And We're Halfway There (Epilogue)
Title: And We’re Halfway There
Author: enigmaxempress
Pairing: Yunho/Changmin, frustrated Yunho/Changmin/Jaejoong, and various OT3 pairings if you squint.
Rating: NC-17
Summary: They don't mind him, but Kim Jaejoong can't be ignored. Not that he purposefully calls attention to himself, just that you can't not look. There's just something about him you can't help but stop and stare at, three seconds of your life thrown away gaping but... It's three seconds that don't feel like a waste at all.
Epilogue
"No, no, no, you idiot! This X, this X! Do you not see the X?! You walk here, stand, count to three while everyone takes a picture, then walk down! Is that hard to understand?!"
Yunho winces as Heechul continues to screech at his latest victim. He understands the older boy's ire, what with graduation just around the corner and still so many things yet to be done. This is the first in a series of grad rehearsals and all Yunho can do is to resign himself to a dozen more repeats of this same scene. Of course he couldn't just let Heechul verbally abuse everyone who made a mistake, but at the same time he isn't eager to throw himself into the line of fire. That kind of danger is better left to the professionals.
"Siwon," Yunho calls out to the boy handling varying lengths of streamers in the school colors. "If you could just..." he looks pointedly across the room to where Heechul has moved on to yet another victim.
Siwon's face breaks out into a wide grin-why, though, Yunho has no idea-and says, "I'm on it." Abandoning his task for the moment, Siwon makes his way towards the stage Heechul is currently commandeering. "Chullie, maybe if you said it real slow and didn't yell, he'd be able to understand you."
"Don't tell me you're actually siding with China Man! After all the blo-"
Satisfied that Heechul's fit of temper would be properly dealt with, Yunho is only too happy to tune out the rest of his words. He can live without knowing what comes after. Yunho sighs inwardly, prepared to go back to his list of responsibilities and check a few things off but before he can, something else catches his eye. Jaejoong stands not too far away, nearly lost in the tall piles of programs stacked onto the table he mans. A quick glance says he's watching Siwon, Heechul, and Hankyung-the Chinese exchange student-with suppressed amusement.
As if aware of his scrutiny, Jaejoong looks his way and their eyes catch. He rolls his eyes at the scene unfolding before them and Yunho returns it with a smile. It's a tad strained.
He's followed Jaejoong's lead, ignoring the proverbial elephant in the room, and choosing to avoid the issue completely. Changmin had been ready to protest, but was only too aware of his faults and didn't press the matter. It's resulted in an impasse, a truce of sorts, and it's allowed them to come this far without wanting to beat the shit out of each other at every turn. Yunho can ignore anything blatantly inappropriate coming out of Jaejoong's mouth. Jaejoong can pretend not to notice when Yunho stares a little too hard for a little too long. Changmin tries his best to let things lie.
Yunho resents the precarious balance they've found. Sure it works and it'll probably keep working so long as none of them push the issue, but Yunho doesn't want to keep wondering either. They're undefined, neither here nor there, and ‘friendship' is a thin facade. The possibilities go against the grain and picks at Yunho's concepts of rights and wrong, but that doesn't stop him from wanting them. He's happy with his skewed concepts because he's got Changmin and has yet to regret it. Now Jaejoong's just out of reach and while everything about him screams trouble, Yunho figures he'll never know until he finds out.
"Done?" he asks as he gives in to his recently acquired gravitational predisposition to invade Jaejoong's personal space. He's noticed the same thing happens to him when Changmin is in the room. It's like the both of them are magnetic, pulling at Yunho until he can't keep away.
"Mostly," Jaejoong points to a small stack of programs to his right. "These are for the staff and special guests. They need names written on them, but my handwriting is shit so I'm waiting for the printouts."
"Good, good," Yunho murmurs, making a mark on his list. He watches Jaejoong furtively under the guise of picking up a program and running fingertips over the embossed school logo at the top. Jaejoong eyes him with the same regard, though openly-challenging-and it becomes a competition: who can stand the silence longer?
Yunho startles when another one of Heechul's loud obscenities rings through the air. "Right. I should go deal with that." Jaejoong nods in what almost looks like sympathy and Yunho forces himself to go. He's not exactly excited at the prospect of facing off with an irate Heechul. To everyone's surprise, however, Heechul is dealt with swiftly with the help of Yunho's rarely employed charm. Like Changmin, Yunho isn't much used to being the center of attention, but unlike him, Yunho manages well when he is. He's good at leading people when he has to.
