Photograph - The Middle
Title: Photograph - part two of three
Pairing: jongkey
Genre: fluff, romance, angst, au, humor
Rating: PG-15
Word Count: 7959
Summary: life's a lot more interesting with Kim Jonghyun around.
Kibum isn’t quite sure what happened afterwards.
The Middle.
The two of them went out for coffee again, yes, but the second time was a whole lot different than the
first. It was as if Kibum was meeting Jonghyun all over again and they were two completely different
characters this time.
Jonghyun was sweet and genuine and Kibum was a shy, blushing moron.
Kibum absolutely hated it.
Why, he wonders as he sips his drink, his eyes narrowing unconsciously, why on earth am I acting
this way?
He sets his drink down and Jonghyun just smiles. He just smiles and gazes at Kibum, head tilted in
admiration as he stares at the younger boy. Kibum feels his face flush with heat for the umpteenth
time that afternoon and he ducks his head, fiddling with his fingers in his lap. He thinks he’s utterly
pathetic-he’s completely fed up with himself but still he can’t seem to change his behavior.
Perhaps it’s the fact that Kibum now knows Jonghyun has liked him for a while now. He knows what
that feels like. He’s a teenager with raging hormones too, and in the past he’s been involved with many
people-men and women. He’s had a few times (very few, vague times, but times nonetheless) when
he’s craved someone, lusting after them and no one else. And he’s also had times when he’d finally,
finally be with that person and he’d feel overwhelming happiness swell in his chest.
He imagines that’s how Jonghyun feels right about now.
“…Would you stop staring?” Kibum finally asks, sharply but still timidly. “You’re…making me nervous,”
he admits, only causing a burst of pink to bloom on his cheeks once again.
Jonghyun’s affectionate smile is left unchanging. “…I can’t,” he tells him. “You’re just really, really,
pretty, Kibum-ah.”
Kibum looks at his fingers again, finding them immensely fascinating.
He hears Jonghyun’s low chuckle and glances up cautiously, brows creased, unintended pout pulling
gently at his lips.
“…What happened to ‘Kibummie’?” he asks with an amused tone, but something in his eyes is a little
melancholy, which, unfortunately, doesn’t go unnoticed by the elder.
“You miss that name?” Jonghyun inquires, moderately surprised, his eyebrows shooting up.
Kibum scoffs, folding his arms over the tabletop. He rests his chin on his crossed limbs.
(The real reason behind the action is just to distract Jonghyun from the blush on his face.)
He drums his fingers over the table, his eyes cast on the beverage before him. He honestly doesn’t
want to look at Jonghyun at the moment.
“…I don’t mind it,” he mumbles into his arm, eyes expressionless.
He sees, no, he feels, the other boy stare at him with gigantic eyes. Slowly, in a moment that’s more
a blur to Kibum than anything else, the older boy delicately grasps his chin between his thumb and
forefinger, tilting Kibum’s face up with care. He gazes down into the younger’s eyes with slight concern
before a grin pulls at his plush lips.
“Then-are you officially giving me permission?” he asks with a look of amusement and, perhaps,
Kibum thinks, the most excitement one has ever sported when asking a question so trivial.
After a moment of comprehension, Kibum laughs. He laughs and laughs and then laughs even more
when he sees Jonghyun’s confused expression.
“I guess it’s okay,” he finally says after his breathing has calmed.
Jonghyun beams.
“Kibummie,” he says, and the other boy looks at him, “…Can we do this next week too?”
“No,” the younger is quick to answer.
Jonghyun’s posture deflates.
“I’m busy with work next week,” he tells him, “Tomorrow.”
And Jonghyun’s beam appears all over again.
“So you and hyung worked things out?” Minho asks one evening as he decorates the living room with
Christmas lights (he’s a little late), Taemin assisting him. The younger is a mess of giggles because
Minho keeps messing up and dropping things as he attempts to set stuff up. Jonghyun, thankfully, is
the in bathroom.
“We’re okay,” he tells Minho with a smile that says just as much, his eyes lighting up at the topic.
Minho quirks a brow at his expression.
“So, are you guys…you know…”
And in a flash, Kibum’s smile is gone, replaced only by a pissed expression (accompanied by a
blush). “Absolutely not, Minho. Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Whatever you say,” the younger says with a sigh, giving up as he continues to decorate. Kibum
watches as Taemin’s lips twist uncomfortably (little brat is holding back a smirk).
“Just-I don’t know,” Kibum sighs, sinking backwards into the couch. “It’d be weird, don’t you think? I
don’t know if I’m really ready to be in a…” he stammers, face reddening, “…in a…relationship with
Jjong right now. I know he’s liked me for a really long time but the thought of us being…you know-it
makes me really uncomfortable.” The dark-haired boy squirms in his seat a little to clearly
demonstrate his discomfort.
Taemin struggles with untangling a few sets of lights and Minho helps him. “I don’t know, hyung,”
Minho says, “maybe you’re just being difficult.”
“I probably am,” Kibum agrees, emotionless.
“You should give him a chance,” Taemin tells the older boy. “When I first met Jonghyun-hyung, I didn’t
like him either.”
Jonghyun chooses that moment to return (thank God it wasn’t ten seconds earlier, Kibum thinks).
“You didn’t like me?” Jonghyun pouts as he casually strolls into the room, hands stuffed deep in his
pockets.
“Don’t take offence, hyung,” Taemin says simply, “You just scared me a little.”
Jonghyun scoffs, feigning hurt. “Taeminnie, how could you?”
“Well, what was I supposed to think?” Taemin asks, eyes wide in disbelief. “You were totally
unapproachable! You always kept to yourself and when I tried to talk with you, you just gave me this
cold look, like you were going to kill me or something…”
Kibum bursts into laughter, clenching his sides. Jonghyun sends him an annoyed glance.
“You know I was distracted when I met you, Minnie…” he murmurs, wandering blankly towards the
couch.
“Distracted?” Kibum questions, now curious. Jonghyun frowns as he takes a seat beside him.
“Distracted by what?”
Jonghyun faces forward, glaring at nothing in particular. “Nothing,” he says solemnly.
Kibum looks at the two younger boys for help. “What’s he talking about?”
Minho sends Jonghyun a cautious glance before sighing. “That was around the time Jonghyun was
working really hard. He really wanted to perform-he was on a roll, playing at different clubs, here and
there. It must have been the stress of it all-the fact that he had to focus and make things perfect.
That’s probably why he acted so distant back then.”
Kibum listens with interest, a faint voice in the back of his mind scolding to no end about all the insults
he spat at Jonghyun about his guitar and such. He regrets it so much that it makes his heart ache-
he tries not to think about it and listen to Minho’s explanation.
“There’s also the fact that,” the tall boy gulps, sending one last observant look to Jonghyun before
saying softly, “…the fact that that’s around the time he noticed you…”
Kibum flushes at the words. He looks at Jonghyun quickly.
The older boy is still staring blankly, though his expression is now bothered. His brows are furrowed
and his teeth are digging into his lip (Kibum’s slightly worried about him), and, oh my God, is that a
blush on his cheeks?
Jonghyun suddenly sighs dramatically, burying his face in his hands, his elbows resting on his thighs.
“Minho, you weren’t supposed to say that…” he mutters into his skin, pleading voice muffled.
Minho smiles sheepishly. “…Sorry.”
Jonghyun gradually turns his head, unsealing his face, to look at the boy next to him. Kibum’s mouth
is ajar, his eyes blinking perplexedly. Kibum honestly doesn’t know what to say-all he can really do
is stare, and, to his dismay, internally smile at how adorable Jonghyun looks when he’s
embarrassed…
“I didn’t-I didn’t want you knowing about it…” Jonghyun says coyly, his face reddening even further
(God, could a human being be more adorable? Kibum unintentionally wonders), his eyes cast
downward. Kibum stares with disbelief and, unknowingly, a smile reaches his lips and he laughs a bit
(nervously, but still).
Jonghyun looks at him, puzzled.
Kibum smiles at him almost apologetically (he feels bad for embarrassing him, but it was completely
worth it). He hesitantly, with a trembling hand, touches the side of the older boy’s face with his
fingertips. He gulps when Jonghyun’s eyes amplify.
“I-I, uh…” he mumbles aimlessly, simply staring. He doesn’t even acknowledge the gazes of
amusement and anxiety Minho and Taemin are sending him. He cups Jonghyun’s face with one hand
then leans in swiftly, sneaking a quick, chaste peck to his cheek.
He pulls back just as fast, his hands automatically folding in his lap. He’s blushing madly, he knows it,
as he looks down. He traces a pattern absently over his thigh, just to distract himself.
“Thanks,” he mumbles, even though he isn’t quite sure what he’s thanking Jonghyun for.
After a moment of comprehending silence, Jonghyun leaps into the air, a victorious fist rising above
him.
“So,” Jonghyun says giddily, an arm fluidly linking around Kibum’s, “you kissed me the other day, you
know.”
Kibum rolls his eyes for what seems like the hundredth time that day, exhaling. Jonghyun’s been
reminding him of his little act of kindness (with a dazzlingly annoying grin, not to mention) for days
now. Every time he comes in contact with the guy, that’s the first thing he remembers to tell Kibum.
The younger heads to Jonghyun’s kitchen in hopes of finding some comfort in there.
“Care to try again?” Jonghyun asks hopefully, though there’s still amusement in his tone.
Kibum jerks out of the elder’s grip. “Absolutely not. The only reason I did that was because I thought
you had changed your ways, Kim Jonghyun. Turns out you’re just as cocky as I remember,” the
younger begins stomping off, escaping Jonghyun. Jonghyun calls after him.
He catches the slightly taller boy by locking his arms around his middle. He pulls his back flush
against his chest, securing his hold. Kibum’s reminds himself to breathe.
“Like I said before,” Jonghyun says, breath tickling Kibum’s nape, “You’re my world. I don’t think I can
stand by and watch anymore, Kibum.” He sighs, nuzzling into the crook of the younger’s neck, his grip
tightening on the boy’s abdomen. “…I just-I really like you, so…” Jonghyun’s voice fades into a
humiliated decrescendo, his face burying further into Kibum’s skin from what the latter assumes is
embarrassment.
Kibum bites his lip.
“…Why do you use the most cliché lines in the world?” he asks, and he spins around in the swiftest of
ways, capturing a hold on Jonghyun in the process. His arms somehow find themselves around the
slightly shorter boy’s neck, his elbows resting on the elder’s shoulders. His fingers impassively mess
with the short, fine hairs on the back of Jonghyun’s neck and the older boy shudders a bit.
“Maybe if you weren’t so cheesy, I’d consider dating you,” he tells him, eyes serious.
Jonghyun blinks.
Kibum muffles a laugh. “I was kidding, Jjong.”
Jonghyun’s gaze drops. “…I know,” he coughs.
“Anyway,” Kibum goes on, and the older boy’s eyes eventually venture upward, gradually finding
Kibum’s along the way.
The younger gulps.
“…I like your cheesiness,” he says, confessing to what he thinks is the most embarrassing thing in his
life. His arms drop down from their hold on the other boy because, damn, that only added to his
embarrassment and he didn’t need that unnatural red on his face to enhance.
