Sparkle, onkey, ocean ^-^ ...hope you're ok, sweetie. Sending lots of love your way
The sun is just beginning to sink into the glittering waters of the Pacific when they step out of the restaurant and onto the boardwalk. Kibum’s hand is big and warm and strong when he twines their fingers and Jinki feels so secure by his side. It's been a long week of celebration and Jinki is ashamed to admit that all the excitement has worn him out entirely. Even their honeymoon in paradise has been tiring. He only has himself to blame for that, really (and maybe Kibum), but they're on their honeymoon, for goodness’ sake.
“It's our last night,” Kibum reminds him with a sad sigh. “How should we spend it?”
Jinki tilts his head up to look at his husband quirks his lips into a pensive pout. “Honestly…” he chuckles softly, “I’m fucking tired.”
Kibum laughs, loud and easy and beautiful. “Oh, my poor old man.” he teases and Jinki bumps his shoulder with a grumbly complaint. “Let's just chill at the cabin tonight, then.” Kibum proposes.
“Mm,” Jinki agrees, resting his head on Kibum’s shoulder. “We could sit on the beach and have a glass of wine.”
Kibum slides his thumb across his skin fondly as he hums his approval. “But let's make it a bottle.”
Now it's Jinki's turn to toss his head back in loud, easy laughter. He feels Kibum pull him closer, his left hand coming up to cup the elder’s right cheek before pressing their smiles together.
“Come on,” Jinki tugs him forward when they part and Kibum follows close behind.
Before long, they're lounging on the cool sand on the small private beach that came with the cabin. They pass a bottle of Rosé back and forth, talking about the stars and their dogs back home and how they are both so reluctant to go back to work but so excited to brag about their trip. Eventually, they fall into a comfortable silence and look out at the water. The moon high in the sky now, silvery on the waves.
“I'm going to miss it here,” Kibum admits and Jinki turns to face him, marveling at the moonlight glowing on his husband's cheek, shimmering in his eyes as captivating as the dark sea.
“I'm not.” Jinki says and Kibum raises a brow in confusion as Jinki smirks coyly. “I'm taking the most beautiful thing on this island home with me.”
“Eww,” Kibum whines, shoving Jinki playfully. “I can't believe I married such a cheesy old man.”
Welcome Mat (that’s what it’s called in my drafts I still can’t title after all these years)
For @katrinawritesthings‘s polyquest
pairings: (jongtae/ontae)
rating: pg
word count: 2500
His nervousness made Jinki early. It happened all the time with doctors appointments and job interviews. He’d rush to get ready and show up twenty to thirty minutes before he was scheduled to because he was afraid of being late. It wasn’t so bad for appointments because it usually meant he got to leave sooner and it was pretty good for interviews because it showed he was eager. But this time, he did not want to go home early or come across as too eager. Not for a first date.
He’d been crushing on the new guy for months now and it had taken him just about forever to get the courage to ask him out. He was surprised at Taemin’s immediate and bubbly “Yes!” and he didn’t want to ruin the guy’s excitement by showing up at his house too soon. But he hated sitting in the car, waiting, fighting the temptation to gnaw on his fingernails. He didn’t know which window of the apartment complex was Taemin’s but someone on the fourth floor kept sneaking peeks out toward the street and it was making him anxious. He couldn’t sit in the car any longer or he’d feel compelled to drive himself back home and leave Taemin hanging.
He held the door open for a small family with grocery bags in their arms and walked slowly up to the steps to Taemin’s floor, checking and double checking his apartment number on the notes in his phone. Taemin’s building wasn’t in the best neighborhood and it showed. There were candy and condom wrappers in the stairwell, which smelled a little like bleach. The concrete walls were painted white and stained with dingy scuff marks of unknown origin. It reminded him a lot of his first apartment when he was a grad student.
He dragged his feet along the dark blue carpet of Taemin’s corridor and sighed as he finally reached the door, its chipped green paint as uninviting as the rest of the doors he’d passed by, but there was a flowery welcome mat at his feet that read “the neighbors have better stuff”. He smiled down at it and paced over it for a moment, chewing his lip before taking a deep breath and rapping his knuckles on the metal.
“Ah, shit.” He heard a muffled voice from the other side of the door, a shuffle and a bang and hurried footsteps. Great. He wasn’t close to ready yet. “Gimme a sec!” Jinki frowned. That didn’t sound like Taemin.
