Just a Dream
Rays too bright, an arm instinctively raised to shield him of the blinding light. Groaning a little, Yunho rolls onto his side, where the sun is of good riddance.
Falling into unconsciousness for another good hour or so, Yunho felt his fatigue slowly dwindling away as he notices the empty side of the bed when an outstretched arm only caught handfuls of cotton sheets, cold sheets. Albeit puzzled, Yunho nestles back unto the pillow, drawing a breath as images began conjuring in his mind. They were so foreign yet so real, so tangible.
He thought nothing of it.
The time was a quarter to nine at night and the apartment is still empty with Yunho as the only exception. It had been that way ever since he woke up. Where had ChangMin gone to, is what Yunho sets on replay in his head this entire time.
Phone clutched in a death grip, (Yunho be damned if it was a living creature instead) the latter had dialed the younger's number for over a zillion times only to be replied with a monotonous "please leave a message after the tone" every single damn time, and he had cursed at least over a hundred times inwardly for the fact that his frustration is getting the better of him.
This isn't the first time ChangMin's gone off on his own, but yes it is the first time that he's gone of on his own without any form of communication beforehand. This is also the first time ChangMin hadn't contacted him in a timespan of over twelve hours. That's the new record. That's nothing like ChangMin.
What could have happened with them? Yunho hadn't got a clue as he thought of what they had been doing for the past year and a half by themselves.
Yes things had spiralled out of control when the whole legal ordeal broke out, things had gotten so out of control emotionally for them as well. And when the management had drew a border between them and the trio, Yunho had made a promise to keep ChangMin from breaking. He's still so young, Yunho had provided the younger a backbone, even if he didn't need it, he still did.
It's true that Yunho spoils him rotten. One could see that very much apparently. It's because he's the youngest, the baby, is what Yunho uses in his defense. Many times he'd bought it, but at those rare few times, it counted more than the many others.
"Yunho-hyung, you're so cool," a fourteen year-old ChangMin flashed by in his mind, those pretty pair of mismatched eyes gazing at him with earnest and a wide goofy grin in place. At the time Yunho knew he just had a feeling this would be the member he would come to love the most. Adore is more suited.
"Why can't I ever do it, right!" the door slams shut and everyone in the room speaks nothing of it, leaving the fuming youngest to have some of his alone time. While everyone else continued with the dance practice, Yunho's gaze constantly flickers to the door up to the point of him actually leaving, following the narrow hallway and into a small practice room that is usually unreserved by the corner of the hallway's dead end. That's where he would always find ChangMin, the younger doesn't know it, but Yunho knows. This time though, he wouldn't just stand in front of it to observe him by the small window, he barged in on a surprised ChangMin and once he got past that part, the pair spent good time there. It's where Yunho could truly see the youngest working his hardest.
"Thank you hyung," ChangMin had muttered hushedly, head resting on the crook of the elder's neck. He had came home with a pair of puffy eyes and a cold aura. He said nothing as the members stared at him, as if waiting for some sort of explanation or ranting or anything at all. None. He had just took a sweeping glance at every one of them who were huddled in the living room, the last pair of eyes he set on was Yunho's. The elder could see the hesitation before ChangMin locked himself away in his room for hours to no end.
None of them slept that night, JaeJoong managed to coax him with food, cheered him up slightly yet he still requested of the elder to 'give him some time' and JaeJoong granted him just that. The next day YooChun and Junsu had been able to at least make him smile once, but Yunho could still see the grief that has yet to be unleashed. Perhaps when he's alone, Yunho had thought. The next night Yunho didn't sleep either. While on his way for the bathroom, the leader could hear a faint and muffled stiflings coming from the youngest's bedroom. Unthinkingly, Yunho had grab a hold of the door knob and before he knew it he was already standing at the foot of ChangMin's bed. The younger's eyes were wide with shock and embarrassment as he tried to hide his face in the pillow that was wedged in between his knees and chest. Yunho spoke nothing as he wound his arms around the younger, willing him to let it all out. He did.
Yunho had been the first one to see him without any form of barrier.
Yunho had been the first one to mend his broken heart.
ChangMin had always been the apple of Yunho's eye.
So what went wrong?
For the time they were alone, just the two of them, things changed. Yunho noticed that, acknowledges that and well he may have contributed to it as well.
Lounging on the couch, Yunho was catching the rerun of Titanic when ChangMin joined him. These days there weren't much to do what with only the two of them. Things had been somewhat or rather tense as well. Or growing at least.
Neither of them spoke, silently watching the catastrophy happening in the screen. Occasionally though, ChangMin does steal a glance or two at the elder when he thinks he won't notice.
Yunho notices alright.
