Behind the Sex - Chapter 26
Title: Behind the Sex
Fandom(s) : U-KISS
Pairing(s): KeMaru
Rating: NC-17
Genre: AU, Romance
Warnings: Awful!English
Author's Notes: My second NaNoWriMo, and a rather bold decision, if I might say :)! Hopefully doesn't contain too much inaccuracies, and if it does, please ignore it? >_>?
Prologue :: Chapter 1 :: Chapter 2 :: Chapter 3 :: Chapter 4 :: Chapter 5 :: Chapter 6 :: Chapter 7
Chapter 8 :: Chapter 9 :: Chapter 10 :: Chapter 11 :: Chapter 12 :: Chapter 13 :: Chapter 14 :: Chapter 15
Chapter 16 :: Chapter 17 :: Chapter 18 :: Chapter 19 :: Chapter 20 :: Chapter 21 :: Chapter 22
Chapter 23 :: Chapter 24 :: Chapter 25
Kevin and Kibum woke up and each took a shower, heading back to the brothel together since they were told to. The car ride back was a lot more comfortable, and if anyone needed evidence, it would be the way Kevin sat sideways on the seat, munching on some biscuits he had stored in the car.
“Want some?” Kevin grinned, holding one biscuit before Kibum lips. “You must be hungry~”
Kibum chuckled at the way Kevin cooed, as if trying to get a little kid to eat. He opened his mouth, distractedly trying to get the biscuit while driving. Kevin giggled at the scene, teasingly bringing the biscuit away, watching Kibum try to follow the biscuit. The older man shook his head, tentatively sitting back and concentrating on the road.
“Come on, you know you want some.” Kevin persuaded, when Kibum suddenly used a hand to grab his wrist. The car stopped at a road junction, Kibum taking the biscuit into his mouth, along with the Kevin’s two fingers that were holding it. Kevin tensed, uncomfortable with the way Kibum licked his fingers clean of the little crumbs from the biscuit.
Damn, what’s so erotic about this that he felt blood rush south?
Kibum released Kevin’s fingers from his mouth, smirking at Kevin. “Got it.”
“Y-Yeah.” Kevin looked at the biscuits left in the packet he opened, as if it was some very interesting thing. “C-Congrats.”
-
“All of the dates pre-booked by that man were cancelled. He had already transferred the money of the recent appointments over and we’ll be giving you your share soon.” The receptionist informed as she typed quickly on her desktop. She casted Kibum a glance, before nodding slightly. “Called you guys back to wait for a phone call. Any customer that calls, Kibum would have to drive you over.”
“There’s no one yet, right?” Kibum watched as the lady nodded. “Then don’t wait for a phone call, I’ll take the morning.”
“You could do that.” She shrugged, picking up the phone probably to inform the headquarters. “Kevin’s morning is booked until further notice. You haven’t got a call, have you? Yes, my side, yes. I’ll be hanging up then.”
The two didn’t wait for a signal, too used to the procedures to wait for a green light. Kevin slipped his hands into Kibum’s larger ones, smiling as he swung it gleefully, towards the car parked outside.
“Where are we going?” Kevin asked, getting in the car while Kibum did the same. They usually went somewhere, especially if it was in the morning. It was barely seven o’clock though, so most of the malls were probably not opened yet and that meant they couldn’t catch a movie or something.
Kibum laughed, ruffling Kevin’s head of hair, rather affectionately messing it up. “Breakfast.”
Kevin heard his stomach growl, sheepishly deciding he was too excited that he started forgetting his meals. Kibum then started the engine of the car, driving out of the car park lot and then turning into the main road. Looking at the other, he smiled at Kevin’s blush, the younger mumbling something that sounded like, “Right, breakfast.”
-
Kevin wasn’t really sure how he ended up in this area he didn’t recognise. He was so full after the mouth-watering breakfast that he had slept in the car, Kibum driving towards a place he said he wanted Kevin to see. When he woke up, he was greeted not by the usual busy city, but somewhere else where human traffic was sparse.
“Where is this?” Kevin asked a second too late, the other already outside with the shut of the car door, not hearing him. Kibum headed to Kevin’s side, smiling at his dazed expression. Opening the door for him, he then waited for Kevin to come out. “Where is this?”
