Promise in an Apron Pocket 2/6
Junsu pulled at the waistband of his favorite jeans, worn thin and held up only by the rough black belt he wore to work every day. But today was different. Today, he was free!
Freedom felt good; at least until the need for cold hard cash arose and his stomach refused to quit asking for food. It was usually Changmin's job to buy groceries, but oddly enough, Changmin hadn't been home for almost a week.
After picking up his miniscule check, he decided to sit down for a moment in the relative silence of his workspace.
"The usual, please."
Junsu had to have the worst luck, ever. "No."
"Oh?"
"I’m not working right now, Yoochun."
"Aw, that's a shame. Someone got me a gift card and I planned to use it."
"Then use it." Junsu started walking to the exit. Really, he didn't need this on his day off. Bothersome customers were reserved for workdays only.
"Hey-hey. Sorry, I didn't want to bother you."
"Well, you're doing a very poor job."
"Can I buy you something?"
"What? No."
Yoochun showed little hesitation in his smile. "Lunch, my treat?"
"What if you poison me?"
The taller man placed a dramatic hand over his heart. "I would never! You might, but I'm too kind hearted."
Junsu scoffed.
In a last ditch effort, Yoochun did what he was best at.
Well, at least what Junsu knew him to be best at, which was bothering other people. Some pestering, some poking, some inappropriate talking and Yoochun inevitably got him to sit and eat. He didn't realize how hungry he actually was until he sat down; other things on his mind, he guessed.
"This might be inappropriate, but-"
"Yoochun, I wouldn't say you are the most appropriate of people."
"Heh, thanks. But about your bruise- Ow!" He guessed that he shocked Junsu a little because the younger man spilled a drink into his lap - a very hot cup of cocoa.
"Ah, Yoochun. I'm so sorry." The next thing he knew, a cloth was soaking up the burning liquid that had spilt on him. "I can be such a klutz sometimes."
"Don't worry about it, Junsu." Yoochun took the cloth out of his hands, finishing the job. "I'm sure it's nothing that witch doctor can't fix. You should be worrying about that instead."
‘That’ was the bruise that was forming on Junsu's face from the last incident.
"Yoochun? Yoochun!" Yoochun's vision swirled back to the present - with Junsu waving frantically in front of him. The show would have been quite entertaining if his pants hadn't been doused in molten java. "Yoochun, are you trying to be a drama queen?"
"Junsu-ah...?"
If Yoochun would have been looking anywhere besides the man in front of him, he would have seen the strange, accusing looks the other customers sent them. Junsu, however, did see them. He ducked his head behind his almost empty mug of hot cocoa, attempting to become part of the sun-damaged, plastic seat.
"Get up. People are staring."
Yoochun righted himself, taking the offered napkins from Junsu. The slight stain on his previously khaki-colored shorts left everything to the imagination and he had a feeling a jacket wouldn't quite cover it.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, but I can't say the same for my pants."
Just as Yoochun was going to declare the lunch date a bust, Junsu turned a hesitant glance towards him--eyes on his stained lap.
"What size are you?"
Yoochun raised an eyebrow and shifted a bit from his position. "Big enough, why?"
Junsu's lips dropped almost immediately, curving into a frown of sorts. "... I meant your pant size." He tried to avert his eyes this time as he motioned towards Yoochun pants.
"Oh."
He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, hoping to god that this would get easier. "Listen, my apartment is pretty close, so you can come over and borrow a pair or walk around with that all day."
Yoochun nodded, and Junsu led the way. He was quieter this time around, still a bit shaken by whatever he saw when he was burned before. These 'flashback' type things had been more frequent lately but this time the other man in them had an identity - Junsu. That didn't answer any questions he had, rather, they just created so many more.
Junsu heaved a sigh as the door to his apartment squeaked open and he was met with a rather desolate darkness. He rationalized that it was probably for the better that no one was there to greet them.
"Well, it's small, but we have a couch over there--"
"Wow...I've heard of people living in closets but never saw it!"
Of course, when had Yoochun ever stepped out of the 'annoying customer' mold? Really, Junsu should have expected it by now.
Junsu stepped out of the room with a roll of his eyes and came back with a pair of his jeans. "Just return these to me at work."
