June 3/7
Title: June 3/7
Pairing: Jongkey, side!2min
Rating: PG15-NC17
Genre: au, angst, romance
Summary: This could be Jonghyun's big break. He didn't think anything would stop him. At least, he thought that until he found out how much it hurt to be away from home.
Key's body was warm and slick under the showerhead, Jonghyun's palms roaming over every inch he could reach. The back of Jonghyun's head was getting most of the spray, the feeling of the warm water dripping down his neck nothing compared to the way that Key's lips felt as they pushed against his, slow and languid but still hotter than the steam collecting around them that made their breath even shorter.
The older pulled back, fingertips tracing the curve of Key's spine, and took a good look at the younger, memorizing every detail of how he looked now opposed to usual.
It wasn't the dark circles under his eyes that he paid attention to, or the barely-there dullness behind his eyes, both signs of fatigue; it was his gorgeous glistening skin and moist pink lips; it was the way that droplets of water clung to his eyelashes and streamed down his cheekbones, the way that his hair grew darker as it clung to his forehead, dripping and disheveled; it was the rivulets that accentuated his best features, that mapped out his body in swift, smooth slides, quite like Jonghyun's own careful touches.
The younger jumped slightly and turned his head as there was a sound from outside the bathroom, audible even over the water running.
"Onew-hyung must have left," Jonghyun said, accustomed to the sound of the door shutting by now.
Those words, paired with how Jonghyun's hands rubbed across his hip, had Key turning back to him and kissing him more intently than before, tongue sliding in his mouth and lapping at his own, hands fitting into his soaking hair and tugging at the roots.
Jonghyun, not expecting such a reaction, could do nothing but comply with a low moan of gratitude, eyes shutting with aid of the mist gluing itself to his lids and weighing them down.
They'd spent a fair amount of time in the shower already, all of the boring business taken care of in favor of indulging themselves in what Jonghyun suggested the night before.
Jonghyun's heart gave a pang and his fingers gripped the younger's hips a little tighter at the thought that this was the last time that they would have the chance to do anything like this for three entire months.
Key must have gotten the same feeling, because when he pulled away, breathing in the humid air, droplets ran down the corners of his red eyes and Jonghyun honestly couldn't decide if they were tears or just shower water.
Jonghyun's solution to their mix of emotions was to kiss down the side of Key's neck, all the way down his chest as far as he could reach before resituating himself of his knees, lips pressing erratic lines and patterns beneath his navel.
He looked up at Key nervously as he adjusted his knees on the non-slip mat that covered the bottom of the tub, hands braced on his hips.
The younger looked back down at him with surprise written across his features, fingers threading into his hair. It wasn't often that Jonghyun did this, far from often, actually, but he let go of his usual discomfort in favor of giving the younger something special before he left.
When he closed his lips over the head of Key's arousal, the younger sucked in a deep breath, fingers going taut in Jonghyun's wet hair.
"God, Jjong-"
Jonghyun took that as a good sign, because really, he didn't have much of an idea what he was doing with this; he definitely wasn't as good as Key was (because no one was as good as Key was with this, in Jonghyun's humble opinion), but he did the best he could, hollowing his cheeks and bobbing up and down until his face was sore, tongue swirling around the head and sliding along the length, every bit of effort rewarded with the most sensual sounds from Key's mouth, Jonghyun's name abused on his tongue as a broken moan or a caught breath. He loved the way that Key sounded when he was touched-out like this. Loved it.
The older released one of his hips in favor of curling his fingers around the base and moving in time with his mouth, tongue now hungrily flicking at every bit he could reach, and when he glanced up at Key, the dark, pleasure-ridden look on his face, eyes half-lidded, lips parted and catching spray drops of water, was well worth the uncomfortable effort.
Jonghyun shut his eyes and shuddered at a particularly erotic roll of his name from Key's tongue, giving a hard suck to the head that turned it into an incoherent cry, before trying to relax his throat the best he could to take him in deeper.
What he didn't anticipate (but probably should have with the way his hand on his waist was going lax), was Key's hips jerking forward, causing Jonghyun's throat to burn and spasm around him, breathing harshly through his nose and pulling back to keep from choking too badly. Jonghyun's eyes shot up, pleading for Key to not do that again.
"Sorry… sorry…" Key panted, running his hands through Jonghyun's soaking hair consolingly, eyes rolling up in his head when Jonghyun accepted the apology by tracing the tip of his tongue along the underside of his length.
"Jjong, stop, I'm-"
Jonghyun looked up at him in question, feeling fingers tugging at his hair, heart giving a jolt as he feared he did something wrong.
He complied despite Key's lusty expression, releasing his rock-hard member and standing back up, not noticing until then that his knees were uncomfortably throbbing, his own erection making itself aware as well.
Key wasted no time snaking a hand down his chest and pumping his hand along his length, forcing Jonghyun to choke back a moan as the younger began to devour his mouth once again.
Jonghyun pressed Key back against the tiled wall, and they should have gotten cold from the lack of hot water spraying against their bodies, but it was so hot that that didn't happen. It was half water and half sweat slicked between them now, Key's erection pressing into Jonghyun's stomach, hips rolling up against him for friction.
"Oh fuck-" Jonghyun gasped, the slide of the burning flesh against his own making his throat close for a moment. He descended a hand from Key's neck down to his arousal, flicking his wrist and making the younger cry out, his own fingers increasing the pressure on Jonghyun as he steadily moved his closed fist back and forth.
It all became too much way too soon in Jonghyun's eyes, Key panting into his mouth as their tongues clashed and their teeth clicked, moans filling the space between them. Jonghyun braced one elbow beside Key's head, bowing forward so that they were chest-to-chest, the amount of pleasure he was experiencing overtaking his senses, Key's breath beating against his cheek even as he bit his lip and strained his neck.
"Key-ah-Key-" Jonghyun groaned, mouthing the younger's jaw and moving to mark the creamy column of his neck, just another spot among many by now.
Key curled his fingers around the back of Jonghyun's neck and coaxed him back up, kissing him deeply as their hips began to jerk of their own accord, release imminent for both.
It was with a skilled twist of his hand and drag of his thumb over the head that brought Key to the edge, whimpering against Jonghyun's mouth, the older moving back just in time to watch the pleasure ripple over Key's features, lips parting over a moan that Jonghyun felt seeping into his bones, hand catching Key's release as he felt his own growing closer.
"Fuck Jonghyun-" Key groaned out once his body stopped trembling, Jonghyun's lips closing over his jaw again, giving little whimpers of encouragement and bucking into his closed fist as he wanted to finish, he wanted to finish so badly, he didn't want Key to stop for a second because this was too, too good.
Key's fingers tightened even more than before, but then teasingly went lax, Jonghyun whining into his ear and the younger actually chuckling and when he pulled back with frustration and outrage, heat winding in his stomach, he saw a cocky smirk curling the younger's swollen lips, and-
His hips went static and he bowed his forehead against Key's, his orgasm hitting him hard and making his knees go weak-had it not been for the non-slip mat, Jonghyun would have probably slid and collapsed because nothing began to compare to the overwhelming bliss that coursed through every single one of his nerves when he experienced an orgasm from Key. He felt more than heard a low groan rip from his chest, ears rushing and vision dimming; he felt dizzy and weak all over, the feeling welcomed greatly.
Key's lips against his own in a light brush was what brought his slightly-trembling body back into reality with a sensation of pins and needles over his shoulders and down to his fingertips, both arms now bent beside the younger's head.
Jonghyun let out a shuddering breath and smiled lightly.
Key's fingers curled over the curve at Jonghyun's waist, looking at him underneath his lashes, lips curving up, eyes still glazed over and contented.
"I love you," Jonghyun whispered, just so Key never forgot.
Key hummed. "Love you too."
Jonghyun tilted his head forward so their foreheads rested against each other, Key's wet hair sticking to Jonghyun's skin. They stayed like that for a long minute, breathing shallowly with shut eyes and hands resting in the crevices of each other's bodies, Jonghyun's fitting into the dip of his neck and shoulder, Key's on Jonghyun's waist.
"We should wash off again," Key suggested, voice touched-out and husky, just how Jonghyun liked to hear it.
Jonghyun pushed off the wall and nodded, the water from the showerhead hitting against his shoulder blades; he hissed and instinctively arched against it, the temperature now icy-cold.
Key chuckled at his expense, reaching past him impassively to the temperature control and turning it to completely hot.
Still, it only warmed it to just-below lukewarm, and Jonghyun-who'd always hated and would never not hate cold showers-washed off in haste, getting out before Key, who didn't mind the temperature in the slightest.
He wrapped a towel around his waist and looked forlornly at the bag on the counter, now damp from condensation, holding his toothbrush and toothpaste (both Jonghyun and Key having brushed their teeth before they showered), his hair products, and now only missing his shampoo and body wash, which Key still had in the shower.