“It’s an hour away from the city, saw this the other day on a field trip with the class.” Kibum vaguely stated, half not wanting to give the full details so Kevin could only reach this place with Kibum by his side - not with someone else, not alone. “Do you like it?”
The cool morning breeze kissed Kevin’s comparably warm cheeks, doing a little dance with both their head of hair. Kevin didn’t mind the mess it made, smiling with his eyes closed and hearing the waves crash into the shore, the beautiful noises of nature. Kibum smiled at the serenity on Kevin’s features, letting Kevin have a moment to blend into the area.
He looked up into the sky, watching white, fluffy clouds move with the wind, tentatively blocking the sun. Kevin hasn’t seen this, but once he did, he would like it. The clouds he once said he wanted to see were right here, above his head, and Kibum did fulfil that promise, whether or not Kevin remembered it.
When the older man looked back down at Kevin, the younger was only a few steps away from him. He smiled, and wasn’t prepared when Kevin coiled his arms around his own neck, kissing him sweetly. The kiss was slow, and so was the world around them, as if the Earth was slowing down for this moment to last longer. Kevin didn’t prod a tongue between the other’s lips, Kibum didn’t breathe, the two memorising the way their lips touched.
It just touched. Nothing more to it, nothing furiously passionate.
When Kevin pulled away, though, Kibum knew this kiss carried more than all the tongue-battling lustful kisses they had. Kevin’s eyes twinkled as they met Kibum’s, and Kibum thought that maybe, just maybe, Kevin had some place in his heart left for Kibum to claim.
“I love it.” Kevin smiled, leaning his head on Kibum’s shoulder, his arms still comfortably around Kibum’s neck. Kibum felt the soft tickles Kevin’s hair did to his skin, own hands holding the younger’s waist closer while nodding gently as if to tell he had heard those words. “Thank you.”
“Have you looked up yet?” Kibum whispered, chuckling when he felt the younger move to lift his head. A gasp was all he needed to hear, to understand the unspoken. The slender arms around him slowly uncoiled, and he saw Kevin’s arm reach out hesitantly towards the cumulus clouds. Low altitude clouds, Kibum agreed with his inner self, and that made the puffy, cotton candy lookalike seem to be within reach.
Kevin gently tiptoed, lips pressed together, silently determined. His head turned towards the side when it didn’t work, instantly spotting a way to become closer to the sky.
“Can we go up the mountain?”
Kibum couldn’t say no to the hopeful expression shot his way. In fact, he had never thought of saying no. The older man nodded as a reply, leaving Kevin with this bright grin that shone especially under the morning sun.
It would be silly to say such a simple thing made his heart flutter. But it did.
The two walked towards the foot of the mountain and then prepared themselves for the climb up ahead, taking steps forward with tightly intertwined fingers. Kibum took the lead, being more familiar with the uneven terrain, sweeping away rocks and stones haphazardly with his feet before moving on in case Kevin didn’t see them and slip or something. Kevin squeezed Kibum’s hands tighter, heart feeling all warm and fuzzy watching someone care so much for him.
Kevin was helpless against this feeling, unable to comprehend the rush of emotions through his veins. He didn’t understand what the sudden smile spreading on his own face could mean, only watching how Kibum’s back seemed to be more attractive with every passing second.
Stopping at a reasonable height off the ground, Kibum helped Kevin up the last step when the younger one rushed forward towards him. He stumbled forward a little, feet quickly shuffling to find his balance once more. Kevin’s chin gently dug into his shoulder, and when he turned to look questioningly at the younger, he realised a pair of arms were tightly hugging his waist. The face he saw was serene, eyes closed with a peaceful smile.
There wasn’t any need for explanation. Kibum wasn’t sure what to think of the action, only smiling when the younger beamed his way, pulling away slowly. They held hands for a sense of security at such a height, and Kevin reached out his other hand towards the sky, unhurriedly stroking what seemed to be the clouds from his point of view.
“Close your eyes.” Kibum whispered, smiling affectionately when Kevin obeyed his words. “The clouds carried by the breeze gradually sank, slipping through the gaps between your fingers. Let the clouds weave through the spaces, let the soft, gentle feeling touch more than just your hand. The cloud nears you, surrounds you, gently teases you with nudges that you almost do not feel. It leaves a thin film of moisture, takes away the heat and also your worries. Do you feel it?”