As the afternoon progresses, Yunho takes his turn on the stage, walking in all the right directions and standing at all the designated X's. It makes Heechul coo at him, the older boy exasperatedly declaring, "At least someone knows how to follow directions." No matter how embarrassing, Yunho would rather be cooed at than be the subject of Heechul's rage.
After his stint on the stage, Yunho goes back to his list. He discusses some minor details with their two senior class advisors, gives his opinion on balloon arches, argues over which photographer they should hire, and is almost roped into a near death experience when he contradicts Heechul's desire to dye his hair Fire Engine Red for the occasion. Thankfully, one of the advisors calls for a break before Heechul can exact revenge, and Yunho escapes into the nearly deserted hallway while everyone else busies themselves with snacks and fruit punch.
He heads for a vending machine near the exit, walking slow and rolling his shoulders to relieve some of the tension. While Yunho concedes that he flourishes when put under the spotlight, it's easy to remember why he shies away from it. It's too much work, too much responsibility, and even if he doesn't mind the extra load once in a while, he's a little too selfish to want it all the time. It's already become a point of concern for his parents, with his father talking about family and tradition, urging him to pursue law but the words fall on deaf ears. Yunho doesn't even know what he wants. He's already decided to go into university undeclared.
As he nears the vending machine Yunho pauses in his stride, not surprised that someone's already there though he is surprised at who it is.
"Stalker." Jaejoong says, lips curved into a small smile when he catches sight of Yunho.
"Isn't it the other way around?" Yunho answers as they stand together at the front of the machine to wait his turn. Jaejoong's still deciding. "You don't like fruit punch?"
Jaejoong makes a face, his features highlighted by the glow of the machine. "It's powdered generic stuff. I figure I'm better off with something in a bottle." He shifts, looking somewhere behind Yunho. "What about you? What are you doing here?"
"Pretty much the same reason you are," Yunho says, mouth twitching, "Why else would anyone come to a vending machine?"
"And here I thought you were after my awesome company," Jaejoong replies dryly, pausing in his decision between Out-red-geous Orange and What-a-melon Snapple to arch an amused brow in Yunho's direction. "Seriously though. You're like, Heechul's new favorite person. I'm surprised he let you get away."
"Um. I don't think I am anymore." Yunho recounts his unfortunate decision to oppose Heechul's transition to a redhead.
"Definitely a bad idea. You should have just humored him." Jaejoong agrees, watching Yunho slip coins into the machine. The attention makes Yunho a little nervous and he misses the slot. The coin bounces onto the floor-it's loud in the empty hallway-and rolls. Yunho tries to get it with his foot, stomping the ground the ground to no avail. The coin proves elusive, rolling under the machine before Yunho can get at it.
"Huh. Well, that sucks." He mutters under his breath, a little embarrassed at his fail. He casts a sidelong glance at Jaejoong and is surprised to find the other boy holding out a hand.
"Here. You look like you need it." Another coin sits in Jaejoong's palm, offered with a grin.
"Thanks." Yunho mumbles sheepishly, accepting the proffered coin. He likes it too much, the way Jaejoong's skin is smooth where his fingertips briefly touch. Yunho makes quick work of the last coin and pushes the button for his chosen beverage, mouth suddenly dry. He gestures to the exit and Jaejoong follows, a stilted silence between them.
Yunho settles onto a bench just outside the door which Jaejoong forgoes, choosing instead to lean against the open door. The sun's already begun to set and Yunho shivers at the onset of twilight. "You sure no one's going to come looking for you?" Jaejoong asks, twirling his bottle by the neck and watching the insides spin. He looks anywhere but at Yunho. "I'd hate to be Heechul's next victim."
"I think you'll be safe for a while longer. Last I saw, he was harassing Hankyung again." Yunho frowns. "I hope he doesn't go overboard."
Jaejoong snorts. "Don't worry about it," he says, coming to occupy the space next to Yunho. "Abuse is Heechul's way of showing affection. You should be more worried if he were being nice to you."
Yunho doesn't even pretend to understand that. "Right. Okay." He glances at Jaejoong beside him, then away, glancing again, only to do the same thing. "Hm."
