{one-shot} two worlds apart
two worlds apart
→ Jonghyun/Taemin; PG-13
can't reach to your heart
They are two different people.
They are hardly associated with each other, except as members of an idol group.
It’s never Jonghyun and Taemin, but always Jonghyun and Onew or Key and Taemin. Never Jonghyun and Taemin.
Taemin acknowledges this; he always had and always will. That’s why he always remains silent around the older boy. He waits for Jonghyun to strike up a conversation, sneaking glances at him - a signal: talk to me hyung. But Jonghyun is too dense, only returning kind smiles to Taemin. When Taemin actually thinks of something relevant to say to Jonghyun, Key will barge in and pull Jonghyun away. It’s just a lose-lose situation for Taemin.
It’s needless to say that to Taemin, Jonghyun is capable of doing everything: singing, dancing, rapping, writing. Taemin sees the passion in Jonghyun, one similar to the one he has in his own eyes. Sometimes Taemin wishes to be as talented as Jonghyun is. He looks at Jonghyun and admires how enthusiastic he is about everything. Then Taemin looks at himself and tries to carry out that same enthusiasm, trying to shine just as bright as Jonghyun.
In order for that to happen, Taemin knows that he needs to improve his singing. He musters some courage and asks Jonghyun for help. (Onew is too busy trying not to fall while dancing with Key.) Before Taemin can finish his sentence, my singing is not very strong so I-, Jonghyun already has his hands on Taemin’s back, pushing him into the practice room. It’s nothing new to Taemin that Jonghyun’s eager to help.
As Jonghyun shows Taemin his vocal tricks, Taemin tries really hard to catch on. In truth, he can’t. He starts fidget after realizing that he’s alone with Jonghyun, shifting his weight every 30 seconds. Jonghyun is quick to notice this (even though he’s quite slow in other categories). Taeminnie, it’s ok if you don’t get it. I’m here to help. Jonghyun gently squeezes Taemin’s shoulder. He gives the younger an assuring smile and they get to work. 30 precious minutes each day is enough for Taemin. But these moments end once promotions start.
Luckily for Taemin, he’s placed right next to Jonghyun for Juliette promotions. He finally gets the chance to have Jonghyun whisper into his ears. It caught Taemin by surprise when Jonghyun first did it. Jonghyun went about it so casually, as if he was used to this kind of thing. (Taemin thought Jonghyun probably practiced it on the other three.) It tickled Taemin, sending shivers down his spine. All Taemin could do was bite his lips and nod to whatever Jonghyun was saying, even if it wasn’t registering in his brain.
But that’s different now. Taemin has it under control. He mastered this art. When Jonghyun leans over, Taemin’s ready to catch every word and pocket them in his heart. Sometimes Taemin would even joke back, tugging on the hem of Jonghyun’s shirt. He’d whisper back something clever, sure to make Jonghyun put on his signature smile. But it’s French Fries Friday, hyung - something that only they would understand because they stand next to each other.
It’s not that easy though. When they step offstage, Jonghyun is back with Key or Onew huddled in their world. Taemin is left with Minho (who has better things to do), with a lingering aftertaste of happiness.
Taemin hides away at his desk, trying to finish homework. His finger traces over the words of a book Minho gave him. A book about succeeding in life and achieving goals - typical of Minho. It’s no use to Taemin because he thinks it’s hopeless. These ideas can’t be applied to love. He throws the book to the side and buries his face into the pile of papers on the desk.
“Hey hey! Don’t drool on my music sheets.”
Taemin springs up. He rubs his chest, trying to catch his breath. “Hyung!”
“I knocked!” Jonghyun hovers over Taemin and puts up two fingers. “Twice.” He spins the chair around and gets ready to calm Taemin.
Taemin pouts - he can’t really be mad when Jonghyun gives him the puppy eyes.
“Does Taemin want some strawberry cake?”
“No,” Taemin whines. “We can’t.”
“Aww just one bite? Please?” Puppy eyes attack.