The face that greeted him wasn’t Taemin’s either. His features were sharp, but his large eyes held a softness in them as he blinked up at Jinki through his damp bangs. “Hi,” he smiled. “Can I uh…” the man looked Jinki up and down and smiled as he met his eyes again. “help you, good sir?”
Jinki chuckled and shoved his hands in his jacket pockets as he rocked on the balls of his feet. “I’m here for Taemin?” he explained, hoping he’d gotten the right room.
“Oh,” the man beamed and opened the door wide, stepping back to allow Jinki inside. “Come in. He’s still in the shower.”
Jinki nodded his thanks and kicked off his shoes next to the pairs behind the door. He shut it softly and followed the man into the apartment, which was brighter on the inside than he’d expected; the walls a warm yellow, paintings of plants hung on them. He passed by three wooden doors down a narrow hallway, the last of which must have been the bathroom because he could hear the shower running, Taemin’s voice carrying over the thrum as he sang to himself. Jinki bit back a smile as the other man led him out to the surprisingly large living room and pointed toward the mismatched furniture, gesturing for Jinki to take a seat. Jinki took a step toward the love seat and the other man launched toward it to snatch up a black piece of fabric. He must have noticed the way Jinki started because he chuckled and held it up to explain. “Sorry, it’s my work shirt. Do you want a drink or something?”
“No, thanks.” Jinki hummed, shaking his head as he watched the other man slip his arms through the sleeves of the black button up. “Um, I’m Jinki, by the way…you must be Taemin’s roommate?”
“Oh, no.” the man chuckled. “I don’t live here. Well, not officially. I’m Jonghyun. Taem’s boyfriend.”
“Oh.” Jinki’s face fell, his heart dropping down to his stomach. This was bad. He needed to get out. Immediately. But he felt frozen and “Oh.” seemed to be all he could say. He looked at Jonghyun, guilt bubbling in his stomach at the sight of him and he bit down on his lip. “I- I um…”
Jonghyun furrowed his brow for a second before his eyes widened and he put up his hands, shaking his hands out at Jinki in a panic. “Oh! Oh man, he didn’t tell you. Okay, look, it’s cool. We’re cool. Babe!”
The bathroom door creaked open and Jinki heard footsteps approaching before Taemin appeared, wet and almost naked, save the towel slung low on his hips. Damn. He was hot. But he was a cheater. And this was wrong. And Jinki needed to leave.
“Oh, hey.” Taemin flushed at the sight of Jinki, pulling up his towel a little bit and shifting strategically behind Jonghyun, so that his small frame would cover him up. “You’re early.”
“And you have a boyfriend.” Jinki countered, standing with his fists balled at his side as a sudden anger flared up inside him. He had to bite down on his tongue to remain in control.
“Uh, yeah…” Taemin licked his lips. “I meant to tell you about Jjong tonight. And about me. Being poly.” He gripped Jonghyun’s biceps for support and the smaller man looked back at him with a small pout on his lips.
Jinki furrowed his brow. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”
Taemin shifted uncomfortably. “I liked you. And I didn’t want to push you away and I thought it was the kind of thing you tell someone face-to-face and in private. That’s why I waited.” he sighed. “I didn’t mean for…this.”
“And you…” he looked at Jonghyun and the man’s eyebrows raised expectantly. “You’re really okay with this? With your boyfriend dating other people?”
Jonghyun shrugged nonchalantly, tipping his head. “Yeah.” he chirped. “I love Taemin and all I care about is his happiness. If you make him happy, then I’m more than okay with it. He…uh…gushes about you. It’s pretty cute. He’s not one to gush often.”
Jinki flushed as Taemin peeked out at him timidly from behind his boyfriend. “So do you wanna cancel our date?” Taemin pouted and Jinki sighed, relaxing his stance as he became aware of the tenseness in the room. He’d probably need time to think it over.
“This concept is…new for me.” he admitted after a brief and totally awkward silence.
Jonghyun nodded solemnly. “I think you guys should talk.” He turned to Taemin and whispered something in his ear, his lips brushing right against the shell and Jinki had to look away, flushing at the intimacy of the moment, feeling like an intruder. How could he get used to dating someone who already had a relationship like that?
Jonghyun cleared his throat and Jinki blinked at him. “I’m gonna get going, then.” he said. “It was…interesting meeting you.”