"You're usually better at being subtle, Yunho-yah." Jaejoong chuckles humorlessly. "You've got something to say to me or what? It's about Changmin, right?" he adds when Yunho takes a second too long to answer. "Lay it on me. Go ahead. I've been waiting for it. I'll even let you hit me once, because I deserve it."
"I'm not going to hit you," Yunho says, turning to face the other boy. "Even if you're eager, I have no urge to rearrange your face. You're probably only offering because you think it'll make me feel better. It won't."
"Then what do you want us to do? Because this dancing around each other thing is getting old." Jaejoong huffs, obviously annoyed. "I've never had so many awkward moments with one person in my life and I've done a lot of dumb shit."
"Trust me, the feeling's mutual." Yunho runs a hand through his hair, tapping the base of his bottle against his knee in a nervous tic. This talk with Jaejoong is long overdue and Yunho struggles for a way to start. "Look, I'm dense, okay. But I'm not ignorant. I've seen the way you and Changmin look at each other." He shoots Jaejoong with a hard look, daring him to deny it. "I admit to being pissed when Changmin told me. Who wouldn't be? We're friends and you knew about us; it happened anyway."
"I already-"
"Wait. Just shut up for a second, okay? Let me finish." Yunho twists the cap off his drink to busy his hands and finishes the rest of its contents in one swig. "I'm not stupid," He continues a little quieter, focusing his attention at a point somewhere in the distance. "Me and Changmin? What we've got is a first-love kind of thing and those never last. I mean-forever? What is that anyway? That's not even in my vocabulary."
Yunho sighs, curling his hands against his thigh, the sound of plastic crinkling in one. "What I'm trying to say is, what Changmin and I have is good-for now. And I'm not about to ruin the time we do have all because you two couldn't keep your hands off each other."
"That's awfully nice of you." Jaejoong says after another uncomfortable stretch of time. Yunho doesn't miss the underlying sarcasm.
"I'd prefer to think of it as practical. I can understand why he did it." He slides Jaejoong a glance and almost smiles at the genuine look of surprise on his face. "It's not like your ugly, Jaejoong." When Jaejoong just continues to stare at him, Yunho lets a grin slip and stands. "So, there. We should be okay now. If you still want me to hit you though, I can do that too."
"Thanks, but no," Jaejoong finally answers, rising from his seat. "I'd rather not be black and blue for the graduation photos."
Yunho shrugs. "Hey, you offered." He shifts uncomfortably on his feet for a moment. "Now that we've got that settled, would you mind doing me a favor?" Jaejoong hesitates, eyes narrowing before he nods. "About the forever thing..." Yunho stalls, face heating up. "Could you keep that to yourself? Because that's how I feel, but Changmin-he's young. I know he secretly dreams of a two-story house with a lawn, white picket fence, a dog and 2.5 kids. I don't know how he expects to accomplish that with me but-"
"I get it," Jaejoong interrupts, "You're secret's safe with me."
"Thanks," Yunho mumbles, ducking his head when their eyes meet. He and Jaejoong are actually a lot alike. Their intentions are similar, though they manifest themselves in different ways. It's what makes their decidedly awkward situation so much easier. "We should probably..."
"Good idea," Jaejoong agrees, following Yunho's lead and heading for the door. "Let's see if Heechul's harassed Hankyung enough to get a reaction out of Siwon. I bet on Siwon though. He's got a way with his eyebrows that just makes you think of the darnedest things."
"What?"
"Nothing," Jaejoong replies, a smile playing on his lips. "Sorry. It's an inside joke." Yunho just nods, pausing at the door to throw his empty bottle into a trashcan. He doesn't really want to know.
The walk back to the event hall is spent in a more comfortable silence than they've been experiencing lately, and Yunho is glad. He's had a taste of what it's like to be on friendly terms with Jaejoong, and finds that he likes it. Even if his thoughts always seem to gravitate towards something more than that, he won't push. He doesn't think he's ready for that anyway.
"One more thing," Yunho says as they near their destination. Light from their designated room cuts through the dimmer lights of the corridor. The added illumination makes Yunho want to hide his face, not quite sure about his next words. "I'm thinking of getting an apartment after graduation."
"And?" Jaejoong shoots him a curious glance.
"You got into the university too, right?" Yunho asks, looking for confirmation. Jaejoong nods. "I might need a roommate."