When the younger had gotten them some popcorn the mood grew a little lighter, that is until the scene in the movie changed into a more dire one and engrossed in the film, they hadn't noticed the brush of their hands until a tingling sensation caught their interest.
ChangMin had retracted his hand first, a blush slowly creeping up on him. Clearing his throat, the younger shoved the bowl in Yunho's hands, crossing his own.
An hour into the film and Yunho was still watching it with intent, only when something had lolled on his shoulder did he snapped out of his trance. Peering down, ChangMin was fast asleep, snoring lightly and Yunho chuckled at the sight.
The elder's attention had been diverted ever so quickly from the famous sketch scene in the film to breathing in the scent of ChangMin's locks. Observing the steady heaving of the younger's chest, Yunho realized he had stared a little too long for anyone's liking, except his.
Attempting to shift into a more comfortable position, Yunho had caused the younger to snuggle against him and with ChangMin breathing on the crook of his neck, things are getting a little heated for Yunho.
The movie had proved to be boring now as Yunho preferred to stare at the younger's sleeping form instead. Nevermind creepy, he would label himself as a psycho for staring at someone who is sleeping, but he didn't quite give a damn right now.
Yunho watches as the younger's eyebrows knit together, chewing on his lip as though he was in a bad dream. Yunho frowned at the sight, he wished he could do something, anything at all to make it better.
He had settled for slinging an arm around ChangMin's shoulder, holding him close. Just making sure he's alright. The younger seemed to have relaxed, the anxiety gone from his features as he snuggled in Yunho's embrace, slinging an arm over, wrapping around Yunho's midriff.
The thick scent of ChangMin's locks invaded his senses, willing him to come closer than he already was. ChangMin bit on his bottom lips, tongue darting out to moisten them right after. Yunho swallowed hard.
Fingers slightly trembling, Yunho brought them up to ChangMin's lips, gliding across them with feather light touches. Just a press wouldn't kill, right? He had battled inwardly, a part of him claimed it is perfectly fine so long as ChangMin doesn't wake up, and the chances are, he won't whilst the other says it's crossing the boundaries, who knows what he may have to lose, nothing, his rebellious side countered.
Bending down slightly, Yunho moved closer until their lips were only separated by a mere inch. Glancing once more to make sure the younger was still asleep, Yunho brushes his lips against ChangMin's, only at the third peck did Yunho completely seal their lips together. ChangMin squirmed a little but Yunho was too caught up in the feel of the younger's lips against his to notice.
Eyes fluttering open, the only thing ChangMin had noticed was the feel of someone's lips on his and it's weird that he wasn't creeped out, instead he rather liked it. His rational side had told him that this is all too weird, it's way out of the norms but the other side of him (the one that's more humane) says it's perfectly fine, relish in the sensation while you can. He opted for the latter.
Yunho was a little taken aback when ChangMin had responded to the kiss, but didn't stop otherwise. The younger's hand had travelled from Yunho's torso up to his short brown locks, clutching at them. It got a little heated and only when ChangMin whimpered did Yunho abruptly pulled away, seemingly stunned at what he just did.
"Hy-Yunho," the younger peered at him, concerned. Yunho shook his head and muttered something along the lines of I'm sorry, shouldn't have gone that far and he stood up, walking out on ChangMin to say the least.
Ever since then, neither of them spoke of it. ChangMin did try to talk to the elder about it but Yunho ended up changing the topic swiftly.
Yunho doesn't know this but, it hurts. And there's nothing ChangMin could do about it. Rejection never felt this harsh.
Now that Yunho thinks about it, why did he runaway? Since when was he such a coward? He made the first move, he should have made the last instead of leaving it hanging. There's no way he could hurt ChangMin, especially not this period of time where everything is in such a turmoil.
Fuck you Yunho, fuck you, he mutters to himself, grabbing his coat as he hurriedly did his boots, leaving the house at a good ten-thirty.
No idea where he was going, all he knew was that he had to do something other than just pacing back and forth in the house. He needed to find him. To feel that warmth once again. Yunho needed to hear that voice telling him it's okay, that he's just blowing it all out of proportion. He needed ChangMin's reassurance.
Yunho realized he needed his love.
- - -
Didn't give him all my love, I guess now I got my payback, Yunho ran down the streets, with every passing building he got further from the apartment and with every step he took his heart swelled with anxiety.
He was so easy to love, Yunho glanced at his phone, wishing with all his might that the boy would at least text him or call him or anything. He didn't know whether it was the chill of the night or whatever it was when he felt pricks at his lids as he continued running down that road.
