Kiss Off [2min] [4/11?]
Title: Kiss Off [AU multichapter]
author: Bingi (indelible-x)
pairing: Minho/Taemin
rating: PG-13
genre: romance, drama, with a side of fluff (Yeah, let's go with that...)
Disclaimer: OH YEAH, SHINEE? YEAH, WE'RE TIGHT. LEMME JUST CALL 'EM UP ON MY CELLULAR DEVICE. i own nothing
Warnings: AU, high school cliche, cursing, predictable plot, and general abuse of the English language.
chapters
chapter one
chapter two
chapter three
chapter four
chapter five
interlude: minho and key
chapter six
chapter seven
interlude: taemin and jonghyun
Chapter Four: You can all just kiss off into the air. Behind my back, I can see that stare.
Taemin ended up skipping classes for the rest of the day, staying with Minho in his bathroom, watching him light cigarettes and not smoke them, occasionally talking, mostly staring off into space in a content silence. What must have been an hour later Minho got up, fumbled around in the bathroom a bit collecting all his stuff before leaving, and Taemin followed a bit timidly. Minho had glanced behind him once and gave off a bit of a half-smile, so his presence must not have been unwanted.
Minho seemed to have little spots and hangouts all over the town that were clearly just for Minho. Even though Taemin knew these streets just as well as he knew the layout to his own house, walking them with Minho was a different experience entirely. When he saw the remains of cigarettes tossed onto the sidewalk or stuck between cracks in the street he wondered just how many of those were Minho’s. When he saw a broken window, a rip in a chain link fence, a stretch of graffiti, a broken-down car or trashcan tagged with some abstract symbol, he saw Minho, wondered if he had done that with his gang some night while the rest of the city slept. Or maybe he had done it in broad daylight, with crowds of people there to witness him deface public property; rules, even laws, always seemed to bend around Minho.
People called out to Minho as they passed, and he would usually nod a greeting in reply or shout out a ‘hey’ before moving on. Two guys who looked old enough to be students up at the local university stopped to start a conversation with him. They spoke like they were familiar with each other, but they looked at Minho with a form of respect that Taemin thought didn’t exist anymore.
Taemin hung back, watching and noticing how a certain look came over Minho’s face. Something a little bit darker, a mischievous half smirk spreading around his face as he spoke. He held himself a bit taller than usual, his hands balled into fists as he took on a posture and tone of voice that Taemin had only caught a glimpse of briefly in that senior boys restroom that first day they had met.
This Minho, the one standing in front of him this very moment, was different. This Minho was the one in the rumors; fearless and untouchable.
Was this how Minho acted when not around him? Taemin wondered that, praying to whatever god would listen that that dark look on Minho’s face would never be intended for him.
“Taemin, hellooo?” Taemin glanced up, saw the two older men walking away and Minho standing in front of him, dark look gone and the small smile that Taemin was used to lightly playing on his lips.
Taemin blinked. Minho poked him on the forehead before continuing on down the sidewalk. “I can’t have you zoning out on me all the time. C’mon.”
“Errr, sorry.” Taemin caught up with him, staying close to his side. “Who were they?”
“Friend’s of friend’s.” Minho waved it off. “Must have met them at a party some night. Happens a lot.” No big deal, just like that.
“They looked like… they knew a lot about you.” Taemin pressed.
“I’m sure a lot of people do.” He raised an eyebrow at him, possibly wondering what all the questions were about. “Nothing in this town is kept a secret for long.”
Taemin stopped to think about that for a moment, biting his lower lip as he realized just how much different of a life he led compared to Minho. In comparison, he must look extremely dull. No one knew Taemin’s name, but everyone-even friends of friends-knew Minho’s.
“And there you go again, with the zoning out and the staring at nothing.”
They had stopped walking and were standing in a spot just a little ways away from the abandoned park and somewhere not quite under the overpass. The walls were covered in graffiti and there was a couch pushed up against a wall that looked like it’d seen better days. Minho had seated himself on that couch, looking like he belonged there, which knowing Minho, he probably did.
Taemin had passed this spot almost every day, but had never really thought much of it. Hadn’t even been interested enough to look into the little alley way and see what was inside. Never once did he think this would be another one of Minho’s spots, but he didn’t dwell on it long before he thought that it made sense; this spot seemed to fit him.
“I’m not zoning out.” Taemin muttered, letting out a frustrated huff at being caught spaced out again.
“As cute as you are when you’re looking pissed off with the world, it really doesn’t suit you much. Something wrong or is it just one of those days?” Minho had leaned back on the couch, one foot still on the ground while the other was propped up on the armrest, his hands behind his head as he tilted his head in Taemin’s direction.