“Mm.” Jinki hummed, sighing wistfully as he watched Jonghyun press a soft kiss to Taemin’s cheek in goodbye and stalk down the hallway, leaving Taemin bare.
The young man wrapped his arms around himself protectively and licked his lips before breaking the silence with an awkward little chuckle. “Well, I’m naked.” he said, too embarrassed to look at Jinki. “So I’m gonna get dressed real fast. If you want, you can have a seat and I’ll be right back. But you could also leave if you’re more comfortable with that.” Taemin sighed heavily and straightened up to look Jinki in the eye. “But I really hope you’re still here when I’ve got clothes on.”
He nodded once and scurried off down the hall. Jinki swayed in placed teetering back and forth between deciding to sit and deciding to creep down that hallway. He shut his eyes, took a deep breath and plopped himself down on the couch, shaking his head and wondering what exactly it was that he was getting himself into. But he liked Taemin. He really did. And Taemin seemed to really like him. Even his boyfriend said so. He didn’t know if he could get used to the idea but he was willing to give it a shot.
“Hey,” Taemin beamed as he walked back into the room. “You don’t hate me!”
Jinki snorted and shook his head. “No, I don’t. I kind of get why you didn’t tell me sooner, but I wish you would have.”
“I do, too.” Taemin said quietly. “I just get nervous about liking someone new and I act weird.”
Jinki smiled softly. “I get that.”
“So, do you want to get going? Or do you want to talk about the poly stuff some more?” Taemin asked, his voice wavering with nerves.
Jinki hummed in thought “I think we can talk on the way.” he smiled as he stood. “My friend works at the restaurant I want to go to and I’m beyond ready to prove that you’re really as hot as I say you are.”
“Oh?” Taemin chuckled, tugging at his plain white v-neck. “Should I get changed?”
Jinki looked him up and down, mixed feelings still churning around in his skull, but Taemin’s shy smile was warm and he seemed happy that Jinki had decided to change the subject. “Nah, you look perfect.”
“Thanks,” Taemin beamed and Jinki smiled back bashfully, looking down at the outfit he’d chosen carefully, self consciously straightening the collar of the blue shirt he’d tucked into his coziest gray sweater. “So um should we get going then?”
Taemin nodded and scooted over to the recliner to ruffle through a pile of fabric for his jacket. “Let’s go.” he smiled, snatching a set of keys off the coffee table and leading the way out.
On the way to the restaurant Jinki tried to keep the conversation light, adding in questions about Taemin’s relationship with Jonghyun as casually as he could, cringing whenever he thought they came across as awkward or possibly invasive. Taemin didn’t seem to mind, however. The younger man even told him to ask about any and everything. He wanted to make sure that Jinki was comfortable with it.
When they got to the restaurant, Jinki decided to let it go and focus on having a good time with Taemin. And they did. Taemin was funny and charming in a dorky way. He was warm and kind and much smarter than he let on at work, which he explained was because he didn’t want to be there and he didn’t want to give anyone any ideas about promoting him because then he’d become dedicated and he didn’t want to make a career of “being someone’s lackey”.
When Kibum came out from the kitchen to hand them their orders himself, he regarded Taemin with narrowed eyes. The youngest man seemed to shrink under his gaze and Jinki nudged Kibum for him to stop. He quickly introduced them to each other and Taemin smiled up bashfully as Kibum sighed. “Nice meeting you.” he directed at Taemin before turning to Jinki. “I’ll pay you tomorrow.” he grumbled before heading back to the kitchen.
“You bet on my hotness?” Taemin chuckled behind his fist, blushing a cute, warm pink.
Jinki ducked his head in embarrassment, chuckling sheepishly. “Yeah…sorry.”
“How much did we win?” Taemin inquired, picking up his knife and fork to cut into his large chunk of beef. “I am, of course, entitled to some of that money…”
Jinki blinked at his sly little smirk for a moment before responding “Twenty bucks.” he grinned. “We could use it for our next date? I was thinking bowling, maybe? Or mini golf.”
Taemin gasped in pleasant surprise. “I get a second date?”
“Mm,” Jinki nodded, taking a bite of his pasta before continuing. “There is one condition, though.”
Taemin covered his mouth as he hurried to swallow his mouthful. “What’s that?”
“You have to let me steal some of your fries.” Jinki said seriously and Taemin leaned back in his chair, taking this information into thoughtful consideration.
