[Fic] Black Satin - 13/14
Title: Black Satin
Author: Coley Merrin
Rating: R
Pairing: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun
Genre: AU, Romance
Warning: crossdressing
Summary: Out of work, Kyuhyun's last ditch effort lands him a curious roommate - and a job he never expected.
Chapter One * Chapter Two * Chapter Three * Chapter Four * Chapter Five * Chapter Six * Chapter Seven * Chapter Eight * Chapter Nine * Chapter Ten * Chapter Eleven * Chapter Twelve * Chapter Thirteen * Chapter Fourteen
***
Kyuhyun woke with a start, his face half buried in his pillow. At first he thought he was being rocked in some kind of earthquake, but then he realized that the weight over his waist was an arm. And the rocking was the man behind him being reluctant to wake up and trying to get him to stop moving.
“Sleep,” Zhou Mi muttered, muffled from behind him.
Without breaking either of them, he managed to turn, laughing at Zhou Mi’s face under his breath, the way he was trying to squish his face down and failing. It had pulled up part of his lip so it looked like he was trying to snarl at someone. And still he was cute. Zhou Mi licked his lips, righting his face, and peering at Kyuhyun between barely-opened eyelids.
“Kui Xian,” he admonished. “Sleep.”
And with that, Zhou Mi just pulled him closer, like that would encourage him to do what Zhou Mi wanted. He tried a different method, tickling at Zhou Mi’s lower back with his fingertips and getting a quiet whine for his effort.
“You know you have to get up, right?”
Zhou Mi responded by squeezing Kyuhyun even closer, like that would shut him up.
He knocked lightly on Zhou Mi’s head, as though to see if anyone was home. “Hey, you know you can’t just squish me forever. You have to go get your parents.”
Zhou Mi snuffled into Kyuhyun’s neck for a moment. “Oh,” he heard, muffled. “Oh, that’s right!”
And then it wasn’t lazy-sleepy Zhou Mi cuddling him, it was smiling-spazzing Zhou Mi celebrating by rolling him half across the bed and back.
“I haven’t seen them in forever,” Zhou Mi said, squeezing Kyuhyun in a way that made him very glad he wasn’t made of silly putty. “Even talking on the phone isn’t enough. I miss giving them hugs. But… I miss that a little less since I can hug you!”
He chuckled, patting at Zhou Mi. Yeah, he understood. There wasn’t anything quite like a parent. And he didn’t think he was the huggy type, but having a Zhou Mi pasted onto him… It was irrefutable that he would miss Zhou Mi’s touch, because he had feared losing it before he was even guaranteed his place.
He touched Zhou Mi’s chin, tilting it up and had to bite back a grin at Zhou Mi’s raised eyebrows. It wasn’t any surprise what he was asking for, as Zhou Mi rubbed his nose against Kyuhyun’s.
“Do you want a good morning kiss, Kui Xian?” Zhou Mi whispered.
“Only if it’s free,” he joked back.
But he didn’t really pay attention to the words, because he had gotten too lost in the smile in Zhou Mi’s eyes. Hey, he’s smiling for you, his little brain crowed at him. And duh, that was obvious, because he was smiling at Zhou Mi, too. And as though the sappy was too much for his body, he finally closed the distance, getting the kiss he had been wanting. Zhou Mi’s mouth responded to his without delay, warm in a way he could endlessly take for granted. Even if he was clumsy about it, even if he wasn’t the world’s best kisser, or even the world’s most experienced, Zhou Mi was still there. He figured they had a few tricks that they could teach each other. But Zhou Mi’s mouth was very expressive to say the least, so it wasn’t as though he had complaints.
Zhou Mi tried to press him back on the bed, and he laughed, rolling away. “Hey, now. We need to get dressed and see what else we have to do to get ready. You don’t have that much time.”
Zhou Mi followed, standing behind him and giving him his own, personalized good morning hug. And then the sucker beat him into the bathroom.
***
They had gotten Zhou Mi’s rough last-minute checklist done without much effort. (Kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room - check) But they had sort of tried to keep everything picked up since The Great Cleaning Effort of a few days before. Zhou Mi and his face mask and delicate coughing at the dust they stirred up. They’d known that they had a little while to clean before Zhou Mi had to leave for the airport. Zhou Mi had taken off a couple of days of work to spend time with his parents, so Kyuhyun would be responsible for his own makeup for the first time. He was so looking forward to that.
He figured he could make himself as scarce as possible. Going out, visiting a gaming cafe or something. Just to get out of the way of Zhou Mi and his parents. Sure he wanted to meet them, and he figured he’d end up spending time with them in some way like it or not. But he figured if it was his parents coming in from another country, he’d want some time alone with them. Even if they were “sort of” dating.
“You think we’re done?” he asked, surveying their kingdom with his laptop under his arm. He’d keep it in their bedroom, excuse himself in there to give Zhou Mi his time alone.
“I think so. Where are you taking your computer?”
“Oh, into our room?” Our room, his mind crowed. “I can hang out in there sometimes to give you and your parents time, so…”
“Oh. Kui Xian!” Zhou Mi laughed, stepping up to get a hand on Kyuhyun’s elbow. “You’re not in the way. I want you to get to know them. But if you feel more comfortably not sitting like you usually do, why don’t you put your computer with mine at the table? Then you can decide where you want to end up. Okay?”
“Sounds good,” he agreed. Sitting at the table while Zhou Mi and his parents were across the room was at least some distance and might give them a little privacy anyway.
“You are very thoughtful, Kui Xian,” Zhou Mi said, tracing fingers down Kyuhyun’s cheek.
It wasn’t like he could gloat about it. But Zhou Mi was smiling at him so happily, that he thought nothing of taking the step closer and nudging in for a kiss. No questioning his motivation, no questioning if he could or should, just the need to feel Zhou Mi’s lips against his. A little dry this morning, he realized, and that was okay, because they still moved with his. He stroked Zhou Mi’s side, time stretching for them, and those kisses. Zhou Mi’s scent and the feel of his laughter as they bumped noses. Zhou Mi’s fingers were in his hair, a hand on Kyuhyun’s hip, and he eased back with infinite amounts of regret. The taste of Zhou Mi’s mouth was still being defined to him, and they didn’t have the hours available that he would have liked, to tip Zhou Mi’s chin and devour him.
“Thoughtful isn’t going to get your parents,” he said, smirking up at Zhou Mi’s almost dazed face. He would gladly put that expression there without prompting any time.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go with me?”
He swallowed the twinge of anxiety. “Do you want me to?”
When they had talked through Zhou Mi going to pick up his parents, he had offered to stay behind for any last minute cleanup. That clearly wasn’t really a concern any more, so his main concern was what Zhou Mi thought. Why Zhou Mi wanted his big behind dragging along with him, he had no idea. He tried to keep his focus, really, despite the distracting way that Zhou Mi was stroking his side.
“Maybe having you with me will keep me from crying all over them at the airport,” Zhou Mi said. Not entirely joking either, he saw.
“I’m not some kind of tissue.” He sighed, raising an eyebrow as though he were thinking. “It’s not like I need to be here. Yeah, okay. I’ll go with you.”
Zhou Mi pressed another hard kiss to his mouth, and then squeezed him close. From the little shudder that went through Zhou Mi, he guessed that Zhou Mi had really wanted him to go along. He patted Zhou Mi’s back and breathed into his shoulder. It was one of those things they could do for each other, even if he did feel like an extra wheel. If they were dating, and for all intents and purposes until he was told differently they were, then it was a couple-y thing to do. It was also a good friend thing to do. And as Zhou Mi kind of rocked him back and forth, he had a moment of clarity that he was so glad that both things applied to him. Because when Zhou Mi finally let him go, and he kept himself from wanting to kiss him again, he knew there was joy in those brown eyes. Probably a little mischief, too. Or wait, maybe that was him.
“Go get your man purse so we can have time to park,” he said, pushing Zhou Mi toward his stuff.
“Hey, it’s useful to carry around!” Zhou Mi protested, grabbing his car keys as Kyuhyun waited.
“Just as long as you don’t make me carry it,” he joked as he opened the door.
And then he stumbled, because Zhou Mi kneed him on the butt as he followed him into the hallway. And that was what those long legs were for apparently.