“Fine.” Taemin watches Jonghyun scurry out the room and scurry back in within a matter of seconds. It looks like Jonghyun prepared a slice for Taemin before he asked.
Jonghyun crouches on the ground, huddled besides Taemin’s legs. “Ahhh, open wide.” He scoops a bite with a fork and brings it to Taemin’s mouth. Taemin slowly opens his mouth, trying to push down the smile that was creeping up. As soon as he tastes the cake, any attempt of stifling happiness is halted.
Taemin licks his lips, staring at Jonghyun hesitant eyes. “This is…”
“Good right? Yes?”
Taemin nods eagerly, “Yeah, I love it!”
“Fuck yeah!” Jonghyun places the cake down on the desk and hugs Taemin. “Thanks! It’s my first time baking. Kibum taught me yesterday.”
“Oh…”
“You had the first bite.” Somehow Jonghyun’s smiling eyes don’t make Taemin happy.
“I was the guinea pig?”
“Don’t think of it like that. You had the honor of the first bite. I didn’t even give it to Kibum!”
Taemin turns around, ready to finish the cake. He admits the cake was really tasty.
Jonghyun stands up and pats Taemin. “I’ll come back to get the plate later.” He bends over and wipes away some cream off the corner of Taemin’s mouth. “Don’t eat so fast, there’s more.” Jonghyun licks the cream off his thumb, leaving Taemin’s face flushed and fluttered.
This might be nothing to Jonghyun, just a common courtesy. But it strikes Taemin straight to the heart.
Taemin can’t sleep. He watches Jonghyun’s every shift and turn, listening to those soft whispers fluttering from Jonghyun’s lips. The same lips that licked the cream. Taemin just watches.
Taemin realizes that it was actually nothing, nothing at all. There’s nothing different about Jonghyun or the way he acts. It was nothing.
Still, Taemin enjoys all the whispers and the jokes that pass between them. Jonghyun would brush his hand down Taemin’s arm, casually as always. Taemin catches that one-second stop near the end when Jonghyun reaches his hand. But Taemin learned to think nothing of these things.
When promotions end, Jonghyun is back to being Key’s shopping partner. Taemin’s eyes trail Jonghyun every time he leaves. He can never connect to Jonghyun.
“Taemin, come. You’re getting taller, you need new clothes!”
“Huh?”
“Come on.” Jonghyun pulls Taemin up from the couch and pushes him towards the door.
It’s still nothing, right?
All nothing. The longer-than-usual stares, the excessive attention, the unintentional smiles.
Taemin opens the treasure box in his heart, where he hid all the intimate moments with Jonghyun. He replays each one in his head, analyzing each movement. Taemin thinks it’s impossible for Jonghyun to like him - can’t really sing well, conflicting personalities, polar-opposite interests. Except there is just something Taemin felt; he can’t put his finger on it.
When he finds Jonghyun leaning against a wall near the corner, Taemin packs all those thoughts back into his box. It’s Key’s early birthday celebration and Taemin’s surprised to find Jonghyun alone, not with Key.
“Hyung,” Taemin presents Jonghyun with chocolate cake.
“Thanks.”
Taemin pulls the cake away from Jonghyun and decides to feed the boy himself. “Say ahh.” Jonghyun copies Taemin’s mouth movement, welcoming the moist cake into his mouth.
“Mmmmm, you did a good job with the cake.” Jonghyun picks up the fork and breaks a piece off for Taemin. “Does Taemin want a bite too?”
They smile at each other with cake in their mouths. They soon forget what exactly they’re smiling about, but they smile anyways. Taemin grips the plate a bit harder than before. He lifts his hand up, eyeing the cream conveniently left on Jonghyun’s mouth.
Taemin leans in, forgetting his hand. It’s time to be bold. The cream is gone when moist tongues clash as Taemin wraps his arms around Jonghyun.
Jonghyun’s hand fits perfectly on the curve of Taemin’s hip bone. He eases Taemin against the wall. They close their distance when the cake is dropped to the floor as two come together in the corner of their world.