Jonghyun seems fairly surprised at the comment, as his eyes widen (is he blushing…?)
Kibum looks at his feet.
Jonghyun tips his chin up. “I need to ask you something.”
The younger’s heart rams against his chest and he can hear the echo in his ears. He swallows and
balls his trembling fists, preparing himself. “Y-Yes?” he stutters accidently.
“Do you wanna come with me to Minho’s Christmas party?”
Kibum’s fists go slack and he exhales in an almost relieved way, nodding his head with a smile. “Sure,
Jjong-I’d love to.”
Kibum munches on a few snacks that are in a festive bowl placed as the centerpiece of a table. He’s
alone at the moment, a bit uncomfortable to say the least. Jonghyun went off somewhere to visit and
talk so he was just hanging around, looking for something to entertain himself. Part of him wished
Jonghyun was here but the other part was glad he was gone because, God, sometimes things get so
awkward when they’re together.
That might just be Kibum’s opinion though.
Just as the boy’s popping a peppermint into his mouth, a large hand pats his back. He nearly chokes.
“Oh, God-Kibum-hyung, are you okay? I didn’t mean to do that…” a deep voice mutters, and Kibum
doesn’t have to think twice to know it’s the tall alien.
“It’s fine, Minho…” he coughs, biting into the hard candy carefully (it’s really not fine).
“Have you seen Jonghyun-hyung?” Minho asks, taking a mint of his own.
“Nah, I thought he was with you,” Kibum says distractedly, eyes narrowing unintentionally just by the
sound of the name ‘Jonghyun’.
“Nope,” Minho says in a monotone, randomly glancing around. His eyes light up when he finds Taemin
across the room. “Ah, if you don’t I’m gonna-”
“Go flirt with Taemin, I know,” Kibum finishes with a smirk.
Minho gapes, a red rushing over his cheeks. “F-Flirt? What gave you the idea that I would fl-”
“Everyone knows you and Taemin flirt, Minho,” Kibum cuts him off once again, shamelessly, reaching
for another candy.
Minho just blushes and leaves the premises and Kibum would be lying if he said he hadn’t felt just a
bit more contented after that little exchange. He smiles to himself, amused by the situation, chewing
happily on his mint.
He stops chewing and his eyes expand when he feels a hand slip around his warmly.
He jerks his head to the side, the thought of getting whiplash swimming around somewhere in the
back of his brain. That thought dissolves, however, when he sees who’s standing there beside him.
Jonghyun scans the table, reaching out with his free hand to grab a peppermint. He holds it up in front
of his face, with two fingers, grinning much too broadly. “Kibummie,” he says cheerfully, “are you
enjoying yourself?” With that question, he pops the candy into his mouth, smiling even wider (if
possible) afterwards.
Kibum thinks he should withdraw his hand but he doesn’t.
He doesn’t.
He clears his throat. “Not especially,” he murmurs.
Jonghyun’s puppy dog eyes appear out of nowhere. “Why ever not?” he asks, eyelashes batting.
Kibum scoffs and slaps his arm with his free hand, rolling his eyes. Jonghyun pretends to be hurt.
“Well, it might have to do with the fact that you just left me here…” he all but whispers, gaze dropping
towards the carpeted floor. He feels Jonghyun stare at him.
“You could’ve talked to Jinki.”
“I did. Then I got bored of hearing about the weather and how it’s gonna snow tonight. He must’ve told
me about a billion times before I finally made an excuse to go to the bathroom. I’ve been avoiding him
since.”
Jonghyun releases Kibum’s hand to clutch his sides and laugh. Kibum looks at him strangely.
“God, that’s great, Kibum…” he says, wiping a tear. “Just another thing I love about you,” and he says
it so easily and casually that the younger undergoes the most envy he’s felt in a while.
Kibum doesn’t say anything as a reply. He stares at his empty hand, reluctantly missing the warmth.
Jonghyun seems to read his mind because in less than a second, that hand is wrapping around his
pale one once again. The younger looks up at him.
Jonghyun smiles reassuringly, giving his hand a squeeze. “I’ll stay with you the rest of the night,
okay?”
And Kibum bites his lip because he really doesn’t wanna smile in front of this bastard-he really,
really, really doesn’t wanna smile-
His lips curve and his eyes shine.
“Okay,” he agrees, tightening his grip and mentally reminding himself to never let go.
“Thanks for coming,” Minho says, leaning on the doorframe of the ajar front entrance, smile on his lips.
“I hope you had fun.”
The guests present all smile and thank Minho for having them. Some are teenagers and some are
adults (Minho’s family and relatives). Jonghyun and Kibum are leaving first because Kibum claimed he
had ‘a shitload of homework’ that just had to be finished before the weekend. Jonghyun was reluctant
to agree but after a few irresistibly adorable whines, the two announced their leave.
Kibum thanks Minho as he advances towards the door. Minho moves out of the way, grinning at the
two. “Drive safe, kay?”
“Will do,” Jonghyun mumbles as he fully opens the door, a sudden rush of cold spilling into the living
room. The guests shiver at the sudden temperature change.
Kibum zips up his jacket and sends the older boy a glance. “Ready?”
Jonghyun’s about to answer when someone abruptly gasps. The two boys look over, only to see a
much too happy Taemin staring at them.
“What?” Jonghyun asks quietly, his voice somewhat irritated.
“Above you,” is all Taemin says, and both boys simultaneously look up, their gazes locking on a
small, green and red Christmas decoration.
Kibum’s breath hitches.
“You know what this means, right?” Minho says, smirk on his lips (I bet this is payback from earlier,
Kibum thinks randomly). “It means you can’t leave until you two kiss.”
Kibum’s eyes widen at the word but he keeps his mouth clenched shut tightly, body going stiff. He
uncertainly glances up, locking eyes with Jonghyun who, frankly, looks just as nervous as he does.
He opens his mouth but closes it right after, not sure what to say.
Jonghyun stares at him expressionlessly.
“Well?” Taemin says impatiently, and now the other guests are joining in on the fun (Kibum suddenly
hates Minho and his family), hollering and cheering.
“Just hurry up and kiss so we can close the damn door,” some man shouts, “It’s fucking cold!”
Minho and the others laugh and Kibum wishes he didn’t even come to this stupid thing because he
feels like such an outcast.
When he glances at Jonghyun the second time, the older boy is ogling him with encouragement, with
curiosity and with a slight bit of thrill that Kibum can’t help but mirror. The younger, mind not really
functioning properly, reaches out, cupping Jonghyun’s face. He drops his voice to a whisper, so only
Jonghyun can hear (it’s not like anyone would hear anyway because the visitors are going wild with
screams).
“I blame you,” he says, hands adding a slight bit of pressure to squish the elder’s cheeks, God, that’s
cute, “You’re the one who invited me to this stupid thing, so it’s your fault.”
After that statement, Kibum says his prayers and closes his eyes, pushing forward and going where
instinct tells him to go, his lips clumsily driving against Jonghyun’s, his hands gripping the boy’s
cheeks tighter all the while.
He hears the delighted screams of the now elated audience and he feels it’s a safe time to pull back.
The audience is satisfied, so he should pull back.
Yet, there he stays, not so comfortably on Jonghyun’s lips.
Seconds later, he feels a pair of hands roughly tugging at his sides, forcing him closer. He lets out a
muffled noise and wraps his arms tightly around the shorter boy’s neck, tilting his head for better
access. It’s so warm (especially since they’re both wearing heavy coats) and Kibum thinks he could
pretty much stay there forever.
The crowd goes haywire. They must not have expected that, Kibum thinks. Hell, I didn’t even expect it.
Before things get out of hand, Kibum regains a bit of common sense and draws back quickly. His
arms are still locked around Jonghyun’s neck and he’s panting lightly from lack of air. Jonghyun’s
doing the same, eyes glazed over with something as they dart over the younger’s face, searching.
“Well, that was certainly beyond my expectations,” Minho mumbles happily.
And Kibum pushes Jonghyun away, stomping wordlessly into the cold with a huff. Jonghyun chuckles
and follows after him after a final farewell to Minho.
“You know this means we’re together, right?” Jonghyun asks as they drive back home.
Kibum shivers, teeth chattering because the damn heat won’t kick on in Jonghyun’s damn car.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” he says, staring out the frosted windows with irate eyes.
“Oh?” Jonghyun asks with mock-interest, glancing at Kibum for a moment. Kibum looks at him and by
the time he does, the elder’s eyes are back on the road.
“We were under the mistletoe, Jonghyun, what was I supposed to do?” he asks. “Minho’s family was
putting pressure on me…” he mumbles the last part, puffing his cheeks unconsciously as he extends
his hands, palms set in front of the heat.
“Then what was that?” Jonghyun asks.
“What was what?” Kibum grits his teeth, halting the clicking noise.
“What was-what was that part where you wrapped your arms around me, huh? Was that just a part of
the ‘act’ for Minho’s family too, or…?” he trails off, brows furrowed, sounding exceptionally troubled.
Kibum looks at him in disbelief, warmth rushing over his system. He hears his heartbeat again and
he’s getting quite tired of the unwanted sound. “I just-I was just pleasing them! It was just a friendly
gesture to get all those people off my back and nothing more! It was just…holiday spirit, or something
like that…” he mutters, head lowering a bit.
Jonghyun swallows, sighing deeply. “…I guess that was wishful thinking on my part then…” he
mutters, and Kibum watches in awe as the other boy’s grip tightens on the leather-enclosed wheel. “I
mean, you are the one who initiated the kiss…” he says, quirk to his lips.
Kibum looks at him, offended and flustered. “I-I didn’t-fuck you, Jjong!” he shouts, crossing his arms
like the young adult he is.
Jonghyun laughs, turning at the intersection that leads to Kibum’s house. “Kibum, I…” he stops for a
moment and the pretty smile vanishes from his lips. Kibum looks at him curiously (he’s still pissed
though). “I think since it’s high school-since it’s your last year, that maybe you should live a little.”
Kibum gets set to yell at him but Jonghyun stops him before he can, “I think you should go out with
me for just a little while. If you don’t like it after that, kick me out of your life for good.” He glances at
the younger who, in all honesty, is speechless. Jonghyun sighs, shrugging. “I dunno,” he says, and it’s
more like he’s talking to himself over Kibum, “I just think you may never have an opportunity like this
again.”
“What do you mean?” Kibum asks hesitantly.
“I mean…dating the amazing, handsome Kim Jonghyun. Honestly, you may never get another chance
to be with such an attractive person,” he says, smirking confidently, elbowing the younger. Kibum rolls
his eyes (the action’s kind of stuck on him-habitual).
“I guess you have a point.”
Jonghyun snaps his head up to look at him and Kibum screams when he almost runs into a stop sign.
“Wh-What?” he asks breathlessly after the younger’s many, loud profanities.
“…I said you have a point, Jjong,” he says softly, focus on the window.
Jonghyun stares at him before quickly reminding himself to keep his eyes on the road.
“So...does that mean?” Jonghyun clears his throat awkwardly, clearly still mesmerized.