Kevin nodded, smiling at the clouds he imagined before him. As Kibum thought, Kevin’s imaginative side still resides in him. Kevin then opened his eyes and dropped his hand back to his side, leaning closer towards the older man with a soft smile. Kibum watched Kevin pressed his lips firmly together, before parting them slightly, eyes staring straight into Kibum’s clear ones.
“You’re magical.”
Kibum needed to stop these, all of these. They were confusing him to no end, that he has no idea what to believe anymore. He forced himself to think of something to break this mood, this atmosphere that has him going insane.
All he wanted to do was to grab Kevin and kiss him senseless, so bad, so furiously, frantically feeling every part of the younger to make sure he was really there. To hear the younger call his name, to understand what just happened. He need to know if what had happened was an illusion or not, and if there was something more to their relationship than what Kibum had been accustomed to.
No. This needs to stop.
“Does it still hurt?” Kibum asked, words calm unlike the messy thoughts rushing around in his head. It was hurling up a migraine but he could fight it. This much was acceptable, this much was…acceptable. The older man reached for Kevin’s head, vaguely rubbing the spot he might have threw the keys at.
Kevin nodded with a pout, hand instinctively reaching to the same spot. It didn’t hurt, of course it didn’t. It had been too long since those keys hit him and he couldn’t even remember if the spot was the exact spot the keys hit. But he liked the way Kibum remembered hurting him, he liked the way the warm fingers stroke his forehead. He didn’t care if it didn’t hurt, he wanted Kibum to think it did. “It hurts.”
“I’m sorry. I was out of control that day.” Kibum apologised, conveniently rearranging the messy strands of hair covering Kevin’s face. “Something got over me, I promise it wouldn’t happen again.”
Kevin smiled, childishly asking Kibum if he could pinky swear upon that promise. Kibum chuckled, but did as Kevin instructed, holding out his little finger for Kevin to hook onto with his own.
“Promise me again.” Kevin nudged, expectantly waiting.
“I promise not to get out of control like the other day again. And not to throw keys. Or anything else.” Kibum promised, waiting for the signal that he could unhook his little finger from Kevin’s.
The younger frowned, trying to pick out some loopholes in the promise. He thought about it for a little while longer, finally adding on. “At my face.”
“At your face.” Kibum agreed, laughing as he realised what Kevin’s words could have meant. “Hey, does that mean I can throw something at your body?”
“At me in general.” Kevin quickly corrected, using his other hand to slap Kibum’s shoulder. “You sneaky person!”
“Okay, okay, I promise.” The older man chuckled, their little fingers then unhooking. Kevin then swiftly slipped his hand into Kibum’s larger ones, clinging onto that very arm as they silently enjoyed the scenery once more.
-
“Morning.” Kevin smiled tiredly five days later, but it was a bright smile nevertheless. The two understood the lethargic state of the other, both staying up till four o’clock due to the previous appointment before catching a wink. Kibum had said he would come back to pick Kevin at noon, giving both of them more time to sleep.
“Just met you eight hours ago though.” Kibum chuckled lazily, relieved he had been the one who took the twelve hours following. At least Kevin needn’t overwork himself.
“What do you want to do now?” Kevin hummed, gently falling into Kibum’s embrace. Those strong arms circled around his waist, cradling him carefully. They were still in the walkway of the brothel’s dormitory, taking in the world around them at their own pace.
The older man laughed softly, pinching Kevin’s nose with affection in his touch. “Eat, eat lunch.”
“Oh right.” Kevin mentally facepalmed, intertwining his fingers with Kibum’s as they both pulled away. He was forgetting his meals a lot, when they used to be his priority. Meekly watching the older man’s side profile, Kevin wondered if it was a normal thing that happens between friends.
-
“What would you like?” Kibum smiled, disregarding the waiter at the side waiting, eyes plainly set on the male before him. Kevin scanned the menu for something that looked appetising, before deciding everything looked good in his hunger.
