converting kg to ♥ [ch.1]
Title: converting kg to ♥ [ch.1]
Genre/Rating: fluff/romance/but a lot of fluff; PG-13
Pairings: all the moar Kangteuk! >D
Summary: AU! Jungsu is an overweight--and, as a result--somewhat insecure man in his 20s who has been trying to lose weight for ages. After several failed attempts, his friend recommends another gym to him. Deciding to give it a try, Jungsu meets a guy in the same weight group and predicament. Well. Weight loss, amongst other things, begins to change.
A/N: so to dip_eiffel_tea who BEATS ME OUT OF MY LAZINESS and featherie who is apparently waiting intimidatingly for this, XIE XIE. ;A; YOU'VE FORCED ME TO MOVE MY FINGERS, WHICH HAVE BEEN GATHERING DUST THIS SUMMER.
okok and also this was originally going to be a one-shot but then it became multi-chaptered, so things might cut off strangely. idk. enjoy chubbyteuk and chubbykangin.
--
Fitness Friends: Where Sweat finds Smiles!
The sign was coupled with a cheesy smiley-face, eyes beady and grin disproportionately wide, but it wasn’t the worst Jungsu had seen. And yeah, he’d seen a lot.
’C’mon, hyung, my friend works here and he says it’s a really good program!’ Hyukjae’s words filtered through Jungsu’s head as he gazed up at the harshly contemporary building, its imposing glass windows flashing in the daylight. Inside, doubtless, would be the distinct smell of rubber and sweat against the background music of whirring machines. The thought alone was discouraging enough to send Jungsu back home--
’... but you can’t just give up, hyung,’ and there was where Jungsu’s world-weary determination came from; ironically, from his previous failures. The screaming fitness trainer, the creepily grinning nutritionist who Jungsu swore was starving him, the extremely fit man lifting weights next to him in the last gym, gesturing with a perfectly dimpled smile if ‘you would like me to assist you?’. All of them gave him strength. Uh, kind of.
Bottom line was, he was not going to run away with his tail between his legs! Not after all the pain and suffering, definitely not. So, with a deep breath, Jungsu pushed open the door.
Immediately he was accosted by a bright eyed, pink haired and--’Oh, so thin,’ Jungsu mourned--boy.
“Hello, welcome to Fitness Friends, how may I help you?” The smiling boy asked.
Jungsu shifted uncomfortably, feeling like a pig as his belly jiggled. “Uh, I’m here for a membership. Er. A friend told me to come here.”
The boy, who was beginning to look a bit plastic, immediately straightened, a more cordial smile on his face. “Oh, you must be Hyukjae’s friend, I’m Sungmin!” He greeted.
“Um, Jungsu. Yeah, that’s me.” Jungsu replied, eyes skating nervously from Sungmin’s perfectly rounded nails, to his neatly pressed polo, and then back to his pink converses whose image Jungsu expected to become the most acquainted with. He was startled when a warm hand thumped his back cheerfully, another forcing his chin up.
“Come on, look sharp!” Sungmin reprimanded happily. “You’re here to change, remember? Now come on, back straight, look forward, walk confidently--oh, let me lead you to the gym, it’s right behind me...”
Jungsu was marched--yes, marched, with ’A swagger in your step, Jungsu, and keep your chin up!’ around the gym in a grand tour, shown the shining weights and different exercise devices. It was mortifying; Jungsu felt like dying as curious stares burned into his back, even more so as Sungmin loudly introduced him to everyone.
“HEY EVERYONE THIS IS--wait, what’s your last name?” Sungmin asked.
“P-Park?”
“THIS IS PARK JUNGSU, HE’LL BE EXERCISING WITH US FROM THIS MOMENT ON. EVERYONE SAY HI!”
And was there ever a more painful way to die as all eyes swiveled toward him, and all mouths opened for some sort of greeting--
“Hey!”
“Hi!”
“What’s up?”
“HELLO PARK JUNGSU! MY NAME IS AIDEN LEE!”
“Uh, hi,” Jungsu muttered weakly, trying with utmost effort to sink into the ground. He was introduced to a few--not that he could remember their names or faces, he was too busy melting with shame--and then was whisked away for the rest of the tour.