“Don’t make me spell it out,” Kibum mumbles grumpily, never breaking his staring contest with the
window. “Let’s just say I’ll give you a chance. One chance, Kim Jonghyun, one.”
Jonghyun beams, reaching over to grab the younger boy’s hand. “Thank you, Kibummie-you won’t
regret it, promise.” The eagerness in his voice and the way his smile is shining extraordinarily in the
muted light of the car is only making the younger squirm.
And Kibum feels his body flood with a warmth he’s getting quite used to.
“Hello?”
“Kibum-hyung, hi!” a merry voice greets Kibum through the device that’s currently squished between
his shoulder and ear. Said boy smiles at the familiar, uplifting voice, hands rummaging through a few
drawers for some socks. It’s especially cold today and Kibum’s feet have gone numb.
Kibum hears Jonghyun enter his room from behind but doesn’t fully acknowledge the action, too busy
conversing and searching to notice completely.
He regrets not taking full notice, however, when a pair of warm arms find their way around his waist.
His breath delays silently, but he’s careful-he’s careful because he cannot have cute little Taemin
getting the wrong idea if he, say, let out a gasp or something.
“Hmm-yeah, I’m still here,” he says after some moments of hesitance, still not fully grasping the fact
of Jonghyun clinging to him like he is.
He, fucking conceited bastard, feels Jonghyun smirk into the crook of his neck, exhaling what Kibum
believes is a cover for a laugh. The elder’s hands boldly slip under his sweater, exploring unknown
territory and Kibum wants nothing more than to scream at him, but then he remembers he’s on the
phone so he bites into his lip instead.
“So, what do you think, hyung? Would that be okay?” Taemin asks.
“What-what was that again, Taeminnie?” Kibum asks in a breathy voice, trying to sound interested
though it’s hard when a pair of skilled as fuck hands are skimming teasingly over your sides and torso,
barely touching but at the same time leaving scorching, blazing trails that, by all means, leave you
wondering.
“Are you okay?” Taemin questions after a moment and Kibum inhales sharply when a set of lips press
down on his neck, traveling upwards at a slow, light pace, towards his right ear (the one that’s not
pressed against a phone, obviously).
“F-Fine, Taemin,” he says in a feeble exhale, instinctively gripping onto the dresser before him
because, really, his legs are going a bit numb and he thinks at any second his knees might give out.
He curses himself for his weakness to such minor ministrations and petty touches. “…What were you
saying, now…?” he manages to ask (while a dexterous tongue is working on his earlobe, sucking and
nipping, mind you).
“Oh-I just wanted to know if you could come with Minho-hyung and I to the movies this Saturday.
We’re seeing that new action flick about the assassin, you know the one I’m talking about, right?” And
Kibum probably does now what Taemin’s talking about, he just doesn’t at the moment because he’s a
little distracted by the tongue working on a spot behind his ear.
“You know,” Jonghyun murmurs against the shell of the younger’s ear, blowing air onto the moistened
flesh and Kibum whimpers, “you have an adorable little freckle right here-right on the back of your
ear.”
“That sounds fun, Taemin,” Kibum says after clearing his throat (it’s probably not the first time he’s
done it).
“You sick or something, hyung?”
Yes.
“Just-just a little out of it. I think I’m coming down with a cold,” he tells the younger, white knuckled
hands gripping ever tighter at the dresser for some sort of leverage.
“Oh,” Taemin says in concern, and Kibum would probably picture the boy pouting if he weren’t so
focused on the hands gliding over his front. “Then maybe you shouldn’t go-I don’t want to force you to
if you’re feeling sick.”
“Maybe it’s best if I stay ho-Ahh!” Kibum yelps, surprised by the teeth that so heedlessly sink into
his neck. He feels Jonghyun’s tongue lap at the bruise, as if to apologize and he grits his teeth, not
even wanting to picture Taemin’s confused face. “…Maybe it’s best if I stay home,” he finishes
emotionlessly, pissed off and embarrassed to no end by his sound earlier.
Jonghyun nuzzles into his neck, whispering a husky hurry up into his ear and he excuses himself from
Taemin, finally hanging up and escaping the awkward conversation. Taemin’s probably perplexed as
hell right about now.
Kibum clicks the end button on the phone and sets it on the surface before him. “You bastard,” is all
he mutters, face flushing.
“Sorry,” Jonghyun whispers, and Kibum can feel the other boy’s heartbeat against his back, pounding,
pounding.
Kibum whimpers when Jonghyun spins him around, hooking his thumbs in the belt loops of his jeans.
He smashes their lips together inelegantly and Kibum eventually gives in, melting.
Before his brain short circuits though, he tugs at the back of Jonghyun’s hair and the latter groans
throatily (which, truth be told, arouses Kibum to no end). He pulls the older boy’s head back, keeping
him in place so he can look into his eyes seriously.
“Is this going somewhere?” he asks.
“Do you want it to?” Jonghyun shrugs, answering with a question which is not what the younger
wanted.
He scoffs before shrugging, just as Jonghyun did. “…I want it to go…somewhere. Maybe not all the
way, but somewhere,” he tries to say casually, though his face heats up.
Jonghyun smiles one of his genuine smiles before leaning in, lips pressing to Kibum’s in a much softer
manner than before, “…Then let’s take it somewhere, hm?” he offers, and when Kibum scrambles
blindly towards the bed in a fit of kissing, eventually straddling the elder, he thinks it must be record
time.
Kibum’s a little confused on his feelings.
He likes Jonghyun-that much is obvious. He would never leave Jonghyun at this point-he likes him
too much for that. Nevertheless, doubts about Jonghyun are always on his mind. He feels confused.
Why on earth would he date someone he originally hated? The thought bothers him daily, for some
reason.
“-Bummie? Kibummie? Hello…?”
Kibum blinks, only to find a face in front of his, blocking the television (which he was blankly starting
at, truthfully). Jonghyun gives him a look between curiosity and concern, reaching out to pat his head.
“You okay, Kibummie?”
“I’m-I’m fine,” he says, gaze dropping a tad (when he sees Jonghyun’s bottomless eyes he feels like
he has to spill everything to him, so he attempts to refrain from that).
“What’s bothering you?” the older boy asks, sitting next to Kibum and stroking his hair, worried.
Kibum glances at him. “…Is this okay? Like-us?” he asks abruptly, directly.
Jonghyun gives a perplexed look. “What? Why wouldn’t it be okay? Did I do something wrong? Did I-
is it because of my crappy job? Believe me, Kibum, I’ll quit in a heartbeat if you want-”
“No, it’s not that,” Kibum shakes his head, chuckling. When Jonghyun gives him an unsure look
through puppy dog eyes he can’t help but lean forward and kiss his pouty lips (not just to reassure him
but also because he simply wants to). “Besides,” he murmurs against the other boy’s lips as he pulls
back. “That job is the reason we know each other, so…” he blushes profoundly.
Jonghyun simply smiles, pushing Kibum’s bangs back to kiss his forehead affectionately.
“I just-I think it’s kinda weird. I know I already met your parents and everything but…what about
mine? They might not approve of you and if we can’t be together, I don’t know what I’ll do…” Jonghyun
is about to speak but Kibum continues fearlessly, “Also, what about the guys? Will Jinki care? Will
Minho and Taemin care?”
“I can assure you the guys won’t care,” Jonghyun says in a definite voice, hand messing with Kibum’s
slender fingers. “…As for your parents, I can’t tell you that part. But I’ve met them and everything and
they know me-why wouldn’t they approve of me? I’m adorable.”
“Conceited,” Kibum rolls his eyes.
“And it shouldn’t matter,” Jonghyun proceeds, pretty much ignoring the younger’s comment, “It
shouldn't matter who you love because your parents will love you regardless. They might not approve
at first, but they’ll get over it and they’ll get used to it and soon enough we’ll be like one family, you
know?”
Kibum’s eyes sparkle at the thought.
“Really?” he asks, because the reassurance of Jonghyun can cure almost any doubt he has.
“Absolutely,” Jonghyun says, lifting Kibum’s hand to press his lips to the inside of the younger’s wrist.
Kibum stares at the other boy, wondering how he managed such a catch.
The younger clears his throat. “So, since I’ve never dated a boy, I think they’ll be surprised, but I think
it’ll work out,” he goes on with the prior conversation, and Jonghyun detaches his lips from the boy’s
skin to nod.
“But-what you said made me happy,” he admits.
Jonghyun’s brows meet in the middle. “What did I say?”
“Just…” Kibum mumbles, shrug on his shoulders, tiny smile on his lips, “…a family. Might sound
sappy but the thought of us being together, the thought of both of our families being accepting and
everything makes me happy. Just thinking about going to visit them on Christmas or something, being
together and all that jazz…” he trails off, sighing dreamily, longingly.
Jonghyun chooses that time to kiss his lips. They stay there for a while until the younger tilts his
head, arms coming up to grip onto Jonghyun’s t-shirt. Jonghyun pulls back much too quickly for
Kibum’s tastes and the latter pouts. Jonghyun laughs lightheartedly.
“It’ll be like that someday, I promise,” he tells him.
“You better not be lying, Kim Jonghyun…” Kibum narrows his eyes suspiciously.
“Cross my heart,” Jonghyun says quietly, eyes sincere as he performs the well-known gesture.
Kibum smiles. “Okay,” he agrees and leans in again to kiss the boy because right now it’s easy and
that’s good enough for him.
“That went well,” Jonghyun says happily as he hops onto his bed, mindlessly jumping in place. Kibum
raises a brow at him before tossing his bag across the room, near the corner. He sighs heavily but a
smile comes to his lips nonetheless.
“That did go well, didn’t it?” he asks the elder, walking towards his bed.
Jonghyun plops down, landing gracelessly which causes the bed to squeak a bit in the process. He
curses the noise before looking intriguingly at his boyfriend. “Your parents didn’t care,” he grins.
“They cared,” Kibum corrects, taking a seat beside the older boy. “Did you see the looks they were
sending you? I mean, they may have been saying nice things but you could tell they were uneasy on
the inside. My dad was glaring at you so hard, I thought you’d burn into a crisp,” he laughs gently,
leaning back against the pillows behind him, staring up at Jonghyun.
Jonghyun smiles. “But it went well, right…?”
“It went well,” Kibum confirms for him.
Jonghyun leans down, lips meeting Kibum’s gently. The younger smiles against him, hands somehow
finding his back as the older boy climbs over to hover above him, balanced on elbows. Kibum’s tongue
probes the crease of Jonghyun’s lips and the latter obliges silently and willingly, parting his lips.
They kiss for minutes, though to Kibum it doesn’t seem that long. He wishes he could stay on
Jonghyun’s lips forever because it’s the best feeling he’s had in his life-that much he’s sure of.
Just as Kibum begins to let his hands explore down Jonghyun’s back, becoming brave, a knock
comes from the door. Jonghyun breaks away quickly, sending an annoyed stare towards the closed
entrance. “What?” he demands in a low voice, which isn’t a very smart way to speak to your parents.
Jonghyun’s mother seems unbothered by the fact of Jonghyun’s tone. “We’re going out, honey,” her
muffled voice announces.