***
Zhou Mi fidgeted worse than a two year-old waiting for a doctor. Playing with his bag, pointing out things about people by standing lamentably close behind Kyuhyun and speaking into his ear. It made all the hair stand up on the back of his neck and forced him to change their positions, or he and his pants were going to have to have a talk in a faraway place.
“I can hear you just as well from here,” he told Zhou Mi and the injured eyes. Clearly wondering why Kyuhyun had gone to standing halfway in front of him to standing beside him. He wasn’t supposed to be in front anyway. It wasn’t his face that Zhou Mi’s parents were going to want to see.
“I have to turn my head a lot further,” Zhou Mi said, a grin kind of peeking through.
He gestured until Zhou Mi leaned into him, so he could get his mouth right up against Zhou Mi’s ear. “It’s not my fault when you talk like this,” he said, quiet and breathy.
He actually felt Zhou Mi shiver, pulling back to look rather significantly at Kyuhyun’s mouth before darting back to his eyes. “I see, Kui Xian.” And then he laughed, half strangling Kyuhyun into a hug. “This is why I brought you.”
“Good,” he said, helping Zhou Mi’s arm down below his throat. And it was good, taking in the smile Zhou Mi was beaming at the world at large, and the way he was being held. He’d just decided that feeling quite that smug wasn’t good for his health, when Zhou Mi almost jumped onto him.
He staggered, Zhou Mi staggered. And then he was standing alone as Zhou Mi called out, “Mama!”
Kyuhyun sort of hung back, not really sure where he should look or what he should do as Zhou Mi engulfed the woman who had just emerged into a hug, and with a separate exclamation, the man beside her. He could tell from Zhou Mi’s elbows that he was doing his clapping-hand, wringing maneuver as he talked twelve thousand miles an hour trying to make sure they were okay and their flight was okay. Or he figured that was what it was about, since he only understood a minuscule amount of it. Zhou Mi’s head went up like a scenting hound, turning to see where his lost puppy was. Waving Kyuhyun up with vigorous flaps of his hand and arm, and tucking his arm under Zhou Mi’s so he was forced to stand right beside him. He did a kind of awkward duck for a greeting since Zhou Mi wouldn’t let him go, and just sort of waited until he was told what he should be doing.
As Zhou Mi spoke, he saw Zhou Mi’s mother’s eyes widen slightly, and then he got fixed with a very direct stare. He stood for inspection as she looked him over and considered him, and then was the recipient of a very Zhou Mi-like hug, though from quite a smaller package. She said something to him, and allowed him to greet Zhou Mi’s father. Which thankfully was just a bow and not a hug. A little awkward since Zhou Mi hadn’t let go of his hand.
He stared around furtively as they got into the elevator to get the bags to the right parking level.
“What did you just tell them,” he demanded, as soft as he could, though he bet Zhou Mi was wincing inside from the tightness of his hand.
Zhou Mi kind of exhaled slow, brushing his lips softly against Kyuhyun’s cheek in the relative privacy they had in the corner of the elevator. “They already knew that we’re dating. So just that I waited a long time to find someone like you.”
And with a squeeze of Kyuhyun’s hand, he gathered one of his parents’ bags and led them toward the car. Leaving Kyuhyun to guard the rest as some frozen statue of shock. Zhou Mi had told his parents they were dating? And that meant…? That they actually were dating? That Zhou Mi had made his decision? His work collecting himself didn’t quite pan out, since when Zhou Mi came back to get another bag, he was still standing there with some idiot confused smile on his face.
“Kui Xian?” Zhou Mi poked him in the side.
“You told your parents we were dating before you told me!” he accused.
“What?”
“You never told me… I thought we were just trying this out?”
“Oh… Oh, Kui Xian, I thought you knew..?” Zhou Mi stepped closer to him, touching his arm. “There is no halfway with you for me.”
“Well. Good.” Oh, he was as articulate as a rotting log. “I mean, for me, too.”
Zhou Mi smiled at him, and he thought that was pretty okay. If gigantic fireworks displays and giant movie theater screens and game championship victories could be described as merely “okay.” So they really were dating. No halfway stuff.
“That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” Zhou Mi ventured.
To date Zhou Mi for real? He turned and fixed Zhou Mi with a stare that would’ve quailed some men. In his imagination anyway.
“Yes,” he said emphatically, making sure to keep walking so Zhou Mi didn’t try to hug him in the parking lot. The way Zhou Mi snagged his hand was plenty. “They’ll think I’ve corrupted their son!”
Zhou Mi’s laugh exploded from him. “I’ll make sure they know that I’m the one who corrupted you.”
Though he could believe it, with the way Zhou Mi was stroking his fingers. Seeing that smile, he probably would’ve done just about anything.
***
Zhou Mi’s father sat in the passenger’s seat beside Zhou Mi, which meant that he was in the back seat with Zhou Mi’s mother. They gave each other a few smiles but he mostly just listened to Zhou Mi talk, pointing out little things as they passed. Of course, again in Mandarin, but he obviously knew what it was that Zhou Mi was talking about.
He helped carry up the suitcases, going back for little extras as Zhou Mi got his parents introduced to the room they’d set up for them. He figured they’d sit around and catch up. He could hole up in the corner, check the internet for the events of the day. Listen to them chitchat, and hopefully not get auditioned too many times for who knew what.
That kind of worked out, as Zhou Mi basically chained him to one of the kitchen chairs beside him, though thankfully with his computer on the table right next to him. Zhou Mi wasn’t that sadistic. He was deleting email and eyeing his game, and doing his best to follow along as Zhou Mi chatted with his mother, while his father dozed on the couch. But one second he was sitting there zoning out and listening to Zhou Mi chatter, and the next second he had a warm hand on his suddenly bare calf. Zhou Mi had hiked up his pant leg, and his mom was groping his smooth leg and commenting on it.
“She said you did a good job,” Zhou Mi said, beaming at him. “And that they would look good in a skirt. And you do.”
That, he blanked on. “They know where you work?”
“They know I work at Satin,” Zhou Mi laughed. “They know you work there, too.”
“Oh.” Hi, I’m dating your son, and I dress like a woman a few nights a week. Check. But he had Zhou Mi and his mother’s smiles pointed at him, so all he could do was smile back.
***
He was determined, despite Zhou Mi taking time off, that he would still go into Satin to work. Not only as proof to himself, but as something that he really needed to do for his own finances. If he ended up losing the job at Satin, and since they were dating that seemed somewhat inevitable, then he needed as much money in his bank account as possible. If him working there was going to cause problems, then it was going to be him that bowed out. Zhou Mi did really well in the job, for one thing. Was there something else Zhou Mi wanted to do? That was likely, because he didn’t think Zhou Mi expected to be there forever. He couldn’t help but smile at Zhou Mi, thinking about it. They’d have time to discuss, but first off he just had to get through a shift alone, makeup and all. He showered, getting ready, getting out as soon as possible. Zhou Mi disappeared into it as soon as he’d vacated it.
“I brought my makeup home, so I can help you get ready for work,” Zhou Mi said, muffled in the bathroom.
That made him pause on the way to their bedroom. He actually had to get to work, and no one he saw on the subway, if they were male, usually had fake eyelashes and lipstick.
“Uh. I think even a taxi driver would find that strange?”
“Kui Xian!” Zhou Mi laughed as he came out with the box. “I thought I’d drive my parents around and show them some sights, so we can drop you off at Satin.”
“Oh.”
There was that little smile on Zhou Mi’s face, one he had seen before. The I’m-doing-this-for-you smile. One he probably hadn’t had the sense to interpret when he had thought Zhou Mi might not be interested in him. As long as Zhou Mi didn’t think the chase was the important part. He’d invested too much to think it was short term. The man who was maneuvering him into a chair with a mascara wand in his hand was probably stuck with him. He got a grip on the seams of Zhou Mi’s pants and focused on letting Zhou Mi get the makeup on him as quickly as possible.
“I’m going to have to walk out of here with a hood, you realize that?”
“Better than you spending half an hour trying to get your eyes done at the club. Close your mouth.”
He complied, knowing they had an audience in Zhou Mi’s parents. And Zhou Mi was another step ahead in thinking.
“Maybe wear that one red top, you know the one with the sequins on the bottom? That’ll look nice with jeans.”
“Sure,” he got out as well as he could with Zhou Mi gooping up his lips.
