[oneshot] A Journal of Conquests 4/5

[minwhore]

<<

Jongin came up with one last scheme to get Kyungsoo into bed. It would be the final trick he’d try, before he gave up for good and went home. His one month was nearly up, and he was going to lose the bet at this rate, lose his prized shoes, lose probably the only chance he’d get to conquer Taemin, and, most importantly, lose his pride.

He wasn’t sure if he could take that.

He ignored the few presents laid out by his door in the corridor, instead walking across the hallway to Kyungsoo’s closed door.

It was already six in the evening; he’d wasted the day away planning and writing down more details. He had gone down for lunch that was held for his birthday, allowing his frustration to show through his fake smile. Kyungsoo seemed to be trying to forget about the incident yesterday, but he was careful and polite with Jongin like he never had been before. It was different between them, and Jongin hated it, resented the change in their relationship and resented himself even more for being sad at the loss of their blossoming relationship.

And that was when he came up with his plan.

He knocked on Kyungsoo’s door, waiting patiently for the, “Come in!” before he inched his way into Kyungsoo’s room. Kyungsoo was sitting on his bed, his music sheets scattered around him and a faint look of concentration set upon his face. Jongin stood by the door, waiting patiently for Kyungsoo to look up and see him.

When no one talked, Kyungsoo frowned and glanced to the door. His hand, which had been getting ready to write down another music note onto one of the music sheets, stilled when he caught sight of Jongin.

Jongin gave Kyungsoo a lax smile, and suddenly this didn’t feel like a plot anymore. It felt real. His heartbeat picked up, and he fought not to show just how shaken up he was. He swallowed.

“I came to say goodbye,” Jongin said without preamble, and locked his jaw to stop himself from saying anymore than that. He glanced up from his eye contact with Kyungsoo, feeling ashamed of the game he was playing. How could he have thought of doing this?

The urge to turn around and run sparked in him.

Kyungsoo frowned. “Where are you going?”

“Back to my apartment,” Jongin forced himself to say, and then bounced his shoulders in a graceless shrug. “I’ve imposed on Luhan enough as it is.” He stopped there, unsure if he really wanted to carry his plan through. Could he do it? He wasn’t sure if he was that kind of person anymore.

Kyungsoo observed him and, from his expression, Jongin guessed that his internal struggle was clear on his face.

“Is that really the reason you’re leaving?” Kyungsoo asked, lips slowly turning downward. A spec of black despair appeared in Jongin’s consciousness, and he suddenly, irrationally wished that Kyungsoo had left it alone, had let Jongin to leave the house without a quuestion, before they were both hurt over what he was about to do.

“No,” he said, and hesitated, hanging his head. “I suppose I’m a little tired of you.” Kyungsoo said nothing at that, and Jongin looked up. “Of your games, that is.”

“...games?” Kyungsoo questioned softly, as if he was confused. Jongin could see the turmoil in his eyes, and his heart ached.

“You like me one minute, and then you push me away the next,” Jongin said, expression bleak, and came to a realization that he wasn’t lying this time. He really did feel hurt whenever Kyungsoo brushed away his advances like they were nothing. He’d never known that he could hurt that much from being rejected like he had been in the hallway.

He continued, bitterly, “I guess I should have known, though. You probably didn’t see me as the guy who’d take your virginity. I’m not a smart guy, and I’m not a nice guy, either. I’m not someone who you can take to your parents proudly, and I’m pretty sure I never will be. I’ve accepted that a long time ago,” he raised his voice when he saw Kyungsoo about to try and interrupt, “but just because I’ve accepted it doesn’t mean I like having it thrown in my face. You make me feel inadequate.”

“I’m sorry that I made you feel that way,” Kyungsoo said, once he saw that Jongin was done. There was disappointment and sadness in his eyes, and Jongin had to turn away from the sight. Instead, he looked over the small part of Kyungsoo’s shoulders. It didn’t make him feel any better, because he could still feel Kyungsoo staring at him, but it did give him the ability to gather and form his thoughts better. “It’s probably better that you’re leaving if what you say is true.”

Those words stole the breath from Jongin’s lungs.

Initially, he didn’t say anything, turning what Kyungsoo had said around in his mind. There was no fight in the words, no implication that Kyungsoo would try and stop him from leaving. A curious feeling built up in his chest, and he realized that he was angry and upset. His left hand balled into a frustrated fist.

He knew that Kyungsoo loved him, at least on some level. Kyungsoo loved him enough to kiss him on his own free will. But Jongin had never contemplated on just how much Kyungsoo loved him, and from what Kyungsoo had just said, it wasn’t enough.