Jonghyun perceptibly perks up and Kibum watches him, finding it cute.
“Okay-where to?”
“Dinner party or something along those lines. You know your father, always something after another,” she says, and the door clicks. Jonghyun flies off of Kibum and settles next to him in the quickest and
smoothest of ways that Kibum had to inwardly admire the boy’s speed.
Jonghyun’s mother sends a warm smile to Kibum. “Hi, Kibummie,” she greets.
He smiles, eyes crinkling. “Hi, ma’am” he answers politely.
She turns her attention to her son. “Will you boys be okay?”
“Fine, mom,” he says, and can’t help but let out a chuckle. “God, we’re seniors in high school after all…”
“Sorry, I keep forgetting,” she says, and it’s so casually spoken that Kibum believes it.
“Anyway, I’ll be going-love you,” she says as parting words, shutting the door behind her. Jonghyun
sighs after she leaves.
“Nice job,” Kibum compliments.
Jonghyun looks at him, at a loss. “On what?”
“On jumping off of me and lying beside me like it’s the most normal thing in the world,” he grins.
Jonghyun pokes the younger’s ribcage, where he knows he’s ticklish. Kibum squeaks, covering
himself defensively afterwards as a blush rushes over his face. The older boy smiles at him.
“Well, I wouldn’t want her thinking I was gonna-you know…”
“Rape me?” Kibum questions, smug smirk on his lips
“Kinda,” Jonghyun says with a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his neck.
Kibum stares at him a moment. “…C’mere…” he says gently, biting his lip.
Jonghyun observes the still boy for a long time before resuming his position, shadowing over the
younger, arms braced on either side of his head. He looks down at him and Kibum’s eyes dart all over
the place.
They eventually land on his lips and soon enough they’re at it again, kissing unhurriedly and gently,
with sluggish strokes of their tongues and soft presses of their lips, no arms or legs involved.
Kibum’s hands ultimately find their way to Jonghyun’s back though, gliding down smoothly over the fabric. He sneaks his hands under the boy’s shirt to rest them the small of Jonghyun’s back, pads of
his fingers blankly drawing tiny circles.
Jonghyun shivers above him and Kibum would be lying if he said he didn’t feel a powerful sense of
satisfaction.
Jonghyun, as a response to Kibum’s teasing patterns that lightly brushed his skin, emits a low rumble,
kisses becoming hungrier, needier, more urgent.
Kibum moans freely, knowing he can now that the house is empty. His hands come across
Jonghyun’s locks and he tugs on dark tuffs of hair anxiously, feverishly kissing the elder. Jonghyun
growls at the nails gently scraping over his scalp and Kibum secretly grins knowing he found one of
the older boy’s kinks.
Jonghyun pauses mid-kiss and Kibum creases his brows. The older boy draws back a little, to look
Kibum in the eyes. “I, uh…” he says guiltily, eyes averting, and Kibum knows what he’s trying to say.
The younger cradles his face, looking into his eyes as if to investigate, anticipating. Slowly though, he
sits up a bit, pushing back on Jonghyun’s chest. The latter gives him a mystified look, retracting to
balance on his knees, tips of his toes digging into the mattress. He looks disappointed for a moment,
but his eyes widen momentarily when Kibum slides his shirt off lithely, presenting his pale,
unblemished skin.
Jonghyun blinks to grasp the sight before him. Kibum thinks he looks close to choking. Despite the
blush he feels coming on (because, really, this is the most skin he’s ever unveiled to anyone), he
shows a smirk and raises a brow. “Like what you see, Jjong?” he asks self-righteously.
Jonghyun looks at the bedspread, suddenly finding it a bit more interesting then the half naked boy before him. He looks like he’s contemplating on speaking but ends up falling silent in the end.
Kibum, feeling more self-assured now, crawls towards the older boy. He rises onto his knees and
looks down at Jonghyun, gripping his shoulders. Jonghyun looks up at him, almost unsurely.
Kibum draws in a deep breath before closing his eyes, as if to prepare. He leans in, resting his
forehead against the other boy’s, exhaling onto his lips. “…I-I love you, Jonghyun,” he says in the
most heartfelt whisper.
Jonghyun gapes at him. “You seriously-”
“Seriously,” Kibum cuts him off, narrowing his eyes. Quickly though, his expression softens and his
lips dissolve into a smile. “I think I realized it a while ago, I was just too chicken to say it.” He pauses,
looking somewhat culpable. “But I do mean it,” he adds swiftly. “I love you, Jonghyun,” and by the time
he finishes, he’s crimson and his voice is quiet.
Jonghyun’s hands rest on his hips, tracing mindless shapes and patterns that make the younger
shudder. “I-I love you too…” he says softly, voice cracking. Kibum looks at him through concerned
eyes.
“Are you crying, Jjongie?” he asks gently, caressing the older boy’s face, and Jonghyun would really
appreciate the pet name more if his eyes weren’t welling up with tears.
“I’m just-I’m really happy,” he says with a sniffle, and Kibum really has no other choice but to wrap
his arms around the boy, pushing the latter’s head to his shoulder. Jonghyun cries silently, arms
looping around the other boy’s lean frame. Kibum smiles to himself. Jonghyun’s such a crybaby.
When they pull back, Kibum leans down, lashes brushing Jonghyun’s cheek, lips pressing to his jaw.
He kisses downwards, to the underside of Jonghyun’s chin, fingers creeping beneath the front of his
shirt and up his abdomen. He represses a grin when Jonghyun quivers, clear bumps forming under the
younger’s fingertips.
Jonghyun’s hands finally start functioning again (Kibum praises himself for being able to affect him in
such a way), gliding up and down the other boy’s sides, grazing his hips. Kibum hums onto
Jonghyun’s neck, (where his lips are so conveniently placed), smiling against his skin. He decides to
get revenge and nips at the elder’s neck, gently though, but sucks harshly afterwards, successfully
forming a red mark. Jonghyun groans above him, his touches becoming less hesitant and more eager
-rougher.
“Kibum…is this…” he stops to gasp when Kibum gives a sharp bite to his collarbone, “…is this going
anywhere?” he asks breathlessly, head tilting upwards to offer more skin to the boy.
“Somewhere,” Kibum answers confidently, hands tugging determinedly on Jonghyun’s shirt,
impatiently pulling it over his head with the older boy’s assistance.
“Where…?” Jonghyun questions after the bothersome wear is gone, thrown to the side, out of sight
and mind. Kibum looks into his eyes, slender, chilly fingers splayed over Jonghyun’s now exposed
torso, mindlessly descending in a feathery way that makes the elder fidget with anticipation.
Kibum pushes him back against the bed, climbing atop him and leaning down to capture his lips,
leaning down to allow their naked fronts to make contact. He, boldly and somewhat
uncharacteristically, rolls his hips in an experimental circle, brushing against Jonghyun in the most
satisfying yet teasing of ways, causing both males to release ecstatic grunts. Jonghyun’s hands
immediately latch onto Kibum’s hips and he whispers-he pleads for it a second time, a third, until
they’re both winded and Kibum’s heavy head has dropped onto the older boy’s shoulder, his skilled but
shaky fingers working at Jonghyun’s button.
“All the way,” he finally answers in a whisper, nervous and scared but, most of all, thrilled.
Kibum hums, skipping around the kitchen to make breakfast. Jonghyun watches him from the nearby
barstool, smiling to himself.
“Happy?” he asks.
Kibum looks over his shoulder, and Jonghyun is contemplating on whether or not morning sex before a
shower is out of the question because, damn, Kibum looking all innocent, clad in only a tank top and
sweatpants is quite the tempting picture.
“…More than usual,” the younger decides to say with an air of nonchalance, opening the fridge
uninterestedly.
“Why’s that?” Jonghyun asks in amusement, leaning over the counter, suggesting attentiveness.
Kibum shrugs. “I can’t remember,” he all but mumbles, and Jonghyun can see his ears turn red even
from behind. “All I know is that my ass hurts…”
Jonghyun grins because he knows he’s the reason why.
“I’m sorry, Bummie-was I too rough?”
“Don’t act like you were some badass in bed or something…” the younger grumbles, walking towards
the counter opposite of Jonghyun, getting ready to start his cooking. He spins around momentarily.
“You were surprisingly gentle…thanks,” he finally says, gaze on the tiled floor.
Jonghyun has to get up and walk into the kitchen because, seriously, that was just about too much to
handle. He pulls the slim boy into a tight hug, gripping the sides of Kibum’s arms that are now sticking
to his sides, immobile. Kibum blinks.
“I wouldn’t ever deliberately hurt you,” he tells him honestly, tightening his hold.
Kibum sighs. His arms wiggle out of Jonghyun’s grip only to wrap around his shoulders. He holds onto
the shorter boy firmly. “I love you…I’m glad it was you.”
“Me too,” Jonghyun grins, pulling back. He kisses Kibum’s nose. “No one else is allowed to touch you,
all right? Otherwise, they go through me.”
“Yeah,” Kibum rolls his eyes. “It’ll take quite a few guys to beat down the almighty, not to mention,
short Kim Jonghyun.”
The older boy scoops Kibum up, hauling him into the living room and pinning him down on the carpeted
floor. Kibum involuntarily laughs when Jonghyun holds two of his wrists with one hand above his head,
the other tickling his ribcage.
“S-Stop!” he demands with a loud laugh, tears forming in his eyes.
Jonghyun grins darkly, hands now holding Kibum’s wrists down on either side of his head. He leans in,
gently kissing his lips and he’s mentally relieved he decided to brush his teeth earlier.
Kibum apparently forgives the elder because he begins anxiously kissing back, stifling noises and
squirming, wanting to break free-wanting to touch Jonghyun.
“Let me go,” he gasps after they break apart.
“I don’t know…” Jonghyun mutters enigmatically, lips fastening to the shell of Kibum’s ear, tongue
poking out, teeth grazing, “…I kind of like it like this better.”
Kibum shivers, legs unconsciously spreading to allow Jonghyun to rest between them. “The food…”
the younger whimpers powerlessly, a bit weakly.
“We’ll eat later,” Jonghyun decides, lips kissing a trail down Kibum’s creamy neck.
Kibum moans softly, hips bucking up for some friction. “…We-We can’t…I have to meet Taeminnie in
an hour to go shopping…” he speaks, words basically the opposite of his actions.
“Just a quick one then,” Jonghyun resumes insisting, teeth pulling the hem of Kibum’s shirt up, so he
has full access to the skin beneath. Kibum squirms, still attempting to break free.
“J-Jjong-” he continues to try, but another lengthy moan pulls at his lips.
Jonghyun kisses at his hipbones and Kibum can feel his smile pressing against him.
From the kitchen, Kibum’s ringtone goes off.
They both pause, only to send glances towards the other room. Jonghyun looks up at the raven-haired
boy.
“Let go,” Kibum says.
“Kibummieeee...” Jonghyun whines, pouting.
“Let go, it could be important.”
Jonghyun does so, grudgingly, watching as the other boy rushes into the kitchen to fetch the device.
When he hears a “Oh, hi, Taemin!” from the other room, he slumps forward, sulking, knowing that after
Kibum leaves, it’s just going to be him and his hand.
previous. next.