Zhou Mi’s mom asked a question as she watched the process with interest. And without so much as a comment, Zhou Mi tilted up Kyuhyun’s chin and kissed him square on the mouth. He blinked as Zhou Mi responded to his mom, kissing Kyuhyun again as he capped the lipstick.
“What?” he managed to get out.
“She wanted to know if it would smear. And I demonstrated that it wouldn’t,” Zhou Mi laughed.
“When did you get so bold?”
“Do you mind?”
He couldn’t help the grin any more than he could stop breathing. “You crazy? I needed some of that to rub off on me about a month ago.”
“That long?” Zhou Mi’s fingers were warm on his cheek. “Let’s talk later, okay?”
He leaned into the hug that Zhou Mi pulled him up into. “What’d your parents think of your hair?” he teased.
Zhou Mi just poked him in the side and told him to finish getting ready. He saw how it was.
Kyuhyun sort of avoided meeting Zhou Mi's father's eyes when they were alone. When it was the four of them, it was a little different, because there were two other people as a buffer. But when Zhou Mi was off with his mother in the kitchen, or fetching the iron for her, or something, it was different. When they were alone, and he had to stumble out banal Mandarin and hope he wasn't saying something incredibly insulting. At least Zhou Mi could fix his mistakes. But meeting the man's eyes for any length of time seemed like he was declaring all the things he wanted to do to the man's son. Which in and of itself wasn't something he was ashamed of, but it was Zhou Mi's father, not just a friend or something. He couldn't exactly bend steel or something, but he did spend time in his head during those times thinking of all the ways he'd defend himself if he had the modicum of language knowledge required to do so. Zhou Mi likes me! was the first part that he tended to start off with. Though Zhou Mi seemed to hold back a little bit around his father too, though he thought that was mostly out of respect. No matter if his father was okay with him dating a man or not, it was a little different to get all kissy faced too often in front of him. Zhou Mi's mother just kind of beamed at them when they snuck kisses as Zhou Mi's dad napped.
***
Getting dropped off by Zhou Mi was a lot less harrowing for sure, though he did still duck his head in the back seat when they were idling for lights. Zhou Mi’s mom couldn’t seem to stop staring at him, and he wondered if she’d seen Zhou Mi in full makeup before. Clearly they knew and were pretty okay with it. He hadn’t told his own parents. He didn’t know how, really, short of showing up dressed in women’s clothes. How they perceived what he and Zhou Mi did would be a lot different than how he had been with it, that much he knew. They didn’t know about Zhou Mi either, but that one he had an excuse for because it was still pretty recent.
Zhou Mi was lecturing even as he parked, getting out of the car as Kyuhyun waved goodbye to the two people left in the car.
“Make sure you ask to get a ride with someone, okay?” Zhou Mi said, walking with him toward the building. “You know we’re not supposed to use this subway stop.”
It was for safety, mostly, to keep them from being harassed by any customers, even well-meaning ones.
“I remember. Don’t worry, I’m a big boy now.”
Zhou Mi’s fingers tightened on his. “Yeah, but you’re my big boy now, aren’t you?”
If there was a string of words in any language that was guaranteed to make him go stupid in the head, he guessed he’d just heard them.
“Just don’t forget it,” he teased. “Go, before your parents think you’re staying. I’ll call you after I leave.”
The kiss was lightning quick and left him unsatisfied as Zhou Mi jogged back to the car, waving before he got in. He was pretty sure he got blown a kiss too as Zhou Mi’s parents waved, though less affectionately. Oh goody.
He breathed out and prepared himself for a night doing what was familiar to him. At least, until it came time to talk to their boss. Especially once Zhou Mi was back, he didn’t know how disgusting they were with each other, but hiding their relationship wasn’t exactly an option. And he’d been lectured once, and them getting together was the result of a lecture. So he tracked down his boss as soon as he’d gotten his clothes changed and makeup off.
“I just wanted to talk to you really quickly,” Kyuhyun said, sort of corralling them in a corner away from curious ears. “The last time we talked, Zhou Mi and I told you that we weren’t together. And we weren’t, but we are. Now. And I didn’t want to lie to you. I’m going to be looking for another job, but I just wanted to ask if it would be okay if I stayed on until I found something, unless there was some kind of trouble.”
“Well, there’s something to be said for being honest,” his boss said, looking thoughtful. “But damn, you couldn’t have waited another week? I just lost the pool.”
The thought rolled over Kyuhyun. “There was a bet on when we would get together?”
“Since you started here, just about. Anyone with eyes could see the way you two mooned after each other. If there starts to be trouble, you and Zhou Mi will start alternating nights. Until you find another job.”
Kyuhyun sighed. At least he wouldn’t be living off of Zhou Mi’s kindness. “That’s great, thanks.”
“And congratulations. Though really, one more week?”
***
He got dropped off by one of the others a few subway stops up the line, with his thanks, calling Zhou Mi before he went down to it. It was a two second call, really, Zhou Mi just telling him to be safe and that he’d see him in a while. Still, as he scanned his pass he had a smile in his head and news to share with Zhou Mi, especially about the bet. Zhou Mi’s parents were sleeping by the time he opened the front door, but Zhou Mi was still awake, looking up from where he was sitting on the couch with a smile as he came in.
“Welcome back, Kui Xian. Was it okay?”
He nodded, slipping his hand into Zhou Mi’s as the light got turned off and they moved toward their bedroom. Zhou Mi set aside his book, and he casually leaned back against the wall, watching Zhou Mi with a tilted head. Until Zhou Mi realized that Kyuhyun wasn’t going to say something, at least, and he turned. Kyuhyun could feel his smile growing with every step Zhou Mi took toward him. He liked the way he had to tilt his head up, just so, to meet Zhou Mi’s eyes straight on. And the way that Zhou Mi’s body fit to his pressing him into the wall as they gave each other a very nice, very thorough, greeting kiss. There were muscles in his spine that wanted to boogie, sucking on Zhou Mi’s bottom lip. He groped Zhou Mi’s ass a little, getting a tremulous chuckle in return.
“There’s no way you want me,” Kyuhyun managed to get out, ribs grinding against Zhou Mi’s. They kind of belied that, the way they were all but grinding together.
“You stood up for me like no one ever has. You’re funny and handsome. You look great in a skirt,” Zhou Mi said, his head kind of jerking to let Kyuhyun know he was kidding. Sort of. “You help me out in the apartment. You slept beside me, and let me hold you.”
“When you put it like that it sounds like we’ve been dating for a while.”
There was a soft smile on Zhou Mi’s face. “If my dreams were real, anyway.”
“So is it kind of late for official stuff? Will you be my boyfriend, or whatever?”
“Or whatever,” Zhou Mi repeated. “I will be, if you’ll be mine, too.”
“I guess it’s a deal, then. No more blind dates. Don’t make me beat up your friends.”
Zhou Mi laughed, all but squeezing Kyuhyun into about three pieces. “Kui Xian, I won’t be dating anyone but you.”
“I might game a lot and kind of ignore you sometimes, but just so long as you… I told the boss about us,” he said. “I figured it was the best way to go. He’s okay with me staying there, as long as I don’t start any problems. We could work alternating nights, but… I think I’m going to start looking for another job.”
Zhou Mi nodded, considering him. “We both knew it wasn’t forever.”
“Right. I mean, there’ve been really good times. I really like being there with you. It’s fun to watch you work sometimes, but…”
“But?” Zhou Mi prompted.
“I do get jealous. I mean, it’s not like I don’t trust you, but it’s something else to watch it forever.”
“You trust me, huh?” Zhou Mi kissed his chin.
“Well, yeah. I mean, since you’ve got me at home.”
He couldn’t even say it with a straight face, but Zhou Mi kept him from laughing overmuch, by kissing him.
“You say that like it’s a joke, but it’s not,” Zhou Mi whispered. “I wouldn’t be interested in them, because they’d never see me like you do.”
“Well, I don’t… If they just…”
“Would you miss seeing me dressed up?”
He frowned. “It was never about that. It’s like changing your hair, or…”
“Exactly, Kui Xian. Exactly. You saw me and not what I did, or what I wore. That makes you special.”
“Yeah, but other people-”
“Not enough of them. Do you want any of the other guys at the club?”
Kyuhyun laughed. “No? I think you’re it.”
Zhou Mi smiled. “You’re it,” he agreed. “I’m glad you won’t mind me still working at Satin.”