It wasn't long after that the water shut off and Key's hand came reaching for a towel from behind the shower curtain.
Jonghyun, feeling devious, tugged it out of the younger's reach, leaving his hand grappling at an empty bar.
Key's head appeared in the crack of the shower curtain, eyes narrowed. "Kim Jonghyun."
Jonghyun laughed and handed him the towel, Key taking it and rolling his eyes.
When Key stepped out, covered, Jonghyun reached his hands out to hold onto his waist.
Key had none of it, snatching a spare towel and draping it over Jonghyun's head.
"Hey!" Jonghyun protested at his obscured vision, but Key already had his hands on either side of Jonghyun's covered head and was shaking it side to side, laughing at his own mock-sadism.
Jonghyun couldn't help but join in, though he still reached up to grasp blindly at Key's wrists, growing dizzy.
Key pulled the towel off in one quick swipe, and Jonghyun jumped back when he saw the younger's widened eyes right in front of his own.
Key abandoned his silly expression in favor of laughing, throwing his head back as his mouth opened wide, one hand on the counter, the other across his stomach.
Jonghyun watched with a smile as well, taking successive mental images, tucking them away before he could remember why he had to take them.
"You should have seen your face…" Key said once he stopped laughing, shoulders still shaking with small guffaws.
Jonghyun stuck his tongue out.
Key wrinkled his nose playfully, shaking his head right into Jonghyun's personal space.
The older took the liberty to lean forward and peck the tip of his nose, simply because it was cute and Key was cute, so the idea fit.
Plus, it made the younger smile even more widely, so it all worked out in the end.
As afraid of ruining the mood as Jonghyun was, he moved past Key nevertheless to reach into the shower and grab his bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, stuffing them the best he could into the relatively small toiletry bag.
He didn't even notice that the younger was right behind him until he felt lips on his shoulder blade and hands lying on the sides of his upper arms as he zipped the bag up.
He relaxed into the touch, shutting his eyes for a moment.
"Good morning, Jjong," Key whispered against the side of his neck, laying his head down.
"Key, we've been up all night," He pointed out, smiling with amusement.
The younger's hands trailed down his arms until they laced over top of his own. "That doesn't mean that it's not morning, you know."
He was right, after all. "Good morning to you too, Kibum."
He felt the younger's smile against his skin at the use of his full name, something that he'd learned the younger secretly enjoyed, so he liked to use every once in a while, especially at times like this, when his heart felt even warmer than Key's cheek in the crook of his neck.
"I need to go put this in my bag," Jonghyun whispered, not wanting to shatter the serene atmosphere.
"All right," Key said in the same soft tone.
Jonghyun grabbed his toiletries and headed out of the bathroom, the blast of cold air against his skin making him shudder.
It was two steps into the hallway when he stopped dead, brows furrowing as he listened to what sounded like a mixture of voices from the front room. That was odd, because he was sure that he didn't leave the TV on, unless Onew turned it on before he left for school…
Once he was at the mouth of the hallway, his heart dropped and he felt himself flush up to his hairline.
"H-hey guys," He stammered out to the small party gathered in the kitchen, suddenly hyperaware of his lack of clothing.
Onew's eyes went straight for the floor, Songdam busted into laughter, Minho narrowed his eyes with an evil grin, and Taemin blushed to his collar before turning to bury his face in Minho's shoulder.
"I'll just go… yeah."
"Who are you talking to?" Key's voice came from down the hall and Jonghyun's eyes went three times the normal size, trying to telepathically tell the younger not to come any nearer.
It didn't work.
Songdam's laughter only grew louder, wiping away tears from the corner of her eyes. Onew's eyes squeezed shut in embarrassment. Minho began to chuckle as well, and Taemin's head whipped around, only for his eyes to grow wide before nestling back into the safety of Minho's sleeve.
"Oh god."
Jonghyun turned around and pushed at a shell-shocked Key to go back to his room, both scurrying away with quite possibly the deepest blushes they'd worn.
"How long have they been here?!" Key asked, cheeks flaming as he rummaged through Jonghyun's dresser drawers for clothes.
"I don't know, probably since we heard the door close," Jonghyun reasoned, voice coming out faster and higher than usual, setting the bag of toiletries down somewhere unimportant.
"Oh god," Key groaned, "Do you think they heard…?"
"I'm hoping they didn't," The pit of Jonghyun's stomach felt like it was housing a block of pure ice.
"Oh god, Taemin saw us in just our towels…" He tossed underwear, jeans, and a t-shirt at Jonghyun before pressing his forefingers into his temples.
"Don't remind me," Jonghyun grumbled, pulling on the clothes as quickly as possible, "But don't you and Taemin change together after dance? He's seen you before, hasn't he?"
"He hasn't seen you. And he hasn't seen us right after we had sex!"
Jonghyun's cheeks went dark red. "But… Taemin isn't a baby, you know. He and Minho-"
"Please don't tell me that before I have to go out and face them. I'd rather not punch Minho in the face for taking Taemin's virginity, thanks." Key was dressing himself in Jonghyun's clothes as well, everything a bit baggier on him than Jonghyun, the older just watching with a certain protective fondness as he buttoned the jeans and pulled up the zipper.
"Right, sorry." Jonghyun grinned, and then uncrossed his arms to rub the discarded towel through his hair, soaking up the excess moisture as Key did the same.
"God, that was so embarrassing…"
"I'm glad, actually," Jonghyun said, voice softening, "That they came over, I mean. I thought that Onew left already without saying goodbye." His heart inflated and he was suddenly more eager to go into the kitchen at the thought that all the people he was closest to were there to tell him goodbye before he left.
"All right, come on. I see your little smile over there…" Key rolled his eyes, using one hand to comb through his own hair and the other to pull Jonghyun out of the room.
His grin only grew when he walked out and saw the group for the second time, all now waiting with matching smiles.
"Surprise!" They said, only partially in unison, his sister's arms flying up in the air like they usually did when she was excited.
"Hi guys," Jonghyun said weakly, heart clenching.
"We brought breakfast." Minho said, pushing lightly at Taemin's shoulder and giving a little nod that Jonghyun read as 'it's safe to look now.'
"You did?" Jonghyun asked excitedly, letting go of Key's hand crossing to the kitchen table, trying to get a glimpse of whatever Onew's standing body and Songdam's sitting one were shielding.
"Yeah, close your eyes," Minho commanded, moving towards the table as well, Taemin at his side.
Eagerly, Jonghyun did.
"Okay. Open," Songdam said.
When Jonghyun's eyes cracked open, he immediately had to blink away tears.
On the table was a cake, a simple round cake, iced in white and trimmed with little green swirls; the writing in the middle read "We'll Miss You, Jonghyun!"
It was quite possibly the nicest thing that anyone had ever done for him. It hurt his heart to know that he was leaving these amazing people for any amount of time at all.
"Guys," He said a bit helplessly, looking around at all of their smiling faces individually and wrapping an arm around the people closest to him, thus landing across Songdam's shoulders on one side and Taemin's on the other.
"Thank you guys so much," He said, hot tears still pricking at his eyes. A few slipped down before he could help it and Minho laughed at him good-naturedly as he reached around Taemin to wipe them away.
"This is breakfast?" Key asked from behind him, amusement in his tone.
"Yeah, it was my idea!" Taemin said enthusiastically, turning his head around to face Key.
Jonghyun chuckled. Of course a cake was Taemin's idea.
He was touched, really.
He was happy to say that he and Taemin had grown much closer over the years, having mostly each other to talk to during what were supposed to be "double dates", conversations carrying between the two as they watched their respective boyfriends do nothing but bicker needlessly with each other. Some days when Jonghyun was home alone, or Key was busy, Jonghyun would call Taemin and they would talk on the phone for hours at a time, Jonghyun opting to ask about Taemin's day and his school and how things were going with dance, Taemin answering and carrying on conversation with his hyung about training at SPE and things of the like.
Aside from Key, who he didn't really consider as such, and Minho, who acted like his hyung most of the time anyway, Taemin was easily his favorite dongseng.
"Thank you, Taemin-ah," Jonghyun said, angling his head to peck Taemin affectionately on the cheek, ignoring the death stare he received from Minho.
"Where are the plates, then?" Songdam asked cheerfully.
"I'll-"
"I'll get them." Key offered, cutting Onew off. He probably figured it was best not to trust Onew with carrying six glass plates from the cabinet to the table without expecting a few casualties along the way. Being around a group innately made the oldest in the apartment nervous, and it was then that his clumsiness showed through worse than ever.
"You helped too, didn't you Minho?" Jonghyun asked his tall best friend, who was lingering beside Onew.
"Nope," Minho replied just as easily.
"Liar. You know you're going to miss your best friend," He teased.
"Kibum is my best friend," Minho shrugged.
"Yah!" Jonghyun was offended at his lack of care.
"I'm kidding, hyung, calm down," He walked over and purposefully took Jonghyun's arm off Taemin's shoulders in order to lightly punch him in the arm. "Of course I'm going to miss you."
