Missed Connections Chapter Four
Title: Missed Connections: Chapter Four
Pairing: Junho/Junsu, Side!Chan/Taec, Side!Khun/Woo, Side! Sihan
Rating: PG13
Summary: Boy meets boy on train. Boy and Boy arrange a date
Notes: Appearances from Chansung, Nichkhun, Wooyoung, Yoseob and Hyun Seung (Beast), and mentions of Siwon, Hangeng, Doojoon, G-Dragon and Taecyeon
They meet again 4 days later on the train.
It's early morning and Junsu is only half awake when a sleepy looking Junho steps into his carriage, hair askew and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He yawns loudly, trying to cover his mouth before he glances but around and blinks in Junsu's direction. The older male smiles back, half lidded and pats the seat besides him in invitation.
Junho at first light is a handsome young man with small eyes and large lips. His thick dark hair stands up in every which direction whilst a few stray sections are flattened to his forehead or curl around his ears. He moves slower than usual but with the same fluid movements of a dancer that Junsu thinks he always seems to exude.
Junho sinks to the seat besides him, pushing his rucksack between his feet and lets his head drop back. Junsu watches for a few moments, waits till the boy closes his eyes before turning his head fully towards the younger male. He can't say he particullarly likes the bright pink tee shirt the boy wears but he can't hate it when it fits so well across broad shoulders and a toned chest. The bright pink makes his golden skin stand out and Junsu lets his eyes travel upwards to Junho's exposed throat.
"Like what you see?"
Junsu flushes as he realises he's been caught and his heart hammers against his rib cage yet again. Junho chuckles, deep and scratchy but makes no move to stop Junsu as he closes his eyes again. Junsu's eyes continue to stray over his torso before the singer pulls his eyes away. All too aware that he's openly staring at the other boy on a public train.
It's too early for Junho's liking so he reaches out, patting blindly at the older singer's knee until he finds the hand he was looking for. He takes it in his own, squeezes ,then lets go.
"If you're going to stare at me so much, the least you could do is take me out for dinner"
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Chansung is late to work and won't answer his phone. He's late for the first time since Junsu started working there. The older man curses his friend for this, his stomach is a mess of butterfly nerves and he can't take his eyes away from the small clock in the corner of his computer screen. Junho had been on the train that morning, half asleep and beautiful in the morning sun. It's the first time he's seen the other man in the morning and he isn't disappointed.
Chansung is an hour and forty two minutes late, his hair a mess and yesterday's clothing creased. Their supervisor hisses in disapproval but lets it slip with a warning. Chansung's never late, never a cause for trouble. Junsu simply searches for a comb and throws it, along with his blazer to his co-worker. As expected, the blazer doesn't fit. The arms are too short and the shoulder's aren't wide enough but Chansung makes quick work of combing his hair as his computer buzzes to life.
"I'm sorry, Hyung"
When Junsu turns to look at the younger man, Chansung has the expression of a kicked puppy, his eyes wide and lip pouting. Junsu merely smiles and turns back to his computer in a wordless acceptance. No harm done.
There's a new email in his inbox from the chinese guy in marketing and Junsu gives a small groan as he opens it to realise that half of it is written in chinese. Junsu only knows a few words of mandarin, and only a couple more of English. He forwards the email to Siwon and pats himself on the back. Siwon has not so secretly been learning mandarin and everyone knows it's for Hangeng's sake. Junsu has just given Siwon a reason to speak to the handsome chinese man.
"Are we having lunch today, Hyung?"
Chansung's stomach growls a short while later and Junsu reaches into his desk to toss the boy a piece of fruit. Snacks being another thing he keeps a small stock of in case of emergencies.
"Actually, Chansung-ah, I have a lunch date today"
Chansung blinks at him in disbelief for a moment and a smile begins on his lips but quickly turns to a frown.
"Who with?"
The boy pouts slightly, a curious look in his eyes and Junsu feels his stomach clenchslightly.
"With Junho of course. I saw him on the train this morning"
He's well aware of the stupid grin on his face as he says it, his cheeks a little rosey and his eyes creasing at the corners but he doesn't care because he's finally getting places with the abrupt young man. Chansung looks relieved at that and pushes his chair from his desk to lock Junsu into a tight bear hug, clumsily bumping their heads together in the process.