"Oh Junsu, you know I'm only playing around with you." He winked and left to change in the bathroom, leaving a very confused Junsu in the living room.
Junsu walked into the kitchen, opening a bottom drawer and bringing out a 'medium brown bag'.
"Yoochun, I have a bag for your pants so you can take them home."
"Pants?"
Junsu turned around to see Changmin; he must have not heard the door opening when he was looking through the drawers.
"Yeah, I kind of had an accident and someone needed to borrow pants. Funny, huh?"
Changmin smiled but looked less than pleased.
The door opened with Yoochun adjusting his pants. "Damn, Junsu you have got a huge ass. I have so much roo-" He stopped speaking when he saw that they were no longer alone.
Junsu pushed Yoochun out of the way, a feeling of dread overcoming him at the glare Changmin sent them both. "Changmin, this isn't what you think..."
"No, it isn't. I thought I knew you, Junsu."
Changmin's words cut deeper than any knife.
Without him noticing, the lights in the room seemed dimmer than they had been when he and Yoochun had entered the room. The intensity in his roommate's eyes caused him to look away at the entirely wrong time. For the second time that week, Changmin’s fist connected with his jaw, knocking him backwards into Yoochun.
"Hey now--" Yoochun started.
"I don't have anything to say to you." Grabbing his wallet from its place beside the couch, the door slamming so hard behind Changmin that the mirror above the couch shook before silence once again encompassed the apartment.
Yoochun held the man still in his arms, steadying him; and possibly was the only thing supporting him. Junsu's hand rubbed over his throbbing jaw, "This was a bad idea."
"This was a bad idea."
"Shut up." He tried to chase the man's worries away with his kiss.
"Wait, Yoochun", Junsu pushed him away, "I think I have to leave." He got off the bed and dressed, leaving Yoochun alone with the sheets.
"Junsu! Don't be stupid."
"I already am." He turned towards the door, ready to leave when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
Turning around, he saw Yoochun in a toga made of the same bed sheets they were on before. "Junsu~ toga party!" Yoochun dragged him around the room, dancing and prancing around. They came to a slow stop.
"Yoochun, I-"
"Don't leave tonight."
"I-"
"Stay here. I want to feel like I can protect you."
These flashbacks were giving Yoochun unbelievable headaches, but the feeling of soft lips against his help assuage the pain in his head. As he pulled back, he could see the worry in Junsu's eyes, but refused to let the shorter man out of his arms.
"Will you stay with me tonight?"
"Wait, I-" Junsu pushed himself off the man.
"Junsu. Wait. Let me. Oh god. Let me ask you something."
"Yoochun. I barely know you. And Changmin. Changmin-"
"Do you see them too?"
"See them?"
"Junsu. We know each other."
"Yeah, I'd be damned if I didn't know the bratty customer that came in every day."
"That's not what I meant. Just. You can't stay here tonight."
"And why not?"
"I think we both saw why the hell not. Junsu, don't be stupid."
Junsu felt like he was experiencing dejavu; like those words had been spoken to him before, from a voice he could rarely refuse. "Yoochun, I'll be-"
"You'll be hurt if you stay here!"
"I won't be interrupted every sentence at least."
"Only because you won't be able to talk if he comes back!" Yoochun had enough. This wasn't worth arguing over.
Instead, Yoochun opened the door, grabbing the bag with his pants and through Junsu over his shoulder--which proved to be not an easy task.
"What are you doing?!"
"Taking you away from here."
"I don't need your help. I can walk!"
Yoochun felt that headache resurfacing. He rounded the corner before the weight on his shoulders became too much and he was forced to put Junsu none-too-gently back on solid ground. "Fine. Then follow me."
"But--"
"Please, Junsu. You don't deserve this." The shorter flinched away from YooChun's touch against his swollen cheek.
Junsu frowned. Yoochun was right. But this is part of his life he may be walking away from. "Fine."
Yoochun's countenance turned into one of surprise with the affirmative response. "Really?"
Junsu didn't answer for a few seconds, staring at the tile pattern on the floors and walls, tracing the lines in between until they met simple white paint. "I think I see them too."
"See the… - Oh."
"Let's go. I want to figure this out."
"I don't have to carry you again, do I? Because that ass of yours apparently adds a lot of weight to your body."