Jaejoong looks at him sharply, eyes nearly bugging out. "Are you seriously implying that you want me to live with you?" Jaejoong says, incredulity lacing his tone.
Yunho shrugs, fighting to keep the grin off his face. Jaejoong's expression is nearly comical. "Getting a roommate makes the rent cheaper."
"No, I get that. But why are you telling me?"
"Better you than a stranger, right?" It's so simple, said like that-so easy-like it makes so much sense and in normal circumstances it would, except theirs isn't.
Yunho knows the exact moment Jaejoong starts to see things his way. His face shifts into something unreadable, until it's nearly devoid of any expression. Once, Yunho thought that was a bad thing but he knows Jaejoong a little better these days and can tell it's not an idea Jaejoong dislikes. Quite the contrary, actually.
"I'll think about it," Jaejoong speaks quietly, voice without inflection.
Yunho smiles because it's a generic reply and doesn't really amount to anything. It's different from Jaejoong's usually heavily-laden implications and Yunho knows it isn't often that he's without a caustic remark. It's a start at least, since he, Changmin, and Jaejoong get along surprisingly well. But they walk a thin line, one that Jaejoong and Changmin have already crossed, and it's made friendship between the three of them nothing more than a hoax. Somehow, Yunho is fine with that.
He can't say much about forever, but right here, right now, they work. Being friends is easy. Yunho figures being more than that is something he can deal with later.
A/N: So it’s done! To everyone who read this instead of the yucky version 1, thank you! I had absolutely no direction when writing this fic the first time around and now, 2 years later I’m not quite sure it’s any better. Still, this does make more sense than the original. Thank you for all who’ve read. If it seems like a prequel to something else…it’s not, LOL. At least not now. I’ve got exams in the next couple of days, then a 2 week vacation after that before the new semester starts so I will be very busy marathoning fic-writing for the July festivities :D please bear with our absence until then, because we promise you a bunch of goodies for the occasion.
Also, if any of you are interested in some blood-sucking JunChun, I have an entry to the yoosu-yongwonhi high school fic contest that can be found HERE. Please read and cast your vote :D (lol excuse my shameless self-advertisement >.<)
As always, comments are ♥
Author: enigmaxempress
Pairing: Yunho/Changmin, frustrated Yunho/Changmin/Jaejoong, and various OT3 pairings if you squint.
Rating: NC-17
Summary: They don't mind him, but Kim Jaejoong can't be ignored. Not that he purposefully calls attention to himself, just that you can't not look. There's just something about him you can't help but stop and stare at, three seconds of your life thrown away gaping but... It's three seconds that don't feel like a waste at all.
Epilogue
"No, no, no, you idiot! This X, this X! Do you not see the X?! You walk here, stand, count to three while everyone takes a picture, then walk down! Is that hard to understand?!"
Yunho winces as Heechul continues to screech at his latest victim. He understands the older boy's ire, what with graduation just around the corner and still so many things yet to be done. This is the first in a series of grad rehearsals and all Yunho can do is to resign himself to a dozen more repeats of this same scene. Of course he couldn't just let Heechul verbally abuse everyone who made a mistake, but at the same time he isn't eager to throw himself into the line of fire. That kind of danger is better left to the professionals.
"Siwon," Yunho calls out to the boy handling varying lengths of streamers in the school colors. "If you could just..." he looks pointedly across the room to where Heechul has moved on to yet another victim.
Siwon's face breaks out into a wide grin-why, though, Yunho has no idea-and says, "I'm on it." Abandoning his task for the moment, Siwon makes his way towards the stage Heechul is currently commandeering. "Chullie, maybe if you said it real slow and didn't yell, he'd be able to understand you."
"Don't tell me you're actually siding with China Man! After all the blo-"
Satisfied that Heechul's fit of temper would be properly dealt with, Yunho is only too happy to tune out the rest of his words. He can live without knowing what comes after. Yunho sighs inwardly, prepared to go back to his list of responsibilities and check a few things off but before he can, something else catches his eye. Jaejoong stands not too far away, nearly lost in the tall piles of programs stacked onto the table he mans. A quick glance says he's watching Siwon, Heechul, and Hankyung-the Chinese exchange student-with suppressed amusement.
