Cloudy with a Chance of Love
Title: Cloudy with a Chance of Love
Pairing: Henyu (Henry/Onew), Jaery (Jaejoong/Henry)
Summary: And his scent that lingers in the room is washed away with a single smile.
Warning: AU. The italicized ‘his’ is Henry’s past lover, Jaejoong.
Notes: It’s our darling shining leader’s birthday tomorrow! I was meant to post this up tomorrow but I’ll be busy buying stuff for the new school year so yes. Happy birthday dubu Lee Jinki!
__
He sighs, hands cupped to hold a black cigarette box in his pale, milky hands. A tear drops on the plastic of the unopened cigarette box and he starts sobbing loudly, the sound bouncing off the walls of the empty room.
He clutches the box to his heart like it’s his last lifeline before tearing away the plastic to open it up and pull out a cigarette, wiping away his tears as he stretches over to the bedside table’s second drawer, pulling out a silver lighter with Bi Rain’s signature on it.
He lights the cigarette and sticks it in his mouth, smoking furling around him as the scent permeates the room. He will down anything to keep his scent here, remembering the nights filled with whispered words of affection and promises that he now knows is empty.
His name is carved onto his heart, his scent still lingers in the sheets and the room as if to torture him but he will do nothing to get rid of the scent because he cannot forget, will not forget what is now whispered words of lies and empty promises.
He sits on the bed, silent as the ash from his cigarette dirties the red bed sheet but he doesn’t notice because he hasn’t in a long time.
__
Lee Jinki is bright and optimistic and Seoul’s best damn weatherman. He’s never gotten a single forecast wrong in the two years his worked at KBS News Center; having control over the elements do help.
He’s a man that will run into the road to push a puppy out of the way and risk getting hit by a car if only to save the puppy’s life. Jinki is a man that believes every life on earth exists for a reason even though they don’t know it.
He heads to work on his bicycle because he believes in doing his part to save Mother Nature and he hums a random tune as he peddles down the road easily, mouth spread in a bright smile, charming the pedestrians and drivers of the morning rush.
The sun shines brightly over head and Jinki knows the rest of the day will be sunny if only slightly cloudy in the afternoon so that it won’t be too hot. He locks his bike at the bicycle stands, entering the News Centre building with a spring in his step as he munches on his muffin, bowing to the passing workers politely.
He goes up the elevator, fingers tapping his thigh to the beat of the song playing in the elevator and he exits it only to bump into his boss, Park Jungsu.
“Oh, Park-sshi!” he greets, smiling awkwardly, bowing to the older man. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” Jungsu smiles, dimples showing as he laughs softly. “It’s alright Jinki, no harm done. Besides, you’ve saved me the trouble of having to go looking for you,”
“Looking for me?” he says, confused.
Jungsu nods and gestures for the young weatherman to walk with him. “Youngwoon’s bringing a new news caster today. Ever since Key resigned as our foreign news reader - goodness knows his the only person who speaks English fluently - we’ve been looking for someone to step in his shoes and we’ve finally found him!” Jungsu chatters excitedly. Jinki grins and nods emphatically.
“Korean English readers are hard to find,” he muses as Jungsu makes a noise of agreement. “Key and Minho send their regards from the Bahamas though. Key is trying to work up a tan according to Minho,”
Jungsu smiles affectionately. “Ah that boy. Running off to travel the world with his lover. It’s romantic really,” Jungsu says wistfully, glancing over at his own lover, flirting with the morning newsreader. Jinki pats his arm. “He does love you Park-sshi. So who’s the new foreign reader?”
Jungsu whips his head back, answering Jinki absently, “Henry Lau. He’s from Canada but he moved here some years ago to be with his lover. Ah, kids these days get all the romance,”
Jinki shakes his head in amusement as the boss heads off in the direction where Youngwoon was flirting with Jessica as Jinki pours himself a cup of coffee.