“Anything nice, recommend me something.” Kevin bit his lower lip with a smile, sitting forward as he watched Kibum chuckle helplessly. When Kibum finally nodded, accepting to choose a dish for Kevin, he then comfortably sat back.
“I’m not even sure of what I want.” Kibum pressed his lips together, pondering deeply. Kevin watched the older man scrutinise the fine print. There had never been a lot of chances for him to observe the older man, but now that he did, he liked the view. Like the other time on the mountain, Kevin liked that Kibum was acting with him in his head. “All right, give us a sirloin steak and a salmon steak. Mushroom sauce for the medium well sirloin steak and garlic butter for the salmon.”
That sounded nice.
Kevin then settled for ice lemon tea as his drink, the older requesting for a glass of plain water. As the waiter excused himself, the two then idly waited, staring at each other. Kibum made a sudden jerk, reaching for his pocket and then tugging onto something.
“Oh? You brought your camera again?” Kevin smiled, hands reaching out.
Unlike the other time, he didn’t feel the need to overreact. In fact, he wanted to see if Kibum had taken any new pictures since the last time he reviewed the pictures. Were there more pictures of beautiful clouds? Although reality might be more breath-taking, the clouds felt nearer when in pictures, and the sunlight in them wouldn’t make him squint.
Kibum looked questioningly at his hands but passed his camera over anyway, before hearing Kevin’s belated question.
“Can I have a look at the photos you have?” Kevin asked, pressing his lips together in concentration as he tried to turn on the camera. It was easier than he thought, quickly sliding the button from “off” to “on” and then waiting for it to start up.
“Yeah, sure.” Kibum smiled, sitting back. He would have curiously checked what pictures Kevin was going to look at, but this time, he wanted to enjoy Kevin’s expressions.
Kevin did a quick scan through the pictures to the last one he had seen, deciding to go by chronological order to see the pictures taken. There were many pictures of similar concepts to those Kibum had introduced to him the other time, and Kevin tried to admire these works. They didn’t give off a very casual impression, that was for sure, but it was hard to admire art when he didn’t even fully recognise it.
The older man watched as Kevin completely zoned out, not even hearing that commotion three tables away when a random waiter spilt water onto the lady in rather expensive clothes. Fascination was clear in those parted lips, along with a gentle brush of Kevin’s finger across the screen.
Did he like what he had seen? Kibum wasn’t completely sure, but when a smile appeared, he knew Kevin found some cloudscape photographs. It was a very honest reaction, and Kibum liked how the younger wasn’t hiding his likes and dislikes.
There was a pretty dark and vague photo, catching Kevin’s eye immediately as the screen turned dark, a stark contrast to when he was admiring the clouds in bright lighting due to the sun. He checked the buttons on the side and saw a magnifying glass, then deciding to try and click it. That was the zoom button, as he had guessed, and so he zoomed in closer, even bringing the camera nearer for better observation.
A body, Kevin thought, able to make out a body shape. There was another body below, definitely.
Wasn’t that him and Kibum?
Zooming in to the maximum, Kevin carefully studied the photo in details, realising that the high resolution camera didn’t even capture their faces. Their features were completely faded out due to the lighting, and even their bodies weren’t entirely exposed. Both their limbs were hiding what should be for a mature group of audience, although their actions were clear as to what they were supposedly doing.
The photo was beautiful, a lot classier than what Kevin had expected then. He hurriedly zoomed out, now looking at the bigger picture once more. He had completely misjudged the older man. There was nothing in this that deserved suspicions, and Kevin felt so ashamed that he actually thought Kibum would be like that bastard who took photos of his body in bright lightings with that hateful grin.
“We should do this another time, it turned out well.” Kevin smiled, finally tearing his eyes off the camera.
Suddenly it felt like he could entrust his whole life to Kibum and not be afraid of a thing.
Kibum took the camera from Kevin’s hands, eyeing the photo to understand Kevin’s sudden words. Breaking out into a smile, even if all he had seen was a screen that was almost entirely black, he shrugged. “Well, I’m ready if you are.”
“Later?” Kevin winked cheekily.
Chuckling at Kevin’s coquettish question, Kibum helped the waiter who had arrived with their food set their orders on the table and smiled warmly. “Later.”
-
Chapter 26, sorry for the long wait!
