Light Me Up

Lim Sungbin, 27, Chocolatier at Sweet Tooth "What if tonight would be like my last cigarette, what should do I with this?" "Although the thing called life is a bit tiring, it seems good"

[beenzinostretto]

Turn on the Bright Lights (VIXX)

read it on the AO3 at http://archiveofourown.org/works/7458820

by LikeSatellites

Wonshik lives by one code of honor.

The Bro Code.

He and Hongbin are best friends and that's already established. No biggie.

But one day Wonshik is finally cast in his first drama. A romcom. A photographer in love with his model romcom.

And then Hongbin is also cast in his drama.

As the model.

As a mistake, right?

Based on this photo: 

Words:15,163 , Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: VIXX, KPOP

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Relationship: Kim Wonshik/Ravi|Lee Hongbin

[jackson-stretto-deactivated2019]

"i figured," says jackson, and doesn’t complete the sentence the way he wants to, which is i figured you were joking because you smell like an ashtray even from all the way over here. instead he says, “you picked a pretty bad habit then.”

jackson’s eyes are closed, and he doesn’t realise the lighter’s been thrown in his direction until it clatters on the pavement. he grimaces a little as he bends down to pick it up. “yeah, just got a job here — at the place behind us, actually.” he flicks the lighter on and off a few times before dropping it in his pocket. “you?”

[beenzinostretto]

"I've worked my way down a long list of worse habits," he replies, head jerking away from the sound of the lighter flaring up again, metal clicking. The skin of his arms pebbles with goosebumps, and he grits his teeth. A few deep breaths and abnormal heart palpitations later, and he can formulate an answer. 

"I, uh, make chocolates. At Sweet Tooth. Chocolatier is what they call me." He forces his neck to turn to eye the building behind them. "And you're at...Fleurs?" 

[jackson-stretto-deactivated2019]

"no problem, man." jackson leans back against the wall behind him, letting his eyes drop shut. "don’t even know why i got that with me. i don’t really smoke much."

[beenzinostretto]

"Me neither," Zino replies, lips twisted into a smirk as he drew another long drag, letting the smoke settle deep in his throat before setting it free. It is cold enough that the exhale could just be fog. "Small jokes, you know, small jokes." He eyes the lighter in his palm. "'s funny cause I hate fire but I love smoking." He tosses the lighter back at Jackson. "You work 'round here, man?" 

[illegalkorea-blog]

Beenzino

[joonguar]

Jaejoong’s mildly but happily surprised by the other’s reaction. Apparently, the questions he had asked weren’t going to be deigned an answer at all? While usually that bothered him, this time, he was more than alright with it, because the man seemed focused on him nonetheless, just not on what he’d been saying. 

Jaejoong didn’t have a problem with that.

(It would have been magnificently hypocritical if he’d had an issue, seeing as the porn star himself spaced out when others talked a good percentage of conversations.)

The smile only grows warmer, and maybe, if he’d been ten years younger, Zino would have had Jaejoong blushing. But near thirty now and that impulse had long since passed over being complimented on his appearance, it was how he made a living after all. This is a topic of conversation that Jaejoong can easily carry himself into, leaving him looking comfortable and softly confident as he takes the cigarette given over to him and leans in a bit as he lights it. 

"I do model," he says on the first exhale, easy in demeanor for having such a friendly audience. "If you were still around Itaewon often you’d maybe know me already? I go by a funny name that way too for my job, Hero? I wish I’d thought of one like your’s though, Zino, that’s cute, cool too~"

Here his smile goes teasing, unable to keep himself from reaching out and pinching gently at the other man’s upper arm like he’s a child, like Zino is just too adorable to resist.

"What’s it from? Are you maybe a hyung of Zelo’s?" he laughs a bit, in a way that can’t be called a giggle because his voice isn’t fit for that, but its a distinct Jaejoong sound anyways. "He’s got a name like that too."

[beenzinostretto]

Hero. 

Zino tips his head to the side, appraising the stretch of sidewalk on either side of them, arms of concrete reaching out like a web from the square. It is cold enough now that most people didn't venture out alone, arms chained together, hands tucked into opposite pockets, cheeks pressed against warm wool coat sleeves. 