Knowing Zhou Mi was his and still getting lusted on? But also, knowing that Zhou Mi wanted him. “Probably I’m fine with it. As long as I’m the only one you do this with.”
Obviously he didn’t want to think of anyone else, since he was quite happy being plastered up against the wall in their room with Zhou Mi against him, and since his imagination wasn’t really overactive, just a bit aroused.
Zhou Mi kind of laughed against him as Kyuhyun kissed up his neck. “Yes, only with you.”
“Good.”
“Ooh!” Zhou Mi exclaimed as Kyuhyun’s weight turned them, and thumped him back against the door.
He nearly choked on his own inhale as Zhou Mi’s tongue met his. Groaning, he ran his hands down Zhou Mi’s sides, up under his shirt on the warm, smooth skin, and down to his hip.
Zhou Mi tried to follow him, seeking to continue that kiss, but he held Zhou Mi back. Just smiling at him for a moment, probably like an idiot. The way that mouth started to pout just a little. Those eyes. He couldn’t hold out against that, moving back into Zhou Mi’s warmth. It was strange to feel the laugh as well as see it. But oh, how he did not mind, lips moving with Zhou Mi’s in an endless string of kisses. And with Zhou Mi’s hands locked in his lower back, they were all but glued together.
It was Zhou Mi’s soft, huffing sigh, though, that bumped them from that slow and tentative exploration, to moaning.
He smoothed his hand down the length of Zhou Mi’s spine, and through the cloth, ran what he could of his nails the whole way back up. He felt Zhou Mi shudder, knew that his back was sensitive. He wasn’t trying to turn him on, just to say, Look, I know you.
“You even taste good,” he muttered, getting a better hold on Zhou Mi. “It’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair?”
“You look like a model, and you kiss great. There’s barely anything wrong with you.”
“So you think there is something wrong with me?”
He thought for a second. “You’re constantly on the phone.”
“You’re constantly on your computer!”
“Shh!” Zhou Mi’s parents were probably sleeping. He huffed out a laugh. “And you still want to go out with me?”
“There’s way more good stuff about you.”
“Exactly.”
Like the kissing. The kissing was definitely a good thing. Warm and wet, and the almost basking growls that emanated from Zhou Mi’s throat. All for him. Finally, just for him.
“I guess I can hold you again tonight without pretending,” Zhou Mi murmured against him.
“No more pretending,” he agreed. “Speaking of pretending. I found out today that they had a bet going on at Satin on when we were going to get together. Apparently we cost the boss some money. Too bad we didn’t know or we could’ve made some instead.”
Zhou Mi laughed, shaking his head. “A bet? They were just waiting on us?”
He let his head rest back against Zhou Mi’s arm. “Were we that obvious? To others? I guess we did a good job of keeping it from each other.”
“Not always, Kui Xian,” Zhou Mi told him. “There were times you’d look at me, and I’d think, he’s just going to attack me right now. I’d never had anyone look at me like that. But you never acted? Sharing a bed, all those opportunities. I figured you wanted me, but maybe not enough to do something. Or you wanted me, but weren’t interested in a relationship, so you were holding back. I don’t know! I was so confused.”
He tugged Zhou Mi’s head down, kissing him solidly and without question. “I’m sorry. Living here, the job, that wasn’t the important part. But I wanted you, and I liked you, and if you didn’t want me?”
“I didn’t let you sleep in my bed just because I wanted to sleep with you. But…Maybe I thought about it, when you fell asleep the first couple of times.”
He could feel his lips curling, stupidly. “So I was the chicken, and you were the creeper getting me into your bed. I see how it is.”
He had to snort for air a few seconds later as they tickled each other in retaliation. He massaged at Zhou Mi’s shoulders.
“Maybe if you saw I could be good for you, you would want me,” Zhou Mi murmured.
“Whatever it was, it worked,” he said. “All we can do make sure we talk. And enjoy being together. ”
“I agree with that, Kui Xian. It felt like I was missing out on something so big and important. And to be beside you and know that I couldn’t… I’ll miss working with you, but if that’s it? Still getting to hold you at night, and sit with you, and watch you make funny faces and noises at your computer.” He accepted Zhou Mi’s kiss, pleasantly surprised at the teasing way that Zhou Mi nipped at him. “I like this, too, Kui Xian.”
He chuckled, pushing Zhou Mi toward the bed. “Yeah, that’s something I could get used to.”
He showered quickly, sliding into bed with some relief. Zhou Mi had almost kissed him when Kyuhyun got his chilly feet under Zhou Mi’s pajama pants, and there was a scuffle that ended up with Zhou Mi half on his chest and laughing. It felt too good to just stay like that, warm, Zhou Mi squeezing him. But to sleep without dying, they scooted onto their sides, and actually got that good-night kiss.
“What’s happening tomorrow?” he asked, smoothing back Zhou Mi’s hair. “Sightseeing, right?”
“Yep, that’s right. You’re coming with us?”
“Yeah, sounds fun. Besides, I need to be there in case you get lost, right? This way you don’t have to ask some stranger to take a picture of you with your parents.”
“Ooh, I need to charge the camera battery! Thank you!”
He was rudely abandoned as Zhou Mi bounded out of bed to rummage and find his camera and charger. Then he wrapped himself around Kyuhyun like a vine and paid him back with cold feet of his own. They were sufficiently warmed up by the time they finished saying goodnight for… He’d lost track of how many times. He just knew that Zhou Mi’s hand on his neck knocked him out.
***
The end of the visit came too fast for just about all of them. It hadn’t been such a big intrusion as Kyuhyun might have thought, and eating Zhou Mi’s mom’s food had definitely been one of the highlights for him. She patted his cheek sometimes, like she’d like to fatten him up a little. That kind of made him laugh, staring at Zhou Mi’s frame. Listening to them talk and reminisce, even if he didn’t understand most of it. He got to see Zhou Mi with his parents - joking with his father, cuddling his mother against him. It told him a lot about Zhou Mi as a man. Even as they shared secret smiles. Zhou Mi’s eyes started at his knees sometimes, sliding upwards in a way that had all the blood in his body debating which way to go. And Zhou Mi knew it. Even if it made half Zhou Mi’s face move to wink, he did that a couple of times, too. Including once when his mom had seen and turned to look at Kyuhyun, who was doing his best impression of a concrete garden statue. A really red one.
Every day spending time with Zhou Mi and his parents, every night making up for all those missed opportunities for a kiss or a touch in bed. It made them bold, every moment of acceptance. Kissing until he was straining for breath, exploring every inch of Zhou Mi’s back and sides and chest. All but purring in need as Zhou Mi balanced above him, and rocked his head back into the pillow with his kiss.
“You remember when you tickled me, and we were wrestling?” he said, half breathless.
“Mmhmm,” Zhou Mi said, nibbling at Kyuhyun’s ear.
“You were on top of me, and I really wanted…this.”
“You want me, Kui Xian?”
He laughed, the feeling of it luxurious and thick. Especially considering he was fondling Zhou Mi’s chest under his scrunched up t-shirt. He bumped his thigh on Zhou Mi’s hip.
“I’ll let you guess what the right answer is.”
Zhou Mi drew himself up, almost a sinuous cat as he considering Kyuhyun quite seriously. “My parents leave tomorrow. Maybe…”
“I’m not rushing you,” Kyuhyun assured him. “Just letting you know.”
Zhou Mi smiled. “I knew already,” he whispered against Kyuhyun’s mouth. And they both moaned as their hips rocked together lightly. A promise of things to come.
***
They swept the apartment one last time to make sure nothing was being forgotten. Zhou Mi fussing as he got his parents into the car and the suitcases into the back. When they got there, Kyuhyun ended up walking with Zhou Mi’s mother holding one of his arms, and the other dragging a suitcase. Watching Zhou Mi walk beside his father, talking away. He was watching the smile and the hips, and no one would’ve faulted him for that at all. They were admonished to keep each other fed, and were both hugged. He even half got misty himself watching Zhou Mi hold his mother long and hard. Sending them in through security with a wave and last minute shouts. Zhou Mi gripped Kyuhyun’s wrist hard enough to hurt as they waited until Zhou Mi’s parents couldn’t be seen any more.
“Ready for chocolate cake?” he prompted, nudging at Zhou Mi.
Dessert healed all sorts of ills sometimes, he thought. Especially for Zhou Mi.
“I am, Kui Xian,” he said, and walked back through the airport, steady, with his arm around Kyuhyun’s shoulders.
