A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for. (SHINee Oneshot)
Title: A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.
Rating: pg
Genre: Angst, crack, slice of life.
Summary: Taemin's parents die and then what's next ?
Warning: Second character death.
Taemin is 14 when his parents decide to start a boat-business together, meaning they are away for the most part of the year. Taemin enrolls a boarding school, which luckily is in his home town. He usually spends his weekends at his friend Keys' house and in vacations he goes on board with his parents.
His other friend Minho's father is a pilot, so he is also away for most of the year. He lives with his mother and his grandparents in a small two story house and works as a barrister in his grandpa's pub. Taemin likes to hang out there, he would come in randomly and help Minho around, as well as stealing sips of Minho's beer. Later, he would make Minho buy him ice-cream, because: “Hey, I helped you earn that money !”
His oldest friend Onew's parents are rich and busy, Onew doesn't go along with them too well and is kind of a loner. A clumsy loner. Taemin likes to hang out with him because he is funny and says the most random things.
The last friend Taemin has is Jonghyun, who lives the farthest away. Jonghyun likes to sing and does it every time he has the chance. Jonghyun has a small dog called Roo, whom Taemin adores.
In the year that Taemin turns 17, his parents don't return in time to pick him up when his vacation starts. It happened before, so Taemin goes on with his happy life. But after a week he still hasn't heard anything and together with Key, he goes to the marine base to get information.
It takes 3 days for the marine to get the information and it turns out to be the thing Taemin never wanted to hear. The day before Taemin's parents would arrive to pick him up, they crashed into a big container ship, which got wrong directions. Because of the difference in size and the speed they crashed into each other, Taemin's parents' boat sunk and they didn't survive.
“Key's parents will fill in the papers Monday, everything should be settled soon” Minho thought that would reasure Taemin, but the younger kept staring at the water in front of him.
“I don't want them to adopt me.” Taemin suddenly turns to look at Minho, who is totally shocked.
“B-but I thought you get along well with Key !”
“I do. Really ! It's not about Key. What I want is someone who can appeal as at least one parent to me a bit and no matter how kind they are, they won't even be anything close like that to me.”
“Then they're not adopting you.” Minho decides.
“But-”
“Look, all of this is giving you enough pain and stuff. We don't want you to go through more, Key will understand. If I'd call him now, he'd come here running and start yelling at you for not telling him. Taemin, these are not things to 'just go along with', okay ? Such important things in life must be decided the way you really want.”
“Thanks.”
“You need someone to adopt you though. Onew's parents ?”
“No, thanks. I don't need everybody all over me because his parents are rich, plus, they're not home often and Onew doesn't get along too well either.”
“Why HELLOOOO !” Key is suddenly standing in front of them panting, expression a mix of annoyed and just excitement over nothing. “I searched half of the world round for you guys !”
“How was China?” Minho asks dryly, earning a very weak slap on his arm.
“Taeminnie, are you ok ?”
Taemin sends Minho a pleading look.
“Oh, Key ? Taemin and I talked about something that you should know. You tell him,Taemin” Minho rests his hand on Taemin's shoulder.
“Tell me, Taemin-ah.” Key encourages Taemin.
“Hyung...I don't...I don't want to be adopted by your parents... I just...” Tears start rolling down his face and Key immediately hugs him
“That's all ? You dummy. Why would I get angry at something like that ?” Key ruffles Taemins hair.
“Now, let's go out for a drink. I'm paying !” Key suggests after fixing Taemin's hair.
“Now that is an offer I can't refuse !” Minho replies and Taemin giggles.
“He always pays when I'm with him.”
“Just my luck...”
After 2 hours in the coffee shop Taemin picked, Minho deides to leave and as soon as he is out of Taemin and Keys sight, he starts running home as fast as he can.
“Where's mum ?” he asks his grandmother, panting.
“Upstairs, doing the laundry. BE CAREFUL !” she calls worriedly, hearing him stumble on the stairs in his rush.
“Mum ? MUM ! Muuuuuuum !”
“I'm right here Minho ! What's with all the commotion ?” his mum quickly appears, brushing his bangs out of his eyes.
“Mum ! Taemin. I talked to him. He said he doesn't want to be adopted by Key's parents.”
“Why not ?” his mother interrupts him.
