sized queen with dark grey sheets. Kyungsoo had messed up the sheets purposefully to add to the disarrayed effect of the film, but all Jongin can think of as he stares at the bed is messing up the sheets with Kyungsoo in other ways.
The man in question stands off in the corner messing with his camera and setting up his tripod. He’s flipping through the settings on his camera and Jongin watches from afar, eyes hungrily taking in the way Kyungsoo’s tongue pokes out of his mouth.
The door flings open and in enter Baekhyun, in a graphic tee and jeans a requested by Kyungsoo. He jumps on the bed and makes himself at home in it, immediately quelling any fantasies Jongin may have had or will ever have about that bed.
“So, Kyung, tell me what I gotta do.” Baekhyun half-raises his head.
“Hold on a sec.” Kyungsoo removes the camera from the tripod and loops the strap twice around his forearm.
Jongin leans against the windowsill which Kyungsoo had told him would be behind the camera. Something about backlighting.
“Okay, so, Baek, I want you to be at the desk. This is where you’re seriously thinking about running away, and I want it to be like the decision is killing you. Like you don’t want to leave, but you can’t think of anything else to do. Make it look like you didn’t sleep all night. Oh and also, use your breath. This short is going to be pretty monochromatic, so I’m not scoring it at all. Your breathing is going to count for a lot here.”
“Ah, breathplay I see.”
“Please, shut up.”
“Gotcha Kyung.”
Baekhyun takes his place at Kyungsoo’s desk and Kyungsoo moves around to get a good angle of his face. He moves around for a second before seeming to be satisfied and nodding at Baekhyun. He breathes out a quiet action, and silence ascends.
It’s amazing the transformation of Baekhyun’s character in just a few seconds. He turns somber, and his eyes look tired, so unlike the usual brightness that fills them. He looks almost void, empty, and Jongin has to say he’s more than a little bit impressed.
But what captures his attention more is the man behind the camera. Kyungsoo squints into the eyehole and watches Baekhyun intently, camera smoothly sliding around his actor’s face and capturing everything he’s giving him. The lights have been dimmed, and it makes the outline of Kyungsoo’s figure look more delicate. Jongin can just barely see the hint of a solid and maybe just a little bit buff figure under Kyungsoo’s sweater, and his gaze traces every movement he makes.
He has the sudden urge to walk up behind the shorter and wrap his arms around him, press his chest into Kyungsoo’s back and trail his lips up the side of his neck. To whisper into Kyungsoo’s ear and feel the shiver that runs down his back. But he shakes the thought out of his head, because Baekhyun is still in the room and he’s trying his best to stay focused.
It’s completely mesmerizing, watching the way Kyungsoo never breaks concentration and is so carefully trained on Baekhyun that he couldn’t miss anything if he tried. On camera, Baekhyun holds his head in his hands, elbows on the desk, and runs his hands through his hair. He glances, at the clock, then at the door, then straight at the wall. Jongin can see the confliction in Baekhyun’s face, and the emotion is so convincing that Jongin starts to feel a pang in his chest.
Baekhyun gets up suddenly and kicks back his chair, sending it crashing to the ground. He stares at it for a second like it holds all the answers before shoving it aside with his foot with a huff. He moves around to the bed and sits on the edge, staring straight out the window, just beside where Jongin still stands.
Kyungsoo slowly glides across the floor, tracing Baekhyun’s movements with his camera and never breaking the smooth transition.
But when he passes by the chair he almost trips over it, Jongin following Kyungsoo so carefully with his eyes that he can see what’s about to happen before Kyungsoo does. In a flash that’s way faster than any non-combat trained person would have thought possible, Jongin reaches out to Kyungsoo and wraps a strong arm around his torso.
Kyungsoo is too focused on what’s happening in his camera, so he doesn’t question what Jongin is doing as he leads him in a smooth line around the fallen chair. He lets himself be pulled by the taller, who presses his front into Kyungsoo’s back to keep him steady.
Once they pass the chair Jongin slowly slides off of Kyungsoo, but not before feeling the other’s racing heartbeat. He drags his palm against Kyungsoo’s torso purposefully as he retreats, feeling his abdominals flex under the touch. It’s a far too intimate action to be doing while they’re filming, much less while there’s another person in the room, but Jongin doesn’t exactly care.
About two minutes later Kyungsoo whispers out cut, and Baekhyun’s serious expression relaxes slightly, but there’s still a heavy air in the room ,whether it’s from Baekhyun’s acting or Jongin’s forwardness, he can’t tell.
Kyungsoo lowers his camera and faces Baekhyun. “Wow. Baek. That was amazing. Where did that come from?”
Baekhyun smiles sheepishly. “I still got a few tricks up my sleeve Kyung.”
Kyungsoo thanks Baekhyun again before telling him he can take a quick break if he wants, that they won’t need to redo that scene because it was perfect on the first try. Baekhyun says he’ll be right back, that he’s just going to go get water, and he exits the room.
As soon as the third person leaves the atmosphere turns dense.
Kyungsoo looks at Jongin and the taller can already see the question in his eyes.
“You almost tripped Kyungsoo.” He says softly. “Over the chair.”
Kyungsoo closes his eyes for a second, because he’s never heard Jongin speak so quietly and the way that the other seems to cherish every syllable of his name makes him feel weak in the knees.
“Thank you.” Kyungsoo whispers, not sure why it’s suddenly so difficult to speak. All can he do is stand still helplessly as Jongin’s eyes grow intense and he bores his gaze into Kyungsoo. The brunette gently pushes off the window and takes three long strides to stand in front of Kyungsoo, towering over the man who seems to shrink under his gaze.
Kyungsoo looks at his feet, afraid of the intensity he can feel from above him. But when he finally looks up, he gasps, almost inaudibly.
Jongin’s eyes have softened, so different from the fire that was in them ten seconds ago. Kyungsoo is enamoured, and he inhales sharply as Jongin brings his hand up. Jongin brushes the strand of hair that fallen into Kyungsoo’s face back and just as quickly drops his hand. But the tender look in his eyes remains, and it’s more than a little terrifying to Kyungsoo, who feels an answering one in the pit of his stomach.
