Clunky Dancing (3/13)
Title: Clunky Dancing (3/13)
Rating: PG
Pairing: Yunho/Changmin, hints of Yoochun/Junsu
Genre: AU
Summary: His parents are strongly against dancing, especially when it comes to their only son. “Dancing is for girls”, they say. Little do they know, he sways in the darkness of his room and fantasizes about an escape to the rhythm of samba. He prays for someone to come and take him away from the dullness of his perfect life.
"Psst! I'm on an hour break, going to grab a beer with Yoochun. Wanna come?"
It's half past two p.m. and Changmin is munching on a sandwich while sitting in his favourite chair on the terrace. He hears a whisper coming from behind the rose bushes that makes him jump in his seat. Jaejoong's head appears above a pink rose.
"What are you doing?!" he whispers back in shock, almost choking on a tomato.
"I came to ask you out!" a big, teeth-showing grin takes up half of Jaejoong's face.
"My father is about to come back from his after lunch walk, if he sees you there-"
"I'll just pretend I'm the gardener! Or maybe by the time he comes back we'll be long gone. Hey, didn't you have lunch?" he frowns and points at the half eaten sandwich in Changmin's hand.
"Yeah but-"
"Nevermind, let's just go! Come on!"
------------------
His mind keeps on going back to the croissant on his plate at breakfast. The thought of Yunho putting it there especially for him makes him dizzy. He doesn't even listen to what the other two are saying, all he got from their conversation is that Yoochun plays keyboard in the official band of the resort. At least until Jaejoong brings up a certain matter. Again.
"This boy here, he has a crush on someone… But he doesn't want to tell me about it..."
"Jae, man, you might want to slow down on the drinking! Your break is almost over, it might not be a good idea to show up wasted… Besides, I think it's pretty-" Yoochun cuts off abruptly. Changmin's eyes are fixed on him, wide in a silent plea.
"Huh? What's pretty? I am pretty."
"Yes you are. Very much. Now, give the kid a break, alright? We've only known him for two days! Bartender, a black coffee and a big glass of water, please. That should do it."
Thank you.
------------------
"I don't mean to be intrusive, but why don't you want him to know?"
They are walking slowly towards the staff quarters. Changmin stares at the ground and kicks a pebble. After having sent an half-drunk Jaejoong off to work, Yoochun had asked him to keep him company on the way back to his room.
"Actually, I don't know. I didn't plan on making it known to you, either… You just read it on my face last night, I suppose. It's just… I get this vibe from Jaejoong, that he likes him too."
He thinks about the subtle exchange of looks and gestures he saw between them the night before.
"He likes everybody." Yoochun chuckles softly. "It's just the way he is. He's flirty by nature. Look at the way he trails around you, he just loves people so much. He craves affection like if his life depends on it."
"Still, I feel like I'm coming between you guys. Over a stupid crush." he shakes his head and lets out a sigh.
Yoochun stops walking and grabs him by the shoulders.
"Listen up, Changmin. You're not coming between us, you're becoming part of us. And liking someone is never stupid, okay? If you're worried about hurting Jaejoong, don't be. I've known him and Yunho long enough to tell you they are just good friends. Then, if you still want to give up on your unripe love, make sure he's really not interested in you first. You don't want to live with that kind of doubt, trust me."
"Wow, you are so wise…" it comes out naturally, before Changmin can even realize it. He hopes it doesn't sound creepy or mocking.
"Well I'm older and more experienced than you, my young friend! But thank you."
As he jokes about wanting to be called professor from now on, they arrive at the main entrance of the staff quarters. There's a lot of movement, to which Yoochun frowns.
"Most of us are either at work or resting right now, I don't get this frenzy."
Suddenly, a man stops in his tracks upon spotting Yoochun. He motions him to hurry inside, yelling about someone having fainted. They both follow him to the infirmary, where they find Yunho fidgeting beside a bed.
"Hey, what happened? Who- Oh God."
Yoochun approaches the bed and instantly becomes ghostly pale. Junsu is laying there, his breath steady yet labored.
"He fainted half an hour ago. The doctor just left. He gave him something for the fever."
"What's wrong with him? How…?"
"Overwork." Yunho clenches his jaw. He looks tired.
"Oh, baby, no. My sweet baby." Yoochun sits down on the bed, teary-eyed. He holds Junsu's hand while brushing some strands of hair away from his forehead.
"It's my fault. Because of that stupid number… We practiced all night, even after we got back from the party. When I left in the morning to cover the breakfast shift, he was still going over the steps by himself. I got back at 11 but he was already gone. He had the late morning samba class scheduled. I bet he didn't even have lunch… It's all my fault. I'm going to cancel that goddamn thing, if it's the last thing I do."
"Don't be silly… You have been dreaming of it ever since you started working here…" Junsu opens his eyes, his voice coming out feeble. He looks at Yoochun lovingly, then presses a soft kiss on the back of his hand.
