Yesung/Sohee, others, the art of falling short.
Title: The Art of Falling Short
Pairing: Yesung/Sohee, hints of Kangin/Eeteuk and Hanchul.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2,232
Notes: Excessive pointing and laughing at Yesung’s fail, outrageous idol shenanigans.
“So you want to set Heechul up?”
“That was the general idea.”
“And you want me to help?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
As far as minds go, Yesung’s was completely blown. Sohee had turned up at his doorstep at six AM Saturday morning in full-on army gear (JYP’s new concept?), a large camouflage hat dwarfing her small head and bag of walkie-talkies slung over her shoulder. Yesung modestly covered his sleep worn hair as best he could, what with having tiny hands and everything.
“What do you mean, ‘why’?” Sohee sounded offended.
“Why me, I mean.”
“We made a good team when we played the game together. Everyone else may have been ahead, but we still won. Oh, and you never stepped on my foot.”
Her logic made sense.
Yesung can vividly remember (he’s good at remembering things as big as this because he is lacking in everything else) the hardships he faced in trying to make himself known as something besides an ordinary person, how elated he was when he was finally allowed screen time because he’d won the race, even if it was by complete chance.
Then there was the fact that he had spent the entire race with his ankle tied to Sohee’s and the curve of her side and hips pressed against his in the pursuit of the controller. His hand had accidently deviated once or twice and he had accidently touched a few times, but that was everyone else’s fault.
“Hello? Could you please share with the rest of the class?” Sohee prodded him with a finger, her eyebrows arched in irritation.
“We did? Make a great team, I mean.”
“Have you had problems like this since birth?”
"Are you Heechul’s long lost sister?” Yesung replied just as quickly because he started thinking about witty remarks back at “We made a good team..” because he thought he might need something and Sohee was just too quick.
“A girl can dream. Now let me inside before I call someone to come help me with you.”
“But they said girls aren’t allowed in at this time.” Yesung sounded generally worried, like he might be tossed off a ship plank.
“I’m going to find a way inside, so you might as well not fight it.” She pushed past him and skipped into the kitchen, too large boots clunking on the hardwood floor. Yesung knew his expression was something along the lines of horrified because she was noisily emptying the contents of her bag onto the kitchen table.
“They’re going to kill me.” His mind kept repeating the kill part because Eeteuk had drilled it into their heads that all ‘female company’ would have to wait for the daytime when he could be accommodating and chipper, and Kangin would definitely make sure of that as he’s a light sleeper.
“How old are you again? The boys in my class don’t act like you.”
Seventeen is what Yesung’s conscience tells him, but he is bitterly reminded that his youth sailed off long, long ago with his innocence and there was no grasping it now. Childhood was long gone and cold reality was all that remained.
“Seriously, would you stop dozing off?” Sohee gave him a pointed look and went about rummaging through the rest of her bag with a sigh. “I feel like I’m talking to myself here. No wonder they don’t let you on TV.”
It was like a giant, painful anvil falling from the heavens. Heechul had taught her well.
When he finally thought of a splendid speech on how she should respect her elders, it hadn’t come out quite like Yesung wanted. He intended for it to be something like, “My, young lady, you seem to be on the offensive today. While I respect your opinion, I must say that I have accumulated a fair amount of TV appearances in my lifetime”, not a high pitched, drawn out, “Why are you so mean?”
“Because you have absolutely no idea how girls work.”
Yesung was going to say something smart, but he was too busy cradling his poor, injured foot after Sohee’s boot made brief, but excruciating, contact with it.
-
“Even girls make Yesung cry!” Donghae’s face was nearly in his bowl of cheerios at the sight of Yesung bandaging his foot with several tiny band aids. Hankyung had used the last of the gauze. Everything was Hankyung’s fault as far as Yesung was concerned.
“Shut up, Donghae.”
“Girls!”
“Donghae, it isn’t funny.”
“Yes it is.”
“No it isn’t.”
“Is toooo.” Donghae smiled around his spoon, victorious.