“Jongin-” Kyungsoo starts, voice barely audible.
At this Jongin flinches, and he immediately takes a step back like he’s just been burned. The soft look in his eyes glazes over and returns to the dark and mysterious one that usually graces his face.
Kyungsoo’s heart drops as Jongin retreats to the windowsill, leaning against it casually like that didn’t just happen and saying a short- “You’re welcome.”
The moment is over when Baekhyun walks back into the bedroom, back to his energetic self after getting a drink. Baekhyun asks Kyungsoo what he wants him to do next, and the shorter takes one last look at Jongin before shaking his head and turning his attention to Baekhyun.
Jongin lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and collapses slightly against the window. He’s not really sure what that was, or why he did it, but he feels like he’s just screwed up with Kyungsoo and he doesn’t know what to do.
When Kyungsoo had whispered his name it became too much Jongin. He couldn’t deal with the softness in the other’s voice, the way his name sounded so valuable from his mouth, the look in his eye’s that held something dangerous. If he’s completely honest it scared him, and Jongin is not used to being scared.
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
He needs to leave before he’s too far in.
(But it’s too late for that.)
•
III
He wakes to a headache and a message from an unknown number.
Jongin’s head pounds as he reaches blindly for the encrypted cellphone that lies under his pillow, right beside the 9mm he keeps for emergencies.
His hand closes around the device and pulls it out, thumb clicking the home button and screen lighting up. He blinks harshly, shying away from the brightness, rubbing his eyes as the words become less fuzzy.
The only thing he can make out is the time displayed in large numbers, reading 1:45 pm. In the profession that he has, he's lucky to find sleep whenever he can, so he had crawled into bed sometime around dawn after an exhausting night of sorting out his arms shipment. It's the longest he's slept in a while, normally stealing one- or two-hour naps on the chaise in his office. He yawns tiredly before rubbing his screen.
This is his “personal” phone, or as personal as a mob leader’s phone could be. Whenever he needs a phone for business purposes it's always a single use phone that Chanyeol has programmed to be untraceable. The only people who have this number are his four trusted senior officers and-
Kyungsoo, he remembers as the words on the screen come into focus. The number has no contact name in its preview but as everyone else on his phone does, it's obviously the shorter man who's contacting Jongin. He unlocks the phone and opens his messages.
From: 416.697.1288
Hi! (^-^)/ This is Do Kyungsoo, the film student from a few days ago! I was just wondering, are you free at all today to meet with me and my main actor? Not anything official, just as more of an orientation? Wait no not an orientation, that sounds too fancy. Just like a meet-and-greet you know, a get-to-know-you thing? I was just thinking that maybe if you met him it would give you a starting point? Sorry I'm rambling, but yeah, are you free to meet today? Thanks again so much!
P.s. Sorry if I caught you at a bad time! (T_T)
Jongin almost smiles as he reads the message that is quite literally all over the place. He adds Kyungsoo's name before typing a more formal response (he doesn't know how to write any other kind).
To: Do, Kyungsoo
Good afternoon, Kyungsoo. I am pleased that you found my number. I am free today at 6pm. Would that be alright?
The response is almost instantaneous, the eagerness a little more than obvious.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Yeah! That's perfect! (*^_^*)
Where can we meet??¿
To: Do, Kyungsoo
Do you know of Exodus?
From: Do, Kyungsoo
(O_O) Is that the one in Gangnam??!
Jongin laughs at Kyungsoo’s excessive use of emoticons. It's childish, but strangely Jongin finds it works when he envisions the shorter overenthusiastically smashing buttons on his phone.
To: Do, Kyungsoo
Indeed.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Woah okay that's amazing! I searched it up and the place looks so modern and just wowowow. I'll see you then Jongin (⌒▽⌒)
To: Do, Kyungsoo
See you.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
You should try using one of these! (^｡^) They're fun!
...
To: Do, Kyungsoo
V(^_^)V
Jongin feels like an idiot as soon as he sends the message. No one as formidable as him is permitted to send fucking emojis, and as he sees the message is read he cringes. But when Kyungsoo responds with a simple smiley face Jongin feels his head lightening, like he's done something good. Something for Kyungsoo. It's a nice feeling.
He swings himself out of bed and plods along the plush carpet to the bathroom. He teaches the marble sink and splashes his face with cold water before resting a hand on either side of the sink and looking at himself in the mirror.
He really has no fucking clue why he's doing this. Helping Kyungsoo, if you can even call it helping.
He looks tired, he notices, eye bags prominent and eyelids heavy, not that it does anything to mar his otherwise devastatingly handsome face. Maybe he could use something exciting. Something different. Chanyeol always tells him he needs to change things up, once offering to teach Jongin how to knit. Jongin's still unsure as to why the giant knows how to knit, but in any case it's safe to say that he didn't pick up the habit.
He sighs deeply before turning off the tap and exiting the bathroom. He has approximately four hours before he has to meet Kyungsoo, so he may as well get dressed now and finish up some things beforehand.
He throws on a maroon silk shirt and a matching maroon pair of satin pants, fitted around the thighs but loose in the calves. Without the black Italian dress shoes it would look like a pair of extremely pretentious pajamas on any other person, but on Jongin it makes him look elegantly casual. He has that talent, making anything look like it’s the right thing to wear, and he knows it.
He moves over to his bureau and runs some product through his hair, combing his fingers through the strands to give it a distinctly handsome bed head appearance.
He collects his phone from the nightstand before making his way out of his security-ridden penthouse and to the driver waiting downstairs.
It's nearing 3 o'clock when he arrives at HQ, as Chanyeol has dubbed it a few years back. He makes his way to his office and slinks into his chair, pulling up a report that someone has placed on his desk, presumably Yixing according to its contents.
It's an inventory of every piece of weaponry that was delivered last night, every last gun and grenade as promised. It's inked with a small note written in sloppy Korean handwriting, an apology of sorts.
Sir, sorry for the inconvenience. But 47 hours, as agreed. Take care.
-Yixing
Jongin blinks. Maybe he was a little harsh on Yixing. But then again, maybe not, because both of them know that Jongin would never actually off the assassin. He’s too invaluable, too skilled at what he does.