"I hope Junho-Hyung wasn't too mad this morning, it was partly my fault he had to get the train"
Chansung frowns as he sits back down and Junsu watches him for a few moments, mulling his words over.
"He said Taecyeon the taxi driver was supposed to drive him to a photoshoot but hadn't answered his phone because he'd been out on a ..."
Junsu felt his jaw slacken slightly as Chansung's neck quickly turned a furious red, a blush spreading across his skin like wild fire. Chansung had been Taecyeon's date. They'd both turned off their phones and that's why neither had picked up.
"I didn't go home last night and my phone ran out of battery, ok?"
Chansung blushed even harder and turned back to his computer screen, shoulders hunched and neck still a dark red. Now that he thought about it, Chansung had mentioned liking a friend, someone older but loud mouthed and a complete fashion terrorist. Junsu could only laugh at a mental image of the two in his mind.
----
Junho found himself making his way down a flight of stairs in a nearby building, surrounded by several other models and staff for the photoshoot. A few of the assistants were carrying various bags, whilst others carried makeup boxes or suit bags. Junho shivers a little as they stop in the middle of the deserted undergroung parking lot.
"Aish, I'm freezing"
A boy standing near Junho grumbles slightly, unconsciously shifting closer to the young dancer and Junho tries to step away without being o obvious. He's rather cold himself and settles for pulling his scarf tighter, trying to angle it over his chin as Junsu wore it. The older man's smell having finally disappeared from the garment. The creative director seems to hear this, quickly ends his conversation with the make-up artist and sets her to work as he begins to rummage through the bags.
"I'm afraid you'll have to suck it up, buddy"
The creative director throws him a parka jacket, mumbling something about using it for the shoot. The other man just grins and pulls it on, pulling the hood up over his hair. The director starts moving again, checks to see how the lighting is coming along and throws clothing to the other models, sending them to change behind a series of screens. Junho does as he's told, trying to keep the blush from his face as he notices one of the other models staring. He turns his back and wonders if Junsu would look at him in the same way.
Five minutes later, Junho finishes struggling into a tailored red military jacket, finishes hooking the last of the gold buttons. Wooyoung makes his way over, fits some sort of leather bracing over the jacket and signals hair and makeup over. Junho's hair is still damp from the earlier rain, curls around his ears, sticks to his forehead and the khol around his eyes is smudged slightly.
"Emphasise the eyes and pull this back"
Wooyoung's fingers are in Junho's hair, pulling the main body of it back but leaving the younger man's bangs untouched. He glances to the woman beisdes him, makes sure she's listening to what he's saying and lets his fingers rake through the dancer's black hair, fingers gently massaging his scalp. Junho doesn't say anything, he's used to Wooyoung's gentle touches after doing several photoshoots with the dark haired man. Moments later, two women push Junho into a fold up chair to complete the look. The woman infront of him begins reapplies powder, smears dark colours around his eyes and tries to put clear gloss on his lips. Junho twitches at the sticky feel against his lips and darts his tongue out to lick it off. The make up artist slaps his thigh, careful not to leave powder prints on his skin tight black jeans and puts another layer on. Junho tries to bite back a growl.
He's beginning to feel nervous, thoughts straying to the older man far too frequently now that he's sat waiting and he bites the inside of his cheek in fear of another telling off from the make up lady. He's not normally this nervous before a date, but then he's not normally this into a guy either. He's had a few boyfriends, been on plenty of first and second dates, even a few thirds but man from the train is something different entirely and Junho can't put his finger on it.
He jumps as a blast of hot air shoots through his hair and breezes against his skin, turning to look at the hairstylist who tuts and forces his head forwards. He realises it's a battery powered hair dryer as she runs it through his hair, fingers seperating and teasing the thick black locks. She then starts with products and a straightener, smoothing out the main part of his hair and pulling it into a tight pony tail before twisting strands from the front section into waves. Someone holds up a mirror and he's given a few seconds to glance at the dark haired soldier staring back at him before he's pushed out of his seat and towards the set.
"Are we ready?" Junho asks, two hours after the shout was supposed to have begun.