The only way he is even close to victorious is because Yesung doesn’t want to repeat yesterday’s incident of battling Donghae’s continuous, ‘yes huhs’ that had lasted a good two hours. He had never been hit so hard by pillows before.
Stop before you dig yourself deeper his conscience reminded him.
Sohee returned ten minutes later from her trip to the convenience store to gather ‘supplies for the mission’. How four bags of junk food, fashionable goggles, and nail polish are vital supplies is beyond him. Heechul’s (and what values he teaches Sohee in turn) view of the world is skewed, Yesung thinks. He doesn’t speak his mind though because Sohee’s boot hurts.
“How did you carry everything by yourself?” Yesung asked instead.
“Unlike some people, I’m pretty capable.”
Yesung could feel himself wither away under the statement, much to Donghae’s entertainment.
-
“And that’s the plan.” Sohee finished, clasping her hands together.
“Second in command, Lee Donghae, reporting for duty!” Donghae said entirely too proudly as he sported two pairs of the large goggles Sohee had brought back.
“Why does he get to come?” Yesung was partly jealous - he, admittedly, wanted to be second in command. Besides, Donghae had spent the entire lecture staring off into space, so he had no idea how the plan was to be executed. Yesung had it memorized backwards. Whatever the plan was the supposed to be.
“I called Hankyung and I’m supposed to meet Kangin at the amusement park. He says he’s bringing Heechul.” Eeteuk said pleased, knowing he was probably the only one being productive. Heechul would eventually have to pay for the endless weeks of interruptions.
“You’re not supposed to be texting when Sohee’s talking.” Yesung said, late.
“I’m talking to Kangin about the plan.” Eeteuk followed up with a comforting pat to the other’s shoulder. “If you want, I’ll let you take Sohee. I know you would enjoy that.”
Sometimes Yesung feels like everyone talks to him like a child.
-
Sohee doesn’t let Yesung drive because she can sense his failure the second he tries (keyword is tries) to open the vehicle’s door. He fusses with the handle until she unlocks the door all too easily.
“I’m borrowing this from a friend. You aren’t driving it.” She ground out, pouting baby face resembling a balloon.
Yesung really wanted to pinch her cheeks, but he figured she might knee him in the stomach.
She wasn’t that horrible of a driver, save for the sudden stops every three seconds. It was almost like being in a car with a blind person, or Eeteuk. By the time they reached a red light, her cell phone was ringing obnoxiously (’10 points out of 10!’ the ringtone shouted on repeat).
“Hello?”
The voice on the other line was loud and familiar. It made Yesung want to crawl into fetal position.
“Hey, I’m out. Let’s eat lunch.” Heechul demanded on the other line.
“I can’t right now. “
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve got practice, you know how that is. I’ll meet you at the dorm later, okay?”
“I can’t believe you’re abandoning me. I can’t believe it.”
“I’ll bring movies and nail polish? Oh, and I’ve got a sweater for Heebum.” Sohee seemed unaffected by the complaining, as if it were a common occurrence that came hand in hand with the friendship.
“Fine. You owe me one, though. Yesung better be trapped inside the fridge before I get there.”
Yesung was about to say something to defend himself, up until the car shuddered to a halt and his forehead hit the dashboard with a deafening smack.
-
“Actually, meet me at Lotte World.”
“The amusement park?”
“Three o’ clock sharp!”
Sohee had told him, which was perfect because it was the exact same place Eeteuk told Hankyung to meet him at.
“Let me bestow upon you my knowledge as a leader” being the valid reason.
It was impossible to take them, as a group, seriously when in disguise. Eeteuk’s face resembled a bug’s in his large green goggles and rain coat and Kangin was sporting a Viking ensemble he’d picked up on last notice at the gift shop. Sohee wore a pair of gag glasses, as did Yesung, and an umbrella hat, and she had forced a sombrero onto him because, “it fits your giant head”.
Sure, they weren’t noticeable. Totally needles in a haystack.
Donghae was nowhere to be seen Yesung noticed fifteen minutes into the mission.