Finally Sungmin, after one last thumbs up, left him at the treadmills. Familiar ground. Jungsu sighed in relief as he started up his treadmill, slow pace as usual, and began walking, his cheeks still burning.
“Don’t worry about it. They do that to everyone.”
Jungsu’s head snapped up from its previously bowed position, eyes zeroing on the chuckling man walking on the treadmill across from his. ’Oh God, who positioned these machines?’ He thought furiously, imagining day upon day of awkwardly staring into another person’s sweaty face.
“R-really?” He stuttered, and then added under his breath, “Hyukjae never told me about that.” His face flushed when the man chuckled, evidently hearing.
“I’m Youngwoon,” the other grinned, Jungsu shyly gazing through eyelashes to see a man as portly as he was, sweat already beading at his temples and black hair scruffy.
He thinks it’s a step up from his old gym, a step up from the perfectly sculpted man who used to jog beside him, and smiles hesitantly. “Jungsu.”
“Yeah, I heard!” The man chortles, and Jungsu blushes again.
--
“Hey, Jungsu-hyung,” Youngwoon whispers conspiratorially a few days later. They had clicked as much as socially awkward Jungsu could take after day one, involving hours of lapsing into conversations over the one foot gap between their treadmills. Youngwoon, it turned out, was younger, and ‘hyung’ was accordingly attached.
“Hey, Jungsu-ah.” Well, most of the time. Jungsu repressed a sigh. “What?”
“Does this make us exercise buddies?”
Jungsu blinked. “Does what make us.. exercise buddies?”
“You know,” Youngwoon said, gesturing carelessly with his arms. When it became clear that Jungsu did not know, Youngwoon cleared his throat. “Uh, well, we’ve been exercising together, so..” He trailed off nervously.
Jungsu frowned, confused. “We don’t have to be buddies to do that.” He suddenly felt self-conscious. “And, y-you know, you don’t have to keep me company--”
“But hyung!” Youngwoon whines loudly, drawing some stares that make Jungsu’s cheeks burn way too much. “Hyung, everyone has exercise buddies! It’s part of the program!” He points to a pair off to the side, Yesung and Ryeowook if Jungsu can remember correctly, in protest, and then to the huge poster on the wall, colored a bright pink that Jungsu suspected was Sungmin’s idea [he didn’t know the boy for too long, but anyone could guess with the pink sneakers, polo, sometimes pants, accessories, bag, pen..].
It read, ’SWEATING IS NO FUN ALONE.
Lifting weights getting lonely? Fitness Friends has a new program that we suggest you try!
Partner up with someone else, and together, as exercise buddies, encourage and work with each
other to achieve new goals!’ Cue cheesy smile.
“Well,” Jungsu starts, about to refute [he won’t be a good partner, he can’t give any tips, he’s only been here for a few days], but there’s such an earnest look on Youngwoon’s face that instead it comes out as, “Sure, Youngwoon-ah.”
That smile lasts until Jungsu has to leave.
--
“I was new here too, hyung,” Youngwoon admits a day later.
Jungsu looks up in surprise and curiosity. Sure, everyone in the gym must have been new once upon a time, but he had never really thought that they had to experience the same mortification he had gone through on his first day. Rather, they didn’t look like it; it seemed Jungsu was the only one who needed reminders from Sungmin to ’Keep your head up, smile--that’s the spirit, hyung!’.
“It’s like a family, here,” Youngwoon continues, his voice lowered like some sort of secret was to be imparted. “They actually care, and never do anything without a reason.” he insists eagerly, face bright and happy.
Jungsu has it in his mind to say it’s all part of the business, but at the same time a chubby guy a little younger than Jungsu walks through the door and Sungmin immediately calls out, “Kyuhyun-ah! Back again?” Jungsu can’t deny the constant stream of regulars and how Sungmin seems to know everyone by name.
“That’s why I chose you,” Youngwoon says, and Jungsu blinks. “It wouldn’t do to leave a new family member out,” Youngwoon says, but then smiles widely. “And you’re perfect. The best partner, hyung,” Youngwoon declares proudly and loudly.
Jungsu flushes and protests vehemently, but he feels warm inside.
--
“Hey, Jungsu-hyung,” Youngwoon starts a week later, “why do you go to a gym?”
Jungsu gives him a look. When Youngwoon simply stares back earnestly, he sighs and gestures weakly to himself.