"Yoochun!"
Yoochun was only smiling when he pressed the down button for the elevator. "You know how I am."
And for some reason, Junsu did.
//
There were many things Junsu wasn't sure of. At this point, Junsu wasn't sure if there really was a heaven or a hell, or even what he was going to eat for breakfast, or why he refused to sleep even when the sun barely peeked its head over the city's horizon through YooChun's open windows.
But there was one thing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, which Junsu knew to be true.
A knock to the door alerted him, but his lethargic movements prohibited him from moving away from the ball he had curled into on the bed. "Junsu, you need to go to sleep."
He shook his head. "I'm fine."
"Now, now, if I was nice enough to give you my bed and sleep on the couch, at least put it to good use, eh?"
"Ah, sorry about that."
Yoochun was only teasing and was surprised when the younger man still seemed to take him a little too seriously. "Hey man, I was just joking around with you."
"Oh, yeah, I know. It's just that there was a lot to take in last night." When Yoochun didn't respond, he continued. "I never said your name in those visions. I just knew who I was, but, I wasn't really sure about that either. This is all just a b-"
"A bit much."
"Yeah... stop interrupting me."
"Ah, but this time I'm completing your sentences!" Yoochun's mood perked, a smile gracing his face and an extra skip in his step. "So what would you like for breakfast, Sunshine? I've got extra toothbrushes in the bathroom drawer from gods-know-how-many-hotels," he paused as if to take a breath,” But I don't think I'll have pants to fit that fantastic ass or yours." With an uncharacteristic, or characteristic depending on how you looked at it, squeak, Yoochun left the room.
"Would you quit making fun of my ass?" Junsu suddenly found the energy to stalk after him. "Just because you don't have one, doesn’t give you the right to--"
"I do have an ass. Yours." With a wide grin, Yoochun snaked a hand around Junsu's waist, grabbing his ass.
"I'm not--"
This time, Yoochun didn't even have to say a word, his pout rendering Junsu unable of finishing his sentence.
"Oh forget it..." His legs gave out the moment he felt the cushions of the couch beneath him. Was he really that tired?
With a grunt he walked to the bathroom, looking through the drawers for toothbrushes that came in their neat little plastic wrappers. Please don't let me find condoms, dear god. He finished his mission with success, but not before questioning Yoochun's choice of fruity-tasting toothpaste. "I never liked the ones that burn my mouth" was his answer later.
He stepped into the kitchen to be greeted by not so lovely smells: undercooked eggs and overcooked pancakes. "Good morning, Sunshine!” Yoochun greeted him in an apron that was about ten shades of pink too bright.
And all he could do was stare at it for now.
"A roommate left it behind and let me keep it."
"Right. That explains everything."
He fixed up what he could with the breakfast, with Yoochun following him around the kitchen like a lost puppy. Really, he could get the salt by himself.
It was only by the time Junsu placed their breakfast on the cluttered kitchen table--which was more of a glorified mailbox--he realized he really wasn't hungry.
"I know I'm good looking, but you should stop staring and eat."
"I don't want to."
Yoochun nodded, a knowing look on his face before he took a large chunk of egg from Junsu’s plate.
"Hey!"
"You weren't going to eat it."
"Fine, have it." He shoved the plate at Yoochun, grinning to himself as the other man gobbled up his piece of toast.
"Hey, Junsu?" Yoochun mumbled around a piece of egg.
"What?"
"Why do you stay with that guy?"
Junsu looked down at his emptying plate - Yoochun was still in the middle of eating something and stealing more food from the said plate.
"Too personal? Sorry about that, mom never really did tell me how to have manners around boys."
"No, it's just. I kind of - Eh, I don't know."
Yoochun had already begun chewing on a new pancake when he spoke, "You think you have feelings for him, right?" He continued when Junsu decided not to answer, instead stuffing a small piece of pancake that was left on his plate into his mouth. "Well, I think you're too-"
"Don't tell me I'm too good for him. It's not helpful, it's condescending."
"Then I won't say it."
"I don't know what I thought about him."
"I think you're a little lost."
"Thanks."
"But really, we all are. Just need to find someone to help us along the road." Junsu said nothing about the man's mouth still being full. Yoochun took the last piece of egg from his plate, and began to clear the table.