Hankyung looked to be completely lost in the maze that was the amusement park. Anyone could recognize the ‘no, I do not understand, help’ expression. Eeteuk, stationed behind a costumed mascot, was the first to spot him.
“Raccoon, come in! China Man is now in close proximity. Status?”
“Do you have to use the nickname? Come on.”
“Of course! Don’t take all the secret agent fun out of it.”
“Stop bickering, you guys. I can see Heechul.”
“Aiden Lee, reporting for duty!” was the fuzzy reply from the walkie-talkie.
“Donghae, are you in the animal suit?”
“Maybe.”
Heechul was stalking around the carousal when they managed to remove the mascot’s head stuck to Donghae. They scrambled for a hiding spot behind the same bench Heechul ultimately planted himself on.
“Figures Sohee would be late."
Hiding from Heechul proved successful, even if he did almost recognize Kangin.
“Incoming, incoming, incoming!” Donghae shouted into his walkie-talkie as he made his rounds on the carousal. “Hankyung has found Subject A! Commence part two!”
“Shut up.” Yesung said into the walkie-talkie he had stolen from Sohee for that specific reason. He didn’t get one and it wasn’t fair.
Part two was all up the natural will of the universe.
“Why are you here?” Heechul asked Hankyung once he was within arm’s reach.
“I was supposed to meet Eeteuk here. Have any idea where he is?” Hankyung questioned in return, only to be interrupted by the shrill sound of a megaphone being tested.
“Ladies and gentlemen, particularly ladies, today we have a special treat at your disposal.” The park’s suspicious sounding mascot said, standing on the bench with its arms spread enthusiastically towards two people in particular.
“Two members of Asia’s number one idol group, Super Junior, have appeared today for a special autograph signing session. It’s only for today, girls!”
“What?” Heechul’s eyes were piercing daggers. He would wring the mascot’s neck and see to it that he never walked again.
“What?” Hankyung repeated, at a loss.
“Why don’t you give them a warm welcome?”
Fire burns and ice is cold and fangirls are dangerous, dangerous people, Yesung concluded sensibly.
When the mass of screaming girls flooded after both of them like a high-pitched tsunami, Sohee, cleverly concealed in her army gear, ushered them to an abandoned ticket booth at the far end of the park and closed them in before they could get a look at her face.
“They tore my shirt! They tore it, Heechul!” Hankyung shouted, scandalized.
“Here, let me fix that for you.” Was the last thing Sohee heard before she walked away in search of the others, dusting her hands off.
Matchmaking was difficult business.
-
Yesung could almost pretend it was a group date of sorts. Sure, Sohee was decades his junior, but it was nice pretending to walk at the same pace as her, to ignore age and status and let his shoulder bump hers.
Though, it would probably be a lot more pleasant if Kangin and Eeteuk weren’t so intent on making up for lost time in the back of the love boat directly behind them.
“You’re doing it again.” Sohee commented as the boat slowly floated along in the dim light.
“Doing what?”
“I mean, I can understand if you’re kind of slow, but it would be nice if you could make an effort.”
Yesung doesn’t know what she means by, ‘make an effort’ so his arm casually slips around her shoulder as his mind tries to work the knot out.
“To be honest, it’s kind of awkward.” Sohee admitted as her mouth tightened into a thin line. “Heechul is easy to talk to for obvious reasons, but it’s hard talking to someone like you.”
“Someone like me?” ‘Someone like me’ makes Yesung think of all the years of falling short under his belt. It makes him think of the giant, blown up of picture of his snotty singing face and his failing to amuse his seniors on Unbelievable Outing with his totally funny trot impression (thanks, Eunhyuk). It makes him think of exactly how invisible he can be on variety shows, and in general.
“Especially someone with a voice like yours. “ Sohee said, almost wistfully. “It’s intimidating.”
What?
“I wish I could have that. It’s amazing, you know. Your voice is.”
He never looked at it that way.
“Yesung?”
That’s when Yesung fell into the pond.
I’m sure this isn’t what was meant by a ‘sequel’ because the Yesung/Sohee thing kind of grew by itself, but at least kangteuk and hanchul make appearances?