“HEY DUBU!” someone shouts behind him. The coffee in Jinki’s mug sloshes and spills onto his hands. Jinki hisses at the burn as Jonghyun apologises profusely, grabbing tissues to wipe off the hot liquid.
“I’m so sorry Jinki,” Jonghyun says nervously, dabbing at the coffee, blowing lightly on the pink skin. “I forget about your ‘condition’ sometimes,”
“You forget every other day Jjong,” he grumbles, placing the mug in the sink, checking if the coffee had gotten on his clothes. Jonghyun smiles sheepishly as he runs the tap to wash the mug.
“There goes my morning coffee,” Jinki bemoans. “It was the last cupful in the pot,” He jerks slightly when a plastic cup is shoved under his nose, the Starbucks logo on the front.
“Here,” the stranger says quietly, hair falling into his eyes as he holds out the drink. “It’s black coffee, two spoons of sugar and a dollop of cream. You can have it,”
Jinki beams at the kind stranger, accepting the coffee and ignoring Jonghyun’s splutters of ‘he could be a maniac wanting to drug you Dubu!’
“Thank you,”
“You’re welcome,” And the stranger turns on his heel, disappearing out the kitchenette.
‘And it’s a bright day with some clouds in the afternoon,’ Jinki thinks happily, smiling down at the coffee.
__
If Henry had a choice, he wouldn’t leave his apartment or the room he used to share with Jaejoong. But Henry doesn’t especially if the person was Jungsu. Jungsu is gentle and understanding but he can be forceful too and he’s forever forcing Henry to come out of the silent world he’s built around himself ever since Jaejoong’s departure.
“I know you’re heartbroken baby, but you have to at least get out of the apartment!” Jungsu exclaims over the phone.
“I don’t want to,” Henry replies shortly, watching Jaejoong’s favorite drama on mute.
“Henry… He isn’t going to come back and you know it. Please stop beating yourself up over his leaving. He’s a right jerk for leaving anyways!”
“Don’t talk about him like that!” Henry snaps angrily.
He hears Jungsu sigh before the older man speaks again. “Okay fine. If you’re so afraid of going too far from the apartment, you can at least come work at my news centre? We’re looking for an English reader and your English is good,”
Henry mulls over it for a moment, taking in the way his hyung sounds so tired and defeated as he should be. He’s been coming over to get Henry to eat and clean up and start living again.
“Okay…” he says eventually and he swears he hears Jungsu smile over the phone as the older man reminds him to eat the food in the fridge and remember to clean up the house.
So Henry walks the short fifteen minutes over to the News Centre, stopping by the nearby Starbucks and coming out with a steaming cup of caffeine in his hand as a cyclist cycles by, a bright smile pasted on his face that seemed like a ray of sunlight in the dark world Henry’s in.
He speeds up, trailing after the cyclist who’s ways in front of him and smiling slightly when he realizes the man works in the News Centre too. He finds himself thinking that the man is beautiful and so bright. Like Jaejoong was.
He feels his heart stutter as the Jaejoong wound in his heart throbs madly, nearly reducing Henry to tears but he ignores it, watching the man enter the building, Henry following moments after.
He doesn’t know what brings him to give away his morning caffeine to a bright, ever smiling man he hardly even knows but he does. Seeing the sad look on sunshine’s face just seems so wrong, like sadness doesn’t even belong there so he prays that sunshine will accept the coffee.
“It’s black coffee, two spoons of sugar and a dollop of cream. You can have it,” Henry says quietly, bowing his head forward to hide his eyes. The corners of his lips lifts ever so slightly as sunshine takes the coffee, their fingers brushing ever so lightly before sunshine beams at him and Henry’s finding himself breathless at the intensity of that single smile.
“Thank you,” sunshine says and you whisper a quiet, “You’re welcome,” before leaving, your hand falling out of your jacket’s pocket where it had been fingering Jaejoong’s cigarette box and you forget about it for a little while.
__
II.