Pairing: jongkey
Genre: fluff, romance, angst, au, humor
Rating: PG-15
Word Count: 7959
Summary: life's a lot more interesting with Kim Jonghyun around.
Kibum isn’t quite sure what happened afterwards.
The Middle.
The two of them went out for coffee again, yes, but the second time was a whole lot different than the
first. It was as if Kibum was meeting Jonghyun all over again and they were two completely different
characters this time.
Jonghyun was sweet and genuine and Kibum was a shy, blushing moron.
Kibum absolutely hated it.
Why, he wonders as he sips his drink, his eyes narrowing unconsciously, why on earth am I acting
this way?
He sets his drink down and Jonghyun just smiles. He just smiles and gazes at Kibum, head tilted in
admiration as he stares at the younger boy. Kibum feels his face flush with heat for the umpteenth
time that afternoon and he ducks his head, fiddling with his fingers in his lap. He thinks he’s utterly
pathetic-he’s completely fed up with himself but still he can’t seem to change his behavior.
Perhaps it’s the fact that Kibum now knows Jonghyun has liked him for a while now. He knows what
that feels like. He’s a teenager with raging hormones too, and in the past he’s been involved with many
people-men and women. He’s had a few times (very few, vague times, but times nonetheless) when
he’s craved someone, lusting after them and no one else. And he’s also had times when he’d finally,
finally be with that person and he’d feel overwhelming happiness swell in his chest.
He imagines that’s how Jonghyun feels right about now.
“…Would you stop staring?” Kibum finally asks, sharply but still timidly. “You’re…making me nervous,”
he admits, only causing a burst of pink to bloom on his cheeks once again.
Jonghyun’s affectionate smile is left unchanging. “…I can’t,” he tells him. “You’re just really, really,
pretty, Kibum-ah.”
Kibum looks at his fingers again, finding them immensely fascinating.
He hears Jonghyun’s low chuckle and glances up cautiously, brows creased, unintended pout pulling
gently at his lips.
“…What happened to ‘Kibummie’?” he asks with an amused tone, but something in his eyes is a little
melancholy, which, unfortunately, doesn’t go unnoticed by the elder.
“You miss that name?” Jonghyun inquires, moderately surprised, his eyebrows shooting up.
Kibum scoffs, folding his arms over the tabletop. He rests his chin on his crossed limbs.
(The real reason behind the action is just to distract Jonghyun from the blush on his face.)
He drums his fingers over the table, his eyes cast on the beverage before him. He honestly doesn’t
want to look at Jonghyun at the moment.
“…I don’t mind it,” he mumbles into his arm, eyes expressionless.
He sees, no, he feels, the other boy stare at him with gigantic eyes. Slowly, in a moment that’s more
a blur to Kibum than anything else, the older boy delicately grasps his chin between his thumb and
forefinger, tilting Kibum’s face up with care. He gazes down into the younger’s eyes with slight concern
before a grin pulls at his plush lips.
“Then-are you officially giving me permission?” he asks with a look of amusement and, perhaps,
Kibum thinks, the most excitement one has ever sported when asking a question so trivial.
After a moment of comprehension, Kibum laughs. He laughs and laughs and then laughs even more
when he sees Jonghyun’s confused expression.
“I guess it’s okay,” he finally says after his breathing has calmed.
Jonghyun beams.
“Kibummie,” he says, and the other boy looks at him, “…Can we do this next week too?”
“No,” the younger is quick to answer.
Jonghyun’s posture deflates.
“I’m busy with work next week,” he tells him, “Tomorrow.”
And Jonghyun’s beam appears all over again.
“So you and hyung worked things out?” Minho asks one evening as he decorates the living room with
Christmas lights (he’s a little late), Taemin assisting him. The younger is a mess of giggles because
Minho keeps messing up and dropping things as he attempts to set stuff up. Jonghyun, thankfully, is
the in bathroom.
“We’re okay,” he tells Minho with a smile that says just as much, his eyes lighting up at the topic.
Minho quirks a brow at his expression.
“So, are you guys…you know…”
And in a flash, Kibum’s smile is gone, replaced only by a pissed expression (accompanied by a
blush). “Absolutely not, Minho. Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Whatever you say,” the younger says with a sigh, giving up as he continues to decorate. Kibum
watches as Taemin’s lips twist uncomfortably (little brat is holding back a smirk).
“Just-I don’t know,” Kibum sighs, sinking backwards into the couch. “It’d be weird, don’t you think? I
don’t know if I’m really ready to be in a…” he stammers, face reddening, “…in a…relationship with
Jjong right now. I know he’s liked me for a really long time but the thought of us being…you know-it
makes me really uncomfortable.” The dark-haired boy squirms in his seat a little to clearly
demonstrate his discomfort.
Taemin struggles with untangling a few sets of lights and Minho helps him. “I don’t know, hyung,”
Minho says, “maybe you’re just being difficult.”
“I probably am,” Kibum agrees, emotionless.
“You should give him a chance,” Taemin tells the older boy. “When I first met Jonghyun-hyung, I didn’t
like him either.”
Jonghyun chooses that moment to return (thank God it wasn’t ten seconds earlier, Kibum thinks).
“You didn’t like me?” Jonghyun pouts as he casually strolls into the room, hands stuffed deep in his
pockets.
“Don’t take offence, hyung,” Taemin says simply, “You just scared me a little.”
Jonghyun scoffs, feigning hurt. “Taeminnie, how could you?”
“Well, what was I supposed to think?” Taemin asks, eyes wide in disbelief. “You were totally
unapproachable! You always kept to yourself and when I tried to talk with you, you just gave me this
cold look, like you were going to kill me or something…”
Kibum bursts into laughter, clenching his sides. Jonghyun sends him an annoyed glance.
“You know I was distracted when I met you, Minnie…” he murmurs, wandering blankly towards the
couch.
“Distracted?” Kibum questions, now curious. Jonghyun frowns as he takes a seat beside him.
“Distracted by what?”
Jonghyun faces forward, glaring at nothing in particular. “Nothing,” he says solemnly.
Kibum looks at the two younger boys for help. “What’s he talking about?”
Minho sends Jonghyun a cautious glance before sighing. “That was around the time Jonghyun was
working really hard. He really wanted to perform-he was on a roll, playing at different clubs, here and
there. It must have been the stress of it all-the fact that he had to focus and make things perfect.
That’s probably why he acted so distant back then.”
Kibum listens with interest, a faint voice in the back of his mind scolding to no end about all the insults
he spat at Jonghyun about his guitar and such. He regrets it so much that it makes his heart ache-
he tries not to think about it and listen to Minho’s explanation.
“There’s also the fact that,” the tall boy gulps, sending one last observant look to Jonghyun before
saying softly, “…the fact that that’s around the time he noticed you…”
Kibum flushes at the words. He looks at Jonghyun quickly.
The older boy is still staring blankly, though his expression is now bothered. His brows are furrowed
and his teeth are digging into his lip (Kibum’s slightly worried about him), and, oh my God, is that a
blush on his cheeks?
Jonghyun suddenly sighs dramatically, burying his face in his hands, his elbows resting on his thighs.
“Minho, you weren’t supposed to say that…” he mutters into his skin, pleading voice muffled.
Minho smiles sheepishly. “…Sorry.”
Jonghyun gradually turns his head, unsealing his face, to look at the boy next to him. Kibum’s mouth
is ajar, his eyes blinking perplexedly. Kibum honestly doesn’t know what to say-all he can really do
is stare, and, to his dismay, internally smile at how adorable Jonghyun looks when he’s
embarrassed…
“I didn’t-I didn’t want you knowing about it…” Jonghyun says coyly, his face reddening even further
(God, could a human being be more adorable? Kibum unintentionally wonders), his eyes cast
downward. Kibum stares with disbelief and, unknowingly, a smile reaches his lips and he laughs a bit
(nervously, but still).
Jonghyun looks at him, puzzled.
Kibum smiles at him almost apologetically (he feels bad for embarrassing him, but it was completely
worth it). He hesitantly, with a trembling hand, touches the side of the older boy’s face with his
fingertips. He gulps when Jonghyun’s eyes amplify.
“I-I, uh…” he mumbles aimlessly, simply staring. He doesn’t even acknowledge the gazes of
amusement and anxiety Minho and Taemin are sending him. He cups Jonghyun’s face with one hand
then leans in swiftly, sneaking a quick, chaste peck to his cheek.
He pulls back just as fast, his hands automatically folding in his lap. He’s blushing madly, he knows it,
as he looks down. He traces a pattern absently over his thigh, just to distract himself.
“Thanks,” he mumbles, even though he isn’t quite sure what he’s thanking Jonghyun for.
After a moment of comprehending silence, Jonghyun leaps into the air, a victorious fist rising above
him.
“So,” Jonghyun says giddily, an arm fluidly linking around Kibum’s, “you kissed me the other day, you
know.”
Kibum rolls his eyes for what seems like the hundredth time that day, exhaling. Jonghyun’s been
reminding him of his little act of kindness (with a dazzlingly annoying grin, not to mention) for days
now. Every time he comes in contact with the guy, that’s the first thing he remembers to tell Kibum.
The younger heads to Jonghyun’s kitchen in hopes of finding some comfort in there.
“Care to try again?” Jonghyun asks hopefully, though there’s still amusement in his tone.
Kibum jerks out of the elder’s grip. “Absolutely not. The only reason I did that was because I thought
you had changed your ways, Kim Jonghyun. Turns out you’re just as cocky as I remember,” the
younger begins stomping off, escaping Jonghyun. Jonghyun calls after him.
He catches the slightly taller boy by locking his arms around his middle. He pulls his back flush
against his chest, securing his hold. Kibum’s reminds himself to breathe.
“Like I said before,” Jonghyun says, breath tickling Kibum’s nape, “You’re my world. I don’t think I can
stand by and watch anymore, Kibum.” He sighs, nuzzling into the crook of the younger’s neck, his grip
tightening on the boy’s abdomen. “…I just-I really like you, so…” Jonghyun’s voice fades into a
humiliated decrescendo, his face burying further into Kibum’s skin from what the latter assumes is
embarrassment.
Kibum bites his lip.
“…Why do you use the most cliché lines in the world?” he asks, and he spins around in the swiftest of
ways, capturing a hold on Jonghyun in the process. His arms somehow find themselves around the
slightly shorter boy’s neck, his elbows resting on the elder’s shoulders. His fingers impassively mess
with the short, fine hairs on the back of Jonghyun’s neck and the older boy shudders a bit.
“Maybe if you weren’t so cheesy, I’d consider dating you,” he tells him, eyes serious.
Jonghyun blinks.
Kibum muffles a laugh. “I was kidding, Jjong.”
Jonghyun’s gaze drops. “…I know,” he coughs.
“Anyway,” Kibum goes on, and the older boy’s eyes eventually venture upward, gradually finding
Kibum’s along the way.
The younger gulps.
“…I like your cheesiness,” he says, confessing to what he thinks is the most embarrassing thing in his
life. His arms drop down from their hold on the other boy because, damn, that only added to his
embarrassment and he didn’t need that unnatural red on his face to enhance.