Zino and Jaejoong sit apart, knees just inches from each other on the bench, but the fog of their breath mixed as they spoke. It is one of the first times he feels connected to someone since moving. 

"Hero," he repeats, lips coming together and then separating, causing the chapped skin to rip. It stings, and he runs his slick tongue over the torn skin to smooth it down. "Vaguely familiar. Though there were a lot of us there back then, weren't there? It was a weird time in Itaewon where anyone could be anyone else as long as they got paid." 

He ponders it a moment, remembering the days of shucking himself into too-tight jeans after slicking his chest up in baby oil to recline under a toxically yellow lamp and take pictures. He felt like a vegetable waiting to be fried. Or like some kind of exotic meat that everyone considered buying at the store but didn't really know how to cook. He sat there for a while, months, laying on the chaise in baby oil and dark denim. 

"Weird time. But Beenzino the name didn't come outta Itaewon. It came outta my home town. I'm a Gwangju boy. I saw the name on some American tourist's CD case. Spelled it wrong, though. Kids laughed at me, but I was too proud to give it up. So Zino it is." 

He blinks at the second name. "Zelo? I dunno any Zelo. I'm still new, though. Zelo is a cute name. Kinda sounds like Jello though, don't it? You ever eat Jello? Gross western shit. Wiggles like pudding but tastes like juice. Weeeeiiird shit." 

[hyuk-stretto-deactivated2014112]

"What Happened To Your Face?"

[hyuk-stretto-deactivated2014112]

"I can afford the salt and pepper. And also the tongs." Hyuk corrected, finding it easy to poke fun at himself as he caught the scarf that Beenzino threw at him. The wool was warm, from being in front of the furnace vents. It was soft in his hands, and smelled like the older man’s cologne as he wrapped it around his throat. 

Something spicy, and a little sweet. 

Chocolate with cayenne.

Maybe that was just the smell from the shop, though. But it fit the man perfectly, mixing with the own sharper scent of the soap Hyuk had used when he washed up earlier. He buried his nose— still cold from his walk outside— in the folds and shivered. 

Not that it was noticeable. More internal vibration than anything before he straightened back up like a turtle pulling back out of their shell. 

Not that he was a turtle. He wasn’t cautious or anything and— “I mean, not that they make you buy those things anyhow. I could buy you—” He thought about it, tucking his hands into the threadbare pockets of his hoodie as he headed for the door, thinking of the cash that was folded up and tucked away in the back fold of his wallet. “Actually, right now I could actually buy samgyeopsal.”

If only because he’d won three straight fights, and Tae Sung had his own money from—

From—

"My treat tonight, hyung, I’m swimming in cash." After all, the older man had given him so much chocolate. And not all of it had been old chocolate, ready to be tossed if no one ate it. It was nice of Zino, it made Hyuk feel special, but if he could do this for the older man. 

Who knew when the situation would arise again.

[beenzinostretto]

Zino pulled the trays of chocolates out to store in the freezer, locking the display cases and shutting off their internal lights. The store always felt colder and lonelier when the chocolates were hidden away, and everything was empty glass. The smell lingered a little, just adding a hint of sweetness to the air, but it dissipated quickly, especially once the scent of cleaning fluid from the wiped down cabinets rose up. 

He grabbed the keys to Sweet Tooth and headed out from behind the counter. His lips twisted into a grimace, hands shaking the Sweet Tooth keys in front of Hyuk's face, letting the little metal clang for a moment. 

"Why you gotta look a gift horse in the mouth, huh? A guy offers you free dinner, and you decide to man up at the last minute? Look, kid, there will be other days to buy me some banana milk or whatever it is you kids consume, or maybe you can buy me a coffee after dinner--I dunno--but tonight I'm buying samgyeopsal, all right?"

Zino's country accent began seeping into his voice, strong and nasal and adamant. He shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. 

"There's a place a few blocks down. They know me there. Honestly, they charge me less. This isn't charity. I'm hungry. You're hungry. You do me some favors sometimes. You seem like a good kid. You deserve a meal, got it? A good meal you don't have to worry about. You owe nothing, and I'm not asking for anything anywhere down the line. We grill meat. We eat it."

He pulled his hands out of his pockets to open the door.  