It’s been a month since Jinki’s met the Key’s substitute and he takes a liking to the quiet and withdrawn young man almost immediately. He likes watching as Henry - that’s his name - reads the day’s foreign news, voice lilting as he tongue curves around the English words Jinki barely understands but can read.
He likes the way the corner of Henry’s lips something pull up to make a small, quick smile before it disappears and he likes the way it’s become tradition for Henry to buy Jinki coffee every morning. Jinki can tell that something is weighing the younger down but he doesn’t want to pry when Henry’s only just started a tentative and careful relationship with him.
Jinki doesn’t get why Jungsu’s forever beaming and hiding giggles whenever Henry asks Jinki to go for lunch with him or grab some coffee in between working time. But it doesn’t matter because the weatherman loves every moment spent with the newsreader and he treasures it, replaying it when he gets home to his little poodle for the day, looking forward to the next day.
Jinki greets Henry with a gentle smile when he goes off-air, Henry returning it with a slightly more open smile and Jinki feels a sense of accomplishment.
__
Henry has never realized that there is life outside of Jaejoong and the apartment he’s holed himself in for the past few months until he meets Jinki, his sunshine. Jinki is the epitome of perfect with his gentle words and clumsy demeanor that’s forever making him trip over cables and fall over himself.
The first time Henry experiences it, it ends up with him in the hospital getting six stitches for a deep cut that would’ve made Jinki lose his eyes and he still blames Jonghyun for scaring Jinki and making him break the vase he was carrying and tripping over a lose cable.
After that, Henry and Jinki just seem to get closer, Henry smiling a little more without realizing as he spends lunch break with the bright weatherman that’s never made a wrong forecast. He’s glad to have Jinki as a friend because the older calls him sometimes at night to bring an umbrella to work tomorrow because it’s going to rain or to remind him to use sun block so he doesn’t get burnt.
He ignores the way Jungsu is forever waggling his eyebrows at them when he and Jinki sit together just talking about everything and anything.
But what scares Henry the most is that he finds himself falling for the older man. It isn’t because Jinki could be a closet murderer or that the man had an attitude problem. No, in fact Jinki had the sweetest and gentlest personality Henry’s ever seen but the man is sharp enough to not get tricked and taken advantage of.
What scares him is that Jinki might very well walk away like Jaejoong did for someone else and Henry knows that if that were to happen again, he would die.
__
“So,” Jungsu says, a smirk on his face as he corners Jinki after the weather forecast.
“So what Park-sshi?” Jinki asks amusedly.
“What’s going between you and my baby?” Jungsu asks excitedly. “And don’t tell me nothing! Henry’s happier now!”
Jinki laughs and shakes his head at the older’s antics. “Nothing Park-sshi, I promise you,” he replies exasperatedly, waving at Henry who is talking to Jonghyun.
“Hmph, that’s the thing! I want something to happen!” Jungsu cries, grabbing at Jinki’s wrist to stop him from leaving. “I haven’t seen Henry smile like that for months and all of the sudden he’s met you and he’s smiling again?”
“I don’t… He’s just a friend Park-sshi,” Jinki sighs.
Jungsu steps back, mouth set in a grim line. “If you say so. But if you as so much hurt him, I will smother you and set Youngwoon on you,”
Jinki watches the older man go, conflicted before heading over to join Henry and Jonghyun.
“Hi hyung,” Henry greets shyly, smiling slightly. “What did Jungsu-hyung want?”
Jinki returns the smile easily, taking Jonghyun’s seat as the younger goes off to read today’s political news. “Nothing. Just wanted to recommend me a Thai restaurant. Shall we go there for lunch?” he replies, feeling uncomfortably guilty for lying to the younger man.
“Okay!” Henry chirps, grinning easily, looking so much more alive. “Let’s go now!”
And he stands, heading off with Jinki trailing after him.
‘You are just a friend… Right?’ Jinki thinks.
__
They leave the News Centre chattering happily, Henry swinging the umbrella by his side, bringing it along because Jinki’s predicted a rainfall later in the afternoon. He doesn’t notice Jaejoong standing there until the older man comes up and touches Henry’s shoulder.