***
Author: Coley Merrin
Rating: R
Pairing: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun
Genre: AU, Romance
Warning: crossdressing
Summary: Out of work, Kyuhyun's last ditch effort lands him a curious roommate - and a job he never expected.
Chapter One * Chapter Two * Chapter Three * Chapter Four * Chapter Five * Chapter Six * Chapter Seven * Chapter Eight * Chapter Nine * Chapter Ten * Chapter Eleven * Chapter Twelve * Chapter Thirteen * Chapter Fourteen
***
Kyuhyun woke with a start, his face half buried in his pillow. At first he thought he was being rocked in some kind of earthquake, but then he realized that the weight over his waist was an arm. And the rocking was the man behind him being reluctant to wake up and trying to get him to stop moving.
“Sleep,” Zhou Mi muttered, muffled from behind him.
Without breaking either of them, he managed to turn, laughing at Zhou Mi’s face under his breath, the way he was trying to squish his face down and failing. It had pulled up part of his lip so it looked like he was trying to snarl at someone. And still he was cute. Zhou Mi licked his lips, righting his face, and peering at Kyuhyun between barely-opened eyelids.
“Kui Xian,” he admonished. “Sleep.”
And with that, Zhou Mi just pulled him closer, like that would encourage him to do what Zhou Mi wanted. He tried a different method, tickling at Zhou Mi’s lower back with his fingertips and getting a quiet whine for his effort.
“You know you have to get up, right?”
Zhou Mi responded by squeezing Kyuhyun even closer, like that would shut him up.
He knocked lightly on Zhou Mi’s head, as though to see if anyone was home. “Hey, you know you can’t just squish me forever. You have to go get your parents.”
Zhou Mi snuffled into Kyuhyun’s neck for a moment. “Oh,” he heard, muffled. “Oh, that’s right!”
And then it wasn’t lazy-sleepy Zhou Mi cuddling him, it was smiling-spazzing Zhou Mi celebrating by rolling him half across the bed and back.
“I haven’t seen them in forever,” Zhou Mi said, squeezing Kyuhyun in a way that made him very glad he wasn’t made of silly putty. “Even talking on the phone isn’t enough. I miss giving them hugs. But… I miss that a little less since I can hug you!”
He chuckled, patting at Zhou Mi. Yeah, he understood. There wasn’t anything quite like a parent. And he didn’t think he was the huggy type, but having a Zhou Mi pasted onto him… It was irrefutable that he would miss Zhou Mi’s touch, because he had feared losing it before he was even guaranteed his place.
He touched Zhou Mi’s chin, tilting it up and had to bite back a grin at Zhou Mi’s raised eyebrows. It wasn’t any surprise what he was asking for, as Zhou Mi rubbed his nose against Kyuhyun’s.
“Do you want a good morning kiss, Kui Xian?” Zhou Mi whispered.
“Only if it’s free,” he joked back.
But he didn’t really pay attention to the words, because he had gotten too lost in the smile in Zhou Mi’s eyes. Hey, he’s smiling for you, his little brain crowed at him. And duh, that was obvious, because he was smiling at Zhou Mi, too. And as though the sappy was too much for his body, he finally closed the distance, getting the kiss he had been wanting. Zhou Mi’s mouth responded to his without delay, warm in a way he could endlessly take for granted. Even if he was clumsy about it, even if he wasn’t the world’s best kisser, or even the world’s most experienced, Zhou Mi was still there. He figured they had a few tricks that they could teach each other. But Zhou Mi’s mouth was very expressive to say the least, so it wasn’t as though he had complaints.
Zhou Mi tried to press him back on the bed, and he laughed, rolling away. “Hey, now. We need to get dressed and see what else we have to do to get ready. You don’t have that much time.”
Zhou Mi followed, standing behind him and giving him his own, personalized good morning hug. And then the sucker beat him into the bathroom.
***
They had gotten Zhou Mi’s rough last-minute checklist done without much effort. (Kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room - check) But they had sort of tried to keep everything picked up since The Great Cleaning Effort of a few days before. Zhou Mi and his face mask and delicate coughing at the dust they stirred up. They’d known that they had a little while to clean before Zhou Mi had to leave for the airport. Zhou Mi had taken off a couple of days of work to spend time with his parents, so Kyuhyun would be responsible for his own makeup for the first time. He was so looking forward to that.
He figured he could make himself as scarce as possible. Going out, visiting a gaming cafe or something. Just to get out of the way of Zhou Mi and his parents. Sure he wanted to meet them, and he figured he’d end up spending time with them in some way like it or not. But he figured if it was his parents coming in from another country, he’d want some time alone with them. Even if they were “sort of” dating.
“You think we’re done?” he asked, surveying their kingdom with his laptop under his arm. He’d keep it in their bedroom, excuse himself in there to give Zhou Mi his time alone.
“I think so. Where are you taking your computer?”
“Oh, into our room?” Our room, his mind crowed. “I can hang out in there sometimes to give you and your parents time, so…”
“Oh. Kui Xian!” Zhou Mi laughed, stepping up to get a hand on Kyuhyun’s elbow. “You’re not in the way. I want you to get to know them. But if you feel more comfortably not sitting like you usually do, why don’t you put your computer with mine at the table? Then you can decide where you want to end up. Okay?”
“Sounds good,” he agreed. Sitting at the table while Zhou Mi and his parents were across the room was at least some distance and might give them a little privacy anyway.
“You are very thoughtful, Kui Xian,” Zhou Mi said, tracing fingers down Kyuhyun’s cheek.
It wasn’t like he could gloat about it. But Zhou Mi was smiling at him so happily, that he thought nothing of taking the step closer and nudging in for a kiss. No questioning his motivation, no questioning if he could or should, just the need to feel Zhou Mi’s lips against his. A little dry this morning, he realized, and that was okay, because they still moved with his. He stroked Zhou Mi’s side, time stretching for them, and those kisses. Zhou Mi’s scent and the feel of his laughter as they bumped noses. Zhou Mi’s fingers were in his hair, a hand on Kyuhyun’s hip, and he eased back with infinite amounts of regret. The taste of Zhou Mi’s mouth was still being defined to him, and they didn’t have the hours available that he would have liked, to tip Zhou Mi’s chin and devour him.
“Thoughtful isn’t going to get your parents,” he said, smirking up at Zhou Mi’s almost dazed face. He would gladly put that expression there without prompting any time.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go with me?”
He swallowed the twinge of anxiety. “Do you want me to?”
When they had talked through Zhou Mi going to pick up his parents, he had offered to stay behind for any last minute cleanup. That clearly wasn’t really a concern any more, so his main concern was what Zhou Mi thought. Why Zhou Mi wanted his big behind dragging along with him, he had no idea. He tried to keep his focus, really, despite the distracting way that Zhou Mi was stroking his side.
“Maybe having you with me will keep me from crying all over them at the airport,” Zhou Mi said. Not entirely joking either, he saw.
“I’m not some kind of tissue.” He sighed, raising an eyebrow as though he were thinking. “It’s not like I need to be here. Yeah, okay. I’ll go with you.”
Zhou Mi pressed another hard kiss to his mouth, and then squeezed him close. From the little shudder that went through Zhou Mi, he guessed that Zhou Mi had really wanted him to go along. He patted Zhou Mi’s back and breathed into his shoulder. It was one of those things they could do for each other, even if he did feel like an extra wheel. If they were dating, and for all intents and purposes until he was told differently they were, then it was a couple-y thing to do. It was also a good friend thing to do. And as Zhou Mi kind of rocked him back and forth, he had a moment of clarity that he was so glad that both things applied to him. Because when Zhou Mi finally let him go, and he kept himself from wanting to kiss him again, he knew there was joy in those brown eyes. Probably a little mischief, too. Or wait, maybe that was him.
“Go get your man purse so we can have time to park,” he said, pushing Zhou Mi toward his stuff.
“Hey, it’s useful to carry around!” Zhou Mi protested, grabbing his car keys as Kyuhyun waited.
“Just as long as you don’t make me carry it,” he joked as he opened the door.
And then he stumbled, because Zhou Mi kneed him on the butt as he followed him into the hallway. And that was what those long legs were for apparently.
***
Zhou Mi fidgeted worse than a two year-old waiting for a doctor. Playing with his bag, pointing out things about people by standing lamentably close behind Kyuhyun and speaking into his ear. It made all the hair stand up on the back of his neck and forced him to change their positions, or he and his pants were going to have to have a talk in a faraway place.