Jonghyun seems fairly surprised at the comment, as his eyes widen (is he blushing…?)
Kibum looks at his feet.
Jonghyun tips his chin up. “I need to ask you something.”
The younger’s heart rams against his chest and he can hear the echo in his ears. He swallows and
balls his trembling fists, preparing himself. “Y-Yes?” he stutters accidently.
“Do you wanna come with me to Minho’s Christmas party?”
Kibum’s fists go slack and he exhales in an almost relieved way, nodding his head with a smile. “Sure,
Jjong-I’d love to.”
Kibum munches on a few snacks that are in a festive bowl placed as the centerpiece of a table. He’s
alone at the moment, a bit uncomfortable to say the least. Jonghyun went off somewhere to visit and
talk so he was just hanging around, looking for something to entertain himself. Part of him wished
Jonghyun was here but the other part was glad he was gone because, God, sometimes things get so
awkward when they’re together.
That might just be Kibum’s opinion though.
Just as the boy’s popping a peppermint into his mouth, a large hand pats his back. He nearly chokes.
“Oh, God-Kibum-hyung, are you okay? I didn’t mean to do that…” a deep voice mutters, and Kibum
doesn’t have to think twice to know it’s the tall alien.
“It’s fine, Minho…” he coughs, biting into the hard candy carefully (it’s really not fine).
“Have you seen Jonghyun-hyung?” Minho asks, taking a mint of his own.
“Nah, I thought he was with you,” Kibum says distractedly, eyes narrowing unintentionally just by the
sound of the name ‘Jonghyun’.
“Nope,” Minho says in a monotone, randomly glancing around. His eyes light up when he finds Taemin
across the room. “Ah, if you don’t I’m gonna-”
“Go flirt with Taemin, I know,” Kibum finishes with a smirk.
Minho gapes, a red rushing over his cheeks. “F-Flirt? What gave you the idea that I would fl-”
“Everyone knows you and Taemin flirt, Minho,” Kibum cuts him off once again, shamelessly, reaching
for another candy.
Minho just blushes and leaves the premises and Kibum would be lying if he said he hadn’t felt just a
bit more contented after that little exchange. He smiles to himself, amused by the situation, chewing
happily on his mint.
He stops chewing and his eyes expand when he feels a hand slip around his warmly.
He jerks his head to the side, the thought of getting whiplash swimming around somewhere in the
back of his brain. That thought dissolves, however, when he sees who’s standing there beside him.
Jonghyun scans the table, reaching out with his free hand to grab a peppermint. He holds it up in front
of his face, with two fingers, grinning much too broadly. “Kibummie,” he says cheerfully, “are you
enjoying yourself?” With that question, he pops the candy into his mouth, smiling even wider (if
possible) afterwards.
Kibum thinks he should withdraw his hand but he doesn’t.
He doesn’t.
He clears his throat. “Not especially,” he murmurs.
Jonghyun’s puppy dog eyes appear out of nowhere. “Why ever not?” he asks, eyelashes batting.
Kibum scoffs and slaps his arm with his free hand, rolling his eyes. Jonghyun pretends to be hurt.
“Well, it might have to do with the fact that you just left me here…” he all but whispers, gaze dropping
towards the carpeted floor. He feels Jonghyun stare at him.
“You could’ve talked to Jinki.”
“I did. Then I got bored of hearing about the weather and how it’s gonna snow tonight. He must’ve told
me about a billion times before I finally made an excuse to go to the bathroom. I’ve been avoiding him
since.”
Jonghyun releases Kibum’s hand to clutch his sides and laugh. Kibum looks at him strangely.
“God, that’s great, Kibum…” he says, wiping a tear. “Just another thing I love about you,” and he says
it so easily and casually that the younger undergoes the most envy he’s felt in a while.
Kibum doesn’t say anything as a reply. He stares at his empty hand, reluctantly missing the warmth.
Jonghyun seems to read his mind because in less than a second, that hand is wrapping around his
pale one once again. The younger looks up at him.
Jonghyun smiles reassuringly, giving his hand a squeeze. “I’ll stay with you the rest of the night,
okay?”
And Kibum bites his lip because he really doesn’t wanna smile in front of this bastard-he really,
really, really doesn’t wanna smile-
His lips curve and his eyes shine.
“Okay,” he agrees, tightening his grip and mentally reminding himself to never let go.
“Thanks for coming,” Minho says, leaning on the doorframe of the ajar front entrance, smile on his lips.
“I hope you had fun.”
The guests present all smile and thank Minho for having them. Some are teenagers and some are
adults (Minho’s family and relatives). Jonghyun and Kibum are leaving first because Kibum claimed he
had ‘a shitload of homework’ that just had to be finished before the weekend. Jonghyun was reluctant
to agree but after a few irresistibly adorable whines, the two announced their leave.
Kibum thanks Minho as he advances towards the door. Minho moves out of the way, grinning at the
two. “Drive safe, kay?”
“Will do,” Jonghyun mumbles as he fully opens the door, a sudden rush of cold spilling into the living
room. The guests shiver at the sudden temperature change.
Kibum zips up his jacket and sends the older boy a glance. “Ready?”
Jonghyun’s about to answer when someone abruptly gasps. The two boys look over, only to see a
much too happy Taemin staring at them.
“What?” Jonghyun asks quietly, his voice somewhat irritated.
“Above you,” is all Taemin says, and both boys simultaneously look up, their gazes locking on a
small, green and red Christmas decoration.
Kibum’s breath hitches.
“You know what this means, right?” Minho says, smirk on his lips (I bet this is payback from earlier,
Kibum thinks randomly). “It means you can’t leave until you two kiss.”
Kibum’s eyes widen at the word but he keeps his mouth clenched shut tightly, body going stiff. He
uncertainly glances up, locking eyes with Jonghyun who, frankly, looks just as nervous as he does.
He opens his mouth but closes it right after, not sure what to say.
Jonghyun stares at him expressionlessly.
“Well?” Taemin says impatiently, and now the other guests are joining in on the fun (Kibum suddenly
hates Minho and his family), hollering and cheering.
“Just hurry up and kiss so we can close the damn door,” some man shouts, “It’s fucking cold!”
Minho and the others laugh and Kibum wishes he didn’t even come to this stupid thing because he
feels like such an outcast.
When he glances at Jonghyun the second time, the older boy is ogling him with encouragement, with
curiosity and with a slight bit of thrill that Kibum can’t help but mirror. The younger, mind not really
functioning properly, reaches out, cupping Jonghyun’s face. He drops his voice to a whisper, so only
Jonghyun can hear (it’s not like anyone would hear anyway because the visitors are going wild with
screams).
“I blame you,” he says, hands adding a slight bit of pressure to squish the elder’s cheeks, God, that’s
cute, “You’re the one who invited me to this stupid thing, so it’s your fault.”
After that statement, Kibum says his prayers and closes his eyes, pushing forward and going where
instinct tells him to go, his lips clumsily driving against Jonghyun’s, his hands gripping the boy’s
cheeks tighter all the while.
He hears the delighted screams of the now elated audience and he feels it’s a safe time to pull back.
The audience is satisfied, so he should pull back.
Yet, there he stays, not so comfortably on Jonghyun’s lips.
Seconds later, he feels a pair of hands roughly tugging at his sides, forcing him closer. He lets out a
muffled noise and wraps his arms tightly around the shorter boy’s neck, tilting his head for better
access. It’s so warm (especially since they’re both wearing heavy coats) and Kibum thinks he could
pretty much stay there forever.
The crowd goes haywire. They must not have expected that, Kibum thinks. Hell, I didn’t even expect it.
Before things get out of hand, Kibum regains a bit of common sense and draws back quickly. His
arms are still locked around Jonghyun’s neck and he’s panting lightly from lack of air. Jonghyun’s
doing the same, eyes glazed over with something as they dart over the younger’s face, searching.
“Well, that was certainly beyond my expectations,” Minho mumbles happily.
And Kibum pushes Jonghyun away, stomping wordlessly into the cold with a huff. Jonghyun chuckles
and follows after him after a final farewell to Minho.
“You know this means we’re together, right?” Jonghyun asks as they drive back home.
Kibum shivers, teeth chattering because the damn heat won’t kick on in Jonghyun’s damn car.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” he says, staring out the frosted windows with irate eyes.
“Oh?” Jonghyun asks with mock-interest, glancing at Kibum for a moment. Kibum looks at him and by
the time he does, the elder’s eyes are back on the road.
“We were under the mistletoe, Jonghyun, what was I supposed to do?” he asks. “Minho’s family was
putting pressure on me…” he mumbles the last part, puffing his cheeks unconsciously as he extends
his hands, palms set in front of the heat.
“Then what was that?” Jonghyun asks.
“What was what?” Kibum grits his teeth, halting the clicking noise.
“What was-what was that part where you wrapped your arms around me, huh? Was that just a part of
the ‘act’ for Minho’s family too, or…?” he trails off, brows furrowed, sounding exceptionally troubled.
Kibum looks at him in disbelief, warmth rushing over his system. He hears his heartbeat again and
he’s getting quite tired of the unwanted sound. “I just-I was just pleasing them! It was just a friendly
gesture to get all those people off my back and nothing more! It was just…holiday spirit, or something
like that…” he mutters, head lowering a bit.
Jonghyun swallows, sighing deeply. “…I guess that was wishful thinking on my part then…” he
mutters, and Kibum watches in awe as the other boy’s grip tightens on the leather-enclosed wheel. “I
mean, you are the one who initiated the kiss…” he says, quirk to his lips.
Kibum looks at him, offended and flustered. “I-I didn’t-fuck you, Jjong!” he shouts, crossing his arms
like the young adult he is.
Jonghyun laughs, turning at the intersection that leads to Kibum’s house. “Kibum, I…” he stops for a
moment and the pretty smile vanishes from his lips. Kibum looks at him curiously (he’s still pissed
though). “I think since it’s high school-since it’s your last year, that maybe you should live a little.”
Kibum gets set to yell at him but Jonghyun stops him before he can, “I think you should go out with
me for just a little while. If you don’t like it after that, kick me out of your life for good.” He glances at
the younger who, in all honesty, is speechless. Jonghyun sighs, shrugging. “I dunno,” he says, and it’s
more like he’s talking to himself over Kibum, “I just think you may never have an opportunity like this
again.”
“What do you mean?” Kibum asks hesitantly.
“I mean…dating the amazing, handsome Kim Jonghyun. Honestly, you may never get another chance
to be with such an attractive person,” he says, smirking confidently, elbowing the younger. Kibum rolls
his eyes (the action’s kind of stuck on him-habitual).
“I guess you have a point.”
Jonghyun snaps his head up to look at him and Kibum screams when he almost runs into a stop sign.
“Wh-What?” he asks breathlessly after the younger’s many, loud profanities.
“…I said you have a point, Jjong,” he says softly, focus on the window.
Jonghyun stares at him before quickly reminding himself to keep his eyes on the road.
“So...does that mean?” Jonghyun clears his throat awkwardly, clearly still mesmerized.