“Not comfortable with them.”
“Ahh. So, what did you come up with this time ?” she asks, knowing her son all to well
“With us...could we maybe ? If he wants...”
“For us to adopt him ?” his mother seems shocked.
“You know he's comfortable with you, mum ! I didn't tell him, I wanted to ask you first. he's only got me and Jonghyun left as options.”
“Jonghyun ?” his mother laughs “Wouldnt Jonghyun alone be too much to handle for his mum already !” then she turns serious again “I can't just decide like this.”
“Can't you call dad ?”
“But that's expensive Minho-yah...'
“I'll pay !”
“No !” his mother protests
“Yes ! Please go ! I want to do this for Taemin ! Please please pleaaaaaaaaseeee !”
“Okay okay, I'll go right now !” his mum says, surprised by her sons determination for this idea of his.
“Don't forget to check how many minutes you called !” he yells after her once she's downstairs. “Really !”
“Really, Taemin. If you want to just say yes ! It's all settled, my mum called my dad and he said he couldn't agree with me more.”
“Ouch.” Key comments on the calling part.
“I paid.”
“Double ouch.”
“But I don't want to be a burden...”
“You're not, Taemin. If my parents wouldn't have agreed, I wouldn't have told you and this wouldn't have been offered to you. Then you would've been stuck with this idiot.” Minho throws a pillow at Key , attempting to lighten the mood.
“Hey ! You're in my house, I can kick you out anytime !”
“Sorry.”
“Liar.”
Taemin giggles at his hyung's childish behaviors. “If it's really not a burden and all...I would like to become your little brother.” He smiles at the floor and Key throws a pillow towards the ceiling, which lands straight on Minho's head, causing Taemin to burst into laughter.
“What in the world is your hair at the back ?! Come here !” Minho's mum pulls Minho back by his hair, redoing his ponytail. Taemin is standing at the door laughing his ass off and Minho sulks.
“You should take an example from Taemin, his hair looks good all the time.”
“Well, he took an example from me growing out his hair and I can't help that I can't see what I'm doing at the back of my head !” Minho complains.
“Sure, hurry up or you'll be too late. Have fun !” His mother laughs and ushers both boys out of the door.
“All the life in the house since that little one moved in, I love it !” Minho's grandmother sighs contently, watching both boys walk away through the living room's window.
“Taemin is a nice boy. I hope he'll open up more.” Minho's mother smiles.
“Bleh ! I hate this !” Taemin drops himself on the field.
“This was only the warming up ! Come on Taemin, you need to do some sports to gain some muscles.”
“Nah, I'm fine.”
“You look like a toothpick !”
“At least I'm clean !”
Minho bursts into laughter and pulls Taemin up.“Player or Goalie ?”
“Is audience a position too ?”
“HEY GUYS !”
“HYUNG THERE'S A LEVEL DIFFERENCE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU !” Taemin and Minho yell at the same time. Onew still trips and laughs sheepishly.
“The usual. What are you guys doing ?”
“I'm trying to make this toothpick gain some muscles.” Minho kicks Taemin's ass with his foot softly.
“Aah. Can I watch ? Playing doesn't sound too safe.”
“Cheer on Taemin, he doesn't really feel like it.” Minho grins, earning a punch on the arm from the younger.
“Shower immediately, both of you !” Minho's mum says as she opens the door for the two sweaty boys, pointing them upstairs.
“Rock, paper, scrissors ! I won, I go first ! Haha !” Taemin quickly runs into the bathroom and locks it before Minho can play something on him.
“Well, aren't you getting more tricky by the day !” Minho comments, grabbing a towel first.
“Hey Taemin, Key asked if you're coming to- hey, what's wrong ?” Minho drops his bag and rushes to Taemin, who is crying on his bed. He hugs him so he can calm down and then his mother comes in with a cup of tea for Taemin.
“Oh, deary.” She strokes Taemin's hair. “The marine called earlier, they found his parents' bodies. We'll have a funeral for them soon.”
“Mum, can you call Key to tell him to cancel the thing we talked about earlier ? I'll call him back later.”
“Sure, just don't leave Taemin alone.”
Ten minutes later Key bursts into the room, panting, and drops on the bed on Taemin's other side. He forgets the existence of his bag, which falls on the floor with a loud thud.