Jongin closes the report and rips it cleanly in two. He puts the pieces in the trash bin by his desk and leans back, feet crossing on top of his desk. He twists his bangle before sending Minseok a message.
To: Kim, Minseok
Give Yixing a bonus.
From: Kim, Minseok
Already done.
Jongin sighs before placing his phone down on his desk. He had wanted to take care of a few things while he was in, but all he can think about right now is meeting with Kyungsoo and Byun Baekhyun, who he still isn't fond of. Necessarily.
He doesn't know what he's going to say. He's an excellent bullshitter and he knows this, but this feels like it's something completely different. How, he has no idea.
Is he supposed to just give general tips then and there and be done with it? Is he supposed to stay with Kyungsoo throughout the project as some kind of assistant director or some shit? And oh God, is he supposed to spend time alone with Baekhyun? There's so many unanswered questions in his mind but Jongin steels himself. He's never had anxiety before so why start now. It's a business deal, although he's unclear as to what the benefit is to him. That is, why he volunteered in the first place.
He shakes his head when there's a rap on his door. Minseok pokes his head in and Jongin motions for him to enter. He stays awkwardly by the door, seeming to be in some kind of dilemma.
“What is it, Minseok?”
Minseok fidgets with one hand on the doorknob, almost as if he's prepared to flee. Jongin finds it strange though, because Minseok doesn't fidget.
“Jongin I- forgive me if I'm intruding but I just had a question.” He drags his gaze up to Jongin's eyes and when he sees no protest in them takes it as a sign to continue. “I was just wondering what you're getting yourself into. With Kyungsoo. Is it worth the trouble?”
Jongin clicks his tongue. “Now that, I cannot tell you.” He waits a moment. “I don't quite understand why either Minseok, but something is telling me to do it. ” Jongin laughs then, a businessman’s laugh. “You never know Minseok, he could be a part-time employee at the bank for all we know. A perfect way to get in, don't you think?” Jongin says with a politician's smile.
“Maybe,” Minseok says slowly. “But whatever this turns out to be, be careful. You don't really have any room for personal attachments, not that you need me to remind you. Just… keep a distance, be cautious, all that.”
“I'm always cautious.” Jongin replies, deep timbre of his voice running smooth.
Minseok gives a somewhat doubtful smile before nodding his leave and exiting as quickly as he had come. Jongin rolls his neck once and closes his eyes.
He counts to ten.
It's going to be a long evening.
•
“Stop fidgeting, Kyung, you're making me nervous.”
Baekhyun berates Kyungsoo for what must be the millionth time as the latter adjusts his tie. He wears a skinny black one over a baby blue dress shirt, overlaid by a beige cashmere sweater. He chose black slacks this morning, and when Baekhyun had laughed at Kyungsoo’s choice in pants the film student had said that they matched his tie, to which Baekhyun replied that he looked like someone a mom would want her daughter to date, sarcastic snigger clearly heard. Kyungsoo had just grumbled before snapping at Baekhyun to get dressed up, because they were going to Gangnam.
And that's where they sit now, in a Michelin-star restaurant called Exodus, where everything is black and reflective and the chandeliers are crystal. The tablecloth is white silk, a pop of contrast among the otherwise mysterious setting. Kyungsoo tugs at his collar again, worried because he's just remembered that he wore brown dress shoes. With black dress pants. Ugh.
“I swear to God if you're worried about your shoes not matching your pants I will kill you.”
“WHAT THE FUCK BAEKHYUN?!” Kyungsoo whisper-yells. “Why didn't you say anything?”
Baekhyun shrugs. “Wasn't my place.”
“I'm getting a new roommate. You're being evicted.”
“Oh come on Soo, you'd miss me.”
“Yeah, kind of like how you miss getting laid.”
“Ouch. Completely hurtful, and totally inaccurate.”
“You'll survive.”
“Hardly.”
Thankfully Kyungsoo is saved from having to deal with a butthurt Baekhyun as the waiter approaches them. He's dressed a white dress shirt and black bow tie and slacks, midnight shoes squeaky clean.
“Good evening, gentlemen, how may I help you?”
“Well, personally, I’d greatly appreciate it if you removed my roommate here.” Baekhyun says unhelpfully, gesturing to Kyungsoo.
The latter sighs.
“Please ignore him, he has issues. And three waters would be great, thank you.”
“You’re my issue.” Baekhyun mumbles as the waiter walks away.
Baekhyun starts grumpily messing with his cutlery, putting the once perfectly placed setting into complete disarray.
Kyungsoo frowns disapprovingly. “Stop that, you’re acting like you’re five Baek.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Grow the fuck up.”
“Don’t swear in a fancy restaurant you inconsiderate asshole.”
“Hypocrite.”
“Oh look someone approaches.”
Two sets of eyes look up to find a tall, dark, and mysterious man approaching them.
And if Kyungsoo thought that Jongin in casual wear was devastating then he may as well find the nearest tornado and throw himself into it.
Jongin looks casual, but he doesn’t. He looks dressed up, but he doesn’t. He looks like he just walked out of a photo shoot, and the smirk he flashes at Kyungsoo as their eyes meet is doing weird things to his body that he’s trying very hard to ignore.
As Jongin approaches the small round table and pulls out the remaining chair, Kyungsoo awkwardly shoots up and sticks his hand out to Jongin. He takes a deep breath as Jongin grasps his fingers in a firm shake. Warm, he notes, his hands are really warm.
He clears his throat. “Thank you for coming, Jongin! This is amazing, really.”
Jongin shrugs elegantly, not that Kyungsoo knew that was even possible. “A promise is a promise.” He says smoothly, and out of the corner of his eye Kyungsoo can see Baekhyun flipping shit at the sound of Jongin’s voice. He glares.
“Still, I really appreciate it.” Kyungsoo says, turning his focus back to Jongin with a dazzling smile (or well at least it is to Jongin).
Jongin nods and motions for Kyungsoo to take his seat again.
As the two standing sit down Kyungsoo kicks Baekhyun and he jerks with a start, causing Jongin to glance over at him. There’s a moment as the two stare at each other, Baekhyun just looking kind of stupid and starstruck while Jongin on the other hand looks like he just saw a hair in his food.