Pairing: Yesung/Sohee, hints of Kangin/Eeteuk and Hanchul.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2,232
Notes: Excessive pointing and laughing at Yesung’s fail, outrageous idol shenanigans.
“So you want to set Heechul up?”
“That was the general idea.”
“And you want me to help?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
As far as minds go, Yesung’s was completely blown. Sohee had turned up at his doorstep at six AM Saturday morning in full-on army gear (JYP’s new concept?), a large camouflage hat dwarfing her small head and bag of walkie-talkies slung over her shoulder. Yesung modestly covered his sleep worn hair as best he could, what with having tiny hands and everything.
“What do you mean, ‘why’?” Sohee sounded offended.
“Why me, I mean.”
“We made a good team when we played the game together. Everyone else may have been ahead, but we still won. Oh, and you never stepped on my foot.”
Her logic made sense.
Yesung can vividly remember (he’s good at remembering things as big as this because he is lacking in everything else) the hardships he faced in trying to make himself known as something besides an ordinary person, how elated he was when he was finally allowed screen time because he’d won the race, even if it was by complete chance.
Then there was the fact that he had spent the entire race with his ankle tied to Sohee’s and the curve of her side and hips pressed against his in the pursuit of the controller. His hand had accidently deviated once or twice and he had accidently touched a few times, but that was everyone else’s fault.
“Hello? Could you please share with the rest of the class?” Sohee prodded him with a finger, her eyebrows arched in irritation.
“We did? Make a great team, I mean.”
“Have you had problems like this since birth?”
"Are you Heechul’s long lost sister?” Yesung replied just as quickly because he started thinking about witty remarks back at “We made a good team..” because he thought he might need something and Sohee was just too quick.
“A girl can dream. Now let me inside before I call someone to come help me with you.”
“But they said girls aren’t allowed in at this time.” Yesung sounded generally worried, like he might be tossed off a ship plank.
“I’m going to find a way inside, so you might as well not fight it.” She pushed past him and skipped into the kitchen, too large boots clunking on the hardwood floor. Yesung knew his expression was something along the lines of horrified because she was noisily emptying the contents of her bag onto the kitchen table.
“They’re going to kill me.” His mind kept repeating the kill part because Eeteuk had drilled it into their heads that all ‘female company’ would have to wait for the daytime when he could be accommodating and chipper, and Kangin would definitely make sure of that as he’s a light sleeper.
“How old are you again? The boys in my class don’t act like you.”
Seventeen is what Yesung’s conscience tells him, but he is bitterly reminded that his youth sailed off long, long ago with his innocence and there was no grasping it now. Childhood was long gone and cold reality was all that remained.
“Seriously, would you stop dozing off?” Sohee gave him a pointed look and went about rummaging through the rest of her bag with a sigh. “I feel like I’m talking to myself here. No wonder they don’t let you on TV.”
It was like a giant, painful anvil falling from the heavens. Heechul had taught her well.
When he finally thought of a splendid speech on how she should respect her elders, it hadn’t come out quite like Yesung wanted. He intended for it to be something like, “My, young lady, you seem to be on the offensive today. While I respect your opinion, I must say that I have accumulated a fair amount of TV appearances in my lifetime”, not a high pitched, drawn out, “Why are you so mean?”
“Because you have absolutely no idea how girls work.”
Yesung was going to say something smart, but he was too busy cradling his poor, injured foot after Sohee’s boot made brief, but excruciating, contact with it.
-
“Even girls make Yesung cry!” Donghae’s face was nearly in his bowl of cheerios at the sight of Yesung bandaging his foot with several tiny band aids. Hankyung had used the last of the gauze. Everything was Hankyung’s fault as far as Yesung was concerned.
“Shut up, Donghae.”
“Girls!”
“Donghae, it isn’t funny.”
“Yes it is.”
“No it isn’t.”
“Is toooo.” Donghae smiled around his spoon, victorious.