“Taeminnie, I know this is hard for you, okay ? All of us do, but this is quite positive news, right ? You'll have a place where you can visit your parents after all of this...” Key says to Taemin after he's regained his breath. And really, this is a moment where Minho is endlessly thankful that his friend is such a fussy mother figure, because this talks are what Taemin need and Minho can not provide anything like it.
“I know.” Taemin mumbles against Minho's shoulder, showing no signs of letting his brother go anytime soon.
“Achoo ! Well, that was not what I was going to say. Can I have a tissue ?” This is how Onew comes in 10 minutes later. “Jonghyun is coming too, I think. But he missed the bus and I'm not going to wait for that in the cold.”
“What cold ? It was hot outside when I came.” Key rolls his eyes.
“It's raining.” Onew points at the window and Key nods as he sees.
“Helloooooo~” Jonghyun sings when he comes in.
“What kind of idiot are you, missing a bus ?” Key comments.
“I know. My phones' time was set wrong so I thought I had all time in the world. But I bought some pizza's.”
“Awh, you're forgiven !” Minho imitates Key, sending the other 4 into laughing fits.
They end up having a mass sleepover, because Onew and Jonghyun manage to miss their last bus and Key doesn't want to walk home in the dark. They're completely cramped in the small room Minho and Taemin share but none of them really cares.
The funeral takes place a week later, in silence and with very few people. Taemin's friends bought flowers in colors that would form a rainbow together, so the whole day would get a bit of a colorful spark. Taemin takes it all well, even accepting Jonghyun's offer to go have dinner out later that night.
“Hey...” Taemin drops his bag and sits down next to Minho, who is stretched out on the field, tired from all the practicing he did.
“What are you doing here ?”
“Just went to the cemetery, thought I'd work on my toothpick being...maybe.” Then he stands, looking down on Minho.
“So, are we going to do something or are you going to be a lazy butt now ?”
“WHAT ?!” Minho jumps up and starts chasing Taemin who already ran away, both missing out Onew, Jonghyun and Key watching them on the side.
Dedicated to my favorite unnie (you know who you are =]) because I know she likes my SHINee fics best =)
Rating: pg
Genre: Angst, crack, slice of life.
Summary: Taemin's parents die and then what's next ?
Warning: Second character death.
Taemin is 14 when his parents decide to start a boat-business together, meaning they are away for the most part of the year. Taemin enrolls a boarding school, which luckily is in his home town. He usually spends his weekends at his friend Keys' house and in vacations he goes on board with his parents.
His other friend Minho's father is a pilot, so he is also away for most of the year. He lives with his mother and his grandparents in a small two story house and works as a barrister in his grandpa's pub. Taemin likes to hang out there, he would come in randomly and help Minho around, as well as stealing sips of Minho's beer. Later, he would make Minho buy him ice-cream, because: “Hey, I helped you earn that money !”
His oldest friend Onew's parents are rich and busy, Onew doesn't go along with them too well and is kind of a loner. A clumsy loner. Taemin likes to hang out with him because he is funny and says the most random things.
The last friend Taemin has is Jonghyun, who lives the farthest away. Jonghyun likes to sing and does it every time he has the chance. Jonghyun has a small dog called Roo, whom Taemin adores.
In the year that Taemin turns 17, his parents don't return in time to pick him up when his vacation starts. It happened before, so Taemin goes on with his happy life. But after a week he still hasn't heard anything and together with Key, he goes to the marine base to get information.
It takes 3 days for the marine to get the information and it turns out to be the thing Taemin never wanted to hear. The day before Taemin's parents would arrive to pick him up, they crashed into a big container ship, which got wrong directions. Because of the difference in size and the speed they crashed into each other, Taemin's parents' boat sunk and they didn't survive.
“Key's parents will fill in the papers Monday, everything should be settled soon” Minho thought that would reasure Taemin, but the younger kept staring at the water in front of him.
“I don't want them to adopt me.” Taemin suddenly turns to look at Minho, who is totally shocked.
“B-but I thought you get along well with Key !”
“I do. Really ! It's not about Key. What I want is someone who can appeal as at least one parent to me a bit and no matter how kind they are, they won't even be anything close like that to me.”
“Then they're not adopting you.” Minho decides.