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"It will go fine, Hyung. Trust me"
Chansung pulls Junsu in for a tight hug before he leaves, murmurs something about having a good time and watches the older man leave. Junsu leaves the office at precisely 12pm, confident that he has enough time to make it over to the small cafe, four blocks away that Junho had suggested they meet at. His stomach twists and he wonders if he'll ever be able to meet Junho without the attack of butterflies or a heart that conspires to break out of his chest but he reminds himself that those are two of the things he likes about the young man. He doesn't fail to leave Junsu speechless.
Chansung has a good feeling about those two.
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Pose. Snap. Move. Pose. Snap
Junho tries to keep his movements fluid and continuous, leaving enough time for the Thai photographer to get his shot before he moves again. It's a somewhat slow process and the photographer seems to have taken a shine to him, allowing him more shots than he's taken of the other models. Junho thinks it's party Wooyoung's fault, the korean is always singing Junho's praises, despite the fact he's a dancer, not a model. Sometimes he regrets the day that Wooyoung all but fell onto his practice room floor at the dance studio, begging him to fill in for a model.
The photographer pulls the camera away from his face a few times, watches Junho with large eyes and takes in the small details from the gold metal on the garments to the way the dark jeans cling to his thighs. Wooyoung casts similar glances from behind the laptop that's been set up to look at pictures and Junho feels a little better about his date.
Nichkhun takes a few more pictures before he passes the camera to his assistant and flexes his legs slightly, he's been crouching for far too long.
"Take ten! I need to find a bathroom"
The brunette smiles and claps Junho on the shoulder as he walks passed him up the stairs they had descended earlier. Wooyoung abandons the laptop and tells the make up artist to darken Junho's eyes a little more whilst the hairstylist tries to deepen the wave of his fringe.
"Ne, Hyung. What time is it? I have that dinner date remember"
The boy reaches out and grasps Wooyoung by the elbow as the man passes, catching his attention and the creative director looks down at his watch. 'It's not just yellow, it's Jamaican yellow' He had crowed the first time Junho had seen it. Wooyoung blinks down at the watch face for a few moments and glances back up.
"It's 12.25 Maybe you should call and reschedule. We'll need you for a group shoot in a few hours and I doubt you'd want to be seen out in public like that"
Wooyoung smiles and walks off quickly, heading in the direction they'd last seen the photographer. He misses the heartbroken look of his favourite model as he goes in search of the flirtacious Thai.
Junho's already quarter of an hour late and he knows Junsu won't have much more time left for his dinner break. He runs a hand over his face, as he lets out a low growl from the back of his throat, smearing lipgloss across his chin. He curses himself for not asking for the time sooner, for not getting Junsu's phone number sooner but tries to focus his attention on finding his phone.
He finds it buried beneath a sweatband and his wallet and quickly pulls up his phone book.
A few moments later he's listening to Chansung's dial tone, phone hovering near his ear to avoid smudging any more of his make up. He reasons that he can get Junsu's number from the younger man or get the younger man to pass on a message and maybe Junsu will be able to make it back to the office in time and still get something to eat.
Chansung doesn't pick up and instead Junho gets his voicemail.
Junho bites his lip, trying to hold back the barrage of curses his mind was quickly forming. He reaches up and presses his fingers to his eyelids, trying not to smudge the inky black makeup that noona had put on him as he feels the bitter pin prick of forming tears in his eyes. Junsu would of been waiting over 20 minutes by now and Junho sees the mental image of the handsome man sat at a neatly made table, waiting for him, behind his closed eyelids. He probably hates him now right now.
Junho lets out a low moan, desperate and dissapointed as he curls his fingers into his bangs and kneels down, trying to reach Chansung again. His chest constricts painfully as he listens to the dialing music, stomach growing heavier and heavier by the moment. The tall korean boy still doesn't answer his phone.
This can't be happening.
Wooyoung and Nichkhun appear a few minutes later, looking thoroughly dishevelled and flushed. Wooyoung's hair is sticking up at the back and Nichkhun looks a little smug as he takes his previous place. He'll soon notice that Junho seems distracted and the second half of the photoshoot isn't as good as the first.
"Ok, let's get back to it!"
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Junsu waits. And waits. And waits.
He gives up on the dancer after 45 minutes, two glasses of water and a latte.
He pulls out his wallet to pay for his drink and for a moment his eyes linger on the green hat sat innocently across the table. He glares at it and drops some bills onto the table before putting away his wallet and shouldering his bag.