"Promise?" Jonghyun asked, prodding his chest.
Minho just rolled his eyes and patted the top of his head, forever reminding him that he was shorter than Minho by an embarrassing amount.
"Is it even healthy to be eating cake for breakfast?" Key asked as he brought the plates and spoons to the table and set them down.
"Probably not," Songdam answered with a shrug.
"I do it all the time," Taemin did the same.
Everyone in the room eyed him.
"What?" He asked, noticing the sudden attention.
It was kind of eerie, how everyone rolled their eyes in perfect unison.
"Of course you do, Taemin-ah…" Jonghyun said fondly.
Minho smiled and slung an arm comfortably over the youngest's shoulders.
They all watched with bated breath as Onew (who insisted) sliced the cake into equal portions-though Jonghyun swore that he saw him give his sister a bigger slice than the rest-and handed it off individually.
Once served, they all migrated to the living room, taking spots on the too-cramped couch and single chair, the two couples squeezing onto the couch, Taemin in Minho's lap-no big deal-, Songdam in the armchair (also at Onew's chivalrous insistence) and Onew just in front of her seat, legs crossed underneath him.
"So," Songdam asked after they all finished simultaneous moments of reverence for the borderline-magical flavor of the chocolate cake, "The next time I see you, are you going to be a huge idol star?"
Jonghyun laughed modestly. "I doubt it, noona…" He looked at Key, who was pressed close at his side and wearing the same smile.
"You've already been there for like two years already. I think it's about time you became famous," She stated matter-of-factly, popping another bite of cake into her mouth.
"We'll see," Jonghyun said nonchalantly, secretly hoping the same as his sister (but less about being 'famous' and more about being able to finally release some music to the public).
"Key-hyung, what's it like to know that your boyfriend is going to be a celebrity?" Taemin asked, tone only half-joking.
Key turned to him with a soft smile, crumbs at the corners of his lips that infatuated Jonghyun beyond words. The younger patted his thigh. "I'm very proud of him."
His heart warmed considerably, and he would have kissed him had there not been so many people watching.
"What about the fan-girls?" Minho asked, just to be an asshole and get Key riled up. That was his job, after all.
The younger simply smirked.
"What if he has a lot of fans that you go to school with?" Taemin pressed, more excited than he probably should have been.
"They can say they love him and that he's theirs and they're going to marry him all they want," He said nonchalantly, and Jonghyun was actually very interested in this reaction. He'd never asked about it before, and now he wished he had.
"You won't get jealous?" Songdam pressed.
"No,"
That wounded Jonghyun's ego a little bit.
"Why not?" Jonghyun was thankful Taemin asked so he didn't have to.
"Because he's not with them, he's with me," He stated plainly, casually, but Jonghyun caught an edge of possessiveness in his tone that assured him more than anything.
He didn't hesitate then to drape his arm around Key's shoulders; Key's slinky smile grew wider and Jonghyun could feel that he was pretty much purring.
"Hyung, you're being quiet." Jonghyun turned his attention to Onew, who sat on the floor observing but not saying anything.
Onew jumped as all eyes went his way, almost dropping his spoon. "Oh. Hi," He said sheepishly.
"Aren't you going to miss me too?" Jonghyun asked teasingly.
"Of course I am! I'm going to be without my beloved roommate. Now who am I going to watch TV with when I get home from work?"
"Key is still going to be here." Jonghyun suggested, and then more pointedly added, "And so is my sister."
Onew's eyes went wider and he looked down at his cake again. "I guess."
Jonghyun couldn't help but grin at his reaction. Even though they'd known each other for the entire duration that Jonghyun lived with Onew, even though they clearly liked each other from the very first time they met, Onew and Songdam were far too shy or awkward or any mixture of the two to really even talk to each other without Jonghyun around.
"I'll come watch TV with you, hyung," Taemin offered sweetly, not seeing what Jonghyun was trying to do.
Even still, Jonghyun's heart melted at the younger's inherent cuteness. It was funny, because it turned out that Taemin and Onew actually knew each other before he'd even met Minho, Onew being his tutor all throughout his middle school years.
Onew smiled again, seemingly relieved if nothing else. "Thank you, Taemin-ah."
"God, you're cute, Taemin," Jonghyun said almost bitterly.
Taemin's following objection of the usual "I'm-not-cute-I'm-an-eighteen-year-old-grown-man" was contradicted quite thoroughly by the way he puffed up his cheeks like a blowfish and blew his bangs out of his face.
Minho rubbed his back, once again consoling.
"Jonghyun, what time is your train?" Songdam asked after a minute of comfortable silence.
Jonghyun felt Key stiffen at his side. "Eight-thirty,"
"It's seven forty-five now…" She said, seeming regretful as she was the bearer of bad news, "We should probably get going."
Jonghyun sighed, heart falling. "All right," He ate the rest of his cake all in one bite and made to stand.
Everyone else did the same, a heavy atmosphere dampening the mood.
He threw his guitar bag over his shoulder, and Key helped by dragging his one large rolling bag behind him while Jonghyun balanced the weight of the guitar with his duffel bag.
"Ready?" He asked Key quietly, knowing without even having to ask that Key was coming with him to the train station.
Key nodded wordlessly, looking everywhere but his eyes.
Jonghyun felt a deep sting for the first time that Key was already letting him go, and he wasn't even gone yet.
"Three months, huh?" Minho asked, moving in front of him. There was sadness in his eyes, and that hurt even worse, because Minho was supposed to be the impartial one, the strong rock that kept him grounded.
Jonghyun looked up at him without saying anything, and Minho stepped forward to hug him tightly around the shoulders.
The shorter of the two gripped him around the middle, not even having the heart to resent their height difference at this point.
"I'll see you later, hyung."
"Yeah, later," Jonghyun held onto those words dearly. He would see him later.
Taemin was next, taking no pause before twining his arms around Jonghyun's neck and pulling him in tightly. "Bye, hyung! I'll miss you!"
Jonghyun smiled over his shoulder. "You too, Taemin-ah. Call me, all right?"
Taemin moved back with a bright grin, and Jonghyun mirrored it mostly against his will. "I will, hyung."
"Onew-hyung," Jonghyun opened his arms for the man who was somewhat-awkwardly hanging back by the couch.
He smiled, and it lit up the entire room, walking into Jonghyun's embrace.
"I'll miss you, hyung," He said, squeezing his eyes shut doing the same with his arms around Onew's stomach.
"Yeah, you too…" Onew stepped back and still managed to smile at him, because he was good at making the atmosphere feel better no matter what, "You'll call, won't you?"
Jonghyun successfully forged a small smile in return, feeling the beginnings of tears at the corners of his eyes. "Of course I will."
"Promise?" Onew grinned.
Jonghyun felt a bit pathetic, his smile translating it fully. "Yeah, I promise."
"Hyun-ah," Songdam pulled at his sleeve with a remorseful expression.
He swallowed in a thick throat and looked back at Onew's living room, full of the people he cared about most, Key still at his side.
"I'll see you guys," He said, praying that his voice wouldn't break.
There was the movement of everyone waving goodbye to him in the comfort of the living room, and he took a mental picture, saving it for later.
Breathing in deeply, Jonghyun waved back the best he could with his bags in tow, following his sister and his boyfriend out the door.
Without words, they packed his bags into the trunk of Songdam's car and the same as Jonghyun and Key slid into the backseat, Songdam into the driver's seat.
As they started driving, Jonghyun noted the way that Key was looking out the window, his hands rested in his lap just out of Jonghyun's reach.
His sister met his eyes in the rearview mirror, echoing the same concern he felt.
"Hey," He said softly, reaching his hand across the middle seat to smooth over Key's knee.
The younger boy looked at him, and Jonghyun saw moisture building in his eyes, making his heart drop terribly.
Jonghyun slid his hand into Key's, scooting toward Key as far as the seatbelt would allow him and facing him the best he could.
"Don't miss me yet, Key-ah," He said, even a bit pleadingly, holding the younger's hand in both of his own, "I haven't even left yet."
A tiny smile pulled at the corners of Key's little lips, and Jonghyun felt like that was a monumental accomplishment within itself.
He lifted his hand and brushed Key's bangs back, giving a clear view of the slanted, feline eyes that he fell for a bit more every day.
Key looked at him with the same tears sparkling in his eyes, and Jonghyun felt a bit guilty to think that the way his eyes shone was absolutely beautiful, even with the circumstance.
He watched them flutter shut as he moved in and barely pressed his lips against the younger's cheek, Jonghyun's hand cradling his chin.
Key jumped slightly and moved away after a moment, shifty eyes glancing meaningfully towards Songdam.
Jonghyun met her gaze in the rearview mirror once again, and he knew that she got his hint.
"Oh, don't mind me," She said airily. "I'm watching the road, you know, for safety reasons. And you know what? This radio really could be much louder…" She turned up the volume on the soft easy-listening station just enough to cover any of their quiet conversation.