Authors's Note: Okay so we lied, we couldn't wait until Friday
Freedom felt good; at least until the need for cold hard cash arose and his stomach refused to quit asking for food. It was usually Changmin's job to buy groceries, but oddly enough, Changmin hadn't been home for almost a week.
After picking up his miniscule check, he decided to sit down for a moment in the relative silence of his workspace.
"The usual, please."
Junsu had to have the worst luck, ever. "No."
"Oh?"
"I’m not working right now, Yoochun."
"Aw, that's a shame. Someone got me a gift card and I planned to use it."
"Then use it." Junsu started walking to the exit. Really, he didn't need this on his day off. Bothersome customers were reserved for workdays only.
"Hey-hey. Sorry, I didn't want to bother you."
"Well, you're doing a very poor job."
"Can I buy you something?"
"What? No."
Yoochun showed little hesitation in his smile. "Lunch, my treat?"
"What if you poison me?"
The taller man placed a dramatic hand over his heart. "I would never! You might, but I'm too kind hearted."
Junsu scoffed.
In a last ditch effort, Yoochun did what he was best at.
Well, at least what Junsu knew him to be best at, which was bothering other people. Some pestering, some poking, some inappropriate talking and Yoochun inevitably got him to sit and eat. He didn't realize how hungry he actually was until he sat down; other things on his mind, he guessed.
"This might be inappropriate, but-"
"Yoochun, I wouldn't say you are the most appropriate of people."
"Heh, thanks. But about your bruise- Ow!" He guessed that he shocked Junsu a little because the younger man spilled a drink into his lap - a very hot cup of cocoa.
"Ah, Yoochun. I'm so sorry." The next thing he knew, a cloth was soaking up the burning liquid that had spilt on him. "I can be such a klutz sometimes."
"Don't worry about it, Junsu." Yoochun took the cloth out of his hands, finishing the job. "I'm sure it's nothing that witch doctor can't fix. You should be worrying about that instead."
‘That’ was the bruise that was forming on Junsu's face from the last incident.
"Yoochun? Yoochun!" Yoochun's vision swirled back to the present - with Junsu waving frantically in front of him. The show would have been quite entertaining if his pants hadn't been doused in molten java. "Yoochun, are you trying to be a drama queen?"
"Junsu-ah...?"
If Yoochun would have been looking anywhere besides the man in front of him, he would have seen the strange, accusing looks the other customers sent them. Junsu, however, did see them. He ducked his head behind his almost empty mug of hot cocoa, attempting to become part of the sun-damaged, plastic seat.
"Get up. People are staring."
Yoochun righted himself, taking the offered napkins from Junsu. The slight stain on his previously khaki-colored shorts left everything to the imagination and he had a feeling a jacket wouldn't quite cover it.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, but I can't say the same for my pants."
Just as Yoochun was going to declare the lunch date a bust, Junsu turned a hesitant glance towards him--eyes on his stained lap.
"What size are you?"
Yoochun raised an eyebrow and shifted a bit from his position. "Big enough, why?"
Junsu's lips dropped almost immediately, curving into a frown of sorts. "... I meant your pant size." He tried to avert his eyes this time as he motioned towards Yoochun pants.
"Oh."
He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, hoping to god that this would get easier. "Listen, my apartment is pretty close, so you can come over and borrow a pair or walk around with that all day."
Yoochun nodded, and Junsu led the way. He was quieter this time around, still a bit shaken by whatever he saw when he was burned before. These 'flashback' type things had been more frequent lately but this time the other man in them had an identity - Junsu. That didn't answer any questions he had, rather, they just created so many more.
Junsu heaved a sigh as the door to his apartment squeaked open and he was met with a rather desolate darkness. He rationalized that it was probably for the better that no one was there to greet them.
"Well, it's small, but we have a couch over there--"
"Wow...I've heard of people living in closets but never saw it!"
Of course, when had Yoochun ever stepped out of the 'annoying customer' mold? Really, Junsu should have expected it by now.
Junsu stepped out of the room with a roll of his eyes and came back with a pair of his jeans. "Just return these to me at work."
"Oh Junsu, you know I'm only playing around with you." He winked and left to change in the bathroom, leaving a very confused Junsu in the living room.