“Look at me, Youngwoon-ah,” Jungsu says, poking his arm fat for emphasis, “really look at me. I need to go to a gym.”
“You really want to lose weight, huh?” Youngwoon says, and Jungsu puts on his best ‘no duh’ face.
“Well, uh, as your exercise buddy, can I propose something?” Jungsu braces himself and says, “Shoot.”
“You might want to up the incline on the treadmill. And, uh, maybe go faster.”
Jungsu flushes red in shame and embarrassment and thinks he didn’t quite brace himself enough.
It was true--he wasn’t going to walk his way into fitness. But imagine him running; Jungsu could see himself, sweaty and red-faced, shirt sticking unflatteringly to his rolls as he struggled to keep up with the machine, everyone silently laughing around him. And then there was that one unfortunate incident when he fainted in the last gym..
“Hyung, I didn’t mean to offend you!” Youngwoon added hastily as Jungsu proceeded to unconsciously shrink into himself, floppy black hair obscuring his face. “It was advice--uh, bad advice! You don’t need to do it if you don’t want to, hyung, I’m sorry--”
“It’s alright, Youngwoon, you were right,” Jungsu interjects, sighing. “It’s just.. I don’t think I can keep that up..” Youngwoon frowns.
“But that’s what I’m here for, hyung,” Youngwoon says, and Jungsu blinks. “Exercise buddies, remember? I’m also trying to lose weight, hyung, so I’ll even do it with you. Never fear, Youngwoon is here!”
Youngwoon’s smile is so bright Jungsu can’t help but reflect some back. When Youngwoon begins upping his incline to a dangerous forty-five degree angle, though, Jungsu has to intervene.
--
A/N: this looked cooler on pages, maybe i should change the font to times. also, i dont know a thing about gyms, so if teuk and kangin are doing strange things IM SORRY. ALSO SORRY THIS AND CHAPTER ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY THINGS ARE GOING TO BE POSTED IN A TIMELY MANNER. WHY DO I SUCK?
also please tell my if my lj layout is blinding, everyone says it is but it looks fine on my laptop ;___;
[#1 on dippy's prompt list.]
Genre/Rating: fluff/romance/but a lot of fluff; PG-13
Pairings: all the moar Kangteuk! >D
Summary: AU! Jungsu is an overweight--and, as a result--somewhat insecure man in his 20s who has been trying to lose weight for ages. After several failed attempts, his friend recommends another gym to him. Deciding to give it a try, Jungsu meets a guy in the same weight group and predicament. Well. Weight loss, amongst other things, begins to change.
A/N: so to dip_eiffel_tea who BEATS ME OUT OF MY LAZINESS and featherie who is apparently waiting intimidatingly for this, XIE XIE. ;A; YOU'VE FORCED ME TO MOVE MY FINGERS, WHICH HAVE BEEN GATHERING DUST THIS SUMMER.
okok and also this was originally going to be a one-shot but then it became multi-chaptered, so things might cut off strangely. idk. enjoy chubbyteuk and chubbykangin.
--
Fitness Friends: Where Sweat finds Smiles!
The sign was coupled with a cheesy smiley-face, eyes beady and grin disproportionately wide, but it wasn’t the worst Jungsu had seen. And yeah, he’d seen a lot.
’C’mon, hyung, my friend works here and he says it’s a really good program!’ Hyukjae’s words filtered through Jungsu’s head as he gazed up at the harshly contemporary building, its imposing glass windows flashing in the daylight. Inside, doubtless, would be the distinct smell of rubber and sweat against the background music of whirring machines. The thought alone was discouraging enough to send Jungsu back home--
’... but you can’t just give up, hyung,’ and there was where Jungsu’s world-weary determination came from; ironically, from his previous failures. The screaming fitness trainer, the creepily grinning nutritionist who Jungsu swore was starving him, the extremely fit man lifting weights next to him in the last gym, gesturing with a perfectly dimpled smile if ‘you would like me to assist you?’. All of them gave him strength. Uh, kind of.
Bottom line was, he was not going to run away with his tail between his legs! Not after all the pain and suffering, definitely not. So, with a deep breath, Jungsu pushed open the door.