Jonghyun smiled at his ever-thoughtful sister, and then turned his eyes back to Key, who was biting his lip unsurely.
"Key-ah," Jonghyun breathed, moving closer and tugging lightly at his bottom lip with his thumb to free it from the confines of his upper teeth.
It was Key who closed the rest of the distance between them, dragging his lips slowly and gently against Jonghyun's, his mouth tasting bittersweet, fingertips lightly ghosting over his cheekbone and raising the hairs on the back of Jonghyun's neck.
"You know I'm going to miss you, right?" Key whispered once he pulled away, laying sweet, light kisses all along his cheek, up his temple, and over his shut eyelid.
"Yeah, I know," Jonghyun said just as quietly, and it was true, he did know, but it was reassuring to hear nonetheless.
"I love you so much, Jonghyun," Key sounded near tears again, the breath from his words warm against the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah, I know," Jonghyun repeated, but his lips quirked just barely into a smile before catching Key's again for just a second.
When they pulled away and opened their eyes properly again, Jonghyun's heart gave a jolt of worry and excitement all at once, because they were coming upon the train station very quickly.
He took Key's hand and laced their fingers together again, just to prolong their contact, Key now straining his own seat belt as he sat pressed against Jonghyun's side, head leaning on his shoulder.
The train station was crowded with the early-morning commuters, and it was a job within itself for Songdam to find a parking space even temporarily.
They stepped out, and Jonghyun heard Key sigh heavily beside him.
"Hyun-ah," Songdam beckoned him towards the driver's door that she stood outside.
She pulled him into a bone-crushing hug, burying her face into his neck without reservation.
Jonghyun could do nothing but hug her right back, feeling the weight of everything suddenly sitting on his shoulders, because this was really it.
He was really leaving for three months straight.
And, in any respect, that was a long time to be gone from home by his standard.
"You're going to call me if you need anything, okay?" It was hardly a question.
"I know, noona." He stepped back, and she held tightly onto his shoulders.
Don't cry don't cry don't cry-
"I love you, Hyun-ah, okay?"
"I love you too, noona," He smiled feebly.
"Have fun in Seoul, okay? Don't miss us all too much. Enjoy yourself. You're going to be a star," Her smile outshone his easily.
"All right, noona,"
"Go on, you're going to miss your train."
He nodded and complied, meeting up with Key, who was standing just a small way's away, all of his bags in his hands. For a moment, it looked like Key was the one leaving, and he empathized with exactly what Key must have been feeling, because his stomach dropped and his veins ran cold at just the illusion that he wouldn't be there for ninety-odd days.
When he caught up, there was a lump steadily forming in his throat; he took his bags out of Key's hands, because that image from before was really too much. With his free hand, he reached out and linked his pinky with Key's, because it was his favorite thing to do and this was his last chance to do it.
It was all in a blur that he went through all of the technicalities to actually board the train, because this was all setting in much too fast for him to handle.
"Jjong, this is you," Key tugged gently at their still-joined hands, coming to a stop in front of a crowded-looking train.
Jonghyun's heart clenched, stopping beside the younger. "Is it?"
Key nodded and took his other hand as well.
The older cleared his throat to keep from crying.
Key didn't even try to hold back, tears shining in his eyes as he picked his hands up to rest on Jonghyun's shoulders.
Jonghyun let his guitar and duffel bag fall to the ground beside him (gently, of course), and placed his hands on the curve of Key's waist, never breaking his gaze.
The younger bit his lip swallowed as he slid his arms around Jonghyun's neck, holding him flush against his body.
Jonghyun obliged happily, folding his arms around Key's back and nosing Key's neck, breathing him in with shut eyes and a heavy heart.
And they stayed like that, for a little while, because Jonghyun would never, could never get enough of the feeling of Key's warmth and solidity.
"Jjong," Key whispered into his ear, making a shiver roll down his spine, "There are people-"
Jonghyun rubbed his hand in a wide circle over Key's back. "Close your eyes and they'll go away," He breathed against his skin, knowing that he would be able to hear either way.
It was only when he heard the quietest little sniffle that Jonghyun pulled away and looked into Key's teary eyes, feeling his own doing the same.
"Don't cry," Jonghyun said with a pleading smile.
"You don't cry either," Key retaliated, the amount of venom in his voice practically nonexistent as compared to his usual attitude.
Jonghyun stroked the younger's cheek with his thumb, watching him keenly and absorbing every detail of his face.
"Don't you need to get on the train?"
"Yeah, probably." Jonghyun said distractedly, staring reverently at his small pink mouth and the way that his lips moved when he spoke.
"Jjong," Key tilted his chin up so that Jonghyun was looking at his eyes again. His fingers slid around his jawline until his hand rested at the back of his neck. "Kiss me."
Those words did something strange to the pit of Jonghyun's stomach, making him feel infinitely nervous and giddy all at once, which was unquestionably ridiculous, but he loved it nonetheless.
He really didn't need telling twice.
Regardless of the people around, completely ignorant to everything around except for each other, Jonghyun leaned in and kissed Key, tightening his hold on his waist as Key's hand tangled with the hair at the base of his neck.
Key sighed into the kiss, which only spurred Jonghyun on more, tenderly tracing the edges of Key's lips with his tongue, tasting every inch of his mouth leisurely, like he had all the time in the world when he clearly didn't.
There was commotion all around them; people were boarding the train and nearly running into them on all sides; there was a constant buzz of voices and the sound of footsteps and doors opening and shutting and it was all hectic, so hectic compared to Jonghyun and Key's slow, steady moment.
Jonghyun's chest was so tight that it was actually painful by the time that he broke away from Key, both of their breathing unsteady despite the gentle nature of their kiss.
He broke their eye contact for just a moment to peek into his train, seeing the seats filling up too quickly for his liking, because that meant that it was almost time for him to leave. "I should go now."
Key chewed his lip and nodded. "Have fun in Seoul, Jjong," He smiled, and a tear rolled down his cheek despite his words.
Jonghyun wiped it away and pecked him on the lips one more time. "I love you, Key. You know that, right?"
Key nodded again. "I love you, too."
"I'll call you every chance I get, I promise," He squeezed his side lightly, affectionately.
"I'm so proud of you, Jjong. You've gotten this far already," Key smiled, and this time it was small, but genuine, and Jonghyun felt his heart squeeze the same as his hand.
He swallowed, throat closing. "I love you so much, Key-ah."
Key brushed their lips together and pulled him in for one last (last) quick hug before stepping back, shattering their little bubble of privacy and exposing Jonghyun to all of the stares around them that he'd only felt before.
Jonghyun cleared his throat, trying to stay strong, while he picked his bags up again. His hand clenched on the strap of his guitar bag as he saw Key standing there, looking the same as always, just as stunning even in the mediocre light of the train station, eyes a bit clouded with tears, but still perfect in Jonghyun's opinion.
"Bye, Jjong," He said, and his voice cracked, and Jonghyun almost contemplated just staying here.
"Bye, Key," He said the same back, and his voice didn't crack, but even he could tell that he didn't sound like himself. When he turned his back and started walking, he couldn't help that he took at least three glances back before he boarded.
He found a seat next to a quiet-looking businesswoman type, and he craned his neck to see out of the window, instantly spotting his Key in the crowd.
Key couldn't see him anymore, he knew, but he still watched him, his heart warming as the younger boy didn't leave even when the train started moving.
Jonghyun watched him until he couldn't see the little dot of pale blond hair and cat-eyes and high cheekbones and small lips anymore, slumping into his seat and pulling out his iPod.
It was strange, because he hadn't been tired all morning, despite having stayed up the entire night. But now, he felt about ready to collapse and use the woman next to him as a pillow of sorts.
Using his last bits of strength, Jonghyun pulled his iPod out of his duffel bag and ended up falling asleep to his favorite playlist, full of piano trills and light scraping of a guitar pick on acoustic strings and the underlying tone of Key in every song.
a/n - caught you off-guard with the beginning didn't I??? it was like.. sentimental and sad, sentimental and sad, cute feels, sentimental, sentimental, BOOM SHOWER SEX. unless of course you remembered me mentioning it way back in the day, but.. no one did am I right? XP and the useless fluff is my favorite shhhhhhhh don't tell anyone.
also I'm sorry this is super duper late. and also sorry I can only upload here on livejournal. blame aff and the fact that they're assholes who don't care about their users. raise your hand if you're thinking about deleting your aff account!!! but either way, it's here now ;w;
aaaand I'll reply to comments soon, I promise. OTL. thank you to everyone who's commented so far c': also, thank you to everyone who's sent in requests on tumblr. if you still want to send one, just go (here) and send one ^^ you can be as vague or detailed as you want, really. I'm just building up an arsenal of prompts to write over the remainder of summer/during schooltime. c:
okay, long a/n is long. thank you for reading c:
Kat
mikssi
[next]
Pairing: Jongkey, side!2min
Rating: PG15-NC17
Genre: au, angst, romance
Summary: This could be Jonghyun's big break. He didn't think anything would stop him. At least, he thought that until he found out how much it hurt to be away from home.