One of my favourite chapters <3!
Fandom(s) : U-KISS
Pairing(s): KeMaru
Rating: NC-17
Genre: AU, Romance
Warnings: Awful!English
Author's Notes: My second NaNoWriMo, and a rather bold decision, if I might say :)! Hopefully doesn't contain too much inaccuracies, and if it does, please ignore it? >_>?
Prologue :: Chapter 1 :: Chapter 2 :: Chapter 3 :: Chapter 4 :: Chapter 5 :: Chapter 6 :: Chapter 7
Chapter 8 :: Chapter 9 :: Chapter 10 :: Chapter 11 :: Chapter 12 :: Chapter 13 :: Chapter 14 :: Chapter 15
Chapter 16 :: Chapter 17 :: Chapter 18 :: Chapter 19 :: Chapter 20 :: Chapter 21 :: Chapter 22
Chapter 23 :: Chapter 24 :: Chapter 25
Kevin and Kibum woke up and each took a shower, heading back to the brothel together since they were told to. The car ride back was a lot more comfortable, and if anyone needed evidence, it would be the way Kevin sat sideways on the seat, munching on some biscuits he had stored in the car.
“Want some?” Kevin grinned, holding one biscuit before Kibum lips. “You must be hungry~”
Kibum chuckled at the way Kevin cooed, as if trying to get a little kid to eat. He opened his mouth, distractedly trying to get the biscuit while driving. Kevin giggled at the scene, teasingly bringing the biscuit away, watching Kibum try to follow the biscuit. The older man shook his head, tentatively sitting back and concentrating on the road.
“Come on, you know you want some.” Kevin persuaded, when Kibum suddenly used a hand to grab his wrist. The car stopped at a road junction, Kibum taking the biscuit into his mouth, along with the Kevin’s two fingers that were holding it. Kevin tensed, uncomfortable with the way Kibum licked his fingers clean of the little crumbs from the biscuit.
Damn, what’s so erotic about this that he felt blood rush south?
Kibum released Kevin’s fingers from his mouth, smirking at Kevin. “Got it.”
“Y-Yeah.” Kevin looked at the biscuits left in the packet he opened, as if it was some very interesting thing. “C-Congrats.”
-
“All of the dates pre-booked by that man were cancelled. He had already transferred the money of the recent appointments over and we’ll be giving you your share soon.” The receptionist informed as she typed quickly on her desktop. She casted Kibum a glance, before nodding slightly. “Called you guys back to wait for a phone call. Any customer that calls, Kibum would have to drive you over.”
“There’s no one yet, right?” Kibum watched as the lady nodded. “Then don’t wait for a phone call, I’ll take the morning.”
“You could do that.” She shrugged, picking up the phone probably to inform the headquarters. “Kevin’s morning is booked until further notice. You haven’t got a call, have you? Yes, my side, yes. I’ll be hanging up then.”
The two didn’t wait for a signal, too used to the procedures to wait for a green light. Kevin slipped his hands into Kibum’s larger ones, smiling as he swung it gleefully, towards the car parked outside.
“Where are we going?” Kevin asked, getting in the car while Kibum did the same. They usually went somewhere, especially if it was in the morning. It was barely seven o’clock though, so most of the malls were probably not opened yet and that meant they couldn’t catch a movie or something.
Kibum laughed, ruffling Kevin’s head of hair, rather affectionately messing it up. “Breakfast.”
Kevin heard his stomach growl, sheepishly deciding he was too excited that he started forgetting his meals. Kibum then started the engine of the car, driving out of the car park lot and then turning into the main road. Looking at the other, he smiled at Kevin’s blush, the younger mumbling something that sounded like, “Right, breakfast.”
-
Kevin wasn’t really sure how he ended up in this area he didn’t recognise. He was so full after the mouth-watering breakfast that he had slept in the car, Kibum driving towards a place he said he wanted Kevin to see. When he woke up, he was greeted not by the usual busy city, but somewhere else where human traffic was sparse.
“Where is this?” Kevin asked a second too late, the other already outside with the shut of the car door, not hearing him. Kibum headed to Kevin’s side, smiling at his dazed expression. Opening the door for him, he then waited for Kevin to come out. “Where is this?”