“But-”
“Look, all of this is giving you enough pain and stuff. We don't want you to go through more, Key will understand. If I'd call him now, he'd come here running and start yelling at you for not telling him. Taemin, these are not things to 'just go along with', okay ? Such important things in life must be decided the way you really want.”
“Thanks.”
“You need someone to adopt you though. Onew's parents ?”
“No, thanks. I don't need everybody all over me because his parents are rich, plus, they're not home often and Onew doesn't get along too well either.”
“Why HELLOOOO !” Key is suddenly standing in front of them panting, expression a mix of annoyed and just excitement over nothing. “I searched half of the world round for you guys !”
“How was China?” Minho asks dryly, earning a very weak slap on his arm.
“Taeminnie, are you ok ?”
Taemin sends Minho a pleading look.
“Oh, Key ? Taemin and I talked about something that you should know. You tell him,Taemin” Minho rests his hand on Taemin's shoulder.
“Tell me, Taemin-ah.” Key encourages Taemin.
“Hyung...I don't...I don't want to be adopted by your parents... I just...” Tears start rolling down his face and Key immediately hugs him
“That's all ? You dummy. Why would I get angry at something like that ?” Key ruffles Taemins hair.
“Now, let's go out for a drink. I'm paying !” Key suggests after fixing Taemin's hair.
“Now that is an offer I can't refuse !” Minho replies and Taemin giggles.
“He always pays when I'm with him.”
“Just my luck...”
After 2 hours in the coffee shop Taemin picked, Minho deides to leave and as soon as he is out of Taemin and Keys sight, he starts running home as fast as he can.
“Where's mum ?” he asks his grandmother, panting.
“Upstairs, doing the laundry. BE CAREFUL !” she calls worriedly, hearing him stumble on the stairs in his rush.
“Mum ? MUM ! Muuuuuuum !”
“I'm right here Minho ! What's with all the commotion ?” his mum quickly appears, brushing his bangs out of his eyes.
“Mum ! Taemin. I talked to him. He said he doesn't want to be adopted by Key's parents.”
“Why not ?” his mother interrupts him.
“Not comfortable with them.”
“Ahh. So, what did you come up with this time ?” she asks, knowing her son all to well
“With us...could we maybe ? If he wants...”
“For us to adopt him ?” his mother seems shocked.
“You know he's comfortable with you, mum ! I didn't tell him, I wanted to ask you first. he's only got me and Jonghyun left as options.”
“Jonghyun ?” his mother laughs “Wouldnt Jonghyun alone be too much to handle for his mum already !” then she turns serious again “I can't just decide like this.”
“Can't you call dad ?”
“But that's expensive Minho-yah...'
“I'll pay !”
“No !” his mother protests
“Yes ! Please go ! I want to do this for Taemin ! Please please pleaaaaaaaaseeee !”
“Okay okay, I'll go right now !” his mum says, surprised by her sons determination for this idea of his.
“Don't forget to check how many minutes you called !” he yells after her once she's downstairs. “Really !”
“Really, Taemin. If you want to just say yes ! It's all settled, my mum called my dad and he said he couldn't agree with me more.”
“Ouch.” Key comments on the calling part.
“I paid.”
“Double ouch.”
“But I don't want to be a burden...”
“You're not, Taemin. If my parents wouldn't have agreed, I wouldn't have told you and this wouldn't have been offered to you. Then you would've been stuck with this idiot.” Minho throws a pillow at Key , attempting to lighten the mood.
“Hey ! You're in my house, I can kick you out anytime !”
“Sorry.”
“Liar.”
Taemin giggles at his hyung's childish behaviors. “If it's really not a burden and all...I would like to become your little brother.” He smiles at the floor and Key throws a pillow towards the ceiling, which lands straight on Minho's head, causing Taemin to burst into laughter.
“What in the world is your hair at the back ?! Come here !” Minho's mum pulls Minho back by his hair, redoing his ponytail. Taemin is standing at the door laughing his ass off and Minho sulks.
“You should take an example from Taemin, his hair looks good all the time.”
“Well, he took an example from me growing out his hair and I can't help that I can't see what I'm doing at the back of my head !” Minho complains.
“Sure, hurry up or you'll be too late. Have fun !” His mother laughs and ushers both boys out of the door.