Key's body was warm and slick under the showerhead, Jonghyun's palms roaming over every inch he could reach. The back of Jonghyun's head was getting most of the spray, the feeling of the warm water dripping down his neck nothing compared to the way that Key's lips felt as they pushed against his, slow and languid but still hotter than the steam collecting around them that made their breath even shorter.
The older pulled back, fingertips tracing the curve of Key's spine, and took a good look at the younger, memorizing every detail of how he looked now opposed to usual.
It wasn't the dark circles under his eyes that he paid attention to, or the barely-there dullness behind his eyes, both signs of fatigue; it was his gorgeous glistening skin and moist pink lips; it was the way that droplets of water clung to his eyelashes and streamed down his cheekbones, the way that his hair grew darker as it clung to his forehead, dripping and disheveled; it was the rivulets that accentuated his best features, that mapped out his body in swift, smooth slides, quite like Jonghyun's own careful touches.
The younger jumped slightly and turned his head as there was a sound from outside the bathroom, audible even over the water running.
"Onew-hyung must have left," Jonghyun said, accustomed to the sound of the door shutting by now.
Those words, paired with how Jonghyun's hands rubbed across his hip, had Key turning back to him and kissing him more intently than before, tongue sliding in his mouth and lapping at his own, hands fitting into his soaking hair and tugging at the roots.
Jonghyun, not expecting such a reaction, could do nothing but comply with a low moan of gratitude, eyes shutting with aid of the mist gluing itself to his lids and weighing them down.
They'd spent a fair amount of time in the shower already, all of the boring business taken care of in favor of indulging themselves in what Jonghyun suggested the night before.
Jonghyun's heart gave a pang and his fingers gripped the younger's hips a little tighter at the thought that this was the last time that they would have the chance to do anything like this for three entire months.
Key must have gotten the same feeling, because when he pulled away, breathing in the humid air, droplets ran down the corners of his red eyes and Jonghyun honestly couldn't decide if they were tears or just shower water.
Jonghyun's solution to their mix of emotions was to kiss down the side of Key's neck, all the way down his chest as far as he could reach before resituating himself of his knees, lips pressing erratic lines and patterns beneath his navel.
He looked up at Key nervously as he adjusted his knees on the non-slip mat that covered the bottom of the tub, hands braced on his hips.
The younger looked back down at him with surprise written across his features, fingers threading into his hair. It wasn't often that Jonghyun did this, far from often, actually, but he let go of his usual discomfort in favor of giving the younger something special before he left.
When he closed his lips over the head of Key's arousal, the younger sucked in a deep breath, fingers going taut in Jonghyun's wet hair.
"God, Jjong-"
Jonghyun took that as a good sign, because really, he didn't have much of an idea what he was doing with this; he definitely wasn't as good as Key was (because no one was as good as Key was with this, in Jonghyun's humble opinion), but he did the best he could, hollowing his cheeks and bobbing up and down until his face was sore, tongue swirling around the head and sliding along the length, every bit of effort rewarded with the most sensual sounds from Key's mouth, Jonghyun's name abused on his tongue as a broken moan or a caught breath. He loved the way that Key sounded when he was touched-out like this. Loved it.
The older released one of his hips in favor of curling his fingers around the base and moving in time with his mouth, tongue now hungrily flicking at every bit he could reach, and when he glanced up at Key, the dark, pleasure-ridden look on his face, eyes half-lidded, lips parted and catching spray drops of water, was well worth the uncomfortable effort.
Jonghyun shut his eyes and shuddered at a particularly erotic roll of his name from Key's tongue, giving a hard suck to the head that turned it into an incoherent cry, before trying to relax his throat the best he could to take him in deeper.
What he didn't anticipate (but probably should have with the way his hand on his waist was going lax), was Key's hips jerking forward, causing Jonghyun's throat to burn and spasm around him, breathing harshly through his nose and pulling back to keep from choking too badly. Jonghyun's eyes shot up, pleading for Key to not do that again.
"Sorry… sorry…" Key panted, running his hands through Jonghyun's soaking hair consolingly, eyes rolling up in his head when Jonghyun accepted the apology by tracing the tip of his tongue along the underside of his length.
"Jjong, stop, I'm-"
Jonghyun looked up at him in question, feeling fingers tugging at his hair, heart giving a jolt as he feared he did something wrong.
He complied despite Key's lusty expression, releasing his rock-hard member and standing back up, not noticing until then that his knees were uncomfortably throbbing, his own erection making itself aware as well.
Key wasted no time snaking a hand down his chest and pumping his hand along his length, forcing Jonghyun to choke back a moan as the younger began to devour his mouth once again.
Jonghyun pressed Key back against the tiled wall, and they should have gotten cold from the lack of hot water spraying against their bodies, but it was so hot that that didn't happen. It was half water and half sweat slicked between them now, Key's erection pressing into Jonghyun's stomach, hips rolling up against him for friction.
"Oh fuck-" Jonghyun gasped, the slide of the burning flesh against his own making his throat close for a moment. He descended a hand from Key's neck down to his arousal, flicking his wrist and making the younger cry out, his own fingers increasing the pressure on Jonghyun as he steadily moved his closed fist back and forth.
It all became too much way too soon in Jonghyun's eyes, Key panting into his mouth as their tongues clashed and their teeth clicked, moans filling the space between them. Jonghyun braced one elbow beside Key's head, bowing forward so that they were chest-to-chest, the amount of pleasure he was experiencing overtaking his senses, Key's breath beating against his cheek even as he bit his lip and strained his neck.
"Key-ah-Key-" Jonghyun groaned, mouthing the younger's jaw and moving to mark the creamy column of his neck, just another spot among many by now.
Key curled his fingers around the back of Jonghyun's neck and coaxed him back up, kissing him deeply as their hips began to jerk of their own accord, release imminent for both.
It was with a skilled twist of his hand and drag of his thumb over the head that brought Key to the edge, whimpering against Jonghyun's mouth, the older moving back just in time to watch the pleasure ripple over Key's features, lips parting over a moan that Jonghyun felt seeping into his bones, hand catching Key's release as he felt his own growing closer.
"Fuck Jonghyun-" Key groaned out once his body stopped trembling, Jonghyun's lips closing over his jaw again, giving little whimpers of encouragement and bucking into his closed fist as he wanted to finish, he wanted to finish so badly, he didn't want Key to stop for a second because this was too, too good.
Key's fingers tightened even more than before, but then teasingly went lax, Jonghyun whining into his ear and the younger actually chuckling and when he pulled back with frustration and outrage, heat winding in his stomach, he saw a cocky smirk curling the younger's swollen lips, and-
His hips went static and he bowed his forehead against Key's, his orgasm hitting him hard and making his knees go weak-had it not been for the non-slip mat, Jonghyun would have probably slid and collapsed because nothing began to compare to the overwhelming bliss that coursed through every single one of his nerves when he experienced an orgasm from Key. He felt more than heard a low groan rip from his chest, ears rushing and vision dimming; he felt dizzy and weak all over, the feeling welcomed greatly.
Key's lips against his own in a light brush was what brought his slightly-trembling body back into reality with a sensation of pins and needles over his shoulders and down to his fingertips, both arms now bent beside the younger's head.
Jonghyun let out a shuddering breath and smiled lightly.
Key's fingers curled over the curve at Jonghyun's waist, looking at him underneath his lashes, lips curving up, eyes still glazed over and contented.
"I love you," Jonghyun whispered, just so Key never forgot.
Key hummed. "Love you too."
Jonghyun tilted his head forward so their foreheads rested against each other, Key's wet hair sticking to Jonghyun's skin. They stayed like that for a long minute, breathing shallowly with shut eyes and hands resting in the crevices of each other's bodies, Jonghyun's fitting into the dip of his neck and shoulder, Key's on Jonghyun's waist.
"We should wash off again," Key suggested, voice touched-out and husky, just how Jonghyun liked to hear it.
Jonghyun pushed off the wall and nodded, the water from the showerhead hitting against his shoulder blades; he hissed and instinctively arched against it, the temperature now icy-cold.
Key chuckled at his expense, reaching past him impassively to the temperature control and turning it to completely hot.
Still, it only warmed it to just-below lukewarm, and Jonghyun-who'd always hated and would never not hate cold showers-washed off in haste, getting out before Key, who didn't mind the temperature in the slightest.
He wrapped a towel around his waist and looked forlornly at the bag on the counter, now damp from condensation, holding his toothbrush and toothpaste (both Jonghyun and Key having brushed their teeth before they showered), his hair products, and now only missing his shampoo and body wash, which Key still had in the shower.
It wasn't long after that the water shut off and Key's hand came reaching for a towel from behind the shower curtain.