[foodopia]

Dark Chocolate Ginger Truffles with Smoked Sea Salt

[fullcravings]

Halloween Cheesecake Truffles

[ilovedessert]

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

[vivid-vvd]

[hyuk-stretto-deactivated2014112]

"What Happened To Your Face?"

[hyuk-stretto-deactivated2014112]

Hyuk stopped with the chocolate covered cherry halfway to his mouth at the question, forgetting all of his comments about liquor, and how it wasn’t the same if it was in chocolate— not unless he at a whole box. Which he wouldn’t, not unless he was starving, but… Hyuk tried not to drool—

But, hey. He was being offered samgyeopsal. 

He’d dare anyone not to drool over the offer.

It wasn’t like Tae Sung would—

Nope, he wasn’t going to think about that. It really didn’t matter anyhow. Hyuk shook the thoughts from his head, letting a smile creep onto his face as he bit into the chocolate. 

"Is— are you buying?" 

He was going to go back to his apartment smelling like meat, but he didn’t mind so much. Because for a couple hours— or even just an hour— he’d get to spend time without a care in the world. He could practically taste the dipping sauce, and the cool crisp leaves of lettuce. 

He ate another of the chocolates without thinking, followed by a third, but he remembered on the fourth and stilled his hand. 

"I mean, these chocolates are good, but nothing compares to samgyeopsal." 

And it had been months since he last had it. He couldn’t even remember when— except—

He’d won a fight, then. It had been a treat.

This would be better.

Samgyeopsal without strings attached.

Right?

[beenzinostretto]

"Am I buying?" Zino repeated, a tone of incredulousness creeping into his voice. "Kid, no offense, but I get the feeling you couldn't afford the pair of tongs at samgyeopsal dinner, let alone the meat. Again, no offense."

He let his eyes trail from Hyuk's flop of unkempt hair to his zipped up hooded sweatshirt, dark, with little loops of loose thread forming in places, and down to Hyuk's legs which were thin but lithe and strong, knees protruding against dark denim. 

Zino remembered the days when he'd have to dig under public chair and couch cushions for any spare change he could draw up for convenience store food. He remembered bumming cigarettes off rich, lonely women who'd pay for him at bars if he'd feed them compliments, tell them their husbands were missing out by letting them roam free. He'd drag tan hands up smooth pale legs in dim bar lighting if it meant he could drink down the ache of long, deep gashes and scars running up his arms and chest. 

Maybe it was because he felt sorry for the kid. Maybe it was because he was once like him. Zino didn't know. Maybe it was the way Hyuk's eyes seemed at once so deep and yet so hollow, like a painting of a face that felt so realistic, so touchable, yet was only two-dimensional, only surface beauty. Maybe it was because for some reason Hyuk reminded Zino of a home he once knew...

"Finish your chocolates, kid, and I'll feed you some real stuff. Can't live off free candy, you know." 

He shucked his coat on, stiff leather sliding over his arms, sore from stirring and whisking thick chocolate all day. 

"You got a thicker coat than that? It's practically snow weather already, and you're lookin' like it's barely breezy." He scoffed and grabbed his thick wool gray scarf from the hook and chucked it at Hyuk. "You already look like a homeless runaway, at least this will keep you from looking like some kid I stole off the street." 

[illegalkorea-blog]

Beenzino x BOY London Korea

[hyuk-stretto-deactivated2014112]

That— well that was almost like work. Only for this, he’d get paid sooner than next year, and it wouldn’t be tossed at his feet for Hyuk to scramble and pick back up. He could do this, and it wasn’t charity. Not this time. He didn’t have to feel guilty for accepting the offer— like he was taking something he shouldn’t have.

Then he could get ramen. Or ddeokbokki. Maybe soondae. 

Hyuk’s stomach growled in earnest and he knuckled it impatiently, just short of hissing at it to shut up. 

"I wouldn’t want your— lady friend to be disappointed," he assured Zino, finishing the turtle and licking his fingers clean. "I’ll do your favor just once, since I don’t have anything going on right now." 

No work until tonight. Hyuk shook his hand out like the knuckles were aching, then held it out towards Zino with a grin. “So, anything else to go with the steak and salad? Wine maybe?”