But he made a decision that he wanted to move on, Yunho's rational side protested. Cause I was wrong, and I won't repeat the same mistake twice, fist clenched, Yunho's pace fastened, clutching his phone to his chest. Please.
If I ever lost him, Yunho's mind flickered to the recent SMTown concert, Kyuhyun with an armful of ChangMin. Smiles decorating their faces and Yunho couldn't tear himself away from the mental image, somebody's got my baby- no, no it can never happen. Impossible.
Then why did it hurt so much.
- - -
Hands by the railings in search for support, Yunho practically dragged himself up the steps- mind blank, eyes puffy and body worn out. As his feet shuffled for the door, Yunho's pensiveness didn't take note of the unlocked apartment as he past the threshold.
Chucking his boots by the side, Yunho found himself slack jawed at the sight before him.
Noticing someone's presence, the taller of the two turns and Yunho could see his tear-streaked face, so crushed, ripped and torn apart. Will he come back? Yunho didn't want to think any further, No one knows, I hope he does. "You," the elder croaked.
ChangMin simply bore his eyes piercingly through Yunho's, eyes bleak and lips in a tight line, Yunho has never seen him so guarded "Me," his tone cold as ice, wiping his face with the back of his hands.
Drawing a deep breath, the younger's eyes averted to the sides, expression worn out, "Night," Yunho watches the younger walk away, panic surging.
Now that he's gone you wish you could give him everything, don't you, A voice in his head rebuked him, He's not gone, not yet, Yunho utters to himself in defense, He can't be.
ChangMin slammed his door shut.
- - -
Four a.m. Yunho sighs, still tossing and turning as his mind won't stop beating him up, heart hammering in its cage.
The image of ChangMin's desolate expression flooded his mind, his tear-streaked face, his overly-cautious demeanor.
ChangMin's never been this vulnerable.
The love I was holding back, Yunho smiles bitterly to himself in the darkness of the room, Now I know what fuckery it felt like.
It's not right, his decision made.
Slinging the sheets away, he marches out the door and into the hallways, stopping right in front of ChangMin's doors. Fist clenching, he was about to knock when a sniffle caught his ears, plastering them to the door, Yunho could make out the slight chokes and whimpers.
He could feel the bubbling anger rising deep in his chest, Yunho nearly rip the door off had he not heard ChangMin's faint voice- freezing on his tracks.
"No no, I'm fine," ChangMin hiccuped, Kyuhyun. Yunho's doubts were confirmed, "No Kyu, it's nothing. Just a tiff, sorry I'm keeping you up right n-" ChangMin's eyes grew wide as he stared up at Yunho, tears still obstructing his view as he watched the elder disconnect the call, chucking the phone aside.
"Y-Hyung!" the younger practically yelled, wiping his tears away with his sleeve in a frantic rush while getting up, anger evident across his face.
"What do you think you're doing?" ChangMin stood up with arms crossed, clearly displeased.
"Why did you just do that?" The younger gestured harshly to the abandoned phone by the foot of the bed, "Didn't you think that maybe I was talking over something important? Maybe something that I shouldn't have to miss," ChangMin continues while Yunho just stood there, silent and unpredictable as he continues gazing at ChangMin with a decided look, "And why did you just barge in like that? It's what? Three? Four in the morning hyung, you don't just barge in like nobody's business and grab someone's phone away, ending the call as you please! Do you ever think about what I might be feeling for just one god damn moment? Have you ever really c-"
Yunho cuts him off with a simple tug at his shoulder, mashing their lips together in one forceful motion on Yunho's part. Sending the younger stumbling a little, Yunho held his frame for aid.
The elder didn't loosen his grip whatsoever, not when ChangMin put up a little struggle, not when ChangMin eventually relents bit by bit, relaxing into his embrace, not even when ChangMin finally responds to the kiss with just as much fervor and not even when they fell on the bed, kiss getting heated and none of them bothered to think twice about what they were getting themselves into.
A whole lot of love, that's what.
Trudging across the carpeted floor, Yunho stops short at the kitchen door, leaning by the doorframe as he watches the younger hastily (and cluelessly) tries to put something together.
It seemed like breakfast. If anything, ChangMin looked much more delicious what with that sweatpants riding low on his hips and nothing else covering him.
Jumping a little, ChangMin relaxes when a warm body presses against him, arms wound around his waist. "Morning hyung," the younger turns his head slightly only to be met with Yunho's lips, "So impatient early in the morning," ChangMin mutters, smiling against his lips.
"I want some bonding time," Yunho smirks on the younger's neck, "We've got a lot of catching up to do," his lips latched on the younger's neck, tongue lavishing the abused spot.
ChangMin just couldn't say no.
Not that Yunho would've relented anyway.
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