After a moment, Taemin shook his head. “I don’t know, man. These are sweet potato fries. The third best kind of fry known to man…”
Jinki struggled to hold back his amused grin. “Third best?”
“Mm,” Taemin nodded sagely. “After curly and chili cheese, of course.”
“Ah,” Jinki chuckled, nodding in understanding. “Of course.”
Taemin picked up one of the fries and held it up vertically between them. “You may not steal them,” he said. “But I am willing to grant you some, which, by my definition, is no more than seven.” He straightened out his arm, offering Jinki the crispy end. “Agreed?”
Jinki chuckled and plucked the fry out of his fingers with his teeth. “Mm,” he nodded as he pushed the rest of it into his mouth and chewed through it. “Agreed.”
The rest of the date went so well that Jinki had almost forgotten why it had had such a shaky start. He remembered as they pulled up to Taemin’s building and he began to feel unsure again.
“I had fun tonight.” Taemin hummed, leaning in closer.
Jinki nodded, still facing forward. “Me too.” he mumbled.
Taemin tugged on his sleeve and Jinki looked over at him nervously. “Can I have a kiss good night?” he asked quietly, licking his pouty, pink lips, which was totally unfair of him. “Or do you want to save that for after date number two? That is, if you’re still down for a date number two…I’d understand if-”
“No,” Jinki shook his head, making up his mind. “I mean- Yes. I am still down for bowling next Thursday.”
Taemin’s lips spread into a coy smile and he nodded. “Okay, then…And the kiss?”
Jinki smiled and leaned closer, cupping Taemin’s round cheek and pressing their lips together. Taemin hummed a happy little sound against his mouth and Jinki felt himself warming all over, deepening the kiss and getting lost in the warmth of it, the sweet softness. Taemin pulled back altogether too soon and bit his kiss-swollen lip, smiling bashfully. “I should get inside.” he sighed and Jinki nodded. It was quite late and they did have to work in the morning. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” Jinki hummed. “Good night.”
Taemin popped open his door and smiled back at him. “Yes it is.” he agreed before planting a quick peck on his cheek and sliding out of the car.
Yes it is. Jinki repeated to himself as Taemin waved from the door to the lobby.
Taemin nods a greeting to Kibum in the kitchen as he shuffles through his apartment. The fashion student Jinki has been tutoring in math is coming over more frequently now that they’ve begun dating and Taemin likes it. He likes how Jinki smiles brighter when he's around, the looks they give each other and the blush that makes their faces glow when they catch each other looking. It's adorable. Seeing his brother so happy gives him the warm fuzzies.
But what he likes most about Kibum’s visits is that he often brings his roommate, Jonghyun, over because he’s got to drop him off at work when the study session is over and it’s easier to have him tag along. Taemin bites his lip when he gets to his bedroom door, hoping to find the slim music grad curled around his body pillow when he opens it. He loves that Jonghyun feels comfortable enough to take naps in his bed. The elder had been so careful and anxious around him when they'd first met, but after he got sick of perching himself on the edge of their living room futon for a good five hours a week and warmed up to the Lee brothers, he and Taemin had become quite close.
Taemin doesn't find the sleepy little Jonghyun he had been hoping for but he gets a version that's just as good. Jonghyun is sitting cross-legged in the center of his bed, his fluffy blue throw pillow in his lap and Taemin's newest purchase twirling between his fingertips as he giggles to himself. He starts a bit when he notices Taemin in the doorway but smiles easily when the younger man shuts the door behind him, dropping his bag on top of the pile of laundry in his chair.
"What's this?" Jonghyun holds up the device; a drippy looking splat of black plastic.
Taemin rolls his eyes and takes it from him, explaining "It's a massager, you nerd."
"Oh, I bet it is." Jonghyun smirks and Taemin sighs.
"Are you kidding?" he says in a huff as he sits beside the elder. "Obviously it's for your back and stuff."
Jonghyun raises a skeptical brow. "Yeah. Sure."
“This doesn’t...Like how would you even-?” Taemin starts, but figures it’d be easier just to show him so he presses the massager to Jonghyun's right shoulder blade and makes gentle circular motions down his side.
"Mm...Oh wow. Fuck." Jonghyun moans.