He can't say why the other man hasn't shown up and part of him reasons that there's probably a good reason for it up but he'd been so positive that he'd read all the signs and smiles that it doesn't make sense. Junsu's more than a little devestated and the burning blush that stains his hairline to his shoulders is a reminder of his embarressment at being stood up. He'd seen the sympathetic looks the waiters had been casting his way.
He leaves the restaurant, head bowed low and scarf pulled high as he steps onto the pavement and heads in the direction of the office. The dark cloud over his head only seems to darken at the knowledge that he's going to be late back to work.
There's footsteps behind him, someone running and Junsu unconsciously tenses, moves to aside but the footsteps slow and suddenly two of the waiters from the cafe are beside him, one holding a small brown paper bag and the other the green hat. He hesitates for a moment and takes the hat from the brown haired waiter who smiles pleasantly for a moment before nudging the other waiter in the ribs with his elbow.
"Thank goodness we caught you up, Yoseob-"
The blonde holds out the paper bag, pressing it into Junsu's arms with a sugary smile, doing as the older man had directed him. Junsu opens his mouth to protest, he hadn't ordered any food but the older of the two waiters shakes his head.
"Dooj- Our manager said he's seen you perform once or twice in local talent shows and said you're very good. When we said you'd not ordered anything he insisted we bring you these, please?"
The brunette bows, flipping his hair from his eyes before grabbing the younger man by the wrist. They both smile at him for a moment and then the older is pulling the younger away, a call of 'Come back soon!' coming from the baby faced young. Junsu watches them go for a few moments with blurry eyes before rushing back to work.
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The dark cloud doesn't leave Junsu's head, even after he and Chansung bump into Jiyong, another rising singer, after work. His train ride home is quiet for the most part, he sits in a corner listening to his ipod, the latest mini-album by 2AM streaming from the small device. He's still struggling over Junho not showing up but Chansung had reasoned that Junho must of had some reason as he was too nice a guy to stand someone up like that.
Junsu tries not to think about the other boy but it's hard to ignore the stinging of tears in his eyes and the way his throat burns. He reasons again that it's the alcohol, that he's becoming weak to it and it's just the fact that he hasn't had much to drink lately.
The brunette tugs at his scarf, pulling it higher to cover his cheeks and reaches for the grocery bags between his feet as the train begins to slow, shuddering to a halt besides the platform. He notices Junho before the doors open, the vibrant red of his jacket acting as a beacon.
His stomach knots and his throat feels dry, despite the beer and water he'd consumed. Junsu can't decide if it's the pent up emotions that are making him feel so edgy or the way the red fabric clings to Junho's shoulders and arms. The boy is hunched forwards on a bench, one hand tangled in his crimped bangs whilst the other holds a phone to his ear.
The doors whir open and Junsu steps onto the platform, bowing his head as the cool air hits his flushed skin. His bag rustles and he sinks his teeth into his lower lip, praying the other boy doesn't notice him as he hurries passed the benches and towards the stairwell. He moves to the side of a group of school girls, putting them between himself and the dancer but the younger boy doesn't seem to notice as he whimpers into the phone.
As he reaches the escalators, Junsu passes two cleaners, both middle aged women though one seemed a few years older than the other judging by her slightly darker skin and the thatches of grey hair at her temples.
"Maybe he's filming a movie scene"
"Yah! Don't be stupid! There's no cameras"
The older woman hissed, rolling her eyes at the younger as she tied a big bag and deposited onto the cart they were pushing, the younger woman inserting a new bin bag.
"Maybe it's a hidden camera show, Oh! Maybe there's a camera on our cart!"
The older woman opened her mouth but after a few moments of staring at the younger woman she firmly closed it and looked away, stopping to pick up a stray candy wrapper.
"I think he's waiting for someone but who? He's been here for hours"
They both stopped then, glancing to the young man who had straightened up slightly then back to each other with a shrug. Junsu let out a groan, muffled by his scarf as he turns on his heels and begins towards the dancer. A voice telling him he has to find out who the younger man is waiting for. It's important.
He watches his feet moving over the vinyl flooring, careful and slow footsteps that inch him closer and closer to the handsome dancer. Part of him wants to turn around and run home, ignore the whole situation till he forgets about the other boy, but Junho is infectious in the way he smiles and Junsu already feels himself gravitating towards the other.