Henry turns, colour draining out of his face when he sees that familiar sweet smile as the sweet vanilla scent of Jaejoong hits him. His eyes water at the familiarity of it all as the older sweeps him into a warm embrace Henry knows so well.
“Henry,” Jaejoong whispers, breath washing over Henry’s ear gently. “I’ve missed you boo,”
And Henry snaps out of it when he sees Jinki watching them, shocked. He shoves Jaejoong away, a tear escaping down his cheek as the skies darken, a drizzle starting before turning into heavy rain. He ignores Jaejoong as he rushes over to Jinki, popping open the umbrella and holding over their heads.
“I d-don’t want to speak to you Jaejoong-sshi,” he says shakily, trembling lightly, feeling Jinki’s hand cover his on the umbrella’s handle and he speaks again, voice stronger this time. “Please leave me alone,”
And Jinki tugs them along in the direction of the Thai restaurant. “Henry, baby,” Jaejoong says softly, stepping forward, stopping Henry from walking any further. “I’m sorry but I had to leave. Please understand,”
Overhead thunder cracks and Henry jerks, startled, watching helplessly as Jinki stomps out from under the umbrella. “You’re the one who hurt him?” Jinki asks, voice cold, glaring at the taller man.
“I didn’t mean to,” Jaejoong pleads, widening his eyes in the familiar way to make an innocently hurt look.
“But you still did so please leave. Henry doesn’t need you here anymore,” Jinki interrupts.
“I… Henry…” Jaejoong says, looking over at Henry pleadingly. Henry can feel himself crying, the tears mixing with the rain as he turns his head away.
“Leave Jaejoong,” Jinki says again, eyes flashing dangerously as thunder rumbles in the dark sky. Jaejoong sidesteps him and goes up to Henry, pressing a kiss to the younger’s brow before turning and entering his car, Henry catching sight of the same man Jaejoong left him for and he waits until the car drives off that he falls to pavement, crying helplessly, umbrella falling out of his grip and rolling away.
“Let’s get you home,” Jinki says gently, helping him up.
__
Henry sits on his couch, wrapped up in a thick blanket, a mug of hot tea in his hands as Jinki sits next to him, his warmth seeping into Henry’s body. Henry hesitates for a moment before laying his head down on Jinki’s shoulder, taking in his scent of cinnamon and the smell of home that spoke of eternal love and warmth.
Jinki reaches up, combing Henry’s brown hair gently as he sings a lullaby his mother used to sing to him. It’s quiet, only the sound of Jinki’s singing and the hum of the heater as the both of them sit together on the couch but to Henry, this is the silence he’s been searching for.
He stretches his neck up and presses a kiss to the corner of Jinki’s lips. “I love you,” he says quietly, shyly.
Jinki smiles and reaches out, brushing his thumb over Henry’s soft cheek. “I think I do too. But… I have to tell you something,” He watches as Henry chews on his lower lip, a flash of fear in his eyes before it disappears.
“I’m not… normal,” Jinki says vaguely.
“I’m not normal either,” Henry giggles nervously.
“No, I can control the weather,” Jinki says, breathing out heavily.
Henry watches him for a moment, eyes flicking across the nervous face in front of him, taking in the plump lips and expressive brown eyes.
“Okay,” he shrugs. He leans in for a cuddle but is pushed away but a sputtering Jinki.
“You’re not freaked out? You’re not going to call scientists to cut me open and study me?” Jinki squeaks out nervously. Henry laughs softly, placing his mug down and hugging Jinki.
“Don’t be silly hyung. I’m the only one who’s going to study you. And if I gave you away, I’d be giving away the sun,”
And as Jinki beams brightly, the rain lets up, still drizzling lightly but sunlight streams through the window as a perfect rainbow is formed outside.
The lingering scent of cigarette smoke and vanilla and anything Jaejoong washes away, with just a single smile.