He fucking moans and Taemin feels his whole body heat up with both arousal and shame. Jonghyun has recently started dating a very nice girl named Minjung and Taemin has been trying to rid himself of this silly crush on his friend for weeks now. He laughs off his emotions, tossing the massager onto the pillow in Jonghyun’s lap. “Told you. It’s nothing naughty.” he chuckles as he takes a seat beside the elder.
Jonghyun makes an obnoxious whiny sound and holds the massager up for Taemin to take again. “Keep going.” Taemin looks up at him through his lashes with a deadpan expression that he hopes reads as Are you fucking serious? Jonghyun juts out his lower lip and widens his eyes in a sickeningly adorable expression. “Please?” he adds in a small voice and Taemin feels the urge to punch him. Or maybe kiss him.
He’s fairly certain that neither response would bode well for him, so he sighs and holds out his palm, taking the massager and scooting further onto his mattress as Jonghyun turns his back to him, snickering in triumph.
Taemin gulps down his nerves and carefully begins at Jonghyun’s left shoulder blade, flushing when Jonghyun mumbles “Harder.”
Taemin takes what he hopes is a subtle deep breath and presses harder into the tense muscles of Jonghyun’s back, pulling a low groan from his throat. “Damn dude.” he whispers, exasperated already. “It can’t feel that good.”
“Minjung’s been dragging me to the gym again and I’m sore all over. You have no idea how bad I need something like this.” he explains.
Taemin deflates at the mention of her name and mumbles a soft “Oh” in understanding. He shifts back to sit at the edge of the bed again and offers Jonghyun the massager. “You can keep this one if you want. They’re super cheap for me at my job, so I’ll just get another one before I leave tomorrow.”
“Well,” Jonghyun shifts to sit beside Taemin and pout at him again, holding the massager in confusion. “I didn’t mean...I mean thanks, but…” He sighs, knitting his brows in confusion. “How am I even supposed to use this on myself?”
Taemin shrugs in response. “Ask Minjung to do it for you.” he suggests simply. He’s pretty aware that he’s being bitter, but he kind of wants to push Jonghyun away right now. He thinks that would be for the best. He should have just refused to massage his back in the first place. Now he’s gone and fucked himself over. He’s triggered his own depression like a douche and just wants to curl up under his blankets and stare blankly at the wall for a few hours, silently berating himself for the months’-worth of ridiculous fantasies of having a romantic relationship with Jonghyun, hating himself for becoming so emotional over practically nothing, and the tears he already feels welling in his eyes.
“Hey,” Jonghyun’s soft voice pulls him from his thoughts and he looks up for a second to see the concern on his furrowed brow. He dips his head back down and huffs a small sigh. “Are you mad at me?” Jonghyun asks.
Taemin shakes his head minutely. “No.” he hums quietly to the floorboards.
Jonghyun leans in and tilts his head to look up at Taemin’s face. “Is it because I was being a whiny brat?” he asks. “I know I can be annoying sometimes. Next time just ask me to stop. I promise I will.”
“I said I’m not mad at you.” Taemin mumbles and Jonghyun drops his chin on his shoulder, hugging him around the middle.
“I know when you’re upset, Taem.” he hums, swaying them gently. Taemin allows it because it feels so nice and he’s obviously some kind of emotional masochist. After a moment of silent rocking, Jonghyun whispers “Was it because I brought Minjung up? Do you not like her?”
Taemin tenses and turns to find the elder worrying at his lip with concern. “Minjung is a great person and you make a really cute couple.” he says sincerely.
“Then…”Jonghyun flushes. “I...Do you...Are you jealous?”
Taemin responds by pulling away from his embrace and scoots farther away. There’s a long, awkward silence and Taemin wishes the Good Lord would strike him down right there in his bedroom, but of course, the Big Guy won’t come through on that one. He knows. He’s asked it of Him many times before. Jonghyun doesn’t seem inclined to speak and Taemin really wants this moment to end, so he swallows several times to force back the lump in his throat. “Maybe we shouldn’t hang out so much anymore.” he says without turning his head. “It’ll be easier for me to get over it if you’re not here like everyday.”
“I’m so sorry, Taemin.” Jonghyun places a careful hand on his knee.
Taemin shakes his head. “It’s not your fault.”
“Yes it is.” Jonghyun rubs his thumb over the fabric of Taemin’s sweatpants. “If I...If I’d had the guts, then I would have told you that I feel the same way a long time ago, but I didn’t know if you would date a guy and-.”