"He probably hates me! I stood him up! How can he not hate me for that?"
Junsu edged closer to the other boy, approaching him from behind to give himself a few more moments to collect himself. It had nothing to do with the fact that he was also trying to eavesdrop into the boys conversation which was apparently about him. Junsu carried on stepping closer, his stomach tightening with every step and his heart weighing a little heavier in his chest.
"Of course I didn't mean to!"
Junho growled into the phone, fisting a hand into his hair and tugging lightly till he felt a sting in his scalp. He didn't mean to snap at his friend but he felt so hopeless. Junsu caught his eyes with his good looks but he'd turned out to be what Junho considered an interesting young man. After their previous meeting at the cafe, Chansung had taken every possible opportunity to sing Junsu's praises from telling Junho how great his singing was to retelling stories from work.
"I just.. I really really liked him, you know? He's a nice guy and he's got these amazingeyes and I've ... God, I've blown it"
Junho's voice wavers and the boy stiffens, the red fabric of the tight jacket highlighting the tension that spreads through his back and shoulders. Junsu watches as the younger boy scrubs his hand across his face, sees the dark smudge that finds it's way to the back of the younger man's hand and he feels his anger dissipate, chipping away with every sniffle the dancer makes.
"I don't know what to do"
Junho whimpers, voice cracking and it's then that Junsu finally gives in, his own salty tears stinging his eyes.
He moves forwards and lifts his grocery bags over the back of the bench to dump them besides Junho. The boy jumps and begins to turn but Junsu's still moving and pulls the phone from his surprised hand, disconnecting the call. Junho twists, a yelp escaping him as he tries to fling himself forwards to take back his phone. He hovers over the back of the seats, brows quirked as he takes in Junsu who takes in the boys outfit for the first time.
"I'm so sorry!"
Junho scrambles over the backrest of the benches and stops infront of Junsu, a blush spreading it's way over his features. Junsu's staring at him still, a curious expression and the blush deepends as Junho unconsciously tugs at the hem of the jacket, adjusting the leather braces.
"The photoshoot ran late and I tried to call Chansung, to call you but I couldn't get hold of him and I know I should of gotten your number this morning, no sooner, the first time we met even, but I'm not that brave and I understand if you hate me, I stood you up and I get that but..."
Junho's body trembles, hands fisting and unfisting with repressed energy and he has no idea what he can say to make the older boy forgive him, just knows that he needs it more than anything else. It was true when he said he wasn't brave because Junho usually wasn't when it came to relationships, not that he'd even really had that much time for one but there was something about the way Junsu had looked at him and something in the man's smile that had forced his body into action.
Junsu sighs. The boy infront of him is tearing up and his forlorn expression is heart rendering as Junho's teeth sink into his lower lip. The boy's eyes are cofused on Junsu's own sneakers so the older man takes the moment to take in the boy's outfit, the form fitting red jacket that clings to plains of Junho's chest and skin tight black jeans that encase his muscular thighs.
"I just really like you"
Junho's voice is little more than a whisper as he sinks to the floor, knees slapping the ground in a way that sounds as though it would be painful to Junsu's ears. The boy raises a hand, grips at the pony tail his hair has been slicked into and the other swipes at his eyes, leaving more black smudges across his skin. Junsu's heart pounds in his chest.
Junsu sighs gently and pulls out his phone, quickly adding Junho's phone number to his own address book before transfering his contact details to the other boy's phone. He pockets his own before squatting down besides the boy, pushing the small white cellphone into his hands.
He puts his hand to the back of Junho's neck, curving around the golden column of his throat and the boy lifts his head to look at him with a mixed albeit teary expression. Junsu simply smiles back and squeezes ever so carefully before nodding his head towards Junho's phone. Junho trembles slightly beneath his palm, the older man's touch seering his skin.
"I won't forgive you if you stand me up on our next date"
Junsu grins playfully as he straightens up, catching Junho's hand in his own and giving it a firm squeeze. Junho squeezes back a little harder and the younger boy chuckles, a fresh blush spreading across his cheeks as he ducks his head and looks at their entwined hands
They reach for the grocery bags and Junho insists on walking Junsu home.
He'll have Taecyeon pick him up from Junsu's home, the american rat owes him a favour or two.
Fini