“All the life in the house since that little one moved in, I love it !” Minho's grandmother sighs contently, watching both boys walk away through the living room's window.
“Taemin is a nice boy. I hope he'll open up more.” Minho's mother smiles.
“Bleh ! I hate this !” Taemin drops himself on the field.
“This was only the warming up ! Come on Taemin, you need to do some sports to gain some muscles.”
“Nah, I'm fine.”
“You look like a toothpick !”
“At least I'm clean !”
Minho bursts into laughter and pulls Taemin up.“Player or Goalie ?”
“Is audience a position too ?”
“HEY GUYS !”
“HYUNG THERE'S A LEVEL DIFFERENCE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU !” Taemin and Minho yell at the same time. Onew still trips and laughs sheepishly.
“The usual. What are you guys doing ?”
“I'm trying to make this toothpick gain some muscles.” Minho kicks Taemin's ass with his foot softly.
“Aah. Can I watch ? Playing doesn't sound too safe.”
“Cheer on Taemin, he doesn't really feel like it.” Minho grins, earning a punch on the arm from the younger.
“Shower immediately, both of you !” Minho's mum says as she opens the door for the two sweaty boys, pointing them upstairs.
“Rock, paper, scrissors ! I won, I go first ! Haha !” Taemin quickly runs into the bathroom and locks it before Minho can play something on him.
“Well, aren't you getting more tricky by the day !” Minho comments, grabbing a towel first.
“Hey Taemin, Key asked if you're coming to- hey, what's wrong ?” Minho drops his bag and rushes to Taemin, who is crying on his bed. He hugs him so he can calm down and then his mother comes in with a cup of tea for Taemin.
“Oh, deary.” She strokes Taemin's hair. “The marine called earlier, they found his parents' bodies. We'll have a funeral for them soon.”
“Mum, can you call Key to tell him to cancel the thing we talked about earlier ? I'll call him back later.”
“Sure, just don't leave Taemin alone.”
Ten minutes later Key bursts into the room, panting, and drops on the bed on Taemin's other side. He forgets the existence of his bag, which falls on the floor with a loud thud.
“Taeminnie, I know this is hard for you, okay ? All of us do, but this is quite positive news, right ? You'll have a place where you can visit your parents after all of this...” Key says to Taemin after he's regained his breath. And really, this is a moment where Minho is endlessly thankful that his friend is such a fussy mother figure, because this talks are what Taemin need and Minho can not provide anything like it.
“I know.” Taemin mumbles against Minho's shoulder, showing no signs of letting his brother go anytime soon.
“Achoo ! Well, that was not what I was going to say. Can I have a tissue ?” This is how Onew comes in 10 minutes later. “Jonghyun is coming too, I think. But he missed the bus and I'm not going to wait for that in the cold.”
“What cold ? It was hot outside when I came.” Key rolls his eyes.
“It's raining.” Onew points at the window and Key nods as he sees.
“Helloooooo~” Jonghyun sings when he comes in.
“What kind of idiot are you, missing a bus ?” Key comments.
“I know. My phones' time was set wrong so I thought I had all time in the world. But I bought some pizza's.”
“Awh, you're forgiven !” Minho imitates Key, sending the other 4 into laughing fits.
They end up having a mass sleepover, because Onew and Jonghyun manage to miss their last bus and Key doesn't want to walk home in the dark. They're completely cramped in the small room Minho and Taemin share but none of them really cares.
The funeral takes place a week later, in silence and with very few people. Taemin's friends bought flowers in colors that would form a rainbow together, so the whole day would get a bit of a colorful spark. Taemin takes it all well, even accepting Jonghyun's offer to go have dinner out later that night.
“Hey...” Taemin drops his bag and sits down next to Minho, who is stretched out on the field, tired from all the practicing he did.
“What are you doing here ?”
“Just went to the cemetery, thought I'd work on my toothpick being...maybe.” Then he stands, looking down on Minho.
“So, are we going to do something or are you going to be a lazy butt now ?”
“WHAT ?!” Minho jumps up and starts chasing Taemin who already ran away, both missing out Onew, Jonghyun and Key watching them on the side.
Dedicated to my favorite unnie (you know who you are =]) because I know she likes my SHINee fics best =)