“And it’s too late now.” Taemin sniffs, rubbing his hands over his face. God he’s so angry with himself for being such a bashful loser. His brother had told him to make a move over a month ago, but he was too chicken shit.
“Um…” Jonghyun hums. “Not exactly?”
Taemin snaps his head up in offense, lip curled, brow furrowed as he exclaims “I’m not going to be your…” His mouth gapes open for a beat as he searches for a better term but all he comes up with is a snarled “Side hoe.”
Jonghyun snorts, covering his mouth to hold back his laughter. Taemin is confused. “No,” Jonghyun waves his hands in front of himself as if attempting to literally clear the air between them. “Minjungie and I are both poly.” he explains. “I mean, she has two boyfriends so far and she’s known I like you since before we even started dating so she wouldn’t care. She’d probably be really happy about it, actually…”
Taemin leans back and frowns at the elder, still somewhat confused.
“I know not everyone can handle being in a relationship with people like us, but...I hope you’ll think about it?” Jonghyun continues, seeing that Taemin hasn’t fully processed the concept.
Taemin stares at the floor silently for another few moments as he gathers his thoughts to speak. “I...um...can I ask you some questions?” Taemin ventures, finally meeting Jonghyun’s eyes.
“Yeah.” Jonghyun nods, smiling warmly.
It takes him another moment to figure out how to start and he leads with “I’m weird.”
Jonghyun grins at that, leaning back against the wall by the window. “That’s not a question.”
“I know it’s like a…” Damn his social skills. This would be much easier for him through text. “A prelude? Background info? Whatever. The point is, like, most times I’m a pretty low-maintenance guy, but sometimes, I get, I don’t know...needy? Or...clingy? And...” Taemin wavers, trying to decide how to explain this. Jonghyun nods, understanding that he needs another second to figure out how he’s going to say what he needs to say. “And it only really happens when I’m...um...down, ya know?”
Jonghyun smiles empathetically and nods again, encouraging Taemin to continue. “I just- I guess I’m worried you won’t be there for me when I want you to be because you’ll be with her...”
“I’ll always be there for you when you need me, Taem.” he says, like he’s so sure of it. “Minjung will understand in cases of emergency. And before you ask, we consider bouts of depression to be emergencies.”
Taemin sighs, running a hand through his hair. “What if she and I both need you?”
“Then I’ll do my best to make it work.” Jonghyun hums after a moment’s pause. He chuckles and adds, “Besides, I’m boyfriend number two, remember? She’s more used to going to Joonmyeon with her problems anyway.”
“But what if her problem is boyfriend number one? Or what if they’re arguing and something else comes up and she wants to go to you because she’s still upset with him? Or if he’s unavailable for some reason? Or if she just thinks you’re the better person to go to depending on the situation?” Taemin bombards him with scenarios and Jonghyun tilts his head from side to side in thought.
“Well,” Jonghyun begins. “Firstly, I think the odds of any of those things happening at the same time that you need me to be there for you are slim. Secondly, Minjung and I have agreed not to talk about our other partners when we’re having issues because those issues are not usually relevant to our relationship, and our partners may not want us to discuss their problems. Plus I think it’s better to talk it out with the partner you’re upset with anyway...”
Taemin nods and clears his throat to ask his next question “Do you have other partners?” Jonghyun simply shakes his head in response and Taemin continues with the follow-up. “Do you like anyone else? Besides me and Minjung?”
“Not currently.” Jonghyun hums.
Taemin takes a minute to think about how he’d feel dating Jonghyun, knowing that he wouldn’t be the only person Jonghyun loves and he thinks he could be comfortable with it, especially considering the fact that he actually really likes Minjung, based on the three or four times they’d hung out. But then he wonders “What if you start liking someone else?”
Jonghyun shrugs. “Then I’d tell you guys, but honestly, I’m not sure if I could be in three different relationships like…” he chuckles. “I don’t got time for that.”
“But it could happen…” Taemin presses. “And that would give you less time for all of us.”
Jonghyun nods. “That’s true. But right now, I really just want to be with you and Minjung…” Taemin isn’t really satisfied with that answer and Jonghyun must be able to read it on his face because he sighs and adds. “Look, I can’t guarantee that I won’t develop a crush on someone in the future, but I have been gone for you for like half a year and finding out that you like me back is just…” he looks around the room, searching for the right word and ends up chuckling. “The way it makes me feel is fucking indescribable.”