.end
Foot note: Erm… the story ran away from me again…
Pairing: Henyu (Henry/Onew), Jaery (Jaejoong/Henry)
Summary: And his scent that lingers in the room is washed away with a single smile.
Warning: AU. The italicized ‘his’ is Henry’s past lover, Jaejoong.
Notes: It’s our darling shining leader’s birthday tomorrow! I was meant to post this up tomorrow but I’ll be busy buying stuff for the new school year so yes. Happy birthday dubu Lee Jinki!
__
He sighs, hands cupped to hold a black cigarette box in his pale, milky hands. A tear drops on the plastic of the unopened cigarette box and he starts sobbing loudly, the sound bouncing off the walls of the empty room.
He clutches the box to his heart like it’s his last lifeline before tearing away the plastic to open it up and pull out a cigarette, wiping away his tears as he stretches over to the bedside table’s second drawer, pulling out a silver lighter with Bi Rain’s signature on it.
He lights the cigarette and sticks it in his mouth, smoking furling around him as the scent permeates the room. He will down anything to keep his scent here, remembering the nights filled with whispered words of affection and promises that he now knows is empty.
His name is carved onto his heart, his scent still lingers in the sheets and the room as if to torture him but he will do nothing to get rid of the scent because he cannot forget, will not forget what is now whispered words of lies and empty promises.
He sits on the bed, silent as the ash from his cigarette dirties the red bed sheet but he doesn’t notice because he hasn’t in a long time.
__
Lee Jinki is bright and optimistic and Seoul’s best damn weatherman. He’s never gotten a single forecast wrong in the two years his worked at KBS News Center; having control over the elements do help.
He’s a man that will run into the road to push a puppy out of the way and risk getting hit by a car if only to save the puppy’s life. Jinki is a man that believes every life on earth exists for a reason even though they don’t know it.
He heads to work on his bicycle because he believes in doing his part to save Mother Nature and he hums a random tune as he peddles down the road easily, mouth spread in a bright smile, charming the pedestrians and drivers of the morning rush.
The sun shines brightly over head and Jinki knows the rest of the day will be sunny if only slightly cloudy in the afternoon so that it won’t be too hot. He locks his bike at the bicycle stands, entering the News Centre building with a spring in his step as he munches on his muffin, bowing to the passing workers politely.
He goes up the elevator, fingers tapping his thigh to the beat of the song playing in the elevator and he exits it only to bump into his boss, Park Jungsu.
“Oh, Park-sshi!” he greets, smiling awkwardly, bowing to the older man. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” Jungsu smiles, dimples showing as he laughs softly. “It’s alright Jinki, no harm done. Besides, you’ve saved me the trouble of having to go looking for you,”
“Looking for me?” he says, confused.
Jungsu nods and gestures for the young weatherman to walk with him. “Youngwoon’s bringing a new news caster today. Ever since Key resigned as our foreign news reader - goodness knows his the only person who speaks English fluently - we’ve been looking for someone to step in his shoes and we’ve finally found him!” Jungsu chatters excitedly. Jinki grins and nods emphatically.
“Korean English readers are hard to find,” he muses as Jungsu makes a noise of agreement. “Key and Minho send their regards from the Bahamas though. Key is trying to work up a tan according to Minho,”
Jungsu smiles affectionately. “Ah that boy. Running off to travel the world with his lover. It’s romantic really,” Jungsu says wistfully, glancing over at his own lover, flirting with the morning newsreader. Jinki pats his arm. “He does love you Park-sshi. So who’s the new foreign reader?”
Jungsu whips his head back, answering Jinki absently, “Henry Lau. He’s from Canada but he moved here some years ago to be with his lover. Ah, kids these days get all the romance,”
Jinki shakes his head in amusement as the boss heads off in the direction where Youngwoon was flirting with Jessica as Jinki pours himself a cup of coffee.
“HEY DUBU!” someone shouts behind him. The coffee in Jinki’s mug sloshes and spills onto his hands. Jinki hisses at the burn as Jonghyun apologises profusely, grabbing tissues to wipe off the hot liquid.