“Okay, then,” he said finally, gazing at Kyungsoo with something almost like a glare. “I guess that’s it.” Scoffing under his breath, he turned and reached for the door, wondering if the small ball of misery in his chest would ever leave. It sure felt like it was there to stay. He paused, his hand on the doorknob, the coolness of it pressing into his palm. He turned back.

“You know what I find funny?” he asked, unable to hide the dejection and spite in his voice. Kyungsoo shook his head wordlessly, wary eyes tracing Jongin’s face. “You talked about how you wanted to wait for love, how you would wait until you found the one. I’m right here - I’ve been here, this whole time, by your side. And yet, you’re letting me slip away. Don’t you find that amusing? I certainly do,” he spat out, and shook his head, closing his eyes to try and control all the horrible emotions raging inside of him before opening them again. “I have no doubt that you’ll fall in love again after this. But you know what? I hope you think about me during your first time, and feel regret.”

He watched with a sense of angry satisfaction as Kyungsoo slowly considered his words, eyelids slowly curving downwards as he looked off to the side. Jongin wanted to shake him, but in the end, just shook his head again and turned to grab the doorknob once more.

“Wait,” Kyungsoo said, and Jongin froze. He pressed his lips together, smothering the hope that was threatening to bloom inside of him, and instead thought of nothing as he looked over his shoulder.

Kyungsoo was walking closer to him, and Jongin took half a step forward. Kyungsoo looked up at him then, just a small breath away, eyes dark and unfathomable. Then Kyungsoo continued forward, until he was pressed against Jongin, hands going around Jongin’s waist. Jongin heard the click of the door’s lock spring into place, and he went dizzy with staggering relief when he finally realized what Kyungsoo’s actions meant.

Kyungsoo leaned up, eyes closed, and gently smoothed his lips against Jongin’s. At first, it was just a brush of lips against lips, but then Kyungsoo opened his mouth, and Jongin could help himself anymore. All the pent up desire and frustration broke behind his wall of control, and his hands gripped at Kyungsoo’s hips possessively as he grazed his tongue against the wall of Kyungsoo’s top teeth.

This was crazy, he couldn’t help but think. But he couldn’t get enough of Kyungsoo. He was already drowning and he wasn’t sure if he ever wanted to surface again.

Their kiss grew passionate as they slanted their mouths, tongues battling as they slowly began to walk toward Kyungsoo’s messy bed. Kyungsoo’s hands were busy trying to untie Jongin’s pajama pants, and their kiss broke for a moment so Kyungsoo could look down in frustration when he couldn’t unknot the strings. Jongin observed him dazedly, taking in the frenzied motions of Kyungsoo’s hands. His mouth went dry when Kyungsoo finally loosened the pants strings, and leaned back to look Jongin in the face.

Kyungsoo bit his bottom lip, slowly edging toward the bed as he took off his own shirt. Jongin followed him with his eyes, watching as pale skin was gradually revealed to him.

Jongin wanted this. He wanted it so badly that his hands were shaking. He wanted to be able to kiss Kyungsoo without having to think about whether it was right or if it was wrong, wanted to be able to touch him and hold him until they bonded in ways that put all their other experiences together to shame. But then Kyungsoo leaned back, shirt off, nipples pebbled and face flushed, with his hands on his pants, looking a little lost as he turned confused eyes towards Jongin.

A sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach bloomed. Kyungsoo’s eyes were wide, he couldn’t help but observe. Wide with innocence, purity, and trust. The trust was what got Jongin the most. It was trust aimed at him.

Jongin felt it like a punch in the gut. Kyungsoo loved him, he thought, almost hysterically. Kyungsoo loved him enough to trust him.

He remembered the bet all of a sudden.

And that was when he realized that he didn’t deserve to be trusted.

His breath stuttered out of him and he shook his head, slowly backing away, unable to look Kyungsoo in the eyes. Frustration and shame rolled through him, bringing unshed tears to his eyes, and he looked back up at that face he adored, that face he loved and said, “I can’t.”

He left quietly, quickly, his heart in his throat. He fled to the bathroom, and let out an explosive breath when he closed the door. His back hit the door roughly as he stumbled against it, strength suddenly leaving his body.

He looked up into the mirror across from him, and saw a face he almost didn’t recognize staring back, looking weary and lovesick.

“Kim Jongin, get up,” someone said angrily, shaking him from his sleep.

He mumbled, eyes peeking groggily open to see Luhan glaring at him. He lifted his head from the hard surface he’d fallen asleep on last night, blinking at the bright light streaming in through the windows before he realized that he’d fallen asleep on his journal. He slammed the journal shut protectively before he even realized it, and then froze and slowly turned to Luhan sheepishly. Lucky, Luhan didn’t seem to realize how uncharacteristic his mini freak out, furious eyes fastened onto Jongin’s face.