Taemin frowns a bit. “What do you mean?”
“It’s fucking…” he sighs and gestures around the room again. “It’s both elating and crushing. Sweet and painful. Heart-stopping and heart-racing. It’s- It’s-” he pauses when he realizes that Taemin has his brow raised in judgement. “Mostly good…?”
The younger man shakes his head. “Fucking lyricists. That shit doesn’t even make sense.”
“I already told you it’s indescribable!” Jonghyun picks up his pillow and smack his arm with it.
“Hey,” Taemin whines, picking up the fuzzy blue pillow to retaliate. “That. Was. Rude.” he punctuates every word with a soft blow aimed at the elder’s torso. Only the last strike to his ribs lands as Jonghyun has used his much larger pillow as a shield.
He flops over dramatically and raises his hands in surrender. “Truce!” he shouts as Taemin lifts the pillow over his head.
“Fine.” Taemin sighs, allowing the pillow to fall down onto Jonghyun’s shoulder.
Jonghyun immediately grabs it and hugs it to his chest, looking up at Taemin expectantly. “Do you need more time to think about it?”
Taemin stretches himself out beside him and props his head up on his hand. “No.” he hums.
“So…” Jonghyun is visibly nervous and Taemin smiles at the way his trembling fingers grip the pillow.
He leans forward and places a soft, lingering peck on Jonghyun’s lips. “Does that answer your question?”
Jonghyun’s mouth hangs open in surprise for a second before his lips spread into a wide grin. “You know, actually, I didn’t catch that. Do you mind repeating it?”
“Ugh,” Taemin rolls his eyes. “You’re the worst.”
Jonghyun giggles. “Get used to it, babe.” He winks.
Taemin leans in for another kiss, despite the fact that Jonghyun’s flirting is terrible, and Jonghyun pulls him in, slings a leg over his hips and rolls him onto his back. Taemin lands on something hard and unpleasant and he yelps into Jonghyun’s lips. He arches up off the bed, pushing him away to pick up the massager they’d abandoned earlier. “Ow…” he pouts. “Fucking...thing.”
“Aw…” Jonghyun frowns sympathetically and takes the massager from him. “Oh, hey, would you mind using this on me now?”
“Really?” Taemin asks, rubbing at the spot on his back that is likely bruised.
“I’m still so sore.” Jonghyun whines. “Please? I’ll do you after...”
Taemin’s face burns a hot red and he blinks “Um…”
“I mean I’ll massage your back! With the thing!” Jonghyun hurries to explain.
“Oh,” Taemin laughs in relief, covering his face as he shakes with giggles. “I thought-”
“I know.” Jonghyun’s laughing, too. “Oh god…”
They lean into each other, chuckling until there’s a knock at the door and Taemin attempts to calm himself before answering it. “Sorry to break up the party,” Kibum smiles at the grin lingering on Taemin’s face. “But we gotta go.”
Jonghyun sighs heavily. “Ugh. Why?”
“Come on, kiddo, you’re gonna be late for work.” Kibum steps into the room and pulls Jonghyun up out of the bed.
“I’m older than you.” Jonghyun grumbles and Kibum rolls his eyes, dragging him out by the wrist. He stops himself at the door jamb and pushes the brunet away. “I gotta talk to Taemin real quick. Go start the car, I’ll be right down.”
Kibum raises a brow in suspicion, looking between the two shorter men with narrowed eyes before shrugging to himself and walking back down the hall.
“If I call you after work, will you be up?” Jonghyun asks quietly, taking Taemin’s hand in his.
Taemin nods. “I should be.”
“So I’ll talk to you then?” Jonghyun squeezes his hand softly.
“Yeah.” Taemin smiles as Jonghyun tilts his chin up expectantly and he leans down to press a light kiss on his waiting lips. “Talk to you then.”
Jonghyun beams when they part and shuffles down the hall quickly, ducking his head as he passes by a surprised-looking Jinki. Taemin pales at the sight of his brother, eyes going wide. Jinki points back in the direction in which Jonghyun had disappeared and then at Taemin. "Doesn’t he-”
“Yeah.” Taemin cuts him off before he can ask, crossing his arms over his chest and standing up tall, daring his brother to challenge him. “And now he also has a boyfriend.”