As if aware of his scrutiny, Jaejoong looks his way and their eyes catch. He rolls his eyes at the scene unfolding before them and Yunho returns it with a smile. It's a tad strained.
He's followed Jaejoong's lead, ignoring the proverbial elephant in the room, and choosing to avoid the issue completely. Changmin had been ready to protest, but was only too aware of his faults and didn't press the matter. It's resulted in an impasse, a truce of sorts, and it's allowed them to come this far without wanting to beat the shit out of each other at every turn. Yunho can ignore anything blatantly inappropriate coming out of Jaejoong's mouth. Jaejoong can pretend not to notice when Yunho stares a little too hard for a little too long. Changmin tries his best to let things lie.
Yunho resents the precarious balance they've found. Sure it works and it'll probably keep working so long as none of them push the issue, but Yunho doesn't want to keep wondering either. They're undefined, neither here nor there, and ‘friendship' is a thin facade. The possibilities go against the grain and picks at Yunho's concepts of rights and wrong, but that doesn't stop him from wanting them. He's happy with his skewed concepts because he's got Changmin and has yet to regret it. Now Jaejoong's just out of reach and while everything about him screams trouble, Yunho figures he'll never know until he finds out.
"Done?" he asks as he gives in to his recently acquired gravitational predisposition to invade Jaejoong's personal space. He's noticed the same thing happens to him when Changmin is in the room. It's like the both of them are magnetic, pulling at Yunho until he can't keep away.
"Mostly," Jaejoong points to a small stack of programs to his right. "These are for the staff and special guests. They need names written on them, but my handwriting is shit so I'm waiting for the printouts."
"Good, good," Yunho murmurs, making a mark on his list. He watches Jaejoong furtively under the guise of picking up a program and running fingertips over the embossed school logo at the top. Jaejoong eyes him with the same regard, though openly-challenging-and it becomes a competition: who can stand the silence longer?
Yunho startles when another one of Heechul's loud obscenities rings through the air. "Right. I should go deal with that." Jaejoong nods in what almost looks like sympathy and Yunho forces himself to go. He's not exactly excited at the prospect of facing off with an irate Heechul. To everyone's surprise, however, Heechul is dealt with swiftly with the help of Yunho's rarely employed charm. Like Changmin, Yunho isn't much used to being the center of attention, but unlike him, Yunho manages well when he is. He's good at leading people when he has to.
As the afternoon progresses, Yunho takes his turn on the stage, walking in all the right directions and standing at all the designated X's. It makes Heechul coo at him, the older boy exasperatedly declaring, "At least someone knows how to follow directions." No matter how embarrassing, Yunho would rather be cooed at than be the subject of Heechul's rage.
After his stint on the stage, Yunho goes back to his list. He discusses some minor details with their two senior class advisors, gives his opinion on balloon arches, argues over which photographer they should hire, and is almost roped into a near death experience when he contradicts Heechul's desire to dye his hair Fire Engine Red for the occasion. Thankfully, one of the advisors calls for a break before Heechul can exact revenge, and Yunho escapes into the nearly deserted hallway while everyone else busies themselves with snacks and fruit punch.
He heads for a vending machine near the exit, walking slow and rolling his shoulders to relieve some of the tension. While Yunho concedes that he flourishes when put under the spotlight, it's easy to remember why he shies away from it. It's too much work, too much responsibility, and even if he doesn't mind the extra load once in a while, he's a little too selfish to want it all the time. It's already become a point of concern for his parents, with his father talking about family and tradition, urging him to pursue law but the words fall on deaf ears. Yunho doesn't even know what he wants. He's already decided to go into university undeclared.
As he nears the vending machine Yunho pauses in his stride, not surprised that someone's already there though he is surprised at who it is.
"Stalker." Jaejoong says, lips curved into a small smile when he catches sight of Yunho.
"Isn't it the other way around?" Yunho answers as they stand together at the front of the machine to wait his turn. Jaejoong's still deciding. "You don't like fruit punch?"
Jaejoong makes a face, his features highlighted by the glow of the machine. "It's powdered generic stuff. I figure I'm better off with something in a bottle." He shifts, looking somewhere behind Yunho. "What about you? What are you doing here?"
"Pretty much the same reason you are," Yunho says, mouth twitching, "Why else would anyone come to a vending machine?"
