Four Times Hankyung Got Jealous 4a/4
First half of the last part, pretty short. Part B is a work in progress.
The night after the incident in the bathroom, Hankyung opens his eyes in the early morning to darkness. He finds that something has been stuck to his face, covering his eyes. Upon closer inspection it’s revealed to be a maxipad, with a cartoon drawn crudely on the back. The doodles depict two caricatures, one sporting sparkly fairy wings and one that looks a lot like Igor. Hankyung thinks it’s kind of sad feminine hygiene products have begun to be a staple in his relationship with Heechul, but can’t help the happy feeling that blooms in his chest, because he’d worried, last night, that they’d broken something that couldn’t be fixed. Reassured, he shoots off a text to Heechul, who’d left early for a radio broadcast, regarding the cartoon (very funny, heenim), and goes back to sleep.
When he rolls out of bed couple of hours later, he slips the drawing into a desk drawer and pads out to the kitchen, where Eeteuk is slumped at the table, his head buried in his arms. Ryeowook shoves a bowl of cereal at Hankyung and whispers, “Yehsung’s turtle is still missing.” Eeteuk groans, Kangin pats him on the back, and Kyuhyun looks amused at the entire thing. Hankyung stops mid bite.
“I thought he didn’t even like the turtle,” he says, puzzled. Kibum wipes frosted flakes off his face.
“It’s customary to chew, swallow, and then talk, hyung,” he says calmly. Eeteuk hands him a napkin without resurfacing, and Hankyung flicks more cereal at Kibum, smiling.
“You don’t even live here anymore, don’t you have your own place to eat breakfast?” Kibum sniffs haughtily.
“Ryeowook made me an omelet,” he says smugly, and Ryeowook beams, flourishing the spatula happily. Before Hankyung can retort, Yehsung skids into the kitchen.
“Stop eating!” he shrieks. Everyone looks up, startled into silence. Kangin and Kyuhyun blink, speechless. Hankyung pauses mid-catapult. Eeteuk sits up, and even Kibum looks mildly interested. Yehsung throws himself onto the table, sending food, cutlery, orange juice, and members flying everywhere. Ryeowook screams and dives for the omelet, while the rest scream and dive for cover. Hankyung stands, dripping orange juice, gaping while Yehsung shoves his hands into the remaining bowls of milk and cereal, feeling around. Eeteuk and Kangin emerge from behind a counter and start in on Yehsung while the rest shuffle further into the kitchen in search of more food, but Hankyung isn’t listening, because Yehsung isn’t supposed to be here, he’s supposed to be on air. With Heechul. Heechul, who isn’t here because he is at the radio station with Yehsung.
Hankyung steps over an overturned char, reaches past Ryeowook poking sadly at egg whites and grabs Yehsung by the collar, dragging him back from both his hands-on search of the cups and Eeteuk’s lecture. Hankyung pulls them face to face, and shakes him a couple of times to ensure his complete attention. When he speaks, his voice is calm, pitched dangerously low.
“Why are you here.” Yehsung blinks up at him, confused.
“I…went to an audition-” he’s cut off as Hankyung pulls him up so their eyes are even, Yehsung’s toes barely scraping the kitchen tiles. It turns out that Yehsung develops common sense very quickly under duress.
“It was cancelled,” he gasps quickly, “he went to see Yunho.” Hankyung drops him into a chair, and rocks backwards, heart clenching. Yehsung looks up at him, sympathetic.
“He was sad,” he says softly. “He got a text from you, and he was quiet, he was sad.” Hankyung clenches his fists, then slams out of the apartment, forgoing a jacket or shoes, and makes a beeline for Dong Bang Shin Ki’s apartment. Eeteuk turns to Yehsung and props his hands on his hips, Kangin looming behind him. Yehsung reaches for the paper towels.
And that’s how Hankyung finds himself pounding the door of the Dong Bang dorm, still in his pajamas and barefoot, having paid the cab with an autograph for the driver’s daughter. The door finally opens to Yoochun, who takes on look at Hankyung and slams the door shut in his face.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.” Hankyung kicks the door and starts knocking again. “Yunho!” he bellows, “ Yunh-ahh, Yunho-shi! Sunbaes!” The sounds of a scuffle break out inside the room, and the door opens a moment later to a calm Jaejoong, a redfaced Yoochun sulking in the background. Jaejoong raises an eyebrow.
“Ah, Hankyung-shi, welcome to our home. Please come in.” Hankyung moves to cross the threshold and is stopped by a hand on his chest. Jaejoong’s face clouds over. “If you’ve scuffed my door…” he trails off threateningly before his face clears and he turns into the apartment.
“Yunnie!” He trills cheerfully. “Someone for you!” Yunho sticks his head in and smiles cheerfully, entering the foyer and slinging one arm around Jaejoong and the other around Yoochun, rubbing their faces together.
“Hankyung-shi,” he says politely, “what can I do for you?” Hankyung takes a deep breath and calms himself.
“Do you know where Heechul is?” he asks in the calmest, most reasonable voice he can muster. Yunho’s smile fades and he straightens.
“Ah,” he says. Hankyung waits patiently. “Ah.” Yunho says again, looking sympathetic. “Um. I can’t tell you. Sorry.” Hankyung can’t even be angry, because who understands loyalty to Heechul more than he? His shoulders slump and he heads for the door. As he leaves, eyes on the ground, he notices Yunho’s coin collection. Or rather, he notices what’s sitting on Yunho’s coin collection. He straightens in surprise, and points, moth open.
“Is that…Yehsung’s turtle!?!” On cue, Junsu and Eunhyuk come hurtling into the room and skid to a stop in front of the jug, smiling widely. Hankyung ignores Junsu’s halfhearted “Nothing to see here…” and focuses his gaze on Eunhyuk, who breaks immediately.
“He’s at Siwon’s.”
“I saw nothing,” agrees Hankyung.