“Oh.” Jinki shrugs, turning. “Cool. Congrats. I was wondering when you guys would admit you liked each other...I mean I didn’t think it would happen after he and-”
Taemin chuckles, letting himself relax. “Yeah, me neither.” he admits. “But I think I can get used to the idea...I think I can be really happy with him.”
Jinki offers him one of his trademark warm smiles and Taemin feels himself blushing. “You’re cute.” Jinki pinches his cheek and Taemin whines, pulling away. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.” Taemin mumbles. He’s happy for himself, too.
Jonghyun hadn't intended for them to do this when he suggested they video chat, hell, he had never pictured himself jerking it in front of his laptop for his boyfriend’s viewing pleasure, but there he was, and, surprisingly, he didn't feel as shameful as he thought he would. He was too overwhelmed by Taemin’s beauty to care. He was so pretty with his hair falling into his eyes, his cheeks flushed, lips swollen and pink from licking and pulling on them with his teeth. His loose v-neck hung low and askew on his heaving chest, low moans rumbling in his throat as he teased himself, slick fingers rubbing slow circles around his clit. God, he was so wet. Jonghyun wished he knew what he tasted like and he must have done so out loud because Taemin chuckled and brought his fingers up to his lips, staring intently at the camera as he sucked them in and moaned around them. “Kinda sweet.” he smirked as Jonghyun visibly shuddered “Kinda sour.”
“Fuck,” Jonghyun breathed, his fist tugging at his cock a little faster, squeezing a little tighter. He was so fucking hard and already dribbling at the head and they barely even started. “You're so fu-”
Taemin’s bedroom door creaked open and his girlfriend Gwiboon jumped in surprise, turning a bright pink as she squeaked a surprised “Oh.”
Taemin whined and Jonghyun sat frozen, eyes wide with horror and embarrassment. “Babe, I told you-”
“Sorry, I just needed my makeup bag.” she explained before shuffling across the room to collect it. She turned to apologize to the laptop camera and it was then that Jonghyun realized that he had made no move to cover himself. His hand was still circled around his shaft, precome rolling down his first finger. “Sorry, again, Jonghyun. Cute dick, by the way.”
“I...uh...thanks?” Jonghyun stammered. He could feel himself flushing the hottest of reds as Gwiboon giggled and skipped away, Taemin backhanding her ass lightly when she passed him by.
Taemin began apologizing but Jonghyun could barely hear him over the pounding in his ears and he flopped over onto his side, curling up fetal-style. He didn’t know how long he stared at Taemin’s lips moving on his screen, but he didn’t really even know how to be in that moment. Taemin looked concerned, but his brain could not function enough to tell Taemin to please for the love of all that is good and holy end the call, let alone reach over and end it himself.
“Ugh! Great!” Taemin shouted, snapping Jonghyun back to reality. “Gwiboon! You broke my boyfriend!”
Jonghyun couldn’t help but chuckle at that. Taemin reacted to the sound with a goofy open-mouthed gawk and that only made him laugh harder. So hard his stomach began to hurt and soon he felt tears streaming hotly down his cheeks.
“Oh my god he’s in hysterics.” was the next thing Jonghyun could make out before he finally sat up, tossed a blanket over his hips and swiped a hand over his face, taking deep breaths to compose himself. He didn’t expect to see Gwiboon on his screen when he opened his eyes again and the worried furrow of her brow almost made him crack up again.
“Um...” she hummed, looking seriously worried. “I’m really sorry I walked in on you guys.’ Taemin shot her a glare and she flushed under it. “And I’m sorry if I embarrassed you with that comment about your private bits. It was inappropriate, but I swear I didn’t mean it offensively. I really do think it’s cute.”
Taemin groaned and Jonghyun started laughing again as Gwiboon threw her hands up and cried “What? It is!”
Taemin and Gwiboon’s own snickers joined Jonghyun’s breathy chuckles and soon they were all rolling around in their beds, clutching their stomachs for at least tewnty minutes. When they finally calmed down, Jonghyun breathed a shaky “Well it was nice finally meeting you, Gwiboon, but I should go now.”
“Nice meeting you, too.” Gwiboon snorted in response.
Taemin grinned over at her and pecked her cheek before turning back to the screen. “Bye, babe. Text me later so I know you’re fully functional.”
“Okay.” Jonghyun giggled and waved them goodbye before ending the call.