"And here I thought you were after my awesome company," Jaejoong replies dryly, pausing in his decision between Out-red-geous Orange and What-a-melon Snapple to arch an amused brow in Yunho's direction. "Seriously though. You're like, Heechul's new favorite person. I'm surprised he let you get away."
"Um. I don't think I am anymore." Yunho recounts his unfortunate decision to oppose Heechul's transition to a redhead.
"Definitely a bad idea. You should have just humored him." Jaejoong agrees, watching Yunho slip coins into the machine. The attention makes Yunho a little nervous and he misses the slot. The coin bounces onto the floor-it's loud in the empty hallway-and rolls. Yunho tries to get it with his foot, stomping the ground the ground to no avail. The coin proves elusive, rolling under the machine before Yunho can get at it.
"Huh. Well, that sucks." He mutters under his breath, a little embarrassed at his fail. He casts a sidelong glance at Jaejoong and is surprised to find the other boy holding out a hand.
"Here. You look like you need it." Another coin sits in Jaejoong's palm, offered with a grin.
"Thanks." Yunho mumbles sheepishly, accepting the proffered coin. He likes it too much, the way Jaejoong's skin is smooth where his fingertips briefly touch. Yunho makes quick work of the last coin and pushes the button for his chosen beverage, mouth suddenly dry. He gestures to the exit and Jaejoong follows, a stilted silence between them.
Yunho settles onto a bench just outside the door which Jaejoong forgoes, choosing instead to lean against the open door. The sun's already begun to set and Yunho shivers at the onset of twilight. "You sure no one's going to come looking for you?" Jaejoong asks, twirling his bottle by the neck and watching the insides spin. He looks anywhere but at Yunho. "I'd hate to be Heechul's next victim."
"I think you'll be safe for a while longer. Last I saw, he was harassing Hankyung again." Yunho frowns. "I hope he doesn't go overboard."
Jaejoong snorts. "Don't worry about it," he says, coming to occupy the space next to Yunho. "Abuse is Heechul's way of showing affection. You should be more worried if he were being nice to you."
Yunho doesn't even pretend to understand that. "Right. Okay." He glances at Jaejoong beside him, then away, glancing again, only to do the same thing. "Hm."
"You're usually better at being subtle, Yunho-yah." Jaejoong chuckles humorlessly. "You've got something to say to me or what? It's about Changmin, right?" he adds when Yunho takes a second too long to answer. "Lay it on me. Go ahead. I've been waiting for it. I'll even let you hit me once, because I deserve it."
"I'm not going to hit you," Yunho says, turning to face the other boy. "Even if you're eager, I have no urge to rearrange your face. You're probably only offering because you think it'll make me feel better. It won't."
"Then what do you want us to do? Because this dancing around each other thing is getting old." Jaejoong huffs, obviously annoyed. "I've never had so many awkward moments with one person in my life and I've done a lot of dumb shit."
"Trust me, the feeling's mutual." Yunho runs a hand through his hair, tapping the base of his bottle against his knee in a nervous tic. This talk with Jaejoong is long overdue and Yunho struggles for a way to start. "Look, I'm dense, okay. But I'm not ignorant. I've seen the way you and Changmin look at each other." He shoots Jaejoong with a hard look, daring him to deny it. "I admit to being pissed when Changmin told me. Who wouldn't be? We're friends and you knew about us; it happened anyway."
"I already-"
"Wait. Just shut up for a second, okay? Let me finish." Yunho twists the cap off his drink to busy his hands and finishes the rest of its contents in one swig. "I'm not stupid," He continues a little quieter, focusing his attention at a point somewhere in the distance. "Me and Changmin? What we've got is a first-love kind of thing and those never last. I mean-forever? What is that anyway? That's not even in my vocabulary."
Yunho sighs, curling his hands against his thigh, the sound of plastic crinkling in one. "What I'm trying to say is, what Changmin and I have is good-for now. And I'm not about to ruin the time we do have all because you two couldn't keep your hands off each other."
"That's awfully nice of you." Jaejoong says after another uncomfortable stretch of time. Yunho doesn't miss the underlying sarcasm.
"I'd prefer to think of it as practical. I can understand why he did it." He slides Jaejoong a glance and almost smiles at the genuine look of surprise on his face. "It's not like your ugly, Jaejoong." When Jaejoong just continues to stare at him, Yunho lets a grin slip and stands. "So, there. We should be okay now. If you still want me to hit you though, I can do that too."