The only way he is even close to victorious is because Yesung doesn’t want to repeat yesterday’s incident of battling Donghae’s continuous, ‘yes huhs’ that had lasted a good two hours. He had never been hit so hard by pillows before.
Stop before you dig yourself deeper his conscience reminded him.
Sohee returned ten minutes later from her trip to the convenience store to gather ‘supplies for the mission’. How four bags of junk food, fashionable goggles, and nail polish are vital supplies is beyond him. Heechul’s (and what values he teaches Sohee in turn) view of the world is skewed, Yesung thinks. He doesn’t speak his mind though because Sohee’s boot hurts.
“How did you carry everything by yourself?” Yesung asked instead.
“Unlike some people, I’m pretty capable.”
Yesung could feel himself wither away under the statement, much to Donghae’s entertainment.
-
“And that’s the plan.” Sohee finished, clasping her hands together.
“Second in command, Lee Donghae, reporting for duty!” Donghae said entirely too proudly as he sported two pairs of the large goggles Sohee had brought back.
“Why does he get to come?” Yesung was partly jealous - he, admittedly, wanted to be second in command. Besides, Donghae had spent the entire lecture staring off into space, so he had no idea how the plan was to be executed. Yesung had it memorized backwards. Whatever the plan was the supposed to be.
“I called Hankyung and I’m supposed to meet Kangin at the amusement park. He says he’s bringing Heechul.” Eeteuk said pleased, knowing he was probably the only one being productive. Heechul would eventually have to pay for the endless weeks of interruptions.
“You’re not supposed to be texting when Sohee’s talking.” Yesung said, late.
“I’m talking to Kangin about the plan.” Eeteuk followed up with a comforting pat to the other’s shoulder. “If you want, I’ll let you take Sohee. I know you would enjoy that.”
Sometimes Yesung feels like everyone talks to him like a child.
-
Sohee doesn’t let Yesung drive because she can sense his failure the second he tries (keyword is tries) to open the vehicle’s door. He fusses with the handle until she unlocks the door all too easily.
“I’m borrowing this from a friend. You aren’t driving it.” She ground out, pouting baby face resembling a balloon.
Yesung really wanted to pinch her cheeks, but he figured she might knee him in the stomach.
She wasn’t that horrible of a driver, save for the sudden stops every three seconds. It was almost like being in a car with a blind person, or Eeteuk. By the time they reached a red light, her cell phone was ringing obnoxiously (’10 points out of 10!’ the ringtone shouted on repeat).
“Hello?”
The voice on the other line was loud and familiar. It made Yesung want to crawl into fetal position.
“Hey, I’m out. Let’s eat lunch.” Heechul demanded on the other line.
“I can’t right now. “
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve got practice, you know how that is. I’ll meet you at the dorm later, okay?”
“I can’t believe you’re abandoning me. I can’t believe it.”
“I’ll bring movies and nail polish? Oh, and I’ve got a sweater for Heebum.” Sohee seemed unaffected by the complaining, as if it were a common occurrence that came hand in hand with the friendship.
“Fine. You owe me one, though. Yesung better be trapped inside the fridge before I get there.”
Yesung was about to say something to defend himself, up until the car shuddered to a halt and his forehead hit the dashboard with a deafening smack.
-
“Actually, meet me at Lotte World.”
“The amusement park?”
“Three o’ clock sharp!”
Sohee had told him, which was perfect because it was the exact same place Eeteuk told Hankyung to meet him at.
“Let me bestow upon you my knowledge as a leader” being the valid reason.
It was impossible to take them, as a group, seriously when in disguise. Eeteuk’s face resembled a bug’s in his large green goggles and rain coat and Kangin was sporting a Viking ensemble he’d picked up on last notice at the gift shop. Sohee wore a pair of gag glasses, as did Yesung, and an umbrella hat, and she had forced a sombrero onto him because, “it fits your giant head”.
Sure, they weren’t noticeable. Totally needles in a haystack.
Donghae was nowhere to be seen Yesung noticed fifteen minutes into the mission.