Immediately he was accosted by a bright eyed, pink haired and--’Oh, so thin,’ Jungsu mourned--boy.
“Hello, welcome to Fitness Friends, how may I help you?” The smiling boy asked.
Jungsu shifted uncomfortably, feeling like a pig as his belly jiggled. “Uh, I’m here for a membership. Er. A friend told me to come here.”
The boy, who was beginning to look a bit plastic, immediately straightened, a more cordial smile on his face. “Oh, you must be Hyukjae’s friend, I’m Sungmin!” He greeted.
“Um, Jungsu. Yeah, that’s me.” Jungsu replied, eyes skating nervously from Sungmin’s perfectly rounded nails, to his neatly pressed polo, and then back to his pink converses whose image Jungsu expected to become the most acquainted with. He was startled when a warm hand thumped his back cheerfully, another forcing his chin up.
“Come on, look sharp!” Sungmin reprimanded happily. “You’re here to change, remember? Now come on, back straight, look forward, walk confidently--oh, let me lead you to the gym, it’s right behind me...”
Jungsu was marched--yes, marched, with ’A swagger in your step, Jungsu, and keep your chin up!’ around the gym in a grand tour, shown the shining weights and different exercise devices. It was mortifying; Jungsu felt like dying as curious stares burned into his back, even more so as Sungmin loudly introduced him to everyone.
“HEY EVERYONE THIS IS--wait, what’s your last name?” Sungmin asked.
“P-Park?”
“THIS IS PARK JUNGSU, HE’LL BE EXERCISING WITH US FROM THIS MOMENT ON. EVERYONE SAY HI!”
And was there ever a more painful way to die as all eyes swiveled toward him, and all mouths opened for some sort of greeting--
“Hey!”
“Hi!”
“What’s up?”
“HELLO PARK JUNGSU! MY NAME IS AIDEN LEE!”
“Uh, hi,” Jungsu muttered weakly, trying with utmost effort to sink into the ground. He was introduced to a few--not that he could remember their names or faces, he was too busy melting with shame--and then was whisked away for the rest of the tour.
Finally Sungmin, after one last thumbs up, left him at the treadmills. Familiar ground. Jungsu sighed in relief as he started up his treadmill, slow pace as usual, and began walking, his cheeks still burning.
“Don’t worry about it. They do that to everyone.”
Jungsu’s head snapped up from its previously bowed position, eyes zeroing on the chuckling man walking on the treadmill across from his. ’Oh God, who positioned these machines?’ He thought furiously, imagining day upon day of awkwardly staring into another person’s sweaty face.
“R-really?” He stuttered, and then added under his breath, “Hyukjae never told me about that.” His face flushed when the man chuckled, evidently hearing.
“I’m Youngwoon,” the other grinned, Jungsu shyly gazing through eyelashes to see a man as portly as he was, sweat already beading at his temples and black hair scruffy.
He thinks it’s a step up from his old gym, a step up from the perfectly sculpted man who used to jog beside him, and smiles hesitantly. “Jungsu.”
“Yeah, I heard!” The man chortles, and Jungsu blushes again.
--
“Hey, Jungsu-hyung,” Youngwoon whispers conspiratorially a few days later. They had clicked as much as socially awkward Jungsu could take after day one, involving hours of lapsing into conversations over the one foot gap between their treadmills. Youngwoon, it turned out, was younger, and ‘hyung’ was accordingly attached.
“Hey, Jungsu-ah.” Well, most of the time. Jungsu repressed a sigh. “What?”
“Does this make us exercise buddies?”
Jungsu blinked. “Does what make us.. exercise buddies?”
“You know,” Youngwoon said, gesturing carelessly with his arms. When it became clear that Jungsu did not know, Youngwoon cleared his throat. “Uh, well, we’ve been exercising together, so..” He trailed off nervously.
Jungsu frowned, confused. “We don’t have to be buddies to do that.” He suddenly felt self-conscious. “And, y-you know, you don’t have to keep me company--”
“But hyung!” Youngwoon whines loudly, drawing some stares that make Jungsu’s cheeks burn way too much. “Hyung, everyone has exercise buddies! It’s part of the program!” He points to a pair off to the side, Yesung and Ryeowook if Jungsu can remember correctly, in protest, and then to the huge poster on the wall, colored a bright pink that Jungsu suspected was Sungmin’s idea [he didn’t know the boy for too long, but anyone could guess with the pink sneakers, polo, sometimes pants, accessories, bag, pen..].