“What did you do to Kyungsoo?” Luhan demanded, infuriated. Jongin was still trying to shake the sleep from his foggy mind when he realized what Luhan had said.

“What?” he asked, confused. Surely Kyungsoo hadn’t told Luhan about last night’s...

“He left!” Luhan said and threw his hands into the air, a sign of how fed up he was. And then, in a more defeated tone, he repeated, “He left.” Jongin processed those words slowly, his lungs failing on him as understanding slowly sprinkled through him like rain drops.

Kyungsoo... left...

Jongin was out of his seat before he knew it, stumbling over to take Luhan by the shoulders as panic engulfed him. His fingers were trembling as he gripped onto Luhan, eyes wide with dismay.

“Where did he go?” he asked, and shook Luhan when he just looked away wordlessly. Desperation gnawed at his thundering heart. He shook Luhan harder, not caring when he saw Luhan wince at his tightened hold, and asked again, “Where did he go?”

“He left a few minutes ago,” Luhan said finally, and looked at Jongin sadly. “His manager came to pick him up.”

Jongin let him go, his fingers loosening from Luhan’s shoulders one by one until his arms dropped to his sides uselessly.

Was this it? he asked himself, eyes conspicuously dry. Was this their ending? His shoulders, previously tensed, slowly slackened, hunching.

Luhan watched him closely. Jongin wasn’t sure what he saw in him, but it was probably something disappointing. He found that he didn’t mind - not anymore, anyway.

“Are you already giving up?” Luhan asked him, pressing his lips together in an unsatisfied line. Jongin didn’t say anything, turning around to look out the window. Luhan scoffed behind him, and Jongin heard the sound of footsteps walking away. “You’re pathetic, Kim Jongin.” The door slammed shut behind him.

The sound of the door closing roused him from from his daze, and he glanced behind him to his empty room as Luhan’s voice echoed in his head.

“You’re pathetic.”

Was Kyungsoo worth that little to you? he asked himself. Was he worth so little to you that you won't even try and chase after him?

But he knew the answer to that was no.

Question was, why was he still sitting here, wasting time as it slowly ticked by?

He got up, and ran.

Jongin almost hadn’t seen him in his effort to quickly catch up to Kyungsoo’s manager. He’d been so focused on chasing any familiar looking car that he hadn’t been totally paying attention to the sides of the roads. He passed the person standing on the side of the road before he realized just who he had passed.

He did a shocked double-take and slammed on the brakes, grateful that there was no one else out on the streets or he very likely could’ve been involved in a crash just then.

He hurriedly put the car on park and got out of the driver’s seat, slowly standing in the road as he looked back. Kyungsoo, holding his suitcase in his hand, stared back. Jongin’s knees wobbled for a split second before he took a faltering step, relief crushing down on him ruthlessly. Then he took another faltering step, and another, and another, until he stood in front of Kyungsoo, gazing at that face he thought he’d almost lost.

“I didn’t think you’d come after me,” Kyungsoo admitted, trying to sound like he was joking, eyes roving over Jongin’s face like a loving caress. Jongin didn’t find it funny at all.

“Why wouldn’t I?” he asked, serious, as he lifted a hand to touch Kyungsoo’s cheek gently. “How could I just let you go when I love you this much?” And he slid his hands from Kyungsoo’s cheek into his soft hair as he pulled Kyungsoo closer to him, so close that their breath fanned each other’s lips, and closer still until the distance between them vanished into thin air like a thief in the night.

Jongin saw Kyungsoo’s eyes flutter close just as his own slid shut.

This kiss was normal, natural, but it felt different to Jongin as their mouths moved against one another. There was a special meaning in this kiss; everything felt new and amazing to him, as if he were experiencing the kiss from the beautiful side of life. Sometimes, when they shared air between them, it felt like Jongin wasn’t just kissing Kyungsoo’s outer shell... it was like he was kissing Kyungsoo’s soul. He never wanted to lose this feeling.

Because this feeling was brilliant and painfully exquisite.

And most importantly, it was them.

Kyungsoo straddled him, a rosy flush at the base of his neck working upwards to his face as Jongin rubbed their hips together. They were in Jongin’s bedroom, on his bed, having made their way as inconspicuously as they could through Luhan’s quiet house. Jongin wondered why they bothered - they’d be making plenty of noise later on and they probably should’ve warned Luhan beforehand - but wait. Why was Jongin even thinking about Luhan right now when he finally had Kyungsoo in his bed?

“I want,” Kyungsoo murmured to him, making a small, sexy little groan when Jongin pressed his hips upward again. Jongin closed his eyes, swallowing hard to stifle his own groan, dropping his head back to the pillow as flames kindled deep in his belly. He laid there for a minute, savoring the feeling of lust coursing through his limbs, savoring the feeling of love he felt when he realized that he was about to make love to someone he adored and cherished.