Hankyung looked to be completely lost in the maze that was the amusement park. Anyone could recognize the ‘no, I do not understand, help’ expression. Eeteuk, stationed behind a costumed mascot, was the first to spot him.
“Raccoon, come in! China Man is now in close proximity. Status?”
“Do you have to use the nickname? Come on.”
“Of course! Don’t take all the secret agent fun out of it.”
“Stop bickering, you guys. I can see Heechul.”
“Aiden Lee, reporting for duty!” was the fuzzy reply from the walkie-talkie.
“Donghae, are you in the animal suit?”
“Maybe.”
Heechul was stalking around the carousal when they managed to remove the mascot’s head stuck to Donghae. They scrambled for a hiding spot behind the same bench Heechul ultimately planted himself on.
“Figures Sohee would be late."
Hiding from Heechul proved successful, even if he did almost recognize Kangin.
“Incoming, incoming, incoming!” Donghae shouted into his walkie-talkie as he made his rounds on the carousal. “Hankyung has found Subject A! Commence part two!”
“Shut up.” Yesung said into the walkie-talkie he had stolen from Sohee for that specific reason. He didn’t get one and it wasn’t fair.
Part two was all up the natural will of the universe.
“Why are you here?” Heechul asked Hankyung once he was within arm’s reach.
“I was supposed to meet Eeteuk here. Have any idea where he is?” Hankyung questioned in return, only to be interrupted by the shrill sound of a megaphone being tested.
“Ladies and gentlemen, particularly ladies, today we have a special treat at your disposal.” The park’s suspicious sounding mascot said, standing on the bench with its arms spread enthusiastically towards two people in particular.
“Two members of Asia’s number one idol group, Super Junior, have appeared today for a special autograph signing session. It’s only for today, girls!”
“What?” Heechul’s eyes were piercing daggers. He would wring the mascot’s neck and see to it that he never walked again.
“What?” Hankyung repeated, at a loss.
“Why don’t you give them a warm welcome?”
Fire burns and ice is cold and fangirls are dangerous, dangerous people, Yesung concluded sensibly.
When the mass of screaming girls flooded after both of them like a high-pitched tsunami, Sohee, cleverly concealed in her army gear, ushered them to an abandoned ticket booth at the far end of the park and closed them in before they could get a look at her face.
“They tore my shirt! They tore it, Heechul!” Hankyung shouted, scandalized.
“Here, let me fix that for you.” Was the last thing Sohee heard before she walked away in search of the others, dusting her hands off.
Matchmaking was difficult business.
-
Yesung could almost pretend it was a group date of sorts. Sure, Sohee was decades his junior, but it was nice pretending to walk at the same pace as her, to ignore age and status and let his shoulder bump hers.
Though, it would probably be a lot more pleasant if Kangin and Eeteuk weren’t so intent on making up for lost time in the back of the love boat directly behind them.
“You’re doing it again.” Sohee commented as the boat slowly floated along in the dim light.
“Doing what?”
“I mean, I can understand if you’re kind of slow, but it would be nice if you could make an effort.”
Yesung doesn’t know what she means by, ‘make an effort’ so his arm casually slips around her shoulder as his mind tries to work the knot out.
“To be honest, it’s kind of awkward.” Sohee admitted as her mouth tightened into a thin line. “Heechul is easy to talk to for obvious reasons, but it’s hard talking to someone like you.”
“Someone like me?” ‘Someone like me’ makes Yesung think of all the years of falling short under his belt. It makes him think of the giant, blown up of picture of his snotty singing face and his failing to amuse his seniors on Unbelievable Outing with his totally funny trot impression (thanks, Eunhyuk). It makes him think of exactly how invisible he can be on variety shows, and in general.
“Especially someone with a voice like yours. “ Sohee said, almost wistfully. “It’s intimidating.”
What?
“I wish I could have that. It’s amazing, you know. Your voice is.”
He never looked at it that way.
“Yesung?”
That’s when Yesung fell into the pond.
I’m sure this isn’t what was meant by a ‘sequel’ because the Yesung/Sohee thing kind of grew by itself, but at least kangteuk and hanchul make appearances?