It read, ’SWEATING IS NO FUN ALONE.
Lifting weights getting lonely? Fitness Friends has a new program that we suggest you try!
Partner up with someone else, and together, as exercise buddies, encourage and work with each
other to achieve new goals!’ Cue cheesy smile.
“Well,” Jungsu starts, about to refute [he won’t be a good partner, he can’t give any tips, he’s only been here for a few days], but there’s such an earnest look on Youngwoon’s face that instead it comes out as, “Sure, Youngwoon-ah.”
That smile lasts until Jungsu has to leave.
--
“I was new here too, hyung,” Youngwoon admits a day later.
Jungsu looks up in surprise and curiosity. Sure, everyone in the gym must have been new once upon a time, but he had never really thought that they had to experience the same mortification he had gone through on his first day. Rather, they didn’t look like it; it seemed Jungsu was the only one who needed reminders from Sungmin to ’Keep your head up, smile--that’s the spirit, hyung!’.
“It’s like a family, here,” Youngwoon continues, his voice lowered like some sort of secret was to be imparted. “They actually care, and never do anything without a reason.” he insists eagerly, face bright and happy.
Jungsu has it in his mind to say it’s all part of the business, but at the same time a chubby guy a little younger than Jungsu walks through the door and Sungmin immediately calls out, “Kyuhyun-ah! Back again?” Jungsu can’t deny the constant stream of regulars and how Sungmin seems to know everyone by name.
“That’s why I chose you,” Youngwoon says, and Jungsu blinks. “It wouldn’t do to leave a new family member out,” Youngwoon says, but then smiles widely. “And you’re perfect. The best partner, hyung,” Youngwoon declares proudly and loudly.
Jungsu flushes and protests vehemently, but he feels warm inside.
--
“Hey, Jungsu-hyung,” Youngwoon starts a week later, “why do you go to a gym?”
Jungsu gives him a look. When Youngwoon simply stares back earnestly, he sighs and gestures weakly to himself.
“Look at me, Youngwoon-ah,” Jungsu says, poking his arm fat for emphasis, “really look at me. I need to go to a gym.”
“You really want to lose weight, huh?” Youngwoon says, and Jungsu puts on his best ‘no duh’ face.
“Well, uh, as your exercise buddy, can I propose something?” Jungsu braces himself and says, “Shoot.”
“You might want to up the incline on the treadmill. And, uh, maybe go faster.”
Jungsu flushes red in shame and embarrassment and thinks he didn’t quite brace himself enough.
It was true--he wasn’t going to walk his way into fitness. But imagine him running; Jungsu could see himself, sweaty and red-faced, shirt sticking unflatteringly to his rolls as he struggled to keep up with the machine, everyone silently laughing around him. And then there was that one unfortunate incident when he fainted in the last gym..
“Hyung, I didn’t mean to offend you!” Youngwoon added hastily as Jungsu proceeded to unconsciously shrink into himself, floppy black hair obscuring his face. “It was advice--uh, bad advice! You don’t need to do it if you don’t want to, hyung, I’m sorry--”
“It’s alright, Youngwoon, you were right,” Jungsu interjects, sighing. “It’s just.. I don’t think I can keep that up..” Youngwoon frowns.
“But that’s what I’m here for, hyung,” Youngwoon says, and Jungsu blinks. “Exercise buddies, remember? I’m also trying to lose weight, hyung, so I’ll even do it with you. Never fear, Youngwoon is here!”
Youngwoon’s smile is so bright Jungsu can’t help but reflect some back. When Youngwoon begins upping his incline to a dangerous forty-five degree angle, though, Jungsu has to intervene.
--
A/N: this looked cooler on pages, maybe i should change the font to times. also, i dont know a thing about gyms, so if teuk and kangin are doing strange things IM SORRY. ALSO SORRY THIS AND CHAPTER ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY THINGS ARE GOING TO BE POSTED IN A TIMELY MANNER. WHY DO I SUCK?
also please tell my if my lj layout is blinding, everyone says it is but it looks fine on my laptop ;___;
[#1 on dippy's prompt list.]