Jonghyun, feeling devious, tugged it out of the younger's reach, leaving his hand grappling at an empty bar.
Key's head appeared in the crack of the shower curtain, eyes narrowed. "Kim Jonghyun."
Jonghyun laughed and handed him the towel, Key taking it and rolling his eyes.
When Key stepped out, covered, Jonghyun reached his hands out to hold onto his waist.
Key had none of it, snatching a spare towel and draping it over Jonghyun's head.
"Hey!" Jonghyun protested at his obscured vision, but Key already had his hands on either side of Jonghyun's covered head and was shaking it side to side, laughing at his own mock-sadism.
Jonghyun couldn't help but join in, though he still reached up to grasp blindly at Key's wrists, growing dizzy.
Key pulled the towel off in one quick swipe, and Jonghyun jumped back when he saw the younger's widened eyes right in front of his own.
Key abandoned his silly expression in favor of laughing, throwing his head back as his mouth opened wide, one hand on the counter, the other across his stomach.
Jonghyun watched with a smile as well, taking successive mental images, tucking them away before he could remember why he had to take them.
"You should have seen your face…" Key said once he stopped laughing, shoulders still shaking with small guffaws.
Jonghyun stuck his tongue out.
Key wrinkled his nose playfully, shaking his head right into Jonghyun's personal space.
The older took the liberty to lean forward and peck the tip of his nose, simply because it was cute and Key was cute, so the idea fit.
Plus, it made the younger smile even more widely, so it all worked out in the end.
As afraid of ruining the mood as Jonghyun was, he moved past Key nevertheless to reach into the shower and grab his bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, stuffing them the best he could into the relatively small toiletry bag.
He didn't even notice that the younger was right behind him until he felt lips on his shoulder blade and hands lying on the sides of his upper arms as he zipped the bag up.
He relaxed into the touch, shutting his eyes for a moment.
"Good morning, Jjong," Key whispered against the side of his neck, laying his head down.
"Key, we've been up all night," He pointed out, smiling with amusement.
The younger's hands trailed down his arms until they laced over top of his own. "That doesn't mean that it's not morning, you know."
He was right, after all. "Good morning to you too, Kibum."
He felt the younger's smile against his skin at the use of his full name, something that he'd learned the younger secretly enjoyed, so he liked to use every once in a while, especially at times like this, when his heart felt even warmer than Key's cheek in the crook of his neck.
"I need to go put this in my bag," Jonghyun whispered, not wanting to shatter the serene atmosphere.
"All right," Key said in the same soft tone.
Jonghyun grabbed his toiletries and headed out of the bathroom, the blast of cold air against his skin making him shudder.
It was two steps into the hallway when he stopped dead, brows furrowing as he listened to what sounded like a mixture of voices from the front room. That was odd, because he was sure that he didn't leave the TV on, unless Onew turned it on before he left for school…
Once he was at the mouth of the hallway, his heart dropped and he felt himself flush up to his hairline.
"H-hey guys," He stammered out to the small party gathered in the kitchen, suddenly hyperaware of his lack of clothing.
Onew's eyes went straight for the floor, Songdam busted into laughter, Minho narrowed his eyes with an evil grin, and Taemin blushed to his collar before turning to bury his face in Minho's shoulder.
"I'll just go… yeah."
"Who are you talking to?" Key's voice came from down the hall and Jonghyun's eyes went three times the normal size, trying to telepathically tell the younger not to come any nearer.
It didn't work.
Songdam's laughter only grew louder, wiping away tears from the corner of her eyes. Onew's eyes squeezed shut in embarrassment. Minho began to chuckle as well, and Taemin's head whipped around, only for his eyes to grow wide before nestling back into the safety of Minho's sleeve.
"Oh god."
Jonghyun turned around and pushed at a shell-shocked Key to go back to his room, both scurrying away with quite possibly the deepest blushes they'd worn.
"How long have they been here?!" Key asked, cheeks flaming as he rummaged through Jonghyun's dresser drawers for clothes.
"I don't know, probably since we heard the door close," Jonghyun reasoned, voice coming out faster and higher than usual, setting the bag of toiletries down somewhere unimportant.
"Oh god," Key groaned, "Do you think they heard…?"
"I'm hoping they didn't," The pit of Jonghyun's stomach felt like it was housing a block of pure ice.
"Oh god, Taemin saw us in just our towels…" He tossed underwear, jeans, and a t-shirt at Jonghyun before pressing his forefingers into his temples.
"Don't remind me," Jonghyun grumbled, pulling on the clothes as quickly as possible, "But don't you and Taemin change together after dance? He's seen you before, hasn't he?"
"He hasn't seen you. And he hasn't seen us right after we had sex!"
Jonghyun's cheeks went dark red. "But… Taemin isn't a baby, you know. He and Minho-"
"Please don't tell me that before I have to go out and face them. I'd rather not punch Minho in the face for taking Taemin's virginity, thanks." Key was dressing himself in Jonghyun's clothes as well, everything a bit baggier on him than Jonghyun, the older just watching with a certain protective fondness as he buttoned the jeans and pulled up the zipper.
"Right, sorry." Jonghyun grinned, and then uncrossed his arms to rub the discarded towel through his hair, soaking up the excess moisture as Key did the same.
"God, that was so embarrassing…"
"I'm glad, actually," Jonghyun said, voice softening, "That they came over, I mean. I thought that Onew left already without saying goodbye." His heart inflated and he was suddenly more eager to go into the kitchen at the thought that all the people he was closest to were there to tell him goodbye before he left.
"All right, come on. I see your little smile over there…" Key rolled his eyes, using one hand to comb through his own hair and the other to pull Jonghyun out of the room.
His grin only grew when he walked out and saw the group for the second time, all now waiting with matching smiles.
"Surprise!" They said, only partially in unison, his sister's arms flying up in the air like they usually did when she was excited.
"Hi guys," Jonghyun said weakly, heart clenching.
"We brought breakfast." Minho said, pushing lightly at Taemin's shoulder and giving a little nod that Jonghyun read as 'it's safe to look now.'
"You did?" Jonghyun asked excitedly, letting go of Key's hand crossing to the kitchen table, trying to get a glimpse of whatever Onew's standing body and Songdam's sitting one were shielding.
"Yeah, close your eyes," Minho commanded, moving towards the table as well, Taemin at his side.
Eagerly, Jonghyun did.
"Okay. Open," Songdam said.
When Jonghyun's eyes cracked open, he immediately had to blink away tears.
On the table was a cake, a simple round cake, iced in white and trimmed with little green swirls; the writing in the middle read "We'll Miss You, Jonghyun!"
It was quite possibly the nicest thing that anyone had ever done for him. It hurt his heart to know that he was leaving these amazing people for any amount of time at all.
"Guys," He said a bit helplessly, looking around at all of their smiling faces individually and wrapping an arm around the people closest to him, thus landing across Songdam's shoulders on one side and Taemin's on the other.
"Thank you guys so much," He said, hot tears still pricking at his eyes. A few slipped down before he could help it and Minho laughed at him good-naturedly as he reached around Taemin to wipe them away.
"This is breakfast?" Key asked from behind him, amusement in his tone.
"Yeah, it was my idea!" Taemin said enthusiastically, turning his head around to face Key.
Jonghyun chuckled. Of course a cake was Taemin's idea.
He was touched, really.
He was happy to say that he and Taemin had grown much closer over the years, having mostly each other to talk to during what were supposed to be "double dates", conversations carrying between the two as they watched their respective boyfriends do nothing but bicker needlessly with each other. Some days when Jonghyun was home alone, or Key was busy, Jonghyun would call Taemin and they would talk on the phone for hours at a time, Jonghyun opting to ask about Taemin's day and his school and how things were going with dance, Taemin answering and carrying on conversation with his hyung about training at SPE and things of the like.
Aside from Key, who he didn't really consider as such, and Minho, who acted like his hyung most of the time anyway, Taemin was easily his favorite dongseng.
"Thank you, Taemin-ah," Jonghyun said, angling his head to peck Taemin affectionately on the cheek, ignoring the death stare he received from Minho.
"Where are the plates, then?" Songdam asked cheerfully.
"I'll-"
"I'll get them." Key offered, cutting Onew off. He probably figured it was best not to trust Onew with carrying six glass plates from the cabinet to the table without expecting a few casualties along the way. Being around a group innately made the oldest in the apartment nervous, and it was then that his clumsiness showed through worse than ever.
"You helped too, didn't you Minho?" Jonghyun asked his tall best friend, who was lingering beside Onew.
"Nope," Minho replied just as easily.
"Liar. You know you're going to miss your best friend," He teased.
"Kibum is my best friend," Minho shrugged.
"Yah!" Jonghyun was offended at his lack of care.
"I'm kidding, hyung, calm down," He walked over and purposefully took Jonghyun's arm off Taemin's shoulders in order to lightly punch him in the arm. "Of course I'm going to miss you."