[beenzinostretto]

Zino flickered his gaze away from Hyuk's pink flash of tongue as he licked his fingers clean--the sight seeming too intimate, too indecent, for some reason. He'd watched girls lick much more indecent things off their fingers, but for some reason he just couldn't look at Hyuk. 

"She'll probably be disappointed in something. They always are. Girls are tricky creatures, kid. I'll let you know that now. You got a girlfriend? My advice: fuck 'em and go play Starcraft. Actually, fuck 'em and go get a beer and then play Starcraft. Don't bother dating them. They'll always find something to call you out on, like..."

He considered his previous relationships a moment, tapping his chin. 

He imitated a woman's voice as he said, "You're never asking me how I feel, Zino. You're never telling me how you feel, Zino. You're always late, Zino. Why are you always drunk, Zino. Are you still smoking weed, Zino? My mother thinks you're a homo, Zino. My father knows we're fucking, Zino. My mother doesn't think we're fucking enough, Zino. Why don't you like kimchi like every other Korean, Zino?"

He shook his head, running a hand though his slicked back dark hair a moment. "You feel me, kid? Don't do it." He pauses. "Yeah...get a bottle of cheap Merlot while you're out. Just in case." 

He held his card out and grinned. "I'll see you back here in a bit, yeah?" 

[joonguar]

Jaejoong knows a subtle rejection when he’s faced with one, its just that he often choses to ignore the fact that they happen. Being irresistible is something he would love to achieve one day, but even he’s not so delusional as to think its possible. Its just… that he likes to pretend it is, sometimes. And its not even for the satisfaction of being so desirable, its just that, well, wouldn’t it be nice to get a smiling face everywhere you looked? Wouldn’t it be nice to look to anyone for a hug? So, it only makes sense that once again he mentally brushes aside the other’s reply, or at least the first bit of it, because the second bit, that suits the porn star quite nicely. 

Compliments abound in a single sentence, just the way Jaejoong likes it, so perhaps there is hope yet that he could find a friend in this guy, which is what Jaejoong’s looking for in everyone, despite what they might think. Sex being the major mode of doing so probably confuses a lot of people in a society like the one he lives in, or in any really, where the norm is placing intimate acts with only an intimate partner. Not how Jaejoong goes about it. 

The smile that curl’s over Jaejoong’s face is genuine and uncontrolled, the sort of smile that isn’t just meant to look nice. The way the flattery he also thinks is genuine washes into his stomach makes him just a little bit warmer, because he’s not exactly the human furnace that this acquaintance apparently is. Taking in the lit up cigarette, this time without setting something else to flame, Jaejoong perks up further, staring at the man’s mouth as he takes a drag. Its probably obvious enough what he means with that look, that he’d like one offered, a way of friendship in its preliminary stages perhaps? He’ll keep staring for some time until the man gets the hint at any rate, even as he goes on to speak. 

"Do you share your warmth with anyone though? Its getting so cold out, someone would appreciate it~ Although you’re busy making chocolate this season aren’t you? Unless they’ve actually got reliable staff in there now?"

The question is posed in teasing, particularly the last part, because he’s familiar with a good number of the people who call Ristretto Square their nine to five or some other ungodly hours Jaejoong couldn’t handle. 

[beenzinostretto]

He really does have a lovely smile, Beenzino thinks, lips pursed loosely around his cigarette. It's soft but his face is hard. There's the contrast of his sharp features, cheekbones, jaw, long lips, and his soft eyes and smile. It's like he's almost kittenish that way.

And then the smile continues. 

And continues. 

The man's gaze is hot, even if he suggested with his words that he needed warming. Beenzino suspected his gaze alone could burn Seoul to the ground. 

Speaking of fire, Beenzino realizes, the guy is certainly quite happy blinking adoringly in the direction of his box of cigare--

Oh. 

"Shit, man, did you want one? I'm sorry. I've been zoning out thinking about how you've got a really beautiful smile. Have you considered modeling? I modeled for a brief stint while I was out in Itaewon. Not what you're thinking, though, I wasn't in the red-light district or anything, I was just modeling for knock-off Abercrombie shit for some guy selling by the subway station."

He considers it a moment. "Now that I think about it, that was pretty sketchy. But he was cool. Obviously you're pretty enough you could model legitimate things like real Abercrombie or even maybe like Alexander McQueen or something like that."