Well this will be interesting.
“You must be the famous Baekhyun then,” Jongin starts as he settles into his chair.
Baekhyun doesn’t say anything for at least 10 seconds and it’s awfully awkward, transitioning into into awfully horrible as 10 turns into 20.
“...”
“Holy shit you’re hot.”
“Baek!”
“He is!”
“Ugh.”
Baekhyun seems to remember himself then, nodding to Jongin and smiling. “Yes that would be me, the famous Baekhyun. Although, not as famous as you I hear.” He smirks, and Kyungsoo groans internally. “Kyungsoo here has told me an awful lot about you.” He says suggestively, reaching around the table to grasp Kyungsoo’s elbow. He shakes him off.
“Hm.” Jongin looks smugly pleased. “Well I’m glad to know that Kyungsoo has told you about myself.” He smiles at Baekhyun but the latter shivers at the tone. It sounds… possessive, to say the least. He’s not sure he likes it.
Kyungsoo, comparatively, just smiles at Jongin dreamily, staring in fascination at the trio of freckles he’s just noticed on his face. He wants to see them from a closer distance, for purely scientific reasons of course.
The waiter comes back with three glasses of water, bringing Kyungsoo back to attention. He shakes his head and smiles again as Jongin motions that they need another minute.
Kyungsoo coughs. “So, Jongin, scheduling. Do you what days you might be free? And when?”
Jongin blinks and replies slowly. “Unfortunately, my schedule is kind of up in the air. I’ll have free time sporadically, but I’m hoping that since the two of you live together, it won’t be too much of an issue.”
Kyungsoo shakes his head. “Not at all! I was thinking of filming a lot in our apartment anyways. We’re kind of on a budget.” He says with a light laugh. “I can give you our address then? And whenever you have time you can just let us know. Our schedules are pretty free anyways.”
Baekhyun interjects. “Well, that may be the case for you Kyung, but as it stands, I have a very active social life.”
“You have no active social life whatsoever.”
“True, but I have you.” Baekhyun says cheekily. He’s doing it on purpose, trying to gauge Jongin’s reaction. He’s extremely overprotective of Kyungsoo, and the admittedly handsome man had set off his mom bells as soon as he had seen the way he looked at his roommate. Kyungsoo didn’t notice because he’s just oblivious like that, but while he had been talking Baekhyun had watched Jongin stare Kyungsoo down with an almost predatory gaze. It was weird.
He’s pleased when Jongin, who had been casually observing their interaction, stiffens.
“It’s true,” Kyungsoo says to Jongin, who flinches. “We’ve unfortunately been best friends for longer than I’m proud of. But, I’m sure he’ll do an amazing job and be an absolute pleasure to work with, won’t you Baekhyun?” Kyungsoo asks with a pointedly cheery smile.
Baekhyun grins. “Of course, anything for my Kyungie.” He says cutely, and Kyungsoo gives him a nod and a small smile.
Out of the corner of his eye, however, He sees Jongin clenching his jaw and grinding his teeth. The brunette looks like he wants to insert several miles of distance between Baekhyun and Kyungsoo, and Baekhyun sends him an angelic smile as he squeezes Kyungsoo’s hand.
Kyungsoo notices Jongin’s discomfort and looks concerned. “Is everything okay Jongin?”
“Peachy.” The other replies as he stares at Kyungsoo and Baekhyun’s still connected hands.
“Okay.” Kyungsoo says with a shy smile. This seems to satiate Jongin a bit, who lowers from a bristling level to a just-barely-contained one.
“Anyways, Jongin I was, um, wondering if we could talk about the actual film for a minute. I just wanted to see if you had any advice to give us before we started. Or well, to give Baekhyun. I don’t do cameras.” A nervous chuckle.
Jongin smiles. “Well I’d hope you do cameras, otherwise I’m not entirely sure what we’ll be doing these next few weeks.”
“I can think of some other things you two can do.” Baekhyun pipes up unhelpfully.
Kyungsoo blushes beet red and stammers out- “I-I mean that I don’t like being in front of the camera. I like being behind them. Yeah. I like being behind.”
Baekhyun sighs.
“You like being behind? Well, I’ll be sure to take note of that.” Jongin says over the top of his glass as he takes a sip, eyebrow raised.
Even Baekhyun sputters at that, clearly not expecting Jongin to be so… forward. But when Jongin smiles too sweetly at Baekhyun, he understands that the other is simply marking his territory, as it were.
“Uh, haha, yeah. Great. Anyways. Um. Baekhyun. What can you tell him?”
Jongin shifts his amused gaze from Kyungsoo to Baekhyun, leaning back casually in his chair. “I’ll just say this. Make sure you understand the motivation. Where everything is coming from. Don’t let anything be done on screen that isn’t deliberate. Make every single second count, because you only have 600 of them.”
“Wow.” Baekhyun says appreciatively. “That’s an awful lot of pressure for ten minutes.”
“Well, it would really be a shame if you were to ruin this for Kyungsoo.” It’s a threat and Baekhyun can hear it, unlike Kyungsoo who is just giving Jongin googly eyes.
“Trust me, I won’t.” He says with just a lot of sass.
“Good.” Jongin grits.
“Great!” Kyungsoo chirps.
Dinner lasts for a long time.
•
Jongin gets back to headquarters and storms down the hallway, not even pausing as he yells- “Get me Minseok! Now!” - to no one in particular. He hears scrambling behind him as he bangs open the door to his office, huffing to his chair and plopping down.
He whips the nearest object off his desk and across the room, watching in satisfaction as the crystal paperweight shatters with a crash.
Minseok walks into his office then, eyes doing a onceover of the damage.
He raises a brow at Jongin. “It went well then?”
“Shut the door.” Jongin growls.
“Down boy,” Minseok jokes as he closes the door and moves to sit across from Jongin. No more than two seconds after he sits Jongin springs up and walks around the desk, pacing agitatedly in the space in front.
“Minseok, give me something to do. Anything.”