Kyungsoo pressed down on him, head lolling back and lips puffy from kisses open as he breathed. Jongin opened his eyes, drinking in the sight of Kyungsoo like that, with his torso stretched out and nipples pebbled. Kyungsoo’s eyes were closed and Jongin had the weirdest urge to see them, so he laid his hand onto the soft curve of Kyungsoo’s cheek, watching with a quiet delight when Kyungsoo opened his lids to reveal dark, dazed eyes.

Jongin pulled Kyungsoo down, nibbling at Kyungsoo’s bottom lip before tracing the tip of his tongue against the top row of Kyungsoo’s teeth, then steadily moving lower, sucking tiny love bites into Kyungsoo’s neck as his fingers fumbled with the button’s on Kyungsoo’s pants.

Kyungsoo, he saw with a certain satisfaction, wore briefs.

“Do you have...” Kyungsoo paused and breathed in, body going rigid when Jongin licked at one of his nipples. Jongin’s fingers were teasingly tracing the elastic band of Kyungsoo’s underwear, loving the feel of Kyungsoo’s soft skin under his hands. Kyungsoo continued, “Do you have a condom and lube?”

Jongin froze and dropped his head back down to the pillow, squeezing his eyes shut in frustration. No way. He couldn’t believe it but... he’d forgotten all about the condom and lube.

“Fuck my life,” he said out loud, and Kyungsoo laughed, sliding a teasing hand down Jongin’s abs. Jongin made a noise when Kyungsoo’s fingers slid against a ticklish spot on his stomach, and his stomach jumped in reaction.

“Oh?” Kyungsoo asked out loud, a mischievous smile lighting his face. Jongin wanted to bolt out of bed when he saw it. “Are you ticklish, Kim Jongin?”

“No,” he denied immediately, and the way Kyungsoo smirked at him told him that he was in for a world of pain if he didn’t abort the mission right away. He pushed Kyungsoo off of him, quickly getting up.

“I’m going to see if Luhan stashed any condoms and lube anywhere,” he said hurriedly, and raced out of the room, Kyungsoo’s laughter following him down the hallway.

Jongin quickly searched everywhere he could think of - the bathroom shelves, under the sinks, under the couch pillows, through some old shoe boxes, and even through some cd cases he found lying around - but he didn’t come up with anything. He plopped down on the couch, running his hands through his hair frustratedly. Where the hell did Luhan keep all his things? Jongin would have to go to the store thirty minutes away at this rate.

He stood up, blowing out an explosive exhale of air before he spotted something on the kitchen table from the corner of his eye. He looked over, then blinked when he realized what it was as his face went red.

Luhan had laid out a box of condoms and a bottle of lube for them onto the table. Jongin slowly walked toward it, head twitching as he looked around, wondering if Luhan was playing a joke on him.

A note sat next to the items innocently. When Jongin didn’t see any mysterious cameras pointed at him, he walked up and grabbed it.

If you or Kyungsoo get cum on my bed sheets (or on anything else, for that matter), I will sue you. Use the condoms and lube wisely. I’ll be coming home in five hours. When I come home with dinner, please don’t tell me where you had sex. I don’t want to know.

- Luhan

Jongin laughed, snatching the items on the table up with his free hand before heading back to his room. He was still snickering to himself about Luhan’s letter when he walked into his room.

He froze when he looked up.

Kyungsoo was there on his bed, lying naked amidst Jongin’s dark sheets, staring at him with a smoldering gaze that stopped Jongin’s lungs from working properly. When he saw that he had Jongin’s full attention, Kyungsoo smiled a slow, inviting smile that beckoned Jongin to the bed. And Jongin went, dazed and hot all over, stripping from his clothes quickly and quietly.

Their skin slid against each other, and Jongin coaxed Kyungsoo to relax, to give him all the trust Kyungsoo could bare to give. He wanted trust from Kyungsoo, wanted it badly. He didn’t deserve the trust, but he desired for it like nothing before. And Kyungsoo gave, gave until there was nothing there but trust shining in his eyes, shining in his actions and motions.

Jongin recognized it easily, and he pressed kisses everywhere in silent gratitude. He licked his way down until he had Kyungsoo gasping, heaving against the sheets from the pleasure, and took his time there, teaching, showing. The room was hazy in his eyes, and he couldn’t seem to focus on anything except for Kyungsoo as he writhed.

Kyungsoo’s legs were tight around his hips, holding onto him when he came back up for a kiss. He opened Kyungsoo up lightly as their teeth clashed against each other, allowing him time to adjust around his slick fingers. Kyungsoo’s heart was racing against his, skin slick with perspiration and need. Jongin could feel Kyungsoo’s heart beating around his fingers, tight and warm, and he ached to be in there, ached until it became painful. He waited though, holding steady onto his control.