“Don’t make me spell it out,” Kibum mumbles grumpily, never breaking his staring contest with the
window. “Let’s just say I’ll give you a chance. One chance, Kim Jonghyun, one.”
Jonghyun beams, reaching over to grab the younger boy’s hand. “Thank you, Kibummie-you won’t
regret it, promise.” The eagerness in his voice and the way his smile is shining extraordinarily in the
muted light of the car is only making the younger squirm.
And Kibum feels his body flood with a warmth he’s getting quite used to.
“Hello?”
“Kibum-hyung, hi!” a merry voice greets Kibum through the device that’s currently squished between
his shoulder and ear. Said boy smiles at the familiar, uplifting voice, hands rummaging through a few
drawers for some socks. It’s especially cold today and Kibum’s feet have gone numb.
Kibum hears Jonghyun enter his room from behind but doesn’t fully acknowledge the action, too busy
conversing and searching to notice completely.
He regrets not taking full notice, however, when a pair of warm arms find their way around his waist.
His breath delays silently, but he’s careful-he’s careful because he cannot have cute little Taemin
getting the wrong idea if he, say, let out a gasp or something.
“Hmm-yeah, I’m still here,” he says after some moments of hesitance, still not fully grasping the fact
of Jonghyun clinging to him like he is.
He, fucking conceited bastard, feels Jonghyun smirk into the crook of his neck, exhaling what Kibum
believes is a cover for a laugh. The elder’s hands boldly slip under his sweater, exploring unknown
territory and Kibum wants nothing more than to scream at him, but then he remembers he’s on the
phone so he bites into his lip instead.
“So, what do you think, hyung? Would that be okay?” Taemin asks.
“What-what was that again, Taeminnie?” Kibum asks in a breathy voice, trying to sound interested
though it’s hard when a pair of skilled as fuck hands are skimming teasingly over your sides and torso,
barely touching but at the same time leaving scorching, blazing trails that, by all means, leave you
wondering.
“Are you okay?” Taemin questions after a moment and Kibum inhales sharply when a set of lips press
down on his neck, traveling upwards at a slow, light pace, towards his right ear (the one that’s not
pressed against a phone, obviously).
“F-Fine, Taemin,” he says in a feeble exhale, instinctively gripping onto the dresser before him
because, really, his legs are going a bit numb and he thinks at any second his knees might give out.
He curses himself for his weakness to such minor ministrations and petty touches. “…What were you
saying, now…?” he manages to ask (while a dexterous tongue is working on his earlobe, sucking and
nipping, mind you).
“Oh-I just wanted to know if you could come with Minho-hyung and I to the movies this Saturday.
We’re seeing that new action flick about the assassin, you know the one I’m talking about, right?” And
Kibum probably does now what Taemin’s talking about, he just doesn’t at the moment because he’s a
little distracted by the tongue working on a spot behind his ear.
“You know,” Jonghyun murmurs against the shell of the younger’s ear, blowing air onto the moistened
flesh and Kibum whimpers, “you have an adorable little freckle right here-right on the back of your
ear.”
“That sounds fun, Taemin,” Kibum says after clearing his throat (it’s probably not the first time he’s
done it).
“You sick or something, hyung?”
Yes.
“Just-just a little out of it. I think I’m coming down with a cold,” he tells the younger, white knuckled
hands gripping ever tighter at the dresser for some sort of leverage.
“Oh,” Taemin says in concern, and Kibum would probably picture the boy pouting if he weren’t so
focused on the hands gliding over his front. “Then maybe you shouldn’t go-I don’t want to force you to
if you’re feeling sick.”
“Maybe it’s best if I stay ho-Ahh!” Kibum yelps, surprised by the teeth that so heedlessly sink into
his neck. He feels Jonghyun’s tongue lap at the bruise, as if to apologize and he grits his teeth, not
even wanting to picture Taemin’s confused face. “…Maybe it’s best if I stay home,” he finishes
emotionlessly, pissed off and embarrassed to no end by his sound earlier.
Jonghyun nuzzles into his neck, whispering a husky hurry up into his ear and he excuses himself from
Taemin, finally hanging up and escaping the awkward conversation. Taemin’s probably perplexed as
hell right about now.
Kibum clicks the end button on the phone and sets it on the surface before him. “You bastard,” is all
he mutters, face flushing.
“Sorry,” Jonghyun whispers, and Kibum can feel the other boy’s heartbeat against his back, pounding,
pounding.
Kibum whimpers when Jonghyun spins him around, hooking his thumbs in the belt loops of his jeans.
He smashes their lips together inelegantly and Kibum eventually gives in, melting.
Before his brain short circuits though, he tugs at the back of Jonghyun’s hair and the latter groans
throatily (which, truth be told, arouses Kibum to no end). He pulls the older boy’s head back, keeping
him in place so he can look into his eyes seriously.
“Is this going somewhere?” he asks.
“Do you want it to?” Jonghyun shrugs, answering with a question which is not what the younger
wanted.
He scoffs before shrugging, just as Jonghyun did. “…I want it to go…somewhere. Maybe not all the
way, but somewhere,” he tries to say casually, though his face heats up.
Jonghyun smiles one of his genuine smiles before leaning in, lips pressing to Kibum’s in a much softer
manner than before, “…Then let’s take it somewhere, hm?” he offers, and when Kibum scrambles
blindly towards the bed in a fit of kissing, eventually straddling the elder, he thinks it must be record
time.
Kibum’s a little confused on his feelings.
He likes Jonghyun-that much is obvious. He would never leave Jonghyun at this point-he likes him
too much for that. Nevertheless, doubts about Jonghyun are always on his mind. He feels confused.
Why on earth would he date someone he originally hated? The thought bothers him daily, for some
reason.
“-Bummie? Kibummie? Hello…?”
Kibum blinks, only to find a face in front of his, blocking the television (which he was blankly starting
at, truthfully). Jonghyun gives him a look between curiosity and concern, reaching out to pat his head.
“You okay, Kibummie?”
“I’m-I’m fine,” he says, gaze dropping a tad (when he sees Jonghyun’s bottomless eyes he feels like
he has to spill everything to him, so he attempts to refrain from that).
“What’s bothering you?” the older boy asks, sitting next to Kibum and stroking his hair, worried.
Kibum glances at him. “…Is this okay? Like-us?” he asks abruptly, directly.
Jonghyun gives a perplexed look. “What? Why wouldn’t it be okay? Did I do something wrong? Did I-
is it because of my crappy job? Believe me, Kibum, I’ll quit in a heartbeat if you want-”
“No, it’s not that,” Kibum shakes his head, chuckling. When Jonghyun gives him an unsure look
through puppy dog eyes he can’t help but lean forward and kiss his pouty lips (not just to reassure him
but also because he simply wants to). “Besides,” he murmurs against the other boy’s lips as he pulls
back. “That job is the reason we know each other, so…” he blushes profoundly.
Jonghyun simply smiles, pushing Kibum’s bangs back to kiss his forehead affectionately.
“I just-I think it’s kinda weird. I know I already met your parents and everything but…what about
mine? They might not approve of you and if we can’t be together, I don’t know what I’ll do…” Jonghyun
is about to speak but Kibum continues fearlessly, “Also, what about the guys? Will Jinki care? Will
Minho and Taemin care?”
“I can assure you the guys won’t care,” Jonghyun says in a definite voice, hand messing with Kibum’s
slender fingers. “…As for your parents, I can’t tell you that part. But I’ve met them and everything and
they know me-why wouldn’t they approve of me? I’m adorable.”
“Conceited,” Kibum rolls his eyes.
“And it shouldn’t matter,” Jonghyun proceeds, pretty much ignoring the younger’s comment, “It
shouldn't matter who you love because your parents will love you regardless. They might not approve
at first, but they’ll get over it and they’ll get used to it and soon enough we’ll be like one family, you
know?”
Kibum’s eyes sparkle at the thought.
“Really?” he asks, because the reassurance of Jonghyun can cure almost any doubt he has.
“Absolutely,” Jonghyun says, lifting Kibum’s hand to press his lips to the inside of the younger’s wrist.
Kibum stares at the other boy, wondering how he managed such a catch.
The younger clears his throat. “So, since I’ve never dated a boy, I think they’ll be surprised, but I think
it’ll work out,” he goes on with the prior conversation, and Jonghyun detaches his lips from the boy’s
skin to nod.
“But-what you said made me happy,” he admits.
Jonghyun’s brows meet in the middle. “What did I say?”
“Just…” Kibum mumbles, shrug on his shoulders, tiny smile on his lips, “…a family. Might sound
sappy but the thought of us being together, the thought of both of our families being accepting and
everything makes me happy. Just thinking about going to visit them on Christmas or something, being
together and all that jazz…” he trails off, sighing dreamily, longingly.
Jonghyun chooses that time to kiss his lips. They stay there for a while until the younger tilts his
head, arms coming up to grip onto Jonghyun’s t-shirt. Jonghyun pulls back much too quickly for
Kibum’s tastes and the latter pouts. Jonghyun laughs lightheartedly.
“It’ll be like that someday, I promise,” he tells him.
“You better not be lying, Kim Jonghyun…” Kibum narrows his eyes suspiciously.
“Cross my heart,” Jonghyun says quietly, eyes sincere as he performs the well-known gesture.
Kibum smiles. “Okay,” he agrees and leans in again to kiss the boy because right now it’s easy and
that’s good enough for him.
“That went well,” Jonghyun says happily as he hops onto his bed, mindlessly jumping in place. Kibum
raises a brow at him before tossing his bag across the room, near the corner. He sighs heavily but a
smile comes to his lips nonetheless.
“That did go well, didn’t it?” he asks the elder, walking towards his bed.
Jonghyun plops down, landing gracelessly which causes the bed to squeak a bit in the process. He
curses the noise before looking intriguingly at his boyfriend. “Your parents didn’t care,” he grins.
“They cared,” Kibum corrects, taking a seat beside the older boy. “Did you see the looks they were
sending you? I mean, they may have been saying nice things but you could tell they were uneasy on
the inside. My dad was glaring at you so hard, I thought you’d burn into a crisp,” he laughs gently,
leaning back against the pillows behind him, staring up at Jonghyun.
Jonghyun smiles. “But it went well, right…?”
“It went well,” Kibum confirms for him.
Jonghyun leans down, lips meeting Kibum’s gently. The younger smiles against him, hands somehow
finding his back as the older boy climbs over to hover above him, balanced on elbows. Kibum’s tongue
probes the crease of Jonghyun’s lips and the latter obliges silently and willingly, parting his lips.
They kiss for minutes, though to Kibum it doesn’t seem that long. He wishes he could stay on
Jonghyun’s lips forever because it’s the best feeling he’s had in his life-that much he’s sure of.
Just as Kibum begins to let his hands explore down Jonghyun’s back, becoming brave, a knock
comes from the door. Jonghyun breaks away quickly, sending an annoyed stare towards the closed
entrance. “What?” he demands in a low voice, which isn’t a very smart way to speak to your parents.
Jonghyun’s mother seems unbothered by the fact of Jonghyun’s tone. “We’re going out, honey,” her
muffled voice announces.
Jonghyun perceptibly perks up and Kibum watches him, finding it cute.