"Promise?" Jonghyun asked, prodding his chest.
Minho just rolled his eyes and patted the top of his head, forever reminding him that he was shorter than Minho by an embarrassing amount.
"Is it even healthy to be eating cake for breakfast?" Key asked as he brought the plates and spoons to the table and set them down.
"Probably not," Songdam answered with a shrug.
"I do it all the time," Taemin did the same.
Everyone in the room eyed him.
"What?" He asked, noticing the sudden attention.
It was kind of eerie, how everyone rolled their eyes in perfect unison.
"Of course you do, Taemin-ah…" Jonghyun said fondly.
Minho smiled and slung an arm comfortably over the youngest's shoulders.
They all watched with bated breath as Onew (who insisted) sliced the cake into equal portions-though Jonghyun swore that he saw him give his sister a bigger slice than the rest-and handed it off individually.
Once served, they all migrated to the living room, taking spots on the too-cramped couch and single chair, the two couples squeezing onto the couch, Taemin in Minho's lap-no big deal-, Songdam in the armchair (also at Onew's chivalrous insistence) and Onew just in front of her seat, legs crossed underneath him.
"So," Songdam asked after they all finished simultaneous moments of reverence for the borderline-magical flavor of the chocolate cake, "The next time I see you, are you going to be a huge idol star?"
Jonghyun laughed modestly. "I doubt it, noona…" He looked at Key, who was pressed close at his side and wearing the same smile.
"You've already been there for like two years already. I think it's about time you became famous," She stated matter-of-factly, popping another bite of cake into her mouth.
"We'll see," Jonghyun said nonchalantly, secretly hoping the same as his sister (but less about being 'famous' and more about being able to finally release some music to the public).
"Key-hyung, what's it like to know that your boyfriend is going to be a celebrity?" Taemin asked, tone only half-joking.
Key turned to him with a soft smile, crumbs at the corners of his lips that infatuated Jonghyun beyond words. The younger patted his thigh. "I'm very proud of him."
His heart warmed considerably, and he would have kissed him had there not been so many people watching.
"What about the fan-girls?" Minho asked, just to be an asshole and get Key riled up. That was his job, after all.
The younger simply smirked.
"What if he has a lot of fans that you go to school with?" Taemin pressed, more excited than he probably should have been.
"They can say they love him and that he's theirs and they're going to marry him all they want," He said nonchalantly, and Jonghyun was actually very interested in this reaction. He'd never asked about it before, and now he wished he had.
"You won't get jealous?" Songdam pressed.
"No,"
That wounded Jonghyun's ego a little bit.
"Why not?" Jonghyun was thankful Taemin asked so he didn't have to.
"Because he's not with them, he's with me," He stated plainly, casually, but Jonghyun caught an edge of possessiveness in his tone that assured him more than anything.
He didn't hesitate then to drape his arm around Key's shoulders; Key's slinky smile grew wider and Jonghyun could feel that he was pretty much purring.
"Hyung, you're being quiet." Jonghyun turned his attention to Onew, who sat on the floor observing but not saying anything.
Onew jumped as all eyes went his way, almost dropping his spoon. "Oh. Hi," He said sheepishly.
"Aren't you going to miss me too?" Jonghyun asked teasingly.
"Of course I am! I'm going to be without my beloved roommate. Now who am I going to watch TV with when I get home from work?"
"Key is still going to be here." Jonghyun suggested, and then more pointedly added, "And so is my sister."
Onew's eyes went wider and he looked down at his cake again. "I guess."
Jonghyun couldn't help but grin at his reaction. Even though they'd known each other for the entire duration that Jonghyun lived with Onew, even though they clearly liked each other from the very first time they met, Onew and Songdam were far too shy or awkward or any mixture of the two to really even talk to each other without Jonghyun around.
"I'll come watch TV with you, hyung," Taemin offered sweetly, not seeing what Jonghyun was trying to do.
Even still, Jonghyun's heart melted at the younger's inherent cuteness. It was funny, because it turned out that Taemin and Onew actually knew each other before he'd even met Minho, Onew being his tutor all throughout his middle school years.
Onew smiled again, seemingly relieved if nothing else. "Thank you, Taemin-ah."
"God, you're cute, Taemin," Jonghyun said almost bitterly.
Taemin's following objection of the usual "I'm-not-cute-I'm-an-eighteen-year-old-grown-man" was contradicted quite thoroughly by the way he puffed up his cheeks like a blowfish and blew his bangs out of his face.
Minho rubbed his back, once again consoling.
"Jonghyun, what time is your train?" Songdam asked after a minute of comfortable silence.
Jonghyun felt Key stiffen at his side. "Eight-thirty,"
"It's seven forty-five now…" She said, seeming regretful as she was the bearer of bad news, "We should probably get going."
Jonghyun sighed, heart falling. "All right," He ate the rest of his cake all in one bite and made to stand.
Everyone else did the same, a heavy atmosphere dampening the mood.
He threw his guitar bag over his shoulder, and Key helped by dragging his one large rolling bag behind him while Jonghyun balanced the weight of the guitar with his duffel bag.
"Ready?" He asked Key quietly, knowing without even having to ask that Key was coming with him to the train station.
Key nodded wordlessly, looking everywhere but his eyes.
Jonghyun felt a deep sting for the first time that Key was already letting him go, and he wasn't even gone yet.
"Three months, huh?" Minho asked, moving in front of him. There was sadness in his eyes, and that hurt even worse, because Minho was supposed to be the impartial one, the strong rock that kept him grounded.
Jonghyun looked up at him without saying anything, and Minho stepped forward to hug him tightly around the shoulders.
The shorter of the two gripped him around the middle, not even having the heart to resent their height difference at this point.
"I'll see you later, hyung."
"Yeah, later," Jonghyun held onto those words dearly. He would see him later.
Taemin was next, taking no pause before twining his arms around Jonghyun's neck and pulling him in tightly. "Bye, hyung! I'll miss you!"
Jonghyun smiled over his shoulder. "You too, Taemin-ah. Call me, all right?"
Taemin moved back with a bright grin, and Jonghyun mirrored it mostly against his will. "I will, hyung."
"Onew-hyung," Jonghyun opened his arms for the man who was somewhat-awkwardly hanging back by the couch.
He smiled, and it lit up the entire room, walking into Jonghyun's embrace.
"I'll miss you, hyung," He said, squeezing his eyes shut doing the same with his arms around Onew's stomach.
"Yeah, you too…" Onew stepped back and still managed to smile at him, because he was good at making the atmosphere feel better no matter what, "You'll call, won't you?"
Jonghyun successfully forged a small smile in return, feeling the beginnings of tears at the corners of his eyes. "Of course I will."
"Promise?" Onew grinned.
Jonghyun felt a bit pathetic, his smile translating it fully. "Yeah, I promise."
"Hyun-ah," Songdam pulled at his sleeve with a remorseful expression.
He swallowed in a thick throat and looked back at Onew's living room, full of the people he cared about most, Key still at his side.
"I'll see you guys," He said, praying that his voice wouldn't break.
There was the movement of everyone waving goodbye to him in the comfort of the living room, and he took a mental picture, saving it for later.
Breathing in deeply, Jonghyun waved back the best he could with his bags in tow, following his sister and his boyfriend out the door.
Without words, they packed his bags into the trunk of Songdam's car and the same as Jonghyun and Key slid into the backseat, Songdam into the driver's seat.
As they started driving, Jonghyun noted the way that Key was looking out the window, his hands rested in his lap just out of Jonghyun's reach.
His sister met his eyes in the rearview mirror, echoing the same concern he felt.
"Hey," He said softly, reaching his hand across the middle seat to smooth over Key's knee.
The younger boy looked at him, and Jonghyun saw moisture building in his eyes, making his heart drop terribly.
Jonghyun slid his hand into Key's, scooting toward Key as far as the seatbelt would allow him and facing him the best he could.
"Don't miss me yet, Key-ah," He said, even a bit pleadingly, holding the younger's hand in both of his own, "I haven't even left yet."
A tiny smile pulled at the corners of Key's little lips, and Jonghyun felt like that was a monumental accomplishment within itself.
He lifted his hand and brushed Key's bangs back, giving a clear view of the slanted, feline eyes that he fell for a bit more every day.
Key looked at him with the same tears sparkling in his eyes, and Jonghyun felt a bit guilty to think that the way his eyes shone was absolutely beautiful, even with the circumstance.
He watched them flutter shut as he moved in and barely pressed his lips against the younger's cheek, Jonghyun's hand cradling his chin.
Key jumped slightly and moved away after a moment, shifty eyes glancing meaningfully towards Songdam.
Jonghyun met her gaze in the rearview mirror once again, and he knew that she got his hint.
"Oh, don't mind me," She said airily. "I'm watching the road, you know, for safety reasons. And you know what? This radio really could be much louder…" She turned up the volume on the soft easy-listening station just enough to cover any of their quiet conversation.