“It’s an hour away from the city, saw this the other day on a field trip with the class.” Kibum vaguely stated, half not wanting to give the full details so Kevin could only reach this place with Kibum by his side - not with someone else, not alone. “Do you like it?”
The cool morning breeze kissed Kevin’s comparably warm cheeks, doing a little dance with both their head of hair. Kevin didn’t mind the mess it made, smiling with his eyes closed and hearing the waves crash into the shore, the beautiful noises of nature. Kibum smiled at the serenity on Kevin’s features, letting Kevin have a moment to blend into the area.
He looked up into the sky, watching white, fluffy clouds move with the wind, tentatively blocking the sun. Kevin hasn’t seen this, but once he did, he would like it. The clouds he once said he wanted to see were right here, above his head, and Kibum did fulfil that promise, whether or not Kevin remembered it.
When the older man looked back down at Kevin, the younger was only a few steps away from him. He smiled, and wasn’t prepared when Kevin coiled his arms around his own neck, kissing him sweetly. The kiss was slow, and so was the world around them, as if the Earth was slowing down for this moment to last longer. Kevin didn’t prod a tongue between the other’s lips, Kibum didn’t breathe, the two memorising the way their lips touched.
It just touched. Nothing more to it, nothing furiously passionate.
When Kevin pulled away, though, Kibum knew this kiss carried more than all the tongue-battling lustful kisses they had. Kevin’s eyes twinkled as they met Kibum’s, and Kibum thought that maybe, just maybe, Kevin had some place in his heart left for Kibum to claim.
“I love it.” Kevin smiled, leaning his head on Kibum’s shoulder, his arms still comfortably around Kibum’s neck. Kibum felt the soft tickles Kevin’s hair did to his skin, own hands holding the younger’s waist closer while nodding gently as if to tell he had heard those words. “Thank you.”
“Have you looked up yet?” Kibum whispered, chuckling when he felt the younger move to lift his head. A gasp was all he needed to hear, to understand the unspoken. The slender arms around him slowly uncoiled, and he saw Kevin’s arm reach out hesitantly towards the cumulus clouds. Low altitude clouds, Kibum agreed with his inner self, and that made the puffy, cotton candy lookalike seem to be within reach.
Kevin gently tiptoed, lips pressed together, silently determined. His head turned towards the side when it didn’t work, instantly spotting a way to become closer to the sky.
“Can we go up the mountain?”
Kibum couldn’t say no to the hopeful expression shot his way. In fact, he had never thought of saying no. The older man nodded as a reply, leaving Kevin with this bright grin that shone especially under the morning sun.
It would be silly to say such a simple thing made his heart flutter. But it did.
The two walked towards the foot of the mountain and then prepared themselves for the climb up ahead, taking steps forward with tightly intertwined fingers. Kibum took the lead, being more familiar with the uneven terrain, sweeping away rocks and stones haphazardly with his feet before moving on in case Kevin didn’t see them and slip or something. Kevin squeezed Kibum’s hands tighter, heart feeling all warm and fuzzy watching someone care so much for him.
Kevin was helpless against this feeling, unable to comprehend the rush of emotions through his veins. He didn’t understand what the sudden smile spreading on his own face could mean, only watching how Kibum’s back seemed to be more attractive with every passing second.
Stopping at a reasonable height off the ground, Kibum helped Kevin up the last step when the younger one rushed forward towards him. He stumbled forward a little, feet quickly shuffling to find his balance once more. Kevin’s chin gently dug into his shoulder, and when he turned to look questioningly at the younger, he realised a pair of arms were tightly hugging his waist. The face he saw was serene, eyes closed with a peaceful smile.
There wasn’t any need for explanation. Kibum wasn’t sure what to think of the action, only smiling when the younger beamed his way, pulling away slowly. They held hands for a sense of security at such a height, and Kevin reached out his other hand towards the sky, unhurriedly stroking what seemed to be the clouds from his point of view.
“Close your eyes.” Kibum whispered, smiling affectionately when Kevin obeyed his words. “The clouds carried by the breeze gradually sank, slipping through the gaps between your fingers. Let the clouds weave through the spaces, let the soft, gentle feeling touch more than just your hand. The cloud nears you, surrounds you, gently teases you with nudges that you almost do not feel. It leaves a thin film of moisture, takes away the heat and also your worries. Do you feel it?”