Kyungsoo was tempting this way, flushed face tossing on the mustache pillows as Jongin brushed his fingers deep in him.

A whisper, a plea.

Jongin pulled his fingers out and pulled a condom on, slicking himself up liberally, before melting back onto Kyungsoo, angling his hips just right to ease deep into Kyungsoo.

“Are you okay?” he whispered, and Kyungsoo’s eyes opened, so full of love and need that it made Jongin want to stay with him like this forever, until the end of time. Kyungsoo nodded, and Jongin leaned down, touching their lips together, not kissing, but simply sharing breath as he moved.

Kyungsoo’s gasps echoed through Jongin, loud and in tandem with the pulsing beat against his ear drums. Something great built up between them, something more than pleasure, something more than life. And this feeling fueled him onward, beautiful and incomparable and all consuming.

The pleasure broke Kyungsoo down in front of him, and Kyungsoo shattered silently, exquisite in his pained pleasure. Jongin watched his face through eyes half-closed, taking in the beauty of the moment, savoring it and placing it somewhere special inside him, before he cracked, mouth open to call Kyungsoo’s name in one shuddering breath.

They clung onto each other, coming down the high slowly, sharing languid, open-mouthed kisses as the fire disappeared from their veins, retreating until there was nothing but racing hearts pounding against each other in harmony.

Jongin pulled out a few moments later, and Kyungsoo winced at the action. Jongin tried to soothe him, and pressed kisses to his face until the frown had left. He got up, knees shaky as he made his way over to the bathroom. The air smelled like sweat and sex, a direct contrast to the air in the bathroom, crisp and clean. He tied the used condom up and trashed it before grabbing a cloth, running it under warm water before padding back to the bed, where his lover was already snuggling down on his mustache pillow.

Jongin smiled and got back onto the bed, running the cloth gently over Kyungsoo to wipe the sweat and cum off. He was careful with Kyungsoo’s lower half, smoothing the cloth gently across his privates. Kyungsoo mumbled when he stopped his ministrations, so Jongin pressed a kiss to Kyungsoo’s forehead, dumping the cloth onto the floor.

Then he snuggled up to Kyungsoo, head resting against the edge of his own mustache pillow. He closed his eyes to the sight of Kyungsoo’s peaceful face.

When he woke back up, Kyungsoo was staring at him with a soft expression on his face. Jongin felt tingles in his toes at the sight, and he smiled, pressing close to peck a small kiss onto Kyungsoo’s lips.

“You feeling alright?” he asked, slightly worried.

“I feel great,” Kyungsoo said, his smile the happiest Jongin had ever seen.

Jongin bit his bottom lip, trying to stifle the giddiness welling in him, and nodded. “Me too.”

Familiar laughter reached his ears as he padded down the stairs idly. He blinked, rounding the corner of the staircase curiously to see what was going on. Kyungsoo was laughing at something Luhan was holding, head thrown back to expose his marked neck. Jongin scratched his head, frowning as irrational jealousy fanned out in him. Since when had Kyungsoo and Luhan gotten so... chummy with each other?

He walked (though it was more marching than walking) over, not paying attention to what Luhan was waving around, arms wrapping around Kyungsoo’s shoulders in a sign of possession. He glared at Luhan warning, pressing a kiss to Kyungsoo’s neck. Luhan paused, a funny little smile on his face that had the glare dropping from Jongin’s face.

“What?” he asked gruffly, and promptly melted when Kyungsoo reached a hand back to idly comb his fingers through Jongin’s hair.

“Luhan took a rather... cute picture of us when he came home,” Kyungsoo said, a smile obvious in his voice.

Jongin frowned. “What?” he asked again, this time incredulously.

Luhan smirked victoriously, shoving the image in Jongin’s face. Jongin’s jaw dropped when he saw it. Kyungsoo was rather adorable in it. Jongin, however, was not. In fact, the picture was captured to show just about the worst image of him in the history of all his pictures.

“Give me that,” he demanded, his face flaming. Kyungsoo and Luhan laughed at him, and when Jongin went to grab the picture, Luhan danced out of reach.

“I don’t think so,” Luhan sing-songed, smirked. He turned and ran when Jongin charged after him, yelling.

Twenty minutes later, Jongin came back to flop into the chair next to Kyungsoo, flushed and sulking. Luhan was a fast runner, he learned. Every time Jongin had gotten close enough to tackle Luhan, the other had easily skittered away, laughter ringing in the halls as Jongin chased him.

Kyungsoo cooed at him, reaching up to pet his head like he would a cute dog. Jongin scrunched his nose, but in the end enjoyed it. He huffed out a sigh, leaning into the touch.

“Better?” Kyungsoo asked him, eyes disappearing behind his smile.