“I can hear you just as well from here,” he told Zhou Mi and the injured eyes. Clearly wondering why Kyuhyun had gone to standing halfway in front of him to standing beside him. He wasn’t supposed to be in front anyway. It wasn’t his face that Zhou Mi’s parents were going to want to see.
“I have to turn my head a lot further,” Zhou Mi said, a grin kind of peeking through.
He gestured until Zhou Mi leaned into him, so he could get his mouth right up against Zhou Mi’s ear. “It’s not my fault when you talk like this,” he said, quiet and breathy.
He actually felt Zhou Mi shiver, pulling back to look rather significantly at Kyuhyun’s mouth before darting back to his eyes. “I see, Kui Xian.” And then he laughed, half strangling Kyuhyun into a hug. “This is why I brought you.”
“Good,” he said, helping Zhou Mi’s arm down below his throat. And it was good, taking in the smile Zhou Mi was beaming at the world at large, and the way he was being held. He’d just decided that feeling quite that smug wasn’t good for his health, when Zhou Mi almost jumped onto him.
He staggered, Zhou Mi staggered. And then he was standing alone as Zhou Mi called out, “Mama!”
Kyuhyun sort of hung back, not really sure where he should look or what he should do as Zhou Mi engulfed the woman who had just emerged into a hug, and with a separate exclamation, the man beside her. He could tell from Zhou Mi’s elbows that he was doing his clapping-hand, wringing maneuver as he talked twelve thousand miles an hour trying to make sure they were okay and their flight was okay. Or he figured that was what it was about, since he only understood a minuscule amount of it. Zhou Mi’s head went up like a scenting hound, turning to see where his lost puppy was. Waving Kyuhyun up with vigorous flaps of his hand and arm, and tucking his arm under Zhou Mi’s so he was forced to stand right beside him. He did a kind of awkward duck for a greeting since Zhou Mi wouldn’t let him go, and just sort of waited until he was told what he should be doing.
As Zhou Mi spoke, he saw Zhou Mi’s mother’s eyes widen slightly, and then he got fixed with a very direct stare. He stood for inspection as she looked him over and considered him, and then was the recipient of a very Zhou Mi-like hug, though from quite a smaller package. She said something to him, and allowed him to greet Zhou Mi’s father. Which thankfully was just a bow and not a hug. A little awkward since Zhou Mi hadn’t let go of his hand.
He stared around furtively as they got into the elevator to get the bags to the right parking level.
“What did you just tell them,” he demanded, as soft as he could, though he bet Zhou Mi was wincing inside from the tightness of his hand.
Zhou Mi kind of exhaled slow, brushing his lips softly against Kyuhyun’s cheek in the relative privacy they had in the corner of the elevator. “They already knew that we’re dating. So just that I waited a long time to find someone like you.”
And with a squeeze of Kyuhyun’s hand, he gathered one of his parents’ bags and led them toward the car. Leaving Kyuhyun to guard the rest as some frozen statue of shock. Zhou Mi had told his parents they were dating? And that meant…? That they actually were dating? That Zhou Mi had made his decision? His work collecting himself didn’t quite pan out, since when Zhou Mi came back to get another bag, he was still standing there with some idiot confused smile on his face.
“Kui Xian?” Zhou Mi poked him in the side.
“You told your parents we were dating before you told me!” he accused.
“What?”
“You never told me… I thought we were just trying this out?”
“Oh… Oh, Kui Xian, I thought you knew..?” Zhou Mi stepped closer to him, touching his arm. “There is no halfway with you for me.”
“Well. Good.” Oh, he was as articulate as a rotting log. “I mean, for me, too.”
Zhou Mi smiled at him, and he thought that was pretty okay. If gigantic fireworks displays and giant movie theater screens and game championship victories could be described as merely “okay.” So they really were dating. No halfway stuff.
“That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” Zhou Mi ventured.
To date Zhou Mi for real? He turned and fixed Zhou Mi with a stare that would’ve quailed some men. In his imagination anyway.
“Yes,” he said emphatically, making sure to keep walking so Zhou Mi didn’t try to hug him in the parking lot. The way Zhou Mi snagged his hand was plenty. “They’ll think I’ve corrupted their son!”
Zhou Mi’s laugh exploded from him. “I’ll make sure they know that I’m the one who corrupted you.”
Though he could believe it, with the way Zhou Mi was stroking his fingers. Seeing that smile, he probably would’ve done just about anything.
***
Zhou Mi’s father sat in the passenger’s seat beside Zhou Mi, which meant that he was in the back seat with Zhou Mi’s mother. They gave each other a few smiles but he mostly just listened to Zhou Mi talk, pointing out little things as they passed. Of course, again in Mandarin, but he obviously knew what it was that Zhou Mi was talking about.
He helped carry up the suitcases, going back for little extras as Zhou Mi got his parents introduced to the room they’d set up for them. He figured they’d sit around and catch up. He could hole up in the corner, check the internet for the events of the day. Listen to them chitchat, and hopefully not get auditioned too many times for who knew what.
That kind of worked out, as Zhou Mi basically chained him to one of the kitchen chairs beside him, though thankfully with his computer on the table right next to him. Zhou Mi wasn’t that sadistic. He was deleting email and eyeing his game, and doing his best to follow along as Zhou Mi chatted with his mother, while his father dozed on the couch. But one second he was sitting there zoning out and listening to Zhou Mi chatter, and the next second he had a warm hand on his suddenly bare calf. Zhou Mi had hiked up his pant leg, and his mom was groping his smooth leg and commenting on it.
“She said you did a good job,” Zhou Mi said, beaming at him. “And that they would look good in a skirt. And you do.”
That, he blanked on. “They know where you work?”
“They know I work at Satin,” Zhou Mi laughed. “They know you work there, too.”
“Oh.” Hi, I’m dating your son, and I dress like a woman a few nights a week. Check. But he had Zhou Mi and his mother’s smiles pointed at him, so all he could do was smile back.
***
He was determined, despite Zhou Mi taking time off, that he would still go into Satin to work. Not only as proof to himself, but as something that he really needed to do for his own finances. If he ended up losing the job at Satin, and since they were dating that seemed somewhat inevitable, then he needed as much money in his bank account as possible. If him working there was going to cause problems, then it was going to be him that bowed out. Zhou Mi did really well in the job, for one thing. Was there something else Zhou Mi wanted to do? That was likely, because he didn’t think Zhou Mi expected to be there forever. He couldn’t help but smile at Zhou Mi, thinking about it. They’d have time to discuss, but first off he just had to get through a shift alone, makeup and all. He showered, getting ready, getting out as soon as possible. Zhou Mi disappeared into it as soon as he’d vacated it.
“I brought my makeup home, so I can help you get ready for work,” Zhou Mi said, muffled in the bathroom.
That made him pause on the way to their bedroom. He actually had to get to work, and no one he saw on the subway, if they were male, usually had fake eyelashes and lipstick.
“Uh. I think even a taxi driver would find that strange?”
“Kui Xian!” Zhou Mi laughed as he came out with the box. “I thought I’d drive my parents around and show them some sights, so we can drop you off at Satin.”
“Oh.”
There was that little smile on Zhou Mi’s face, one he had seen before. The I’m-doing-this-for-you smile. One he probably hadn’t had the sense to interpret when he had thought Zhou Mi might not be interested in him. As long as Zhou Mi didn’t think the chase was the important part. He’d invested too much to think it was short term. The man who was maneuvering him into a chair with a mascara wand in his hand was probably stuck with him. He got a grip on the seams of Zhou Mi’s pants and focused on letting Zhou Mi get the makeup on him as quickly as possible.
“I’m going to have to walk out of here with a hood, you realize that?”
“Better than you spending half an hour trying to get your eyes done at the club. Close your mouth.”
He complied, knowing they had an audience in Zhou Mi’s parents. And Zhou Mi was another step ahead in thinking.
“Maybe wear that one red top, you know the one with the sequins on the bottom? That’ll look nice with jeans.”
“Sure,” he got out as well as he could with Zhou Mi gooping up his lips.
Zhou Mi’s mom asked a question as she watched the process with interest. And without so much as a comment, Zhou Mi tilted up Kyuhyun’s chin and kissed him square on the mouth. He blinked as Zhou Mi responded to his mom, kissing Kyuhyun again as he capped the lipstick.