Jonghyun smiled at his ever-thoughtful sister, and then turned his eyes back to Key, who was biting his lip unsurely.
"Key-ah," Jonghyun breathed, moving closer and tugging lightly at his bottom lip with his thumb to free it from the confines of his upper teeth.
It was Key who closed the rest of the distance between them, dragging his lips slowly and gently against Jonghyun's, his mouth tasting bittersweet, fingertips lightly ghosting over his cheekbone and raising the hairs on the back of Jonghyun's neck.
"You know I'm going to miss you, right?" Key whispered once he pulled away, laying sweet, light kisses all along his cheek, up his temple, and over his shut eyelid.
"Yeah, I know," Jonghyun said just as quietly, and it was true, he did know, but it was reassuring to hear nonetheless.
"I love you so much, Jonghyun," Key sounded near tears again, the breath from his words warm against the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah, I know," Jonghyun repeated, but his lips quirked just barely into a smile before catching Key's again for just a second.
When they pulled away and opened their eyes properly again, Jonghyun's heart gave a jolt of worry and excitement all at once, because they were coming upon the train station very quickly.
He took Key's hand and laced their fingers together again, just to prolong their contact, Key now straining his own seat belt as he sat pressed against Jonghyun's side, head leaning on his shoulder.
The train station was crowded with the early-morning commuters, and it was a job within itself for Songdam to find a parking space even temporarily.
They stepped out, and Jonghyun heard Key sigh heavily beside him.
"Hyun-ah," Songdam beckoned him towards the driver's door that she stood outside.
She pulled him into a bone-crushing hug, burying her face into his neck without reservation.
Jonghyun could do nothing but hug her right back, feeling the weight of everything suddenly sitting on his shoulders, because this was really it.
He was really leaving for three months straight.
And, in any respect, that was a long time to be gone from home by his standard.
"You're going to call me if you need anything, okay?" It was hardly a question.
"I know, noona." He stepped back, and she held tightly onto his shoulders.
Don't cry don't cry don't cry-
"I love you, Hyun-ah, okay?"
"I love you too, noona," He smiled feebly.
"Have fun in Seoul, okay? Don't miss us all too much. Enjoy yourself. You're going to be a star," Her smile outshone his easily.
"All right, noona,"
"Go on, you're going to miss your train."
He nodded and complied, meeting up with Key, who was standing just a small way's away, all of his bags in his hands. For a moment, it looked like Key was the one leaving, and he empathized with exactly what Key must have been feeling, because his stomach dropped and his veins ran cold at just the illusion that he wouldn't be there for ninety-odd days.
When he caught up, there was a lump steadily forming in his throat; he took his bags out of Key's hands, because that image from before was really too much. With his free hand, he reached out and linked his pinky with Key's, because it was his favorite thing to do and this was his last chance to do it.
It was all in a blur that he went through all of the technicalities to actually board the train, because this was all setting in much too fast for him to handle.
"Jjong, this is you," Key tugged gently at their still-joined hands, coming to a stop in front of a crowded-looking train.
Jonghyun's heart clenched, stopping beside the younger. "Is it?"
Key nodded and took his other hand as well.
The older cleared his throat to keep from crying.
Key didn't even try to hold back, tears shining in his eyes as he picked his hands up to rest on Jonghyun's shoulders.
Jonghyun let his guitar and duffel bag fall to the ground beside him (gently, of course), and placed his hands on the curve of Key's waist, never breaking his gaze.
The younger bit his lip swallowed as he slid his arms around Jonghyun's neck, holding him flush against his body.
Jonghyun obliged happily, folding his arms around Key's back and nosing Key's neck, breathing him in with shut eyes and a heavy heart.
And they stayed like that, for a little while, because Jonghyun would never, could never get enough of the feeling of Key's warmth and solidity.
"Jjong," Key whispered into his ear, making a shiver roll down his spine, "There are people-"
Jonghyun rubbed his hand in a wide circle over Key's back. "Close your eyes and they'll go away," He breathed against his skin, knowing that he would be able to hear either way.
It was only when he heard the quietest little sniffle that Jonghyun pulled away and looked into Key's teary eyes, feeling his own doing the same.
"Don't cry," Jonghyun said with a pleading smile.
"You don't cry either," Key retaliated, the amount of venom in his voice practically nonexistent as compared to his usual attitude.
Jonghyun stroked the younger's cheek with his thumb, watching him keenly and absorbing every detail of his face.
"Don't you need to get on the train?"
"Yeah, probably." Jonghyun said distractedly, staring reverently at his small pink mouth and the way that his lips moved when he spoke.
"Jjong," Key tilted his chin up so that Jonghyun was looking at his eyes again. His fingers slid around his jawline until his hand rested at the back of his neck. "Kiss me."
Those words did something strange to the pit of Jonghyun's stomach, making him feel infinitely nervous and giddy all at once, which was unquestionably ridiculous, but he loved it nonetheless.
He really didn't need telling twice.
Regardless of the people around, completely ignorant to everything around except for each other, Jonghyun leaned in and kissed Key, tightening his hold on his waist as Key's hand tangled with the hair at the base of his neck.
Key sighed into the kiss, which only spurred Jonghyun on more, tenderly tracing the edges of Key's lips with his tongue, tasting every inch of his mouth leisurely, like he had all the time in the world when he clearly didn't.
There was commotion all around them; people were boarding the train and nearly running into them on all sides; there was a constant buzz of voices and the sound of footsteps and doors opening and shutting and it was all hectic, so hectic compared to Jonghyun and Key's slow, steady moment.
Jonghyun's chest was so tight that it was actually painful by the time that he broke away from Key, both of their breathing unsteady despite the gentle nature of their kiss.
He broke their eye contact for just a moment to peek into his train, seeing the seats filling up too quickly for his liking, because that meant that it was almost time for him to leave. "I should go now."
Key chewed his lip and nodded. "Have fun in Seoul, Jjong," He smiled, and a tear rolled down his cheek despite his words.
Jonghyun wiped it away and pecked him on the lips one more time. "I love you, Key. You know that, right?"
Key nodded again. "I love you, too."
"I'll call you every chance I get, I promise," He squeezed his side lightly, affectionately.
"I'm so proud of you, Jjong. You've gotten this far already," Key smiled, and this time it was small, but genuine, and Jonghyun felt his heart squeeze the same as his hand.
He swallowed, throat closing. "I love you so much, Key-ah."
Key brushed their lips together and pulled him in for one last (last) quick hug before stepping back, shattering their little bubble of privacy and exposing Jonghyun to all of the stares around them that he'd only felt before.
Jonghyun cleared his throat, trying to stay strong, while he picked his bags up again. His hand clenched on the strap of his guitar bag as he saw Key standing there, looking the same as always, just as stunning even in the mediocre light of the train station, eyes a bit clouded with tears, but still perfect in Jonghyun's opinion.
"Bye, Jjong," He said, and his voice cracked, and Jonghyun almost contemplated just staying here.
"Bye, Key," He said the same back, and his voice didn't crack, but even he could tell that he didn't sound like himself. When he turned his back and started walking, he couldn't help that he took at least three glances back before he boarded.
He found a seat next to a quiet-looking businesswoman type, and he craned his neck to see out of the window, instantly spotting his Key in the crowd.
Key couldn't see him anymore, he knew, but he still watched him, his heart warming as the younger boy didn't leave even when the train started moving.
Jonghyun watched him until he couldn't see the little dot of pale blond hair and cat-eyes and high cheekbones and small lips anymore, slumping into his seat and pulling out his iPod.
It was strange, because he hadn't been tired all morning, despite having stayed up the entire night. But now, he felt about ready to collapse and use the woman next to him as a pillow of sorts.
Using his last bits of strength, Jonghyun pulled his iPod out of his duffel bag and ended up falling asleep to his favorite playlist, full of piano trills and light scraping of a guitar pick on acoustic strings and the underlying tone of Key in every song.
a/n - caught you off-guard with the beginning didn't I??? it was like.. sentimental and sad, sentimental and sad, cute feels, sentimental, sentimental, BOOM SHOWER SEX. unless of course you remembered me mentioning it way back in the day, but.. no one did am I right? XP and the useless fluff is my favorite shhhhhhhh don't tell anyone.
also I'm sorry this is super duper late. and also sorry I can only upload here on livejournal. blame aff and the fact that they're assholes who don't care about their users. raise your hand if you're thinking about deleting your aff account!!! but either way, it's here now ;w;
aaaand I'll reply to comments soon, I promise. OTL. thank you to everyone who's commented so far c': also, thank you to everyone who's sent in requests on tumblr. if you still want to send one, just go (here) and send one ^^ you can be as vague or detailed as you want, really. I'm just building up an arsenal of prompts to write over the remainder of summer/during schooltime. c:
okay, long a/n is long. thank you for reading c:
Kat
mikssi
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