“I guess,” he said, but then thought better of that and puckered his lips. He tapped his bottom lip, looking at Kyungsoo with innocent yes. “I’d feel better if you kissed me though.” Kyungsoo gave him a look that told him Kyungsoo knew exactly what he was doing, but humored him anyway, leaning in to press a kiss to his lips.

A flash went off from the side and they broke apart to see Luhan holding Kyungsoo’s camera, grinning. Jongin growled, pushing up from his seat.

“You little shit-” he started, but Luhan wasn’t looking at him - he was looking at the picture, a pleased smile on his face. He walked over, handing the picture and the camera over to Jongin.

Jongin blinked and looked down before a grin spread across his face. Kyungsoo, curious, looked over as well, before snatching the picture out of his hands.

“Hey!” Jongin protested. “I wanted that picture!”

“No can do,” Kyungsoo said, beaming at him as he tucked the picture into his back pocket quickly.

Luhan, who was putting the take-out he’d brought onto the table, rolled his eyes and said, “Please don’t start flirting at the table, that’s gross."

In retaliation for Luhan’s comment and Kyungsoo’s picture robbing, Jongin stole half of their fries. He smiled to himself, satisfied.

(He proceeded to feed Kyungsoo his share back a few minutes later after Kyungsoo pouted at him.)

Kyungsoo still ended up having to move into an apartment, despite Jongin’s vehement protests.

“My manager planned this from the beginning, though it’s a little earlier than expected,” Kyungsoo had told him with a shrug and a little smile. Jongin didn’t respond, a permanent, displeased scowl on his face. He didn’t like the sound of Kyungsoo moving out of Luhan’s house at all; he and Kyungsoo had only just bonded, and yet they were already being separated. The thought irritated him. All he had wanted to do was stay with Kyungsoo for a few days, but apparently that was asking for too much.

Kyungsoo seemed to realize what he was angsting over, and bounded over to Jongin, wrapping his arms around Jongin’s waist.

“Don’t pull that face,” Kyungsoo said, pressing a sweet, sweet kiss to Jongin’s jaw. Jongin almost melted, but stubbornly held onto his annoyance. Kyungsoo mock-pouted when he saw that Jongin hadn’t fallen for it, and pressed another sweet, sweet kiss to the corner of Jongin’s mouth. He pulled away before Jongin could turn his head and give him a proper kiss, and smiled. “If you keep that face up any longer, it might just ruin your handsome face in the long run.”

Jongin reached up to hug Kyungsoo to him, leaning his forehead against Kyungsoo’s shoulder in a rare moment of weakness.

“I wanted to stay with you,” Jongin muttered into Kyungsoo’s shirt, almost petulantly. This longing in his chest had only started up when he realized that he wouldn’t have Kyungsoo by his side during his every waking moment, and it wouldn’t go away no matter how much he tried to ignore it.

One of Kyungsoo’s hands went up to comb through his hair lightly, and Jongin relaxed little by little at his lover’s feathery light touches.

“I wanted to, also, but just because I’m leaving here doesn’t mean we won’t see each other,” Kyungsoo said maturely. Jongin pulled away from him and made another annoyed face, before sighing heavily and leaning down to kiss Kyungsoo. He ran his tongue against Kyungsoo’s soft palate, allowing himself to fully immerse himself in Kyungsoo. He was about to go for the button on Kyungsoo’s jeans when Kyungsoo broke their kiss with a gasp, face flushed, lips red, and eyes dazed.

Jongin took a certain pleasure in seeing Kyungsoo like that.

“We can’t,” Kyungsoo said, his protest sounding dazed, blinking as if he were trying to gather back his wits. Jongin frowned. “My manager will be here soon. Who knows what he’ll do if he walks in while we’re... you know.”

“Okay,” Jongin said, though all he wanted to do was pin Kyungsoo onto the bed and ravage him until all rationality left. He held back though, and put a safe amount of distance between them so that his... other head... would cool down.

As if on cue, Jongin heard footsteps coming from down the hallway. Luhan popped his head into the open door a few seconds later, looking immensely relieved that he hadn’t walked into them doing something. That only made Jongin more annoyed; he crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared at Luhan. Unfortunately, Luhan seemed to avoid looking at his general direction, so it was completely worthless.

“Are you ready to go, Kyungsoo?” Luhan asked, smiling. Kyungsoo nodded, and grabbed his two large suitcases from the bed with a huff. That was... slightly adorable.

Okay, so that made Jongin’s irritation go away a little. Trying to stop his lips from twitching upward, he stalked over to Kyungsoo, pulled one of the suitcases from his grip, and stalked out of the room.

He didn’t have to look back to see Kyungsoo’s smile; he could feel it as he marched down the stairs.