"Shh, it's okay. Now get some rest." Yunho tries to smile but it doesn't look too convincing.
Suddenly, he becomes aware of Changmin's presence. With a gesture of his head, he indicates the door.
"Let's give them some privacy."
------------------
They close the door behind them and head over to the garden. Yunho plops down on the nearest bench.
"God I hate this. If I hand't pushed him so far… Now he's sick and it's all because of me." He clenches his jaw harder as he holds his head with both hands, elbows on knees.
Changmin doesn't know what to say. He leans against a cherry tree nearby.
"Over a stupid dance!!"
All of a sudden, Yunho leaps up and starts kicking the bench leg, screaming his lungs out in the process. At this sight, something in Changmin's head tells him to just let the other man be and wait for the fit to be over, but he does the opposite. He rushes over and grabs him from behind, trying to hold him back.
"Stop it! You're hurting yourself! Please!"
As suddenly as it came, Yunho's anger dissipates. They're both left panting, still entangled in a tight embrace.
"Man, you're strong…" the older man is the first to break the silence.
Changmin looses his grip a bit, but doesn't really want to let go. The warmth oozing from the broad back in front of him is irresistible. He dares to rest his forehead against the back of Yunho's head. Words start flowing out of him, unfiltered.
"It's not your fault. Not entirely, at least." He thinks about Yoochun and his wisdom. "I know you're worried about Junsu, but I'm sure you're also disappointed and bitter about the show, and maybe you feel guilty because of it…"
Slowly, he lets go. In a burst of confidence, he gently tugs Yunho's arm to make him turn around. He meets a puzzled stare, but there's a hint of fire in those two eyes that makes him shiver.
"I… I think he will recover pretty soon and maybe-" Crap. Stop looking at me like that.
"No, Changmin… I have already decided to withdraw." Yunho shakes his head, the fire in his eyes quickly fading.
"I can't do a solo, and no one I know is up to Junsu's level. It's pointless."
"The boy dances well, you know." Yoochun's voice makes them both turn around. Changmin panics and stares at him in disbelief.
"Wha- Me? You're kidding, right?! I can't even-"
"Yeah, Chun, you must be kidding… He's just a newbie…" Yunho looks defeated.
"Well, you can teach him. You're great at your job."
Changmin and Yunho exchange looks. Upon seeing that hint of fire in Yunho's eyes rekindle, Changmin feels faint.
Just what have I gotten myself into?
Rating: PG
Pairing: Yunho/Changmin, hints of Yoochun/Junsu
Genre: AU
Summary: His parents are strongly against dancing, especially when it comes to their only son. “Dancing is for girls”, they say. Little do they know, he sways in the darkness of his room and fantasizes about an escape to the rhythm of samba. He prays for someone to come and take him away from the dullness of his perfect life.
"Psst! I'm on an hour break, going to grab a beer with Yoochun. Wanna come?"
It's half past two p.m. and Changmin is munching on a sandwich while sitting in his favourite chair on the terrace. He hears a whisper coming from behind the rose bushes that makes him jump in his seat. Jaejoong's head appears above a pink rose.
"What are you doing?!" he whispers back in shock, almost choking on a tomato.
"I came to ask you out!" a big, teeth-showing grin takes up half of Jaejoong's face.
"My father is about to come back from his after lunch walk, if he sees you there-"
"I'll just pretend I'm the gardener! Or maybe by the time he comes back we'll be long gone. Hey, didn't you have lunch?" he frowns and points at the half eaten sandwich in Changmin's hand.
"Yeah but-"
"Nevermind, let's just go! Come on!"
------------------
His mind keeps on going back to the croissant on his plate at breakfast. The thought of Yunho putting it there especially for him makes him dizzy. He doesn't even listen to what the other two are saying, all he got from their conversation is that Yoochun plays keyboard in the official band of the resort. At least until Jaejoong brings up a certain matter. Again.
"This boy here, he has a crush on someone… But he doesn't want to tell me about it..."
"Jae, man, you might want to slow down on the drinking! Your break is almost over, it might not be a good idea to show up wasted… Besides, I think it's pretty-" Yoochun cuts off abruptly. Changmin's eyes are fixed on him, wide in a silent plea.
"Huh? What's pretty? I am pretty."
"Yes you are. Very much. Now, give the kid a break, alright? We've only known him for two days! Bartender, a black coffee and a big glass of water, please. That should do it."
Thank you.
------------------
"I don't mean to be intrusive, but why don't you want him to know?"
They are walking slowly towards the staff quarters. Changmin stares at the ground and kicks a pebble. After having sent an half-drunk Jaejoong off to work, Yoochun had asked him to keep him company on the way back to his room.
"Actually, I don't know. I didn't plan on making it known to you, either… You just read it on my face last night, I suppose. It's just… I get this vibe from Jaejoong, that he likes him too."