Kevin nodded, smiling at the clouds he imagined before him. As Kibum thought, Kevin’s imaginative side still resides in him. Kevin then opened his eyes and dropped his hand back to his side, leaning closer towards the older man with a soft smile. Kibum watched Kevin pressed his lips firmly together, before parting them slightly, eyes staring straight into Kibum’s clear ones.
“You’re magical.”
Kibum needed to stop these, all of these. They were confusing him to no end, that he has no idea what to believe anymore. He forced himself to think of something to break this mood, this atmosphere that has him going insane.
All he wanted to do was to grab Kevin and kiss him senseless, so bad, so furiously, frantically feeling every part of the younger to make sure he was really there. To hear the younger call his name, to understand what just happened. He need to know if what had happened was an illusion or not, and if there was something more to their relationship than what Kibum had been accustomed to.
No. This needs to stop.
“Does it still hurt?” Kibum asked, words calm unlike the messy thoughts rushing around in his head. It was hurling up a migraine but he could fight it. This much was acceptable, this much was…acceptable. The older man reached for Kevin’s head, vaguely rubbing the spot he might have threw the keys at.
Kevin nodded with a pout, hand instinctively reaching to the same spot. It didn’t hurt, of course it didn’t. It had been too long since those keys hit him and he couldn’t even remember if the spot was the exact spot the keys hit. But he liked the way Kibum remembered hurting him, he liked the way the warm fingers stroke his forehead. He didn’t care if it didn’t hurt, he wanted Kibum to think it did. “It hurts.”
“I’m sorry. I was out of control that day.” Kibum apologised, conveniently rearranging the messy strands of hair covering Kevin’s face. “Something got over me, I promise it wouldn’t happen again.”
Kevin smiled, childishly asking Kibum if he could pinky swear upon that promise. Kibum chuckled, but did as Kevin instructed, holding out his little finger for Kevin to hook onto with his own.
“Promise me again.” Kevin nudged, expectantly waiting.
“I promise not to get out of control like the other day again. And not to throw keys. Or anything else.” Kibum promised, waiting for the signal that he could unhook his little finger from Kevin’s.
The younger frowned, trying to pick out some loopholes in the promise. He thought about it for a little while longer, finally adding on. “At my face.”
“At your face.” Kibum agreed, laughing as he realised what Kevin’s words could have meant. “Hey, does that mean I can throw something at your body?”
“At me in general.” Kevin quickly corrected, using his other hand to slap Kibum’s shoulder. “You sneaky person!”
“Okay, okay, I promise.” The older man chuckled, their little fingers then unhooking. Kevin then swiftly slipped his hand into Kibum’s larger ones, clinging onto that very arm as they silently enjoyed the scenery once more.
-
“Morning.” Kevin smiled tiredly five days later, but it was a bright smile nevertheless. The two understood the lethargic state of the other, both staying up till four o’clock due to the previous appointment before catching a wink. Kibum had said he would come back to pick Kevin at noon, giving both of them more time to sleep.
“Just met you eight hours ago though.” Kibum chuckled lazily, relieved he had been the one who took the twelve hours following. At least Kevin needn’t overwork himself.
“What do you want to do now?” Kevin hummed, gently falling into Kibum’s embrace. Those strong arms circled around his waist, cradling him carefully. They were still in the walkway of the brothel’s dormitory, taking in the world around them at their own pace.
The older man laughed softly, pinching Kevin’s nose with affection in his touch. “Eat, eat lunch.”
“Oh right.” Kevin mentally facepalmed, intertwining his fingers with Kibum’s as they both pulled away. He was forgetting his meals a lot, when they used to be his priority. Meekly watching the older man’s side profile, Kevin wondered if it was a normal thing that happens between friends.
-
“What would you like?” Kibum smiled, disregarding the waiter at the side waiting, eyes plainly set on the male before him. Kevin scanned the menu for something that looked appetising, before deciding everything looked good in his hunger.
“Anything nice, recommend me something.” Kevin bit his lower lip with a smile, sitting forward as he watched Kibum chuckle helplessly. When Kibum finally nodded, accepting to choose a dish for Kevin, he then comfortably sat back.
