Fish Bowl Syndrome
Title: fish bowl syndrome
pairing: slight Jackbum
rating: pg13 (for language)
summary: please do not tap on glass; it frightens the fish. thank you.
a/n: i have a slight obsession with tropical fish and the pretty bowls they swim in. also i had a dream Jaebum's eyes were water and he was crying fish.....(i wrote to this)
should've seen the water rising, now I'm in too deep
It's a warm night. Too warm. Jaebum clicks on the small fan that's on the counter and it's blades spin, blowing semi-cool air through his hair. It's 10 pm and he's alone in the store. It's his favorite shift. The only problem is he forgets to eat dinner. But he likes it like this. It's just him and the blueish green reflections that drift along the walls, the dim-lighting from the fish tanks illuminate the room and everything looks surreal. He sinks into it. He likes the calmness of water, the weight of it, the feel of it. He always has. It used to be his biggest fear. He remembers the time he almost drowned as a child, the air being sucked out of his lungs, his arms flailing and bubbles. Bubbles everywhere and the Koi fish. He remembers the Koi in the back need to be fed so he leaves his station at the front. He doesn't hear Jackson come in. Jackson was someone who made him share. Jaebum was mostly quiet, mostly shy and reserved and didn’t always like being with other people. Jackson was someone who, when they wanted something, got it no matter what. Jackson decided he wanted Jaebum’s friendship so he eased his way in. Seeing how Jaebum reacted to big groups, they spent their time together alone and Jaebum appreciated that. He used to make a joke about Jaebum living in a fishbowl. He swims around in his own world, oblivious to what’s happening around him and only responds to food. The joke became even more fitting once Jaebum began working at the fish store.
He rolls up his sleeves and reaches into the pond, his fingers gliding over the smooth backs of the multicolored fish. They swim around wildly, fighting for food even though he put more than enough in. He watches for a moment, letting his mind wander. He's in to his elbows, his hands exploring the rocky pond bottom. His sleeves fall down, getting soaked and he curses under his breath.
"Did you take a swim this time,hyung?" Jackson's voice scares Jaebum but only for a moment. His smile is wide and full of light. Jackson was always like that. Always bright.
"No, I just should've just taken this off." Jaebum pulls his sweater over his head and tosses it behind the counter. "What are you doing here, anyways?"
"I brought you dinner." Jackson puts the plastic bag he's holding on the counter in front of him. "Galbitang." Jaebum smiles and begins pulling the bowls out.
"You're the best."
"Damn right." Jackson says, taking a seat next to Jaebum behind the counter. "So, why are you always here so late. I mean, I know you're a little weird about the fish but this place closes at 8."
"It closes at 10."
"Bullshit. Last time I was here I asked your manager and he said you guys close at 8." Jackson says, pointing his chopsticks in Jaebum's face.
"Well...I, uh...."
"Uh huh."
Jaebum laughs. "Look, I just like the extra shift."
"Do you get paid extra?"
"I get paid in peace and quiet." Jackson shakes his head.
"I knew there were gonna be some crazies in Korea but you're the....you take the cake." Jaebum laughs again and it unintentionally fades into a sigh.
"What?"
"Do you miss Hong Kong?"
"Everyday." It's quiet for a moment as both boys turn their attention to their food. Outside, Seoul is wide awake. From here, everything is visible through the stores glass door. Jaebum always thought a fish store in the middle of the club district was weird but he's learned to like it. He's become an expert people watcher. He knows which places drunk people like to go to and what's good to eat when you're hangover and which clubs play the best music. Jackson always appreciates this knowledge because he's a pretty big club goer. He hangs out for about an hour before he starts getting antsy.
"You wanna go out? Things are just getting warmed up out there."
"Nah. I don't wanna leave the fish alone."
Jackson rolls his eyes. "Whatever. I'm going out for a bit and when I get back, we're going home." Jaebum nods and watches him leave. He quickly settles back down into his little world of blue and calm and quiet. He walks up and down the glowing aisles of fish tanks and he’s happy. Now, in just a tank top, he’s a little cold in front of the fan but he leaves it on, knowing the heat will attack again if he were to turn it off. He’s doodling on an envelope when Jackson comes back to the store, another person’s arm draped over his shoulder. Jaebum glances at the clock and can’t believe an hour has passed.