He thinks about the subtle exchange of looks and gestures he saw between them the night before.
"He likes everybody." Yoochun chuckles softly. "It's just the way he is. He's flirty by nature. Look at the way he trails around you, he just loves people so much. He craves affection like if his life depends on it."
"Still, I feel like I'm coming between you guys. Over a stupid crush." he shakes his head and lets out a sigh.
Yoochun stops walking and grabs him by the shoulders.
"Listen up, Changmin. You're not coming between us, you're becoming part of us. And liking someone is never stupid, okay? If you're worried about hurting Jaejoong, don't be. I've known him and Yunho long enough to tell you they are just good friends. Then, if you still want to give up on your unripe love, make sure he's really not interested in you first. You don't want to live with that kind of doubt, trust me."
"Wow, you are so wise…" it comes out naturally, before Changmin can even realize it. He hopes it doesn't sound creepy or mocking.
"Well I'm older and more experienced than you, my young friend! But thank you."
As he jokes about wanting to be called professor from now on, they arrive at the main entrance of the staff quarters. There's a lot of movement, to which Yoochun frowns.
"Most of us are either at work or resting right now, I don't get this frenzy."
Suddenly, a man stops in his tracks upon spotting Yoochun. He motions him to hurry inside, yelling about someone having fainted. They both follow him to the infirmary, where they find Yunho fidgeting beside a bed.
"Hey, what happened? Who- Oh God."
Yoochun approaches the bed and instantly becomes ghostly pale. Junsu is laying there, his breath steady yet labored.
"He fainted half an hour ago. The doctor just left. He gave him something for the fever."
"What's wrong with him? How…?"
"Overwork." Yunho clenches his jaw. He looks tired.
"Oh, baby, no. My sweet baby." Yoochun sits down on the bed, teary-eyed. He holds Junsu's hand while brushing some strands of hair away from his forehead.
"It's my fault. Because of that stupid number… We practiced all night, even after we got back from the party. When I left in the morning to cover the breakfast shift, he was still going over the steps by himself. I got back at 11 but he was already gone. He had the late morning samba class scheduled. I bet he didn't even have lunch… It's all my fault. I'm going to cancel that goddamn thing, if it's the last thing I do."
"Don't be silly… You have been dreaming of it ever since you started working here…" Junsu opens his eyes, his voice coming out feeble. He looks at Yoochun lovingly, then presses a soft kiss on the back of his hand.
"Shh, it's okay. Now get some rest." Yunho tries to smile but it doesn't look too convincing.
Suddenly, he becomes aware of Changmin's presence. With a gesture of his head, he indicates the door.
"Let's give them some privacy."
------------------
They close the door behind them and head over to the garden. Yunho plops down on the nearest bench.
"God I hate this. If I hand't pushed him so far… Now he's sick and it's all because of me." He clenches his jaw harder as he holds his head with both hands, elbows on knees.
Changmin doesn't know what to say. He leans against a cherry tree nearby.
"Over a stupid dance!!"
All of a sudden, Yunho leaps up and starts kicking the bench leg, screaming his lungs out in the process. At this sight, something in Changmin's head tells him to just let the other man be and wait for the fit to be over, but he does the opposite. He rushes over and grabs him from behind, trying to hold him back.
"Stop it! You're hurting yourself! Please!"
As suddenly as it came, Yunho's anger dissipates. They're both left panting, still entangled in a tight embrace.
"Man, you're strong…" the older man is the first to break the silence.
Changmin looses his grip a bit, but doesn't really want to let go. The warmth oozing from the broad back in front of him is irresistible. He dares to rest his forehead against the back of Yunho's head. Words start flowing out of him, unfiltered.
"It's not your fault. Not entirely, at least." He thinks about Yoochun and his wisdom. "I know you're worried about Junsu, but I'm sure you're also disappointed and bitter about the show, and maybe you feel guilty because of it…"
Slowly, he lets go. In a burst of confidence, he gently tugs Yunho's arm to make him turn around. He meets a puzzled stare, but there's a hint of fire in those two eyes that makes him shiver.
"I… I think he will recover pretty soon and maybe-" Crap. Stop looking at me like that.
"No, Changmin… I have already decided to withdraw." Yunho shakes his head, the fire in his eyes quickly fading.
"I can't do a solo, and no one I know is up to Junsu's level. It's pointless."
"The boy dances well, you know." Yoochun's voice makes them both turn around. Changmin panics and stares at him in disbelief.
"Wha- Me? You're kidding, right?! I can't even-"
"Yeah, Chun, you must be kidding… He's just a newbie…" Yunho looks defeated.
"Well, you can teach him. You're great at your job."
Changmin and Yunho exchange looks. Upon seeing that hint of fire in Yunho's eyes rekindle, Changmin feels faint.
Just what have I gotten myself into?