Minseok looks dumb for a second. “Um. Jongin, I work for you. I can’t tell you what to-”
“This fucking kid! I swear to God I will deliver Yixing to his fucking door.” Jongin fumes.
“Woah, woah, woah, calm down there. What kid? Kyungsoo?”
Jongin stops moving and stares stupidly at Minseok. “Not Kyungsoo, goddamnit, he’s perfect. Fucking Byun Baekhyun and his fucking face and he needs to back the fuck up because he’s way too fucking close all the fucking time!”
Minseok’s eyes widen at the sudden outburst. It’s extremely unlike the mob leader to be so… expressive. “Jongin, sit down. You’re giving me a headache.”
“Minseok, I apologize, but really, remind me not to call Yixing anytime soon.” He moves back to his chair and sits with a huff. “So, met with Kyungsoo. Good man. Extremely nice, not that I like nice people. But his friend, Baekhyun, absolute nightmare. Touching Kyungsoo, joking with Kyungsoo, making Kyungsoo smile, making Kyungsoo laugh. Honestly, the nerve of this kid.” Jongin sounds almost out of breath.
“Wow. Sounds like some next level best friend shit.” Minseok muses.
Jongin looks exasperated, a look Minseok isn’t used to seeing on his face.
“I’m serious Minseok.”
“So am I.” He says with a shrug. “Really, it just sounds like they’re good friends. What’s the issue?”
“Well, Minseok,” Jongin begins, voice dripping with sarcasm, “The issue is that-” He cuts off, looking confused for a moment because if he listens to Minseok he might actually see that there is no issue. “That’s- that’s besides the point. I personally am just a believer of personal space, and Baekhyun is way too close to Kyungsoo. Statistically speaking, having someone that close to you all the time just makes you more susceptible and vulnerable to them. It’s strategic. I need Baekhyun to stay away from Kyungsoo. Wait no. Kyungsoo needs Baekhyun to stay away from Kyungsoo. Yes.”
Minseok smiles. “Sounds like you’ve got a real problem on your hands. By the way, did I hear you say that Kyungsoo is perfect?”
Jongin huffs. “Obviously not. What do you take me for Minseok?”
“An idiot.”
“I can fire you.”
“No you can’t. I’ll spill all of your mob secrets.”
“I can kill you.”
“No you can’t. Yixing likes me.”
“I have more hitmen than Yixing.”
“Yeah, but you don’t trust any of them.”
“Fuck you, Minseok.”
“I think you’d rather fuck Kyungsoo.”
“He’s got pretty lips.”
“Has he?”
“He has.”
“I see.”
“It’s awful.”
“Pretty lips?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I want those lips doing things other than speaking.”
“Ah.”
“I’m fucked.”
“You are.”
Jongin sighs, slumping forward onto his desk. “I don’t get it Minseok. I haven’t been attracted to a person in years, and I just met this kid too. But, I want to see him again. I don’t know why.”
Minseok thinks for a second. “First of all, please stop saying you’re attracted to a kid, it’s weird. Second, I don’t know either, but whatever the reason is, don’t let it get to you. You don’t get to have the luxury of relationships in your position.”
“I know Minseok, I know. I don’t want a relationship. God no. I just, there’s something about him.”
“Is that something a dick?” Minseok jokes.
“Ha ha, very funny Minseok.” Jongin replies dryly.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. But just be careful. I don’t want you getting into something you can’t get out of.”
“I won’t. Promise.” It’s silent. “Speaking of which though, have you found new leads for the bank? I swear to God if the Syndicate gets to that vault before us I will hunt down Lee Taemin to the ends of the Earth.”
Minseok nods, secretly impressed by Jongin’s ability to switch so effortlessly into business. “Actually, there is one. Oh Sehun, new member on the Board of Directors. Voted in after the… unfortunate death of Song. The best bit, he’s inexperienced. Only 27, no one has any clue how he managed to get enough votes. Some sort of child prodigy. Anyways, I’ve been thinking we can work the young angle. Being two handsome fellows like yourself, surely you’ll find something to bond over. Pussy. Dick. Both. Who knows.”
Jongin runs a hand through his hair. “Can you please not be so vulgar while we’re discussing business? It confuses me.”
“Yeah, cause you need to get some.” MInseok whispers under his breath.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Anyways, I like it. When can I meet him?”
“The bank is throwing an induction party this Friday. 8pm, Seoul Grand Palace.”
“Perfect. Order me a new suit. My one from last week has blood on it.”
“Will do Sir. Anything else?”
“Yeah. Make Byun Baekhyun go to hell.”
“I’m afraid only the devil can drag someone to hell. I believe that’s up to you then.” Minseok gets up with a wink.
Jongin dismisses him and he’s almost out the door before he turns arounds suddenly. Jongin quirks an eyebrow.
“Just… whatever you decide to do, good luck Jongin.”
“Thanks Min.”
“Call me if you need anything.”
He leaves and Jongin lets out a breath. He really has no clue what he’s doing, but he knows he has to get to Oh Sehun before the Syndicate can. He reminds himself to run a background check on the man and see how he can work himself in. He pulls out his phone to ask Chanyeol when he notices that he has no less than seven new messages from Kyungsoo.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
HI Jongin! I just wanted to say thanks again for coming today! It really was a huge help , and I hope you can meet again soon! Just let me know when you’ll be free! :))))
Jongin thinks for a second. It’s Wednesday, so technically he has tomorrow to meet with Kyungsoo before Friday. He should be doing research into Oh Sehun, but he has Chanyeol, and the giant probably owes him one from somewhere down the line. He sighs and keeps reading.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Actually, are you free tomorrow? Baekhyun and I are going to visit his parents on the weekend and he wants to head up Friday afternoon. If it’s inconvenient just let me know! ^_^
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Baekhyun is telling me I’m being pushy owo. Not that I show him our conversations! Haha nope o(^_-)O
From: Do, Kyungsoo
But yeah, tomorrow? Just let me know!!
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Sorry to bother you by the way!