“I’m so sorry Jinki,” Jonghyun says nervously, dabbing at the coffee, blowing lightly on the pink skin. “I forget about your ‘condition’ sometimes,”
“You forget every other day Jjong,” he grumbles, placing the mug in the sink, checking if the coffee had gotten on his clothes. Jonghyun smiles sheepishly as he runs the tap to wash the mug.
“There goes my morning coffee,” Jinki bemoans. “It was the last cupful in the pot,” He jerks slightly when a plastic cup is shoved under his nose, the Starbucks logo on the front.
“Here,” the stranger says quietly, hair falling into his eyes as he holds out the drink. “It’s black coffee, two spoons of sugar and a dollop of cream. You can have it,”
Jinki beams at the kind stranger, accepting the coffee and ignoring Jonghyun’s splutters of ‘he could be a maniac wanting to drug you Dubu!’
“Thank you,”
“You’re welcome,” And the stranger turns on his heel, disappearing out the kitchenette.
‘And it’s a bright day with some clouds in the afternoon,’ Jinki thinks happily, smiling down at the coffee.
__
If Henry had a choice, he wouldn’t leave his apartment or the room he used to share with Jaejoong. But Henry doesn’t especially if the person was Jungsu. Jungsu is gentle and understanding but he can be forceful too and he’s forever forcing Henry to come out of the silent world he’s built around himself ever since Jaejoong’s departure.
“I know you’re heartbroken baby, but you have to at least get out of the apartment!” Jungsu exclaims over the phone.
“I don’t want to,” Henry replies shortly, watching Jaejoong’s favorite drama on mute.
“Henry… He isn’t going to come back and you know it. Please stop beating yourself up over his leaving. He’s a right jerk for leaving anyways!”
“Don’t talk about him like that!” Henry snaps angrily.
He hears Jungsu sigh before the older man speaks again. “Okay fine. If you’re so afraid of going too far from the apartment, you can at least come work at my news centre? We’re looking for an English reader and your English is good,”
Henry mulls over it for a moment, taking in the way his hyung sounds so tired and defeated as he should be. He’s been coming over to get Henry to eat and clean up and start living again.
“Okay…” he says eventually and he swears he hears Jungsu smile over the phone as the older man reminds him to eat the food in the fridge and remember to clean up the house.
So Henry walks the short fifteen minutes over to the News Centre, stopping by the nearby Starbucks and coming out with a steaming cup of caffeine in his hand as a cyclist cycles by, a bright smile pasted on his face that seemed like a ray of sunlight in the dark world Henry’s in.
He speeds up, trailing after the cyclist who’s ways in front of him and smiling slightly when he realizes the man works in the News Centre too. He finds himself thinking that the man is beautiful and so bright. Like Jaejoong was.
He feels his heart stutter as the Jaejoong wound in his heart throbs madly, nearly reducing Henry to tears but he ignores it, watching the man enter the building, Henry following moments after.
He doesn’t know what brings him to give away his morning caffeine to a bright, ever smiling man he hardly even knows but he does. Seeing the sad look on sunshine’s face just seems so wrong, like sadness doesn’t even belong there so he prays that sunshine will accept the coffee.
“It’s black coffee, two spoons of sugar and a dollop of cream. You can have it,” Henry says quietly, bowing his head forward to hide his eyes. The corners of his lips lifts ever so slightly as sunshine takes the coffee, their fingers brushing ever so lightly before sunshine beams at him and Henry’s finding himself breathless at the intensity of that single smile.
“Thank you,” sunshine says and you whisper a quiet, “You’re welcome,” before leaving, your hand falling out of your jacket’s pocket where it had been fingering Jaejoong’s cigarette box and you forget about it for a little while.
__
II.
It’s been a month since Jinki’s met the Key’s substitute and he takes a liking to the quiet and withdrawn young man almost immediately. He likes watching as Henry - that’s his name - reads the day’s foreign news, voice lilting as he tongue curves around the English words Jinki barely understands but can read.