“What?” he managed to get out.
“She wanted to know if it would smear. And I demonstrated that it wouldn’t,” Zhou Mi laughed.
“When did you get so bold?”
“Do you mind?”
He couldn’t help the grin any more than he could stop breathing. “You crazy? I needed some of that to rub off on me about a month ago.”
“That long?” Zhou Mi’s fingers were warm on his cheek. “Let’s talk later, okay?”
He leaned into the hug that Zhou Mi pulled him up into. “What’d your parents think of your hair?” he teased.
Zhou Mi just poked him in the side and told him to finish getting ready. He saw how it was.
Kyuhyun sort of avoided meeting Zhou Mi's father's eyes when they were alone. When it was the four of them, it was a little different, because there were two other people as a buffer. But when Zhou Mi was off with his mother in the kitchen, or fetching the iron for her, or something, it was different. When they were alone, and he had to stumble out banal Mandarin and hope he wasn't saying something incredibly insulting. At least Zhou Mi could fix his mistakes. But meeting the man's eyes for any length of time seemed like he was declaring all the things he wanted to do to the man's son. Which in and of itself wasn't something he was ashamed of, but it was Zhou Mi's father, not just a friend or something. He couldn't exactly bend steel or something, but he did spend time in his head during those times thinking of all the ways he'd defend himself if he had the modicum of language knowledge required to do so. Zhou Mi likes me! was the first part that he tended to start off with. Though Zhou Mi seemed to hold back a little bit around his father too, though he thought that was mostly out of respect. No matter if his father was okay with him dating a man or not, it was a little different to get all kissy faced too often in front of him. Zhou Mi's mother just kind of beamed at them when they snuck kisses as Zhou Mi's dad napped.
***
Getting dropped off by Zhou Mi was a lot less harrowing for sure, though he did still duck his head in the back seat when they were idling for lights. Zhou Mi’s mom couldn’t seem to stop staring at him, and he wondered if she’d seen Zhou Mi in full makeup before. Clearly they knew and were pretty okay with it. He hadn’t told his own parents. He didn’t know how, really, short of showing up dressed in women’s clothes. How they perceived what he and Zhou Mi did would be a lot different than how he had been with it, that much he knew. They didn’t know about Zhou Mi either, but that one he had an excuse for because it was still pretty recent.
Zhou Mi was lecturing even as he parked, getting out of the car as Kyuhyun waved goodbye to the two people left in the car.
“Make sure you ask to get a ride with someone, okay?” Zhou Mi said, walking with him toward the building. “You know we’re not supposed to use this subway stop.”
It was for safety, mostly, to keep them from being harassed by any customers, even well-meaning ones.
“I remember. Don’t worry, I’m a big boy now.”
Zhou Mi’s fingers tightened on his. “Yeah, but you’re my big boy now, aren’t you?”
If there was a string of words in any language that was guaranteed to make him go stupid in the head, he guessed he’d just heard them.
“Just don’t forget it,” he teased. “Go, before your parents think you’re staying. I’ll call you after I leave.”
The kiss was lightning quick and left him unsatisfied as Zhou Mi jogged back to the car, waving before he got in. He was pretty sure he got blown a kiss too as Zhou Mi’s parents waved, though less affectionately. Oh goody.
He breathed out and prepared himself for a night doing what was familiar to him. At least, until it came time to talk to their boss. Especially once Zhou Mi was back, he didn’t know how disgusting they were with each other, but hiding their relationship wasn’t exactly an option. And he’d been lectured once, and them getting together was the result of a lecture. So he tracked down his boss as soon as he’d gotten his clothes changed and makeup off.
“I just wanted to talk to you really quickly,” Kyuhyun said, sort of corralling them in a corner away from curious ears. “The last time we talked, Zhou Mi and I told you that we weren’t together. And we weren’t, but we are. Now. And I didn’t want to lie to you. I’m going to be looking for another job, but I just wanted to ask if it would be okay if I stayed on until I found something, unless there was some kind of trouble.”
“Well, there’s something to be said for being honest,” his boss said, looking thoughtful. “But damn, you couldn’t have waited another week? I just lost the pool.”
The thought rolled over Kyuhyun. “There was a bet on when we would get together?”
“Since you started here, just about. Anyone with eyes could see the way you two mooned after each other. If there starts to be trouble, you and Zhou Mi will start alternating nights. Until you find another job.”
Kyuhyun sighed. At least he wouldn’t be living off of Zhou Mi’s kindness. “That’s great, thanks.”
“And congratulations. Though really, one more week?”
***
He got dropped off by one of the others a few subway stops up the line, with his thanks, calling Zhou Mi before he went down to it. It was a two second call, really, Zhou Mi just telling him to be safe and that he’d see him in a while. Still, as he scanned his pass he had a smile in his head and news to share with Zhou Mi, especially about the bet. Zhou Mi’s parents were sleeping by the time he opened the front door, but Zhou Mi was still awake, looking up from where he was sitting on the couch with a smile as he came in.
“Welcome back, Kui Xian. Was it okay?”
He nodded, slipping his hand into Zhou Mi’s as the light got turned off and they moved toward their bedroom. Zhou Mi set aside his book, and he casually leaned back against the wall, watching Zhou Mi with a tilted head. Until Zhou Mi realized that Kyuhyun wasn’t going to say something, at least, and he turned. Kyuhyun could feel his smile growing with every step Zhou Mi took toward him. He liked the way he had to tilt his head up, just so, to meet Zhou Mi’s eyes straight on. And the way that Zhou Mi’s body fit to his pressing him into the wall as they gave each other a very nice, very thorough, greeting kiss. There were muscles in his spine that wanted to boogie, sucking on Zhou Mi’s bottom lip. He groped Zhou Mi’s ass a little, getting a tremulous chuckle in return.
“There’s no way you want me,” Kyuhyun managed to get out, ribs grinding against Zhou Mi’s. They kind of belied that, the way they were all but grinding together.
“You stood up for me like no one ever has. You’re funny and handsome. You look great in a skirt,” Zhou Mi said, his head kind of jerking to let Kyuhyun know he was kidding. Sort of. “You help me out in the apartment. You slept beside me, and let me hold you.”
“When you put it like that it sounds like we’ve been dating for a while.”
There was a soft smile on Zhou Mi’s face. “If my dreams were real, anyway.”
“So is it kind of late for official stuff? Will you be my boyfriend, or whatever?”
“Or whatever,” Zhou Mi repeated. “I will be, if you’ll be mine, too.”
“I guess it’s a deal, then. No more blind dates. Don’t make me beat up your friends.”
Zhou Mi laughed, all but squeezing Kyuhyun into about three pieces. “Kui Xian, I won’t be dating anyone but you.”
“I might game a lot and kind of ignore you sometimes, but just so long as you… I told the boss about us,” he said. “I figured it was the best way to go. He’s okay with me staying there, as long as I don’t start any problems. We could work alternating nights, but… I think I’m going to start looking for another job.”
Zhou Mi nodded, considering him. “We both knew it wasn’t forever.”
“Right. I mean, there’ve been really good times. I really like being there with you. It’s fun to watch you work sometimes, but…”
“But?” Zhou Mi prompted.
“I do get jealous. I mean, it’s not like I don’t trust you, but it’s something else to watch it forever.”
“You trust me, huh?” Zhou Mi kissed his chin.
“Well, yeah. I mean, since you’ve got me at home.”
He couldn’t even say it with a straight face, but Zhou Mi kept him from laughing overmuch, by kissing him.
“You say that like it’s a joke, but it’s not,” Zhou Mi whispered. “I wouldn’t be interested in them, because they’d never see me like you do.”
“Well, I don’t… If they just…”
“Would you miss seeing me dressed up?”
He frowned. “It was never about that. It’s like changing your hair, or…”
“Exactly, Kui Xian. Exactly. You saw me and not what I did, or what I wore. That makes you special.”
“Yeah, but other people-”
“Not enough of them. Do you want any of the other guys at the club?”
Kyuhyun laughed. “No? I think you’re it.”
Zhou Mi smiled. “You’re it,” he agreed. “I’m glad you won’t mind me still working at Satin.”
Knowing Zhou Mi was his and still getting lusted on? But also, knowing that Zhou Mi wanted him. “Probably I’m fine with it. As long as I’m the only one you do this with.”