“I’m not even sure of what I want.” Kibum pressed his lips together, pondering deeply. Kevin watched the older man scrutinise the fine print. There had never been a lot of chances for him to observe the older man, but now that he did, he liked the view. Like the other time on the mountain, Kevin liked that Kibum was acting with him in his head. “All right, give us a sirloin steak and a salmon steak. Mushroom sauce for the medium well sirloin steak and garlic butter for the salmon.”
That sounded nice.
Kevin then settled for ice lemon tea as his drink, the older requesting for a glass of plain water. As the waiter excused himself, the two then idly waited, staring at each other. Kibum made a sudden jerk, reaching for his pocket and then tugging onto something.
“Oh? You brought your camera again?” Kevin smiled, hands reaching out.
Unlike the other time, he didn’t feel the need to overreact. In fact, he wanted to see if Kibum had taken any new pictures since the last time he reviewed the pictures. Were there more pictures of beautiful clouds? Although reality might be more breath-taking, the clouds felt nearer when in pictures, and the sunlight in them wouldn’t make him squint.
Kibum looked questioningly at his hands but passed his camera over anyway, before hearing Kevin’s belated question.
“Can I have a look at the photos you have?” Kevin asked, pressing his lips together in concentration as he tried to turn on the camera. It was easier than he thought, quickly sliding the button from “off” to “on” and then waiting for it to start up.
“Yeah, sure.” Kibum smiled, sitting back. He would have curiously checked what pictures Kevin was going to look at, but this time, he wanted to enjoy Kevin’s expressions.
Kevin did a quick scan through the pictures to the last one he had seen, deciding to go by chronological order to see the pictures taken. There were many pictures of similar concepts to those Kibum had introduced to him the other time, and Kevin tried to admire these works. They didn’t give off a very casual impression, that was for sure, but it was hard to admire art when he didn’t even fully recognise it.
The older man watched as Kevin completely zoned out, not even hearing that commotion three tables away when a random waiter spilt water onto the lady in rather expensive clothes. Fascination was clear in those parted lips, along with a gentle brush of Kevin’s finger across the screen.
Did he like what he had seen? Kibum wasn’t completely sure, but when a smile appeared, he knew Kevin found some cloudscape photographs. It was a very honest reaction, and Kibum liked how the younger wasn’t hiding his likes and dislikes.
There was a pretty dark and vague photo, catching Kevin’s eye immediately as the screen turned dark, a stark contrast to when he was admiring the clouds in bright lighting due to the sun. He checked the buttons on the side and saw a magnifying glass, then deciding to try and click it. That was the zoom button, as he had guessed, and so he zoomed in closer, even bringing the camera nearer for better observation.
A body, Kevin thought, able to make out a body shape. There was another body below, definitely.
Wasn’t that him and Kibum?
Zooming in to the maximum, Kevin carefully studied the photo in details, realising that the high resolution camera didn’t even capture their faces. Their features were completely faded out due to the lighting, and even their bodies weren’t entirely exposed. Both their limbs were hiding what should be for a mature group of audience, although their actions were clear as to what they were supposedly doing.
The photo was beautiful, a lot classier than what Kevin had expected then. He hurriedly zoomed out, now looking at the bigger picture once more. He had completely misjudged the older man. There was nothing in this that deserved suspicions, and Kevin felt so ashamed that he actually thought Kibum would be like that bastard who took photos of his body in bright lightings with that hateful grin.
“We should do this another time, it turned out well.” Kevin smiled, finally tearing his eyes off the camera.
Suddenly it felt like he could entrust his whole life to Kibum and not be afraid of a thing.
Kibum took the camera from Kevin’s hands, eyeing the photo to understand Kevin’s sudden words. Breaking out into a smile, even if all he had seen was a screen that was almost entirely black, he shrugged. “Well, I’m ready if you are.”
“Later?” Kevin winked cheekily.
Chuckling at Kevin’s coquettish question, Kibum helped the waiter who had arrived with their food set their orders on the table and smiled warmly. “Later.”
-
Chapter 26, sorry for the long wait!
One of my favourite chapters <3!