"Thanks, but no," Jaejoong finally answers, rising from his seat. "I'd rather not be black and blue for the graduation photos."
Yunho shrugs. "Hey, you offered." He shifts uncomfortably on his feet for a moment. "Now that we've got that settled, would you mind doing me a favor?" Jaejoong hesitates, eyes narrowing before he nods. "About the forever thing..." Yunho stalls, face heating up. "Could you keep that to yourself? Because that's how I feel, but Changmin-he's young. I know he secretly dreams of a two-story house with a lawn, white picket fence, a dog and 2.5 kids. I don't know how he expects to accomplish that with me but-"
"I get it," Jaejoong interrupts, "You're secret's safe with me."
"Thanks," Yunho mumbles, ducking his head when their eyes meet. He and Jaejoong are actually a lot alike. Their intentions are similar, though they manifest themselves in different ways. It's what makes their decidedly awkward situation so much easier. "We should probably..."
"Good idea," Jaejoong agrees, following Yunho's lead and heading for the door. "Let's see if Heechul's harassed Hankyung enough to get a reaction out of Siwon. I bet on Siwon though. He's got a way with his eyebrows that just makes you think of the darnedest things."
"What?"
"Nothing," Jaejoong replies, a smile playing on his lips. "Sorry. It's an inside joke." Yunho just nods, pausing at the door to throw his empty bottle into a trashcan. He doesn't really want to know.
The walk back to the event hall is spent in a more comfortable silence than they've been experiencing lately, and Yunho is glad. He's had a taste of what it's like to be on friendly terms with Jaejoong, and finds that he likes it. Even if his thoughts always seem to gravitate towards something more than that, he won't push. He doesn't think he's ready for that anyway.
"One more thing," Yunho says as they near their destination. Light from their designated room cuts through the dimmer lights of the corridor. The added illumination makes Yunho want to hide his face, not quite sure about his next words. "I'm thinking of getting an apartment after graduation."
"And?" Jaejoong shoots him a curious glance.
"You got into the university too, right?" Yunho asks, looking for confirmation. Jaejoong nods. "I might need a roommate."
Jaejoong looks at him sharply, eyes nearly bugging out. "Are you seriously implying that you want me to live with you?" Jaejoong says, incredulity lacing his tone.
Yunho shrugs, fighting to keep the grin off his face. Jaejoong's expression is nearly comical. "Getting a roommate makes the rent cheaper."
"No, I get that. But why are you telling me?"
"Better you than a stranger, right?" It's so simple, said like that-so easy-like it makes so much sense and in normal circumstances it would, except theirs isn't.
Yunho knows the exact moment Jaejoong starts to see things his way. His face shifts into something unreadable, until it's nearly devoid of any expression. Once, Yunho thought that was a bad thing but he knows Jaejoong a little better these days and can tell it's not an idea Jaejoong dislikes. Quite the contrary, actually.
"I'll think about it," Jaejoong speaks quietly, voice without inflection.
Yunho smiles because it's a generic reply and doesn't really amount to anything. It's different from Jaejoong's usually heavily-laden implications and Yunho knows it isn't often that he's without a caustic remark. It's a start at least, since he, Changmin, and Jaejoong get along surprisingly well. But they walk a thin line, one that Jaejoong and Changmin have already crossed, and it's made friendship between the three of them nothing more than a hoax. Somehow, Yunho is fine with that.
He can't say much about forever, but right here, right now, they work. Being friends is easy. Yunho figures being more than that is something he can deal with later.
A/N: So it’s done! To everyone who read this instead of the yucky version 1, thank you! I had absolutely no direction when writing this fic the first time around and now, 2 years later I’m not quite sure it’s any better. Still, this does make more sense than the original. Thank you for all who’ve read. If it seems like a prequel to something else…it’s not, LOL. At least not now. I’ve got exams in the next couple of days, then a 2 week vacation after that before the new semester starts so I will be very busy marathoning fic-writing for the July festivities :D please bear with our absence until then, because we promise you a bunch of goodies for the occasion.
Also, if any of you are interested in some blood-sucking JunChun, I have an entry to the yoosu-yongwonhi high school fic contest that can be found HERE. Please read and cast your vote :D (lol excuse my shameless self-advertisement >.<)
As always, comments are ♥