Every Human Love V: The Winds of Dawn
Series: Every Human Love
Part I Part II Part III Part IV
Title: The Winds of Dawn
Character: Changmin
Rating: G
Summary: "They're not supposed to touch him. It's not supposed to happen."
When he starts university, Changmin joins the choir; it's something he enjoys, and his mother and sisters like to hear him sing.
At his first practice, Changmin meets Yunho, but doesn't recognise him until Junsu appears from seemingly nowhere, throws an arm across Yunho's shoulders - casual, friendly, comfortable - and introduces himself as Yunho's keeper, Junsu. Changmin's eyes widen, not at Yunho's growl, but at the sudden realisation that these are the people he saw that day at the park. Yunho mistakes Changmin's expression and starts to apologise for Junsu; Changmin doesn't bother to correct the assumption, laughs it off instead. It would be too hard for Changmin to explain now why he stared at Junsu for a second before he could force his eyes to focus properly, why he couldn't stop slipping glances at Junsu's arm around Yunho, at how much at ease Yunho was being touched like that, at the way Yunho didn't shrug out from under Junsu's hands and the weight of his body.
And then Junsu calls Yoochun over to meet Changmin - Yoochun who still holds the touch of otherness barely outside his skin. This time Changmin at least has the presence of mind not to stare, shakes Yoochun's hand and doesn't lift his hand afterwards to see if the sparkle rubs off. Junsu hangs off Yoochun too, but Changmin is surprised to realise that he's not the one who's left those afterimages like visible fingerprints on Yoochun.
Later, Junsu shows off his range; his voice cracks on a note higher than Changmin expected, and Changmin laughs aloud at the unwitting appropriateness when Yoochun calls Junsu a dolphin. Junsu turns around, smacks Changmin in the shoulder the way Changmin imagines he would Yunho or Yoochun, and Changmin stops mid-laugh. They're not supposed to touch him. It's not supposed to happen. He'd half-expected Junsu's arm to go right through him, in fact, but it makes a sound like any other slap, stings just the same.
The way Changmin freezes seems to worry Junsu. "I'm sorry," Junsu says, "I didn't mean to hit you that hard," contrite and so normal Changmin doesn't know how he's supposed to react. He rubs at the spot, answers distractedly. It's nothing, just a smack between maybe friends, not even a hug, and yet Changmin suddenly sees avenues of opportunity he'd closed off years before falling open again before him.
Part I Part II Part III Part IV
Title: The Winds of Dawn
Character: Changmin
Rating: G
Summary: "They're not supposed to touch him. It's not supposed to happen."
When he starts university, Changmin joins the choir; it's something he enjoys, and his mother and sisters like to hear him sing.
At his first practice, Changmin meets Yunho, but doesn't recognise him until Junsu appears from seemingly nowhere, throws an arm across Yunho's shoulders - casual, friendly, comfortable - and introduces himself as Yunho's keeper, Junsu. Changmin's eyes widen, not at Yunho's growl, but at the sudden realisation that these are the people he saw that day at the park. Yunho mistakes Changmin's expression and starts to apologise for Junsu; Changmin doesn't bother to correct the assumption, laughs it off instead. It would be too hard for Changmin to explain now why he stared at Junsu for a second before he could force his eyes to focus properly, why he couldn't stop slipping glances at Junsu's arm around Yunho, at how much at ease Yunho was being touched like that, at the way Yunho didn't shrug out from under Junsu's hands and the weight of his body.
And then Junsu calls Yoochun over to meet Changmin - Yoochun who still holds the touch of otherness barely outside his skin. This time Changmin at least has the presence of mind not to stare, shakes Yoochun's hand and doesn't lift his hand afterwards to see if the sparkle rubs off. Junsu hangs off Yoochun too, but Changmin is surprised to realise that he's not the one who's left those afterimages like visible fingerprints on Yoochun.
Later, Junsu shows off his range; his voice cracks on a note higher than Changmin expected, and Changmin laughs aloud at the unwitting appropriateness when Yoochun calls Junsu a dolphin. Junsu turns around, smacks Changmin in the shoulder the way Changmin imagines he would Yunho or Yoochun, and Changmin stops mid-laugh. They're not supposed to touch him. It's not supposed to happen. He'd half-expected Junsu's arm to go right through him, in fact, but it makes a sound like any other slap, stings just the same.
The way Changmin freezes seems to worry Junsu. "I'm sorry," Junsu says, "I didn't mean to hit you that hard," contrite and so normal Changmin doesn't know how he's supposed to react. He rubs at the spot, answers distractedly. It's nothing, just a smack between maybe friends, not even a hug, and yet Changmin suddenly sees avenues of opportunity he'd closed off years before falling open again before him.