A few second later, a “Thanks, Jongin!” floated down the stairs.

He stifled a chuckle and yelled back, “Yeah, whatever.”

Though Kyungsoo’s manager came to pick him up, Jongin was able to at least persuade him to allow Jongin to take Kyungsoo.

They talked about the future in Jongin’s car as he followed the manager through the streets, weaving through the automobiles on the road expertly. There were a few dumbasses out on the roads, like usual, but Kyungsoo was able to soothe and calm his road rage with some of the aegyo he’d perfected as an idol.

“Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?” Kyungsoo asked, curiosity shining in his eyes.

“Yeah,” Jongin said, and looked over to see Kyungsoo’s surprised expression. He laughed. “What? Do I look like the kind of guy who wouldn’t know what he wanted to do later in life?” Kyungsoo shook his head hastily at that.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” Kyungsoo protested, frowning. “Besides, I didn’t even say anything!”

“Well?” Jongin cocked his head to the side, shooting Kyungsoo a quizzical smirk. “What did you mean, then?”

“I was just surprised, that’s all,” Kyungsoo said. “I mean, you don’t really talk about yourself.” Jongin shrugged.

“There’s not much about me to talk about,” Jongin said, and in his head amended, with you, anyway. What, exactly, could he share with Kyungsoo? How he’d probably fucked probably half of the high school, or that he had a step-brother everyone believed was an angel but was actually a devil in disguise? There was just no way he was speaking a word about that to Kyungsoo.

Besides, if their relationship survived the onslaught of pressure from Taemin (or even Kyungsoo’s fans) he’d personally be the one to make sure his manwhoring days were dead and gone. There was no need to make Kyungsoo worry.

“I bet you’re lying to me right now, aren’t you?” Kyungsoo asked knowingly and rolled his eyes when Jongin didn’t say anything. “Fine. At least tell me what you want to do when you go to college.”

Jongin debated on actually telling Kyungsoo before he gave in.

“I want to be a dancer,” he mumbled, and refused to meet Kyungsoo’s eyes. He felt strangely embarrassed. “I’ve always wanted to dance on Broadway.”

“You must be amazing,” Kyungsoo breathed, and actually sounded awed. Jongin peeked at him from the corner of his eyes, then looked away as a flush worked its way up his neck.

“I’m okay,” Jongin said, trying to downplay it.

“You have to show me one day, okay?” Kyungsoo said, completely ignoring his other statement as he grinned happily, eyes almost disappearing behind his eyelids.

Jongin smiled. “Okay.”

For the last half of the ride to Kyungsoo’s new place, Jongin took one hand off the steering wheel and gripped onto Kyungsoo’s, squeezing as he turned his burning face from Kyungsoo’s inquiring stare. Kyungsoo, luckily for Jongin’s pride, didn’t remark about that, and instead squeezed his hand back.

And when they got to where Kyungsoo was staying, Jongin couldn’t even find it in himself to be angry.

He waved, and then watched with fond, loving eyes as Kyungsoo disappeared into his new apartment.

Since Kyungsoo was living only a few blocks from his actual apartment, Jongin decided to stop by his apartment. The good mood had already faded away, leaving only dread in its place.

He was definitely not looking forward to seeing his step-brother again.

He got to the apartment in mere minutes and scowled at the dashboard; while this meant that he’d be able to visit Kyungsoo easily, he had hoped that it would take him at least twenty minutes to get to where he lived. Unease pooled in his belly.

There was no use hiding now. Taemin had probably already caught sight of him.

Jongin got out of his car slowly, and meandered to the apartment doors. He greeted the doorman politely, much to the doorman’s surprise, and walked inside. He took the stairs instead of the elevators to buy himself more time to get ready for Taemin, but he found it meaningless once he reached his floor.

He anxiously pushed open the door. When no one greeted him with a furious glare, he blinked in surprise. Huh, that was strange.

He walked around the apartment, looking around as he took off his coat and shoes. Still nothing. He wandered into the kitchen, searched the dining area, and finally went into the hallway. Cautiously stepping through the rooms, Jongin finally ended up in front of his own room, confused.

Where was that step-brother of his?

Of course, that question was quickly answered when he went into his room.

Taemin was on his bed, waiting for him with a smirk on his full lips.

“Looks like you won the bet after all,” Taemin purred, and sidled up to Jongin in a confident prowl. He began to unbutton Jongin’s shirt, sliding his warm hands up Jongin’s shirt.

Jongin snapped out of his daze at the feeling of Taemin’s hands on him, and grabbed both of Taemin’s wandering hands with his own, frowning. He shook his head. “I don’t...” he trailed off.

Taemin scoffed. “Don’t lie. You’ve wanted this ever since our parents married each other. You’ve wanted to fuck me for so long, and you’re just going to turn it down like that?”