He likes the way the corner of Henry’s lips something pull up to make a small, quick smile before it disappears and he likes the way it’s become tradition for Henry to buy Jinki coffee every morning. Jinki can tell that something is weighing the younger down but he doesn’t want to pry when Henry’s only just started a tentative and careful relationship with him.
Jinki doesn’t get why Jungsu’s forever beaming and hiding giggles whenever Henry asks Jinki to go for lunch with him or grab some coffee in between working time. But it doesn’t matter because the weatherman loves every moment spent with the newsreader and he treasures it, replaying it when he gets home to his little poodle for the day, looking forward to the next day.
Jinki greets Henry with a gentle smile when he goes off-air, Henry returning it with a slightly more open smile and Jinki feels a sense of accomplishment.
__
Henry has never realized that there is life outside of Jaejoong and the apartment he’s holed himself in for the past few months until he meets Jinki, his sunshine. Jinki is the epitome of perfect with his gentle words and clumsy demeanor that’s forever making him trip over cables and fall over himself.
The first time Henry experiences it, it ends up with him in the hospital getting six stitches for a deep cut that would’ve made Jinki lose his eyes and he still blames Jonghyun for scaring Jinki and making him break the vase he was carrying and tripping over a lose cable.
After that, Henry and Jinki just seem to get closer, Henry smiling a little more without realizing as he spends lunch break with the bright weatherman that’s never made a wrong forecast. He’s glad to have Jinki as a friend because the older calls him sometimes at night to bring an umbrella to work tomorrow because it’s going to rain or to remind him to use sun block so he doesn’t get burnt.
He ignores the way Jungsu is forever waggling his eyebrows at them when he and Jinki sit together just talking about everything and anything.
But what scares Henry the most is that he finds himself falling for the older man. It isn’t because Jinki could be a closet murderer or that the man had an attitude problem. No, in fact Jinki had the sweetest and gentlest personality Henry’s ever seen but the man is sharp enough to not get tricked and taken advantage of.
What scares him is that Jinki might very well walk away like Jaejoong did for someone else and Henry knows that if that were to happen again, he would die.
__
“So,” Jungsu says, a smirk on his face as he corners Jinki after the weather forecast.
“So what Park-sshi?” Jinki asks amusedly.
“What’s going between you and my baby?” Jungsu asks excitedly. “And don’t tell me nothing! Henry’s happier now!”
Jinki laughs and shakes his head at the older’s antics. “Nothing Park-sshi, I promise you,” he replies exasperatedly, waving at Henry who is talking to Jonghyun.
“Hmph, that’s the thing! I want something to happen!” Jungsu cries, grabbing at Jinki’s wrist to stop him from leaving. “I haven’t seen Henry smile like that for months and all of the sudden he’s met you and he’s smiling again?”
“I don’t… He’s just a friend Park-sshi,” Jinki sighs.
Jungsu steps back, mouth set in a grim line. “If you say so. But if you as so much hurt him, I will smother you and set Youngwoon on you,”
Jinki watches the older man go, conflicted before heading over to join Henry and Jonghyun.
“Hi hyung,” Henry greets shyly, smiling slightly. “What did Jungsu-hyung want?”
Jinki returns the smile easily, taking Jonghyun’s seat as the younger goes off to read today’s political news. “Nothing. Just wanted to recommend me a Thai restaurant. Shall we go there for lunch?” he replies, feeling uncomfortably guilty for lying to the younger man.
“Okay!” Henry chirps, grinning easily, looking so much more alive. “Let’s go now!”
And he stands, heading off with Jinki trailing after him.
‘You are just a friend… Right?’ Jinki thinks.
__
They leave the News Centre chattering happily, Henry swinging the umbrella by his side, bringing it along because Jinki’s predicted a rainfall later in the afternoon. He doesn’t notice Jaejoong standing there until the older man comes up and touches Henry’s shoulder.