Junsu walked into the kitchen, opening a bottom drawer and bringing out a 'medium brown bag'.
"Yoochun, I have a bag for your pants so you can take them home."
"Pants?"
Junsu turned around to see Changmin; he must have not heard the door opening when he was looking through the drawers.
"Yeah, I kind of had an accident and someone needed to borrow pants. Funny, huh?"
Changmin smiled but looked less than pleased.
The door opened with Yoochun adjusting his pants. "Damn, Junsu you have got a huge ass. I have so much roo-" He stopped speaking when he saw that they were no longer alone.
Junsu pushed Yoochun out of the way, a feeling of dread overcoming him at the glare Changmin sent them both. "Changmin, this isn't what you think..."
"No, it isn't. I thought I knew you, Junsu."
Changmin's words cut deeper than any knife.
Without him noticing, the lights in the room seemed dimmer than they had been when he and Yoochun had entered the room. The intensity in his roommate's eyes caused him to look away at the entirely wrong time. For the second time that week, Changmin’s fist connected with his jaw, knocking him backwards into Yoochun.
"Hey now--" Yoochun started.
"I don't have anything to say to you." Grabbing his wallet from its place beside the couch, the door slamming so hard behind Changmin that the mirror above the couch shook before silence once again encompassed the apartment.
Yoochun held the man still in his arms, steadying him; and possibly was the only thing supporting him. Junsu's hand rubbed over his throbbing jaw, "This was a bad idea."
"This was a bad idea."
"Shut up." He tried to chase the man's worries away with his kiss.
"Wait, Yoochun", Junsu pushed him away, "I think I have to leave." He got off the bed and dressed, leaving Yoochun alone with the sheets.
"Junsu! Don't be stupid."
"I already am." He turned towards the door, ready to leave when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
Turning around, he saw Yoochun in a toga made of the same bed sheets they were on before. "Junsu~ toga party!" Yoochun dragged him around the room, dancing and prancing around. They came to a slow stop.
"Yoochun, I-"
"Don't leave tonight."
"I-"
"Stay here. I want to feel like I can protect you."
These flashbacks were giving Yoochun unbelievable headaches, but the feeling of soft lips against his help assuage the pain in his head. As he pulled back, he could see the worry in Junsu's eyes, but refused to let the shorter man out of his arms.
"Will you stay with me tonight?"
"Wait, I-" Junsu pushed himself off the man.
"Junsu. Wait. Let me. Oh god. Let me ask you something."
"Yoochun. I barely know you. And Changmin. Changmin-"
"Do you see them too?"
"See them?"
"Junsu. We know each other."
"Yeah, I'd be damned if I didn't know the bratty customer that came in every day."
"That's not what I meant. Just. You can't stay here tonight."
"And why not?"
"I think we both saw why the hell not. Junsu, don't be stupid."
Junsu felt like he was experiencing dejavu; like those words had been spoken to him before, from a voice he could rarely refuse. "Yoochun, I'll be-"
"You'll be hurt if you stay here!"
"I won't be interrupted every sentence at least."
"Only because you won't be able to talk if he comes back!" Yoochun had enough. This wasn't worth arguing over.
Instead, Yoochun opened the door, grabbing the bag with his pants and through Junsu over his shoulder--which proved to be not an easy task.
"What are you doing?!"
"Taking you away from here."
"I don't need your help. I can walk!"
Yoochun felt that headache resurfacing. He rounded the corner before the weight on his shoulders became too much and he was forced to put Junsu none-too-gently back on solid ground. "Fine. Then follow me."
"But--"
"Please, Junsu. You don't deserve this." The shorter flinched away from YooChun's touch against his swollen cheek.
Junsu frowned. Yoochun was right. But this is part of his life he may be walking away from. "Fine."
Yoochun's countenance turned into one of surprise with the affirmative response. "Really?"
Junsu didn't answer for a few seconds, staring at the tile pattern on the floors and walls, tracing the lines in between until they met simple white paint. "I think I see them too."
"See the… - Oh."
"Let's go. I want to figure this out."
"I don't have to carry you again, do I? Because that ass of yours apparently adds a lot of weight to your body."
"Yoochun!"
Yoochun was only smiling when he pressed the down button for the elevator. "You know how I am."