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Ahahha, now Baekhyun is saying that he doubts I’m bothering you. He’s crazy aha
From: Do, Kyungsoo
V(^_^)V
Jongin smiles at his phone. He’s a hard person, he knows. The only people he has ever remotely felt anything besides nothing for are Minseok and maybe Chanyeol. But there’s something about Do Kyungsoo. Maybe it’s his smile, Jongin doesn’t know. He’s only just met Kyungsoo but something tells him that the hatred he feels towards Baekhyun is not normal. Minseok is right; Baekhyun hasn’t really done anything wrong. But still. He needs to stay away from Kyungsoo. Like, way away.
To: Do, Kyungsoo
Tomorrow works for me. Does two in the afternoon work for you? I need your address.
A minute later there’s a reply:
From: Do, Kyungsoo
2 is perfect! I’ll text u the address later, Baekhyun wants me to go to a movie with him now
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Baek wants your number to “warn you about stranger danger” :) just kidding he says he wants to ask you some questions. Can I give it to him?
To: Do, Kyungsoo
I suppose. I’ll see you tomorrow, Kyungsoo.
From: Do, Kyungsoo
Okay thank you! See you, Jongin.
At this Jongin can imagine the way Kyungsoo says his name when it’s just him and the shorter male, and the memory of his chocolatey voice sends a delicious shiver down Jongin’s spine. He would never admit it, but something in him stirs at the thought of seeing Kyungsoo tomorrow.
He prays to God that Baekhyun caught on to his signals today at dinner and backs up.
From: 888.145.0232
Hey Jongin this is Baekhyun! Can I call you Jongin? Yes? Great! Just remember, stranger danger! Bring your pepper spray ㅋㅋㅋ. Not that kyung and I are murderers or something :))) Cya tomorrow!!!!!
Okay. Maybe not.
•
Jongin walks up to the slightly decrepit apartment complex and lets his eyes wander upwards. It’s only four stories tall but from the outside and it looks like it should be condemned. The brick looks like it’s crumbling in some areas, and on the fourth floor he sees a boarded window. He can only hope that no one lives in that apartment.
He makes his way inside and away from the cold, shrugging off his jacket as he enters the building. He’s dressed in a horizontally striped black-and-white sweater and tight black slacks. It’s the most casual he’s going to get, but he figured he’s try so he didn’t look like an idiot.
He walks down the first-floor corridor to the elevator at the end that looks like it came straight out of the thirties, and presses the button for the third floor. The elevator is creaky and loud as it ascends, the noises grinding into Jongin’s skull.
When the doors open he makes his way down the hallway, searching for apartment 3E. He spots the brass characters hanging to his right and knocks.
It seems like an eternity before he hears footsteps running followed by a- “One second!”- that sounds muffled through the doorway. A moment later the door opens a little and a small head peeks through.
“Hi, how can I- Oh! Jongin! Come on in!” Kyungsoo greets as he fully opens the door and gestures for Jongin to enter. As the taller crosses the threshold he’s immediately met with an overwhelming sense of home, like this is a place you should come home to every night and put up your feet on the coffee table. He sees a small living room with an old albeit comfortable-looking couch and a wooden coffee table, and small kitchen that pretty much counts as a kitchenette. Across the living room he sees three doors, presumably two bedrooms and a bathroom. Overall, the apartment looks cozy, and in the back of his mind Jongin decides he could get used to it.
He turns his attention back to Kyungsoo when he hears a throat being cleared. And it’s a shame that Jongin was too busy looking around the apartment before because Kyungsoo looks just, well, just.
Um.
Jongin’s mind draws a temporary blank as he rakes in every inch of Kyungsoo’s figure. His midnight black hair is mussed and just slightly gelled, and it looks like he just woke up from a nap. His eyelids are still puffy and Jongin wants to cool them down with kisses. Wait no. No he doesn’t.
Kyungsoo wears a white cashmere sweater that’s just a little too large on him, sleeves cutely going past his palms and neckline showing a tantalizing glimpse of alabaster skin. A little further down and Jongin is met with light blue skinny jeans that hug the shorter man’s thighs perfectly and leave Jongin’s mouth to water at the corners.
He looks back up to Kyungsoo’s face and sees a nervous expression there, probably because Jongin has been staring at Kyungsoo like he’s tonight’s dinner for the past sixty seconds. He clears his throat and smiles brightly.
“Hi Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo blinks and seems to relax a bit as he returns the greeting. “Hi,” He says quietly, shy smile gracing his face. “Baekhyun just ran out to go pick up some stuff, but he’ll be back soon. Can I, uhm, get you something to drink while we wait?”
“I’m alright, thank you.” Jongin says.
“Oh, okay, perfect. Would you like to, um, take a seat then? We can sit over here.” Kyungsoo leads them to living room and plops down onto the couch, facing jongin who sits on the other end and tucking his knees up to his chest. Everything about Kyungsoo’s position is cute right now, from the way he rests his chin on his knees to the way he blows the hair out of his face.
Jongin crosses one leg over the other and turns to face Kyungsoo diagonally on the couch. It’s quiet for a moment before Kyungsoo speaks up.
“How was your morning?” Jongin is momentarily surprised at the smalltalk, not being accustomed to it. The only questions he ever received about his day came from Chanyeol, and it was normally better to just ignore those.
“It was… okay.” It had been a bit more than okay, truthfully. He had finally been able to take inventory of his shipment, Chanyeol had given him a background check on Sehun, which he had yet to look at, and Yixing had informed him that Yifan was sending Jongin another shipment of semis as compensation for the earlier confusion. But, of course, he can’t say that to Kyungsoo, so he settles for returning the question.
“It was okay too.” Kyungsoo responds with a humorous smile. “I got to finish my book today.”
Jongin returns the smile. “And the ending?”
“A secret. No spoilers.”
Jongin chuckles. It’s a deep sound the seems to make the room a little bit warmer, especially when Kyungsoo’s lips stretch into a full heart-shaped smile.
There’s a moment when neither of them speak before Kyungsoo remembers why Jongin is at his apartment.
“So, um, today I was thinking of filming some stuff for the beginning of the short. Like when the idea of running away initially comes to Baekhyun. It’ll mostly be closeups and stuff, but I think Baek might need some help with this more serious kind of stuff. He’s more of a comedian, if you couldn’t tell.” He says with a laugh.