Obviously he didn’t want to think of anyone else, since he was quite happy being plastered up against the wall in their room with Zhou Mi against him, and since his imagination wasn’t really overactive, just a bit aroused.
Zhou Mi kind of laughed against him as Kyuhyun kissed up his neck. “Yes, only with you.”
“Good.”
“Ooh!” Zhou Mi exclaimed as Kyuhyun’s weight turned them, and thumped him back against the door.
He nearly choked on his own inhale as Zhou Mi’s tongue met his. Groaning, he ran his hands down Zhou Mi’s sides, up under his shirt on the warm, smooth skin, and down to his hip.
Zhou Mi tried to follow him, seeking to continue that kiss, but he held Zhou Mi back. Just smiling at him for a moment, probably like an idiot. The way that mouth started to pout just a little. Those eyes. He couldn’t hold out against that, moving back into Zhou Mi’s warmth. It was strange to feel the laugh as well as see it. But oh, how he did not mind, lips moving with Zhou Mi’s in an endless string of kisses. And with Zhou Mi’s hands locked in his lower back, they were all but glued together.
It was Zhou Mi’s soft, huffing sigh, though, that bumped them from that slow and tentative exploration, to moaning.
He smoothed his hand down the length of Zhou Mi’s spine, and through the cloth, ran what he could of his nails the whole way back up. He felt Zhou Mi shudder, knew that his back was sensitive. He wasn’t trying to turn him on, just to say, Look, I know you.
“You even taste good,” he muttered, getting a better hold on Zhou Mi. “It’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair?”
“You look like a model, and you kiss great. There’s barely anything wrong with you.”
“So you think there is something wrong with me?”
He thought for a second. “You’re constantly on the phone.”
“You’re constantly on your computer!”
“Shh!” Zhou Mi’s parents were probably sleeping. He huffed out a laugh. “And you still want to go out with me?”
“There’s way more good stuff about you.”
“Exactly.”
Like the kissing. The kissing was definitely a good thing. Warm and wet, and the almost basking growls that emanated from Zhou Mi’s throat. All for him. Finally, just for him.
“I guess I can hold you again tonight without pretending,” Zhou Mi murmured against him.
“No more pretending,” he agreed. “Speaking of pretending. I found out today that they had a bet going on at Satin on when we were going to get together. Apparently we cost the boss some money. Too bad we didn’t know or we could’ve made some instead.”
Zhou Mi laughed, shaking his head. “A bet? They were just waiting on us?”
He let his head rest back against Zhou Mi’s arm. “Were we that obvious? To others? I guess we did a good job of keeping it from each other.”
“Not always, Kui Xian,” Zhou Mi told him. “There were times you’d look at me, and I’d think, he’s just going to attack me right now. I’d never had anyone look at me like that. But you never acted? Sharing a bed, all those opportunities. I figured you wanted me, but maybe not enough to do something. Or you wanted me, but weren’t interested in a relationship, so you were holding back. I don’t know! I was so confused.”
He tugged Zhou Mi’s head down, kissing him solidly and without question. “I’m sorry. Living here, the job, that wasn’t the important part. But I wanted you, and I liked you, and if you didn’t want me?”
“I didn’t let you sleep in my bed just because I wanted to sleep with you. But…Maybe I thought about it, when you fell asleep the first couple of times.”
He could feel his lips curling, stupidly. “So I was the chicken, and you were the creeper getting me into your bed. I see how it is.”
He had to snort for air a few seconds later as they tickled each other in retaliation. He massaged at Zhou Mi’s shoulders.
“Maybe if you saw I could be good for you, you would want me,” Zhou Mi murmured.
“Whatever it was, it worked,” he said. “All we can do make sure we talk. And enjoy being together. ”
“I agree with that, Kui Xian. It felt like I was missing out on something so big and important. And to be beside you and know that I couldn’t… I’ll miss working with you, but if that’s it? Still getting to hold you at night, and sit with you, and watch you make funny faces and noises at your computer.” He accepted Zhou Mi’s kiss, pleasantly surprised at the teasing way that Zhou Mi nipped at him. “I like this, too, Kui Xian.”
He chuckled, pushing Zhou Mi toward the bed. “Yeah, that’s something I could get used to.”
He showered quickly, sliding into bed with some relief. Zhou Mi had almost kissed him when Kyuhyun got his chilly feet under Zhou Mi’s pajama pants, and there was a scuffle that ended up with Zhou Mi half on his chest and laughing. It felt too good to just stay like that, warm, Zhou Mi squeezing him. But to sleep without dying, they scooted onto their sides, and actually got that good-night kiss.
“What’s happening tomorrow?” he asked, smoothing back Zhou Mi’s hair. “Sightseeing, right?”
“Yep, that’s right. You’re coming with us?”
“Yeah, sounds fun. Besides, I need to be there in case you get lost, right? This way you don’t have to ask some stranger to take a picture of you with your parents.”
“Ooh, I need to charge the camera battery! Thank you!”
He was rudely abandoned as Zhou Mi bounded out of bed to rummage and find his camera and charger. Then he wrapped himself around Kyuhyun like a vine and paid him back with cold feet of his own. They were sufficiently warmed up by the time they finished saying goodnight for… He’d lost track of how many times. He just knew that Zhou Mi’s hand on his neck knocked him out.
***
The end of the visit came too fast for just about all of them. It hadn’t been such a big intrusion as Kyuhyun might have thought, and eating Zhou Mi’s mom’s food had definitely been one of the highlights for him. She patted his cheek sometimes, like she’d like to fatten him up a little. That kind of made him laugh, staring at Zhou Mi’s frame. Listening to them talk and reminisce, even if he didn’t understand most of it. He got to see Zhou Mi with his parents - joking with his father, cuddling his mother against him. It told him a lot about Zhou Mi as a man. Even as they shared secret smiles. Zhou Mi’s eyes started at his knees sometimes, sliding upwards in a way that had all the blood in his body debating which way to go. And Zhou Mi knew it. Even if it made half Zhou Mi’s face move to wink, he did that a couple of times, too. Including once when his mom had seen and turned to look at Kyuhyun, who was doing his best impression of a concrete garden statue. A really red one.
Every day spending time with Zhou Mi and his parents, every night making up for all those missed opportunities for a kiss or a touch in bed. It made them bold, every moment of acceptance. Kissing until he was straining for breath, exploring every inch of Zhou Mi’s back and sides and chest. All but purring in need as Zhou Mi balanced above him, and rocked his head back into the pillow with his kiss.
“You remember when you tickled me, and we were wrestling?” he said, half breathless.
“Mmhmm,” Zhou Mi said, nibbling at Kyuhyun’s ear.
“You were on top of me, and I really wanted…this.”
“You want me, Kui Xian?”
He laughed, the feeling of it luxurious and thick. Especially considering he was fondling Zhou Mi’s chest under his scrunched up t-shirt. He bumped his thigh on Zhou Mi’s hip.
“I’ll let you guess what the right answer is.”
Zhou Mi drew himself up, almost a sinuous cat as he considering Kyuhyun quite seriously. “My parents leave tomorrow. Maybe…”
“I’m not rushing you,” Kyuhyun assured him. “Just letting you know.”
Zhou Mi smiled. “I knew already,” he whispered against Kyuhyun’s mouth. And they both moaned as their hips rocked together lightly. A promise of things to come.
***
They swept the apartment one last time to make sure nothing was being forgotten. Zhou Mi fussing as he got his parents into the car and the suitcases into the back. When they got there, Kyuhyun ended up walking with Zhou Mi’s mother holding one of his arms, and the other dragging a suitcase. Watching Zhou Mi walk beside his father, talking away. He was watching the smile and the hips, and no one would’ve faulted him for that at all. They were admonished to keep each other fed, and were both hugged. He even half got misty himself watching Zhou Mi hold his mother long and hard. Sending them in through security with a wave and last minute shouts. Zhou Mi gripped Kyuhyun’s wrist hard enough to hurt as they waited until Zhou Mi’s parents couldn’t be seen any more.
“Ready for chocolate cake?” he prompted, nudging at Zhou Mi.
Dessert healed all sorts of ills sometimes, he thought. Especially for Zhou Mi.
“I am, Kui Xian,” he said, and walked back through the airport, steady, with his arm around Kyuhyun’s shoulders.
***