And for some reason, Junsu did.
//
There were many things Junsu wasn't sure of. At this point, Junsu wasn't sure if there really was a heaven or a hell, or even what he was going to eat for breakfast, or why he refused to sleep even when the sun barely peeked its head over the city's horizon through YooChun's open windows.
But there was one thing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, which Junsu knew to be true.
A knock to the door alerted him, but his lethargic movements prohibited him from moving away from the ball he had curled into on the bed. "Junsu, you need to go to sleep."
He shook his head. "I'm fine."
"Now, now, if I was nice enough to give you my bed and sleep on the couch, at least put it to good use, eh?"
"Ah, sorry about that."
Yoochun was only teasing and was surprised when the younger man still seemed to take him a little too seriously. "Hey man, I was just joking around with you."
"Oh, yeah, I know. It's just that there was a lot to take in last night." When Yoochun didn't respond, he continued. "I never said your name in those visions. I just knew who I was, but, I wasn't really sure about that either. This is all just a b-"
"A bit much."
"Yeah... stop interrupting me."
"Ah, but this time I'm completing your sentences!" Yoochun's mood perked, a smile gracing his face and an extra skip in his step. "So what would you like for breakfast, Sunshine? I've got extra toothbrushes in the bathroom drawer from gods-know-how-many-hotels," he paused as if to take a breath,” But I don't think I'll have pants to fit that fantastic ass or yours." With an uncharacteristic, or characteristic depending on how you looked at it, squeak, Yoochun left the room.
"Would you quit making fun of my ass?" Junsu suddenly found the energy to stalk after him. "Just because you don't have one, doesn’t give you the right to--"
"I do have an ass. Yours." With a wide grin, Yoochun snaked a hand around Junsu's waist, grabbing his ass.
"I'm not--"
This time, Yoochun didn't even have to say a word, his pout rendering Junsu unable of finishing his sentence.
"Oh forget it..." His legs gave out the moment he felt the cushions of the couch beneath him. Was he really that tired?
With a grunt he walked to the bathroom, looking through the drawers for toothbrushes that came in their neat little plastic wrappers. Please don't let me find condoms, dear god. He finished his mission with success, but not before questioning Yoochun's choice of fruity-tasting toothpaste. "I never liked the ones that burn my mouth" was his answer later.
He stepped into the kitchen to be greeted by not so lovely smells: undercooked eggs and overcooked pancakes. "Good morning, Sunshine!” Yoochun greeted him in an apron that was about ten shades of pink too bright.
And all he could do was stare at it for now.
"A roommate left it behind and let me keep it."
"Right. That explains everything."
He fixed up what he could with the breakfast, with Yoochun following him around the kitchen like a lost puppy. Really, he could get the salt by himself.
It was only by the time Junsu placed their breakfast on the cluttered kitchen table--which was more of a glorified mailbox--he realized he really wasn't hungry.
"I know I'm good looking, but you should stop staring and eat."
"I don't want to."
Yoochun nodded, a knowing look on his face before he took a large chunk of egg from Junsu’s plate.
"Hey!"
"You weren't going to eat it."
"Fine, have it." He shoved the plate at Yoochun, grinning to himself as the other man gobbled up his piece of toast.
"Hey, Junsu?" Yoochun mumbled around a piece of egg.
"What?"
"Why do you stay with that guy?"
Junsu looked down at his emptying plate - Yoochun was still in the middle of eating something and stealing more food from the said plate.
"Too personal? Sorry about that, mom never really did tell me how to have manners around boys."
"No, it's just. I kind of - Eh, I don't know."
Yoochun had already begun chewing on a new pancake when he spoke, "You think you have feelings for him, right?" He continued when Junsu decided not to answer, instead stuffing a small piece of pancake that was left on his plate into his mouth. "Well, I think you're too-"
"Don't tell me I'm too good for him. It's not helpful, it's condescending."
"Then I won't say it."
"I don't know what I thought about him."
"I think you're a little lost."
"Thanks."
"But really, we all are. Just need to find someone to help us along the road." Junsu said nothing about the man's mouth still being full. Yoochun took the last piece of egg from his plate, and began to clear the table.
Authors's Note: Okay so we lied, we couldn't wait until Friday