Ludus
Playful love. Beginning stages of intimate love.
Jumin has been described by many people in many different words, but he has yet to be called playful.
Serious, driven, maybe even bizarre (by a particular member of the RFA), but never playful.
Indeed, he has never felt particularly playful, except when playing with Elizabeth. But of course, only real love could bring out that side of him.
That’s why when he meets the new RFA member for the first time, something lights up within him. This new side of him wakes up, and he is suddenly filled with this energy to make them smile that he has never felt before.
✧✦✧
It’s not often that Jumin sleeps in. Even on days off, he wakes up almost like clockwork at the same time. Today, however, he has woken up to an empty bed and commotion in the kitchen.
Now he stands in the doorway to his bedroom, watching his fiancé dance through the kitchen in nothing but one of his shirts and Elizabeth in their arms. They sing along to a song playing on the radio and make faces at her, completely oblivious to their fiancé watching them with an affectionate smile.
He wants to observe for a bit longer before he interrupts, but he doesn’t manage to stay unnoticed for long. They spot him still lingering at the door and beckon him over to join them, and how can he resist?
“I thought I’d surprise you with breakfast.” They say, standing on their tiptoes so he can kiss their cheek.
They somehow convince him to join them in their little dance, and together they spin around the kitchen, laughing over the music.
✧✦✧
They’re settled on the sofa together, sipping wine that he brought back from his recent trips to the vineyard. Jumin is working on a new embroidery piece, completely absorbed in his work.
“Jumin, you’re trying to sip an empty wine glass. Let me go top that up for you.”
He looks up to realize that yes, his glass is empty. He looks at them thankfully and hands them the glass.
“Thank you, Muffin. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
They freeze. “What did you just call me?”
“Muffin. It’s a pet name. People call each other sweet things when they’re in love, don’t they?”
“Yes, they do. But Muffin?” They sound amused, and Jumin continues.
“You don’t like it? How about Cupcake?”
They scrunch their nose in mock disgust, and he can’t help but notice how adorable they look, even when they’re teasing him.
“Hot stuff?”
“Jumin!” They burst out laughing. “Have you been researching pet names?”
“Perhaps.” He tries to keep his expression serious, but a smile forms in the corners of his mouth.
They finish pouring the wine and return to the sofa to hand it to him. Once the glass is out of their hand, they throw themselves onto the sofa dramatically.
“So what nickname would you rather I call you?”
They make a show of thinking, exaggerated expression and thumb rubbing their chin. “Dumpling? Sugar? How about Gummy Bear? ”
“Be careful, I might think you’re serious,” he says, “then you’ll be stuck with Gummy Bear forever.”
“As long as it’s you, you can call me whatever you want.”
✧✦✧
They haven’t been going to events together for long. He understands that it’s an environment that they’re still getting used to. Most of the time, he tries to keep them next to him, but sometimes, they get split up.
Tonight is one of those nights. Jumin stands by his father, trying to not appear bored in front of the person trying to schmooze with them. He nods when he has to and pretends to be absorbed in conversation, but his eyes keep drifting over the businessman’s shoulder.
Lucky for him, his fiancé is at the next table, not difficult to watch from where he’s standing. They’re looking similarly bored, or maybe just tired. They’re surrounded by chattering people, all of them too occupied to notice their lack of enthusiasm, at least.
They spot him watching them and appear to almost immediately regain their energy. They stand a little straighter and shoot him a devilish smile. He tries his best to keep his expression serious, but he knows what they’re planning.
After double checking to make sure that nobody’s paying attention, they turn back to Jumin and wiggle their eyebrows suggestively. It’s adorable, and if he were anywhere else, he’d laugh. But the businessman is asking him a question, and he has to at least pretend to be serious.
Watching their first attempt fail does not dissuade them. They wait until Jumin is watching them again, then puff out their cheeks at him, and this time they manage to make him smile. How could he not? They look so happy when they win. He tries to cover it up with a sip of wine and returns his attention (however briefly) to the person in front of him.
Just a few minutes later, his love appears at his side, slipping their hand into his. He happily introduces them as the love of his life (he never misses an opportunity), before taking a step away to let the businessman bore his father some more.
He leans towards them enough to whisper in their ear, “shall we go home, love?”
This expression he can read without any help.
✧✦✧
One day, he returns home from work only to be greeted by a sticky note on the front door reading hide and seek! Come and find me!
He can’t help but smile to himself. Challenge accepted. He stops only momentarily to take off his shoes before starting his search.
First comes the living room, with the big plush sofa and shelving. Not many good hiding spots, but he wouldn’t put it past them.
Then the dining room, where he takes a peek under the table and is greeted only by a curious Elizabeth, offended that she hasn’t been pet yet. He scoops her up in his arms and keeps going.
The kitchen, bathroom and office are all similarly empty. The penthouse is alarmingly quiet. He had never realized just how much life his fiancé brought into the house with them when they moved in. Usually there was always some music on or even the sound of them talking to themselves when they thought they were alone. It was comforting to know that there was someone to share this space with him. How did he ever live in such silence?
When he enters the bedroom, he sees his walk-in wardrobe door ajar and suddenly knows that he has found them. The sound of a muffled giggle breaks the silence as he crosses the room to finally greet the love of his life.
✧✦✧
Most people would probably not call him playful. But his love does, and that’s what really matters to him.