“Okay-where to?”
“Dinner party or something along those lines. You know your father, always something after another,” she says, and the door clicks. Jonghyun flies off of Kibum and settles next to him in the quickest and
smoothest of ways that Kibum had to inwardly admire the boy’s speed.
Jonghyun’s mother sends a warm smile to Kibum. “Hi, Kibummie,” she greets.
He smiles, eyes crinkling. “Hi, ma’am” he answers politely.
She turns her attention to her son. “Will you boys be okay?”
“Fine, mom,” he says, and can’t help but let out a chuckle. “God, we’re seniors in high school after all…”
“Sorry, I keep forgetting,” she says, and it’s so casually spoken that Kibum believes it.
“Anyway, I’ll be going-love you,” she says as parting words, shutting the door behind her. Jonghyun
sighs after she leaves.
“Nice job,” Kibum compliments.
Jonghyun looks at him, at a loss. “On what?”
“On jumping off of me and lying beside me like it’s the most normal thing in the world,” he grins.
Jonghyun pokes the younger’s ribcage, where he knows he’s ticklish. Kibum squeaks, covering
himself defensively afterwards as a blush rushes over his face. The older boy smiles at him.
“Well, I wouldn’t want her thinking I was gonna-you know…”
“Rape me?” Kibum questions, smug smirk on his lips
“Kinda,” Jonghyun says with a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his neck.
Kibum stares at him a moment. “…C’mere…” he says gently, biting his lip.
Jonghyun observes the still boy for a long time before resuming his position, shadowing over the
younger, arms braced on either side of his head. He looks down at him and Kibum’s eyes dart all over
the place.
They eventually land on his lips and soon enough they’re at it again, kissing unhurriedly and gently,
with sluggish strokes of their tongues and soft presses of their lips, no arms or legs involved.
Kibum’s hands ultimately find their way to Jonghyun’s back though, gliding down smoothly over the fabric. He sneaks his hands under the boy’s shirt to rest them the small of Jonghyun’s back, pads of
his fingers blankly drawing tiny circles.
Jonghyun shivers above him and Kibum would be lying if he said he didn’t feel a powerful sense of
satisfaction.
Jonghyun, as a response to Kibum’s teasing patterns that lightly brushed his skin, emits a low rumble,
kisses becoming hungrier, needier, more urgent.
Kibum moans freely, knowing he can now that the house is empty. His hands come across
Jonghyun’s locks and he tugs on dark tuffs of hair anxiously, feverishly kissing the elder. Jonghyun
growls at the nails gently scraping over his scalp and Kibum secretly grins knowing he found one of
the older boy’s kinks.
Jonghyun pauses mid-kiss and Kibum creases his brows. The older boy draws back a little, to look
Kibum in the eyes. “I, uh…” he says guiltily, eyes averting, and Kibum knows what he’s trying to say.
The younger cradles his face, looking into his eyes as if to investigate, anticipating. Slowly though, he
sits up a bit, pushing back on Jonghyun’s chest. The latter gives him a mystified look, retracting to
balance on his knees, tips of his toes digging into the mattress. He looks disappointed for a moment,
but his eyes widen momentarily when Kibum slides his shirt off lithely, presenting his pale,
unblemished skin.
Jonghyun blinks to grasp the sight before him. Kibum thinks he looks close to choking. Despite the
blush he feels coming on (because, really, this is the most skin he’s ever unveiled to anyone), he
shows a smirk and raises a brow. “Like what you see, Jjong?” he asks self-righteously.
Jonghyun looks at the bedspread, suddenly finding it a bit more interesting then the half naked boy before him. He looks like he’s contemplating on speaking but ends up falling silent in the end.
Kibum, feeling more self-assured now, crawls towards the older boy. He rises onto his knees and
looks down at Jonghyun, gripping his shoulders. Jonghyun looks up at him, almost unsurely.
Kibum draws in a deep breath before closing his eyes, as if to prepare. He leans in, resting his
forehead against the other boy’s, exhaling onto his lips. “…I-I love you, Jonghyun,” he says in the
most heartfelt whisper.
Jonghyun gapes at him. “You seriously-”
“Seriously,” Kibum cuts him off, narrowing his eyes. Quickly though, his expression softens and his
lips dissolve into a smile. “I think I realized it a while ago, I was just too chicken to say it.” He pauses,
looking somewhat culpable. “But I do mean it,” he adds swiftly. “I love you, Jonghyun,” and by the time
he finishes, he’s crimson and his voice is quiet.
Jonghyun’s hands rest on his hips, tracing mindless shapes and patterns that make the younger
shudder. “I-I love you too…” he says softly, voice cracking. Kibum looks at him through concerned
eyes.
“Are you crying, Jjongie?” he asks gently, caressing the older boy’s face, and Jonghyun would really
appreciate the pet name more if his eyes weren’t welling up with tears.
“I’m just-I’m really happy,” he says with a sniffle, and Kibum really has no other choice but to wrap
his arms around the boy, pushing the latter’s head to his shoulder. Jonghyun cries silently, arms
looping around the other boy’s lean frame. Kibum smiles to himself. Jonghyun’s such a crybaby.
When they pull back, Kibum leans down, lashes brushing Jonghyun’s cheek, lips pressing to his jaw.
He kisses downwards, to the underside of Jonghyun’s chin, fingers creeping beneath the front of his
shirt and up his abdomen. He represses a grin when Jonghyun quivers, clear bumps forming under the
younger’s fingertips.
Jonghyun’s hands finally start functioning again (Kibum praises himself for being able to affect him in
such a way), gliding up and down the other boy’s sides, grazing his hips. Kibum hums onto
Jonghyun’s neck, (where his lips are so conveniently placed), smiling against his skin. He decides to
get revenge and nips at the elder’s neck, gently though, but sucks harshly afterwards, successfully
forming a red mark. Jonghyun groans above him, his touches becoming less hesitant and more eager
-rougher.
“Kibum…is this…” he stops to gasp when Kibum gives a sharp bite to his collarbone, “…is this going
anywhere?” he asks breathlessly, head tilting upwards to offer more skin to the boy.
“Somewhere,” Kibum answers confidently, hands tugging determinedly on Jonghyun’s shirt,
impatiently pulling it over his head with the older boy’s assistance.
“Where…?” Jonghyun questions after the bothersome wear is gone, thrown to the side, out of sight
and mind. Kibum looks into his eyes, slender, chilly fingers splayed over Jonghyun’s now exposed
torso, mindlessly descending in a feathery way that makes the elder fidget with anticipation.
Kibum pushes him back against the bed, climbing atop him and leaning down to capture his lips,
leaning down to allow their naked fronts to make contact. He, boldly and somewhat
uncharacteristically, rolls his hips in an experimental circle, brushing against Jonghyun in the most
satisfying yet teasing of ways, causing both males to release ecstatic grunts. Jonghyun’s hands
immediately latch onto Kibum’s hips and he whispers-he pleads for it a second time, a third, until
they’re both winded and Kibum’s heavy head has dropped onto the older boy’s shoulder, his skilled but
shaky fingers working at Jonghyun’s button.
“All the way,” he finally answers in a whisper, nervous and scared but, most of all, thrilled.
Kibum hums, skipping around the kitchen to make breakfast. Jonghyun watches him from the nearby
barstool, smiling to himself.
“Happy?” he asks.
Kibum looks over his shoulder, and Jonghyun is contemplating on whether or not morning sex before a
shower is out of the question because, damn, Kibum looking all innocent, clad in only a tank top and
sweatpants is quite the tempting picture.
“…More than usual,” the younger decides to say with an air of nonchalance, opening the fridge
uninterestedly.
“Why’s that?” Jonghyun asks in amusement, leaning over the counter, suggesting attentiveness.
Kibum shrugs. “I can’t remember,” he all but mumbles, and Jonghyun can see his ears turn red even
from behind. “All I know is that my ass hurts…”
Jonghyun grins because he knows he’s the reason why.
“I’m sorry, Bummie-was I too rough?”
“Don’t act like you were some badass in bed or something…” the younger grumbles, walking towards
the counter opposite of Jonghyun, getting ready to start his cooking. He spins around momentarily.
“You were surprisingly gentle…thanks,” he finally says, gaze on the tiled floor.
Jonghyun has to get up and walk into the kitchen because, seriously, that was just about too much to
handle. He pulls the slim boy into a tight hug, gripping the sides of Kibum’s arms that are now sticking
to his sides, immobile. Kibum blinks.
“I wouldn’t ever deliberately hurt you,” he tells him honestly, tightening his hold.
Kibum sighs. His arms wiggle out of Jonghyun’s grip only to wrap around his shoulders. He holds onto
the shorter boy firmly. “I love you…I’m glad it was you.”
“Me too,” Jonghyun grins, pulling back. He kisses Kibum’s nose. “No one else is allowed to touch you,
all right? Otherwise, they go through me.”
“Yeah,” Kibum rolls his eyes. “It’ll take quite a few guys to beat down the almighty, not to mention,
short Kim Jonghyun.”
The older boy scoops Kibum up, hauling him into the living room and pinning him down on the carpeted
floor. Kibum involuntarily laughs when Jonghyun holds two of his wrists with one hand above his head,
the other tickling his ribcage.
“S-Stop!” he demands with a loud laugh, tears forming in his eyes.
Jonghyun grins darkly, hands now holding Kibum’s wrists down on either side of his head. He leans in,
gently kissing his lips and he’s mentally relieved he decided to brush his teeth earlier.
Kibum apparently forgives the elder because he begins anxiously kissing back, stifling noises and
squirming, wanting to break free-wanting to touch Jonghyun.
“Let me go,” he gasps after they break apart.
“I don’t know…” Jonghyun mutters enigmatically, lips fastening to the shell of Kibum’s ear, tongue
poking out, teeth grazing, “…I kind of like it like this better.”
Kibum shivers, legs unconsciously spreading to allow Jonghyun to rest between them. “The food…”
the younger whimpers powerlessly, a bit weakly.
“We’ll eat later,” Jonghyun decides, lips kissing a trail down Kibum’s creamy neck.
Kibum moans softly, hips bucking up for some friction. “…We-We can’t…I have to meet Taeminnie in
an hour to go shopping…” he speaks, words basically the opposite of his actions.
“Just a quick one then,” Jonghyun resumes insisting, teeth pulling the hem of Kibum’s shirt up, so he
has full access to the skin beneath. Kibum squirms, still attempting to break free.
“J-Jjong-” he continues to try, but another lengthy moan pulls at his lips.
Jonghyun kisses at his hipbones and Kibum can feel his smile pressing against him.
From the kitchen, Kibum’s ringtone goes off.
They both pause, only to send glances towards the other room. Jonghyun looks up at the raven-haired
boy.
“Let go,” Kibum says.
“Kibummieeee...” Jonghyun whines, pouting.
“Let go, it could be important.”
Jonghyun does so, grudgingly, watching as the other boy rushes into the kitchen to fetch the device.
When he hears a “Oh, hi, Taemin!” from the other room, he slumps forward, sulking, knowing that after
Kibum leaves, it’s just going to be him and his hand.
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