Jongin looks at him slowly. “I’ll do what I can.”
“Thanks.” A smile.
“Kyungsoo?”
“Mmm?”
“Why did you run?”
“Me?”
“Yes. You.”
“Um.” Kyungsoo seems to think about his answer for a second. “I-I probably wouldn’t normally tell you this, because only Baek knows, but I guess it’s the least I can do.” He starts shyly.
“Kyungsoo, if it makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to.” Jongin amends as his eyebrow scrunches up in concern.
“It’s alright. I don’t mind.” He flashes a reassuring smile.
“I just, I hate conflict. I hate it. Everything about it. I hate getting mad at people, I hate raising my voice, but most of all I hate it when people are mad at me. When I disappoint them. And I think, yeah, that’s what happened with my parents.”
Kyungsoo takes a shaky breath and Jongin unwittingly finds himself sliding closer, placing a comforting hand on Kyungsoo’s ankle.
“They- they just couldn’t accept the fact that I wanted to do something other than be a doctor. Or a lawyer. I mean, what parent wants their kid to be fucking filmmaker? I’m no James Cameron, no Steven Spielberg. I don’t want that. To make the biggest features, have the best cast. I just want to do what I like. Which is this. Small films that probably won’t reach more than a couple thousand people, but holy shit will those people love them. I guess my parents just couldn’t see that. They think I lack ambition, and drive, but I just have it in a different way than they do.
“When my parents found out that I had applied to KAFA anyways, they lost it. They started yelling at me, telling me how disappointing I was and how much of a stupid idea it was. And I couldn’t handle it. I didn’t want to see the looks of resentment in their eyes every time I saw them, so I left.” He pauses. “That was three years ago. I haven’t talked to them since then.”
Jongin is silent. He doesn’t like to get tangled up in business. That’s when attachments form, and that’s when things get messy. But he can’t help it as he slides his hand up Kyungsoo’s calf to his knee, giving it a light squeeze and unwittingly sending shivers across Kyungsoo’s skin.
“So yeah, that’s why. It doesn’t bother me too much though. I have Baekhyun, and that’s all I really need. He keeps me grounded.” A laugh. “I guess that’s why we’re so close. I would never say it to him, and I’d kill you if you did, but I need him a bit more than I let on. He’s the only person I have left.” Kyungsoo says with a bittersweet smile.
“You have me.”
It’s out of Jongin’s mouth before he can even stop it, and Kyungsoo’s head whips up. He looks confused, mostly, and maybe a little bit hopeful. Which hurts. Jongin wishes Kyungsoo wouldn’t look at him like that. He’s no good.
“I-” Jongin never gets to find out what Kyungsoo is going to say because Byun fucking Baekhyun chooses that moment to barge in the door with arms loaded full of grocery bags.
“Kyungie, my beautiful wife, I have brought home the bread with which you may make me dinner!” He singsongs.
He then gets a look at the couch and sees Jongin and Kyungsoo seated there with Jongin’s hand still on the other’s knee, their bodies perhaps a bit closer than they need to be.
“Ah, the wife is having an affair.” Baekhyun narrates flatly.
“Shove off Baek,” Kyungsoo says with a smile as he gets up to help his roommate with the groceries. Jongin follows suit and lingers at the edges of the kitchen.
He watches the two friends as they unpack everything, laughing and smiling and eyes crinkling around the edges as Baekhyun tells the other of some crazy lady he saw at the grocery store who was trying to steal frozen pizzas. Baekhyun and Kyungsoo go so well together, and Jongin can’t help but wish that it was his name in that sentence instead of Baekhyun’s.
Kyungsoo seems to remember that Jongin is standing there and turns his attention back to him.
“Oh Jongin, I forgot to ask. Did you want to stay for dinner? I’m cooking. Unless you’re busy of course, which is okay too!” He rushes out in one breath.
Baekhyun approaches from behind and lays his head on Kyungsoo’s shoulder.
“Personally Jongin, I would cancel any plans you have for the evening, because there is literally nothing better than Kyungsoo’s cooking. Literally. Not even his sister.”
“YAH!” Kyungsoo shouts indignantly, turning around to smack Baekhyun.
“What? Your sister is a beautiful woman!” Baekhyun curls away from his roommate’s attack.
Jongin can’t help the laugh that bubbles up as Baekhyun runs away from Kyungsoo. The shorter male may be small, but he’s got a lot of fight in him. Jongin admires that.
“I would love to.” He says, bringing Kyungsoo and Baekhyun back to attention.
“Awesome!” Baekhyun pipes up first. “You guys can cook together! Oh my God this is going to be so cute I’m going to just sit on the couch and watch you guys omg I love this.” He spews as he walks away.
Kyungsoo blushes beet red and looks at his feet.
“Sorry.” He mumbles. “Let’s go.”
They go.
•
They now reside in Kyungsoo’s bedroom, which is doing weird things to Jongin’s body. It smells overwhelmingly like the shorter, which Jongin discovers to be a mix of vanilla and cologne. The bed lies in the centre, a decently-sized queen with dark grey sheets. Kyungsoo had messed up the sheets purposefully to add to the disarrayed effect of the film, but all Jongin can think of as he stares at the bed is messing up the sheets with Kyungsoo in other ways.
The man in question stands off in the corner messing with his camera and setting up his tripod. He’s flipping through the settings on his camera and Jongin watches from afar, eyes hungrily taking in the way Kyungsoo’s tongue pokes out of his mouth.
The door flings open and in enter Baekhyun, in a graphic tee and jeans a requested by Kyungsoo. He jumps on the bed and makes himself at home in it, immediately quelling any fantasies Jongin may have had or will ever have about that bed.
“So, Kyung, tell me what I gotta do.” Baekhyun half-raises his head.
“Hold on a sec.” Kyungsoo removes the camera from the tripod and loops the strap twice around his forearm.
Jongin leans against the windowsill which Kyungsoo had told him would be behind the camera. Something about backlighting.
“Okay, so, Baek, I want you to be at the desk. This is where you’re seriously thinking about running away, and I want it to be like the decision is killing you. Like you don’t want to leave, but you can’t think of anything else to do. Make it look like you didn’t sleep all night. Oh and also, use your breath. This short is going to be pretty monochromatic, so I’m not scoring it at all. Your breathing is going to count for a lot here.”