---
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→ Jonghyun/Taemin; PG-13
can't reach to your heart
They are two different people.
They are hardly associated with each other, except as members of an idol group.
It’s never Jonghyun and Taemin, but always Jonghyun and Onew or Key and Taemin. Never Jonghyun and Taemin.
Taemin acknowledges this; he always had and always will. That’s why he always remains silent around the older boy. He waits for Jonghyun to strike up a conversation, sneaking glances at him - a signal: talk to me hyung. But Jonghyun is too dense, only returning kind smiles to Taemin. When Taemin actually thinks of something relevant to say to Jonghyun, Key will barge in and pull Jonghyun away. It’s just a lose-lose situation for Taemin.
It’s needless to say that to Taemin, Jonghyun is capable of doing everything: singing, dancing, rapping, writing. Taemin sees the passion in Jonghyun, one similar to the one he has in his own eyes. Sometimes Taemin wishes to be as talented as Jonghyun is. He looks at Jonghyun and admires how enthusiastic he is about everything. Then Taemin looks at himself and tries to carry out that same enthusiasm, trying to shine just as bright as Jonghyun.
In order for that to happen, Taemin knows that he needs to improve his singing. He musters some courage and asks Jonghyun for help. (Onew is too busy trying not to fall while dancing with Key.) Before Taemin can finish his sentence, my singing is not very strong so I-, Jonghyun already has his hands on Taemin’s back, pushing him into the practice room. It’s nothing new to Taemin that Jonghyun’s eager to help.
As Jonghyun shows Taemin his vocal tricks, Taemin tries really hard to catch on. In truth, he can’t. He starts fidget after realizing that he’s alone with Jonghyun, shifting his weight every 30 seconds. Jonghyun is quick to notice this (even though he’s quite slow in other categories). Taeminnie, it’s ok if you don’t get it. I’m here to help. Jonghyun gently squeezes Taemin’s shoulder. He gives the younger an assuring smile and they get to work. 30 precious minutes each day is enough for Taemin. But these moments end once promotions start.
Luckily for Taemin, he’s placed right next to Jonghyun for Juliette promotions. He finally gets the chance to have Jonghyun whisper into his ears. It caught Taemin by surprise when Jonghyun first did it. Jonghyun went about it so casually, as if he was used to this kind of thing. (Taemin thought Jonghyun probably practiced it on the other three.) It tickled Taemin, sending shivers down his spine. All Taemin could do was bite his lips and nod to whatever Jonghyun was saying, even if it wasn’t registering in his brain.
But that’s different now. Taemin has it under control. He mastered this art. When Jonghyun leans over, Taemin’s ready to catch every word and pocket them in his heart. Sometimes Taemin would even joke back, tugging on the hem of Jonghyun’s shirt. He’d whisper back something clever, sure to make Jonghyun put on his signature smile. But it’s French Fries Friday, hyung - something that only they would understand because they stand next to each other.
It’s not that easy though. When they step offstage, Jonghyun is back with Key or Onew huddled in their world. Taemin is left with Minho (who has better things to do), with a lingering aftertaste of happiness.
Taemin hides away at his desk, trying to finish homework. His finger traces over the words of a book Minho gave him. A book about succeeding in life and achieving goals - typical of Minho. It’s no use to Taemin because he thinks it’s hopeless. These ideas can’t be applied to love. He throws the book to the side and buries his face into the pile of papers on the desk.
“Hey hey! Don’t drool on my music sheets.”
Taemin springs up. He rubs his chest, trying to catch his breath. “Hyung!”
“I knocked!” Jonghyun hovers over Taemin and puts up two fingers. “Twice.” He spins the chair around and gets ready to calm Taemin.
Taemin pouts - he can’t really be mad when Jonghyun gives him the puppy eyes.
“Does Taemin want some strawberry cake?”
“No,” Taemin whines. “We can’t.”
“Aww just one bite? Please?” Puppy eyes attack.