Henry turns, colour draining out of his face when he sees that familiar sweet smile as the sweet vanilla scent of Jaejoong hits him. His eyes water at the familiarity of it all as the older sweeps him into a warm embrace Henry knows so well.
“Henry,” Jaejoong whispers, breath washing over Henry’s ear gently. “I’ve missed you boo,”
And Henry snaps out of it when he sees Jinki watching them, shocked. He shoves Jaejoong away, a tear escaping down his cheek as the skies darken, a drizzle starting before turning into heavy rain. He ignores Jaejoong as he rushes over to Jinki, popping open the umbrella and holding over their heads.
“I d-don’t want to speak to you Jaejoong-sshi,” he says shakily, trembling lightly, feeling Jinki’s hand cover his on the umbrella’s handle and he speaks again, voice stronger this time. “Please leave me alone,”
And Jinki tugs them along in the direction of the Thai restaurant. “Henry, baby,” Jaejoong says softly, stepping forward, stopping Henry from walking any further. “I’m sorry but I had to leave. Please understand,”
Overhead thunder cracks and Henry jerks, startled, watching helplessly as Jinki stomps out from under the umbrella. “You’re the one who hurt him?” Jinki asks, voice cold, glaring at the taller man.
“I didn’t mean to,” Jaejoong pleads, widening his eyes in the familiar way to make an innocently hurt look.
“But you still did so please leave. Henry doesn’t need you here anymore,” Jinki interrupts.
“I… Henry…” Jaejoong says, looking over at Henry pleadingly. Henry can feel himself crying, the tears mixing with the rain as he turns his head away.
“Leave Jaejoong,” Jinki says again, eyes flashing dangerously as thunder rumbles in the dark sky. Jaejoong sidesteps him and goes up to Henry, pressing a kiss to the younger’s brow before turning and entering his car, Henry catching sight of the same man Jaejoong left him for and he waits until the car drives off that he falls to pavement, crying helplessly, umbrella falling out of his grip and rolling away.
“Let’s get you home,” Jinki says gently, helping him up.
__
Henry sits on his couch, wrapped up in a thick blanket, a mug of hot tea in his hands as Jinki sits next to him, his warmth seeping into Henry’s body. Henry hesitates for a moment before laying his head down on Jinki’s shoulder, taking in his scent of cinnamon and the smell of home that spoke of eternal love and warmth.
Jinki reaches up, combing Henry’s brown hair gently as he sings a lullaby his mother used to sing to him. It’s quiet, only the sound of Jinki’s singing and the hum of the heater as the both of them sit together on the couch but to Henry, this is the silence he’s been searching for.
He stretches his neck up and presses a kiss to the corner of Jinki’s lips. “I love you,” he says quietly, shyly.
Jinki smiles and reaches out, brushing his thumb over Henry’s soft cheek. “I think I do too. But… I have to tell you something,” He watches as Henry chews on his lower lip, a flash of fear in his eyes before it disappears.
“I’m not… normal,” Jinki says vaguely.
“I’m not normal either,” Henry giggles nervously.
“No, I can control the weather,” Jinki says, breathing out heavily.
Henry watches him for a moment, eyes flicking across the nervous face in front of him, taking in the plump lips and expressive brown eyes.
“Okay,” he shrugs. He leans in for a cuddle but is pushed away but a sputtering Jinki.
“You’re not freaked out? You’re not going to call scientists to cut me open and study me?” Jinki squeaks out nervously. Henry laughs softly, placing his mug down and hugging Jinki.
“Don’t be silly hyung. I’m the only one who’s going to study you. And if I gave you away, I’d be giving away the sun,”
And as Jinki beams brightly, the rain lets up, still drizzling lightly but sunlight streams through the window as a perfect rainbow is formed outside.
The lingering scent of cigarette smoke and vanilla and anything Jaejoong washes away, with just a single smile.
.end
Foot note: Erm… the story ran away from me again…