“Ah, breathplay I see.”
“Please, shut up.”
“Gotcha Kyung.”
Baekhyun takes his place at Kyungsoo’s desk and Kyungsoo moves around to get a good angle of his face. He moves around for a second before seeming to be satisfied and nodding at Baekhyun. He breathes out a quiet action, and silence ascends.
It’s amazing the transformation of Baekhyun’s character in just a few seconds. He turns somber, and his eyes look tired, so unlike the usual brightness that fills them. He looks almost void, empty, and Jongin has to say he’s more than a little bit impressed.
But what captures his attention more is the man behind the camera. Kyungsoo squints into the eyehole and watches Baekhyun intently, camera smoothly sliding around his actor’s face and capturing everything he’s giving him. The lights have been dimmed, and it makes the outline of Kyungsoo’s figure look more delicate. Jongin can just barely see the hint of a solid and maybe just a little bit buff figure under Kyungsoo’s sweater, and his gaze traces every movement he makes.
He has the sudden urge to walk up behind the shorter and wrap his arms around him, press his chest into Kyungsoo’s back and trail his lips up the side of his neck. To whisper into Kyungsoo’s ear and feel the shiver that runs down his back. But he shakes the thought out of his head, because Baekhyun is still in the room and he’s trying his best to stay focused.
It’s completely mesmerizing, watching the way Kyungsoo never breaks concentration and is so carefully trained on Baekhyun that he couldn’t miss anything if he tried. On camera, Baekhyun holds his head in his hands, elbows on the desk, and runs his hands through his hair. He glances, at the clock, then at the door, then straight at the wall. Jongin can see the confliction in Baekhyun’s face, and the emotion is so convincing that Jongin starts to feel a pang in his chest.
Baekhyun gets up suddenly and kicks back his chair, sending it crashing to the ground. He stares at it for a second like it holds all the answers before shoving it aside with his foot with a huff. He moves around to the bed and sits on the edge, staring straight out the window, just beside where Jongin still stands.
Kyungsoo slowly glides across the floor, tracing Baekhyun’s movements with his camera and never breaking the smooth transition.
But when he passes by the chair he almost trips over it, Jongin following Kyungsoo so carefully with his eyes that he can see what’s about to happen before Kyungsoo does. In a flash that’s way faster than any non-combat trained person would have thought possible, Jongin reaches out to Kyungsoo and wraps a strong arm around his torso.
Kyungsoo is too focused on what’s happening in his camera, so he doesn’t question what Jongin is doing as he leads him in a smooth line around the fallen chair. He lets himself be pulled by the taller, who presses his front into Kyungsoo’s back to keep him steady.
Once they pass the chair Jongin slowly slides off of Kyungsoo, but not before feeling the other’s racing heartbeat. He drags his palm against Kyungsoo’s torso purposefully as he retreats, feeling his abdominals flex under the touch. It’s a far too intimate action to be doing while they’re filming, much less while there’s another person in the room, but Jongin doesn’t exactly care.
About two minutes later Kyungsoo whispers out cut, and Baekhyun’s serious expression relaxes slightly, but there’s still a heavy air in the room ,whether it’s from Baekhyun’s acting or Jongin’s forwardness, he can’t tell.
Kyungsoo lowers his camera and faces Baekhyun. “Wow. Baek. That was amazing. Where did that come from?”
Baekhyun smiles sheepishly. “I still got a few tricks up my sleeve Kyung.”
Kyungsoo thanks Baekhyun again before telling him he can take a quick break if he wants, that they won’t need to redo that scene because it was perfect on the first try. Baekhyun says he’ll be right back, that he’s just going to go get water, and he exits the room.
As soon as the third person leaves the atmosphere turns dense.
Kyungsoo looks at Jongin and the taller can already see the question in his eyes.
“You almost tripped Kyungsoo.” He says softly. “Over the chair.”
Kyungsoo closes his eyes for a second, because he’s never heard Jongin speak so quietly and the way that the other seems to cherish every syllable of his name makes him feel weak in the knees.
“Thank you.” Kyungsoo whispers, not sure why it’s suddenly so difficult to speak. All can he do is stand still helplessly as Jongin’s eyes grow intense and he bores his gaze into Kyungsoo. The brunette gently pushes off the window and takes three long strides to stand in front of Kyungsoo, towering over the man who seems to shrink under his gaze.
Kyungsoo looks at his feet, afraid of the intensity he can feel from above him. But when he finally looks up, he gasps, almost inaudibly.
Jongin’s eyes have softened, so different from the fire that was in them ten seconds ago. Kyungsoo is enamoured, and he inhales sharply as Jongin brings his hand up. Jongin brushes the strand of hair that fallen into Kyungsoo’s face back and just as quickly drops his hand. But the tender look in his eyes remains, and it’s more than a little terrifying to Kyungsoo, who feels an answering one in the pit of his stomach.
“Jongin-” Kyungsoo starts, voice barely audible.
At this Jongin flinches, and he immediately takes a step back like he’s just been burned. The soft look in his eyes glazes over and returns to the dark and mysterious one that usually graces his face.
Kyungsoo’s heart drops as Jongin retreats to the windowsill, leaning against it casually like that didn’t just happen and saying a short- “You’re welcome.”
The moment is over when Baekhyun walks back into the bedroom, back to his energetic self after getting a drink. Baekhyun asks Kyungsoo what he wants him to do next, and the shorter takes one last look at Jongin before shaking his head and turning his attention to Baekhyun.
Jongin lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and collapses slightly against the window. He’s not really sure what that was, or why he did it, but he feels like he’s just screwed up with Kyungsoo and he doesn’t know what to do.
When Kyungsoo had whispered his name it became too much Jongin. He couldn’t deal with the softness in the other’s voice, the way his name sounded so valuable from his mouth, the look in his eye’s that held something dangerous. If he’s completely honest it scared him, and Jongin is not used to being scared.
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
He needs to leave before he’s too far in.
(But it’s too late for that.)
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