“Fine.” Taemin watches Jonghyun scurry out the room and scurry back in within a matter of seconds. It looks like Jonghyun prepared a slice for Taemin before he asked.
Jonghyun crouches on the ground, huddled besides Taemin’s legs. “Ahhh, open wide.” He scoops a bite with a fork and brings it to Taemin’s mouth. Taemin slowly opens his mouth, trying to push down the smile that was creeping up. As soon as he tastes the cake, any attempt of stifling happiness is halted.
Taemin licks his lips, staring at Jonghyun hesitant eyes. “This is…”
“Good right? Yes?”
Taemin nods eagerly, “Yeah, I love it!”
“Fuck yeah!” Jonghyun places the cake down on the desk and hugs Taemin. “Thanks! It’s my first time baking. Kibum taught me yesterday.”
“Oh…”
“You had the first bite.” Somehow Jonghyun’s smiling eyes don’t make Taemin happy.
“I was the guinea pig?”
“Don’t think of it like that. You had the honor of the first bite. I didn’t even give it to Kibum!”
Taemin turns around, ready to finish the cake. He admits the cake was really tasty.
Jonghyun stands up and pats Taemin. “I’ll come back to get the plate later.” He bends over and wipes away some cream off the corner of Taemin’s mouth. “Don’t eat so fast, there’s more.” Jonghyun licks the cream off his thumb, leaving Taemin’s face flushed and fluttered.
This might be nothing to Jonghyun, just a common courtesy. But it strikes Taemin straight to the heart.
Taemin can’t sleep. He watches Jonghyun’s every shift and turn, listening to those soft whispers fluttering from Jonghyun’s lips. The same lips that licked the cream. Taemin just watches.
Taemin realizes that it was actually nothing, nothing at all. There’s nothing different about Jonghyun or the way he acts. It was nothing.
Still, Taemin enjoys all the whispers and the jokes that pass between them. Jonghyun would brush his hand down Taemin’s arm, casually as always. Taemin catches that one-second stop near the end when Jonghyun reaches his hand. But Taemin learned to think nothing of these things.
When promotions end, Jonghyun is back to being Key’s shopping partner. Taemin’s eyes trail Jonghyun every time he leaves. He can never connect to Jonghyun.
“Taemin, come. You’re getting taller, you need new clothes!”
“Huh?”
“Come on.” Jonghyun pulls Taemin up from the couch and pushes him towards the door.
It’s still nothing, right?
All nothing. The longer-than-usual stares, the excessive attention, the unintentional smiles.
Taemin opens the treasure box in his heart, where he hid all the intimate moments with Jonghyun. He replays each one in his head, analyzing each movement. Taemin thinks it’s impossible for Jonghyun to like him - can’t really sing well, conflicting personalities, polar-opposite interests. Except there is just something Taemin felt; he can’t put his finger on it.
When he finds Jonghyun leaning against a wall near the corner, Taemin packs all those thoughts back into his box. It’s Key’s early birthday celebration and Taemin’s surprised to find Jonghyun alone, not with Key.
“Hyung,” Taemin presents Jonghyun with chocolate cake.
“Thanks.”
Taemin pulls the cake away from Jonghyun and decides to feed the boy himself. “Say ahh.” Jonghyun copies Taemin’s mouth movement, welcoming the moist cake into his mouth.
“Mmmmm, you did a good job with the cake.” Jonghyun picks up the fork and breaks a piece off for Taemin. “Does Taemin want a bite too?”
They smile at each other with cake in their mouths. They soon forget what exactly they’re smiling about, but they smile anyways. Taemin grips the plate a bit harder than before. He lifts his hand up, eyeing the cream conveniently left on Jonghyun’s mouth.
Taemin leans in, forgetting his hand. It’s time to be bold. The cream is gone when moist tongues clash as Taemin wraps his arms around Jonghyun.
Jonghyun’s hand fits perfectly on the curve of Taemin’s hip bone. He eases Taemin against the wall. They close their distance when the cake is dropped to the floor as two come together in the corner of their world.
---
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