Jongin pressed his lips together and dropped Taemin’s hands from his like he’d touched something disgusting. “I am,” he said, and stepped back to gesture toward his door. “Please leave.”

Taemin snarled. “We made a bet.”

“The bet’s off,” Jongin said angrily.

“Fuck. You,” Taemin hissed, and then left the room in a flurry of angry limbs. He slammed the door behind him so hard that the wall rattled.

Jongin breathed out shuddering air.

Had he just... refused Taemin?

He blinked.

He had.

And it had felt good.

Jongin walked out of his room a few hours later, on the way back down to his car. He twirled his keys with his finger as he shut his door; he had left his stuff over at Luhan’s mansion, so he had to go back and get it. Maybe once he returned, he’d stop by Kyungsoo’s house to personally say goodnight before he returned. The thought shot a happy tingle up his spine.

Taemin was wrapping something up in a brown, cardboard box when he walked outside into the living room. Jongin paused, staring at him.

“What are you doing?” he eventually asked as Taemin continued to ignore him. Taemin glanced up to him, and smiled a sweet, angelic smile that made Jongin begin to worry. His step-brother did not smile like that for no reason.

“Don’t worry about it, Jongin,” Taemin said cheerfully.

Jongin knew that Taemin was planning something then. He eyed Taemin, suspicious, and sighed and turned, walking out the door. Whatever it was Taemin was planning on doing to him, he hoped that it didn’t involve Kyungsoo. He’d never forgive Taemin if it did.

He got into his car, spared his apartment windows one last troubled glance, then turned the ignition on and left for Luhan’s.

“Thanks for letting me stay,” he told Luhan as he got ready to leave. The sun was already setting, and he needed to get going if he wanted to catch Kyungsoo while he was still awake. The igloo he and Kyungsoo had built a month ago had already melted, new snow slowly taking its place. Luhan walked him out to his car.

“It was actually no problem,” Luhan said, looking mildly surprised as he admitted that. “You were, to my shock, a good house guest. I can almost forgive you for blackmailing me into hooking you and Kyungsoo up, too. Kind of.” Jongin snorted.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” Jongin said as he got into his car, smiling teasingly. Luhan let out a laugh as he turned to leave. Jongin stared at his back, remembered something, and grew serious as he rolled down his window and called Luhan back. Luhan looked at him over his shoulder curiously. “Go easy on Baekhyun, okay? I think he might actually like you.”

He left, Luhan’s surprised reflection in his mirrors.

Unfortunately, Jongin was unable to make it to Kyungsoo’s apartment before ten, so he just headed home, disappointed. He went up to the apartment and made his way to his room through the darkened surroundings. Taemin had already gone to sleep, and he was guessing Kevin, their Chinese half-butler, had already left as well.

He opened the door to his room and changed his clothes quickly as he sent a text to Kyungsoo.

are you sleeping?

A reply buzzed at his phone just a few seconds later, much to his surprise and delight.

Not yet. Waiting for my goodnight call from a certain someone.

He smiled and eagerly called Kyungsoo, pressing the phone to his ear like it held something precious. Kyungsoo picked up on the first ring.

“Hey,” Kyungsoo said sleepily, but happily. “About time you called me.”

“Sorry,” Jongin said apologetically, grinning at nothing as he imagined Kyungsoo’s sleepy, disgruntled face in his mind. “I’m surprised you aren’t asleep yet.”

“Mm,” Kyungsoo murmured, voice so soft that it sent tingles through Jongin’s fingers. “I’m half-way to dreamland though. I’m glad you called before I could fall asleep.”

Jongin had a sudden yearning; he wanted to see Kyungsoo so badly. He wanted to be able to talk to Kyungsoo face to face at this moment, watch him try and fail at blinking the sleep from his eyes, watch as Kyungsoo’s hands curled around his own, watch as Kyungsoo fell asleep, safe in his arms. His grip on his phone tightened.

His silence must’ve spoken for itself because Kyungsoo, even in his stupor, recognized it easily and asked, “You okay?”

Jongin paused then admitted, “Just missing you.”

“I miss you, too,” Kyungsoo said quietly, sounding more than just half-way to dreamland. He was obviously trying to stay awake for Jongin’s sake. Jongin had to wonder if Kyungsoo had had a schedule for that day after he had finished moving - that could have explained why Kyungsoo was so tired in the first place.

Silence took over the line then, and Jongin quietly got in bed, listening to the sound of Kyungsoo’s breathing as it grew deep and steady. Then he said, “I love you.”

Kyungsoo didn’t answer, already fast asleep.

Jongin smiled, something warm behind his eyes, and listened to Kyungsoo’s breathing for a few more minutes. When his own eyes grew heavy with sleep, he whispered, “Good night,” and hung up.

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