“Hold this.” Jackson says, as Jaebum opens the door for them. It’s a towel, a half empty bottle of water and a bottle of Ibuprofen.
“Hey, hyung. You look nice and blue.” Jinyoung says, his voice distorted with alcohol.
“Thanks,” Jaebum says. “Where did you find him?” Jackson waves his hand to dismiss the question. It was probably some street corner trying to get girls to give him their number or on the curb in front of the 7/11 trying to sell someone a piece of gum. Both had been right before. They take him to the back where the huge Koi pond is and try to make him as comfortable as possible. After he vomits (half of which landed on Jaebum’s chest) he drifts in and out of sleep, mumbling nonsense.
“Tell me about when you almost died.” Jinyoung murmurs, rolling onto his side.
“You almost died?” Jackson looks so serious, Jaebum feels as if he’s going to be in trouble.
“It was a long time ago. I was a kid.”
“Well, what happened?”
Jaebum points to the Koi pond. “I was three and there was a pond of Koi like this outside of this Chinese restaurant my parent liked. It was a buffet style restaurant so my parents were getting their food and I wandered from our table and outside and I fell in.”
“Tell him about the fish, tell him what you saw.” Jinyoung says, excitedly. Jaebum is embarrassed now, his fishbowl too full for him to have a good amount of space to himself.
Despite the obvious discomfort on Jaebum’s face, Jackson asks, “What did you see?” He’s not going to let it go. Jaebum knows this so he decides to just get it over with.
“I saw a really big Koi. Like, a huge one. Bigger than any Koi I’ve ever seen. It came from the bottom of the pond and it was gold and red and black.”
“Okay….?” Jackson wants more. Jaebum rubs the back of his neck. He’s sweating. The heat is in full force without the fan and his back in his sweater since Jinyoung threw up on his shirt.
“It saved me.”
“How?”
“Well, I was drowning, you know? I didn’t have any air and the fish…it blew air into my lungs.”
“So, you got mouth to mouth….from a fish?” A smile is creeping onto Jackson’s face and it makes Jaebum feel like he’s five years old.
“I know it sounds crazy, okay? But that’s what happened.” Suddenly, Jackson slaps his thigh.
“Oh my god! I know why you do this now. You owe your life to the Koi fish, the Koi gods, right?” Jaebum gets up.
“Leave me alone, alright? I was three, that’s what I thought was happening.”
“Don’t get upset. It’s just weird, you know?”
“Yeah.”
“Tell him the next part.” Jinyoung says, yawning.
“Shut up.” Jaebum hisses. Jackson kicks Jinyoung’s leg, earning a moan before he rolls over again to his other side.
“Why does he know this and not me?”
“I told him once a few months ago and he was drunk. I didn’t think he’d remember.”
“So what’s the last part?”
“I’m part fish.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Jaebum laughs and heads back to the front of the store, Jackson trailing behind.
“No, but since that day, I’ve been able to hold my breath for a really long time.”
“How long?” Jackson asks, curiously.
“About 15 minutes.”
“You lie.”
“I’m serious. My mom used to say the fish “gave” me something.” Jackson laughs.
“You know, I thought I had you figured out. The quiet, slightly creepy kid with a weird obsession but has a big heart and a good sense of humor. But now I see that….you’re still that but just a little more creepy.”Jaebum laughs lightly.
"And all this talk about fish and water and whatever and you don't even care that I can't swim."
"I do care but you won't even go near water." Jackson throws his arms around Jaebum’s shoulder and pulls him into a headlock.
“I’ll let you teach me to swim if you come to the club with me. Just once.” Jaebum thinks it’s a horrible deal and the word ‘no’ runs right to the tip of his tongue but he stops himself. He’d definitely feel like a fish out of water in a place like that but if it’s for Jackson, he could try to expand his fish bowl just a little.