He passes the man a cigarette and holds out his lighter. "I'm Zino by the way. Beenzino." 

[hyuk-stretto-deactivated2014112]

"What Happened To Your Face?"

[hyuk-stretto-deactivated2014112]

It was easy to hide the quick pull of panicked air behind anticipation. Because that was all it was, right? Not the thought he’d done no one proud— all Hyuk was doing was salivating over the chocolates, tongue tracing the line of his lips as he got rid of the last glossy threads of panic.

It was easier, with the blood washed from his face, and some undoubtedly absurd bandaid over his cheek. Pororo maybe? Or would it be Larva? Hyuk knew what his face looked like though and didn’t lean forward to check.

"You had me at peanut butter. Marshmallows are just an added bonus on top of it— like the cherry on top of a sundae?"

He’d had one of those at lunch, from the strange man who managed Two Scoops.

It had been good, even if it didn’t stop his strangeness. 

"Can I have those, and that thing with the mint liquor that I had last time?" He was already becoming a regular, but it wasn’t like the chocolate stuck to him any. He didn’t have time for that—

Or for any barbecue place where he had to sit down long enough to eat.

[beenzinostretto]

"You got it, kid. And since you mentioned cherries, how about a chocolate covered cherry? Not one of those cordials--fuck that noise. This is a real cherry. Not some goop." 

He proudly patted his chest with his fist and bustled around, grabbing a sheet of parchment paper and dropping the little confections onto it as he passed their cases. 

"You gotta savor these, though, you got it? None of that snarfing you did last time. Are you even legal to drink? I mean, the liquor is minuscule in measure, but still. With that Kiiroitori band-aid, you look maybe fifteen." 

He didn't say aloud that the bruises forming around Hyuk's lip and cheekbone made him look older. Would it be wise of him to compliment shit like that? When he was Hyuk's age, that kind of talk just fueled it, made him seek it out more. It was why he took to smoking. 

Addictions. They were all addictions. Scrapes on his palms, feeling the sting of open wounds as he dabbed at them with rubbing alcohol. Seeing guys sprinting towards him with guns he knew they wouldn't fire unless absolutely necessary because they all wanted the same thing.

Adrenaline. The thrill. The addictive sensation of 'could I really die this way?' coupled with 'hah, no one can fucking take me down.' 

Now he had nicotine. Something else to get his blood pumping. 

He slid the sheet of parchment paper with the three chocolates over to Hyuk. "Slowly, remember? What're you doing after this? Wanna get samgyeopsal?" 

[hyuk-stretto-deactivated2014112]

"What Happened To Your Face?"

Sometimes the blood was from someone else, but Hyuk didn’t feel like pointing that out. He should have fixed his face up before hand, then come here— even if he was ridiculously addicted to the chocolate turtles. 

There weren’t any today though, so maybe something else. 

"Yeah, I’m good." Aside from the thin sliver of a cut beside his eye and the busted lip… he was stellar. Hyuk dabbed at it with his thumb, then dropped his hand again. "You should see the other guy." It was… force of habit to say that. Force of habit even when it wasn’t even the case.

[beenzinostretto]

Beenzino grabbed Hyuk's shoulders and ushered him to one of the stools by the case of chocolates. He pressed his fingers into the tight knot of muscles by Hyuk's neck and said aloud in his most playful voice:

"Aha, I bet you laid a good jab right in their big fat chin, eh, kid? Or, you probably fight dirty, doncha? Kicked em with those hideously long legs of yours right in their tiny little d--"

When he noticed Hyuk drooling at the display case, he gave up his little pep talk. He was never the pep talkin' type anyhow.

"You like peanut butter, kid? I made me own peanut butter and marshmallow filled chocolate. It's milk chocolate, but it's pretty killer." 

He ruffled his fingers through Hyuk's shaggy hair and headed behind the counter. "Name it and its yours today. It's almost closing, so you can have anything. Since you did us proud and kicked some ass today, right?" 

[beenzinostretto]

joonguar replied to your post:"Put something on!"

ooc: omg he just wants a lil appreciation doesn’t he bahahaha

((it's a hard life making pretty chocolates for a living while retaining thug image)) 

"tell me i'm badass but also that you appreciate my pretty truffles..."