There was a moment of silence while Taemin processed what he had just heard, a silence that Minho took as Taemin just organizing his thoughts before he spoke.
“….Cute?”
Minho smirked, an expression that Taemin took as a teasing gesture when in all actuality it was more of a ‘Oh shit I said that out loud’ gesture. But Minho went along with it anyway. “Yeah. Adorable. Just like a girl.”
Taemin frowned slightly at that. “Like… a girl.” He spoke in a disbelieving voice, arms crossed over his chest.
“Yup.” The teasing smirk was still there. “See? You’re even pouting. Very cute Taemin. Glad you’ve been practicing.”
Taemin’s frown deepened, until he caught Minho’s amused chuckle and forced his lips into a thin line. “What if I told you that you were cute?” He bounced back.
And Minho, still chuckling, quickly replied, voice dripping with sarcasm, “Oh, do you mean it Taemin?”
“Whoa, hey now! I never said you were cute!”
Minho was laughing now, eyes crinkling as he spoke around his smile, “But you were thinking it, weren’t you?”
“Asshole.” Taemin growled, kicking the couch and feeling a bit better because of it, even managing a small grin.
“Hey man, leave my couch out of this. It suffers from too much abuse as it is.”
Taemin didn’t seem to care much about Minho’s abused furniture. “It’s either you or the couch.”
“Whatever, Kid.” He glanced up at the sky through the beams before talking again. “But seriously. What’s up?”
Taemin was beginning to think that Minho knew close to nothing about the rumors floating around about him. If he knew the things people said about him would he even be here with Taemin right now? He doubted it, but he wasn’t going to be the one to fill him in.
Taemin looked up through the beams, too, hands in his pockets. He saw a bird hovering from beam to beam, look about a moment, and then fly away. Taemin followed it with his eyes until he couldn’t see it anymore. “I guess it’s just one of those days.”
Minho grunted, obviously knowing exactly what Taemin was talking about. “Man oh man, isn’t being a teenager great?” Taemin looked back at him, eyes set in a glare as he shrugged off all the events in the past day.
“Gee, could you get anymore sarcasm in that statement?”
“Stuff it, shortie. Just be glad I’ve stopped calling you cute.” He made a swipe at Taemin, who flicked him in the back of the head. “Unless, of course, you like it.” Minho had risen an eyebrow and that teasing smirk was back.
“Darn. You found me out.”
Taemin joined Minho on the couch, trying to mimic Minho’s relaxed look but knowing he probably didn’t pull it off. He smiled lightly in Minho’s direction. “You always hang out here?”
“Sometimes.” Minho shrugged, and swung his legs up onto the couch, feet resting in Taemin’s lap. Taemin shifted slightly but didn’t move them.
“Don’t let him lie to you. He’s always here.”
Taemin squeaked at the not-quite familiar voice and Minho’s head swiveled to see Onew make his entrance, backpack slung over a shoulder.
“He only goes home to sleep. Don’t ask why he’s always here, it’s one of the world’s biggest mysteries.” Onew continued, coming to halt at the end of the couch, staring down at Minho who was making a point to ignore his friend.
Onew poked at the back of his head, making Minho scowl. “What do you want?”
“Minho, that hurts me. Do I need an excuse to hang out with you now?” Onew mused, letting his backpack fall to the ground and his arms to curl around Minho’s neck in an uncomfortable looking backwards hug.
“Ugh, get off!”
Taemin stayed silent on his small corner of the couch, wondering if the two had completely forgotten about him yet. He twirled a piece of hair between two fingers, eyes wide as he stared on in interest. Every day, he was getting closer and closer to solving the great big mystery that was Minho.
“Noooooo~” Onew was saying. “I’m feeling possessive. You spend all your time with Taemin now. Not that I mind.” Onew finally released his hold on Minho and shuffled his way over to where Taemin was seated.
On instinct, Taemin tried to make himself look smaller, sinking down in the cushions slightly when he found that all eyes were on him, Onew looking like he was going to pounce and Minho looking slightly protective. Before Taemin could decipher what exactly that possessive look could mean Onew was grinning.
“Hey Taemin. I’m Onew. I don’t think we’ve ever actually met? And Minho would have never introduced us, so…. How goes it?”
Onew was leaning back on his heels, all bright and grinning and patient, waiting for Taemin to answer.
He blinked. “Um... things are-“
Minho’s foot (which just moments before had been resting rather comfortably in Taemin’s lap) found itself shoved in Onew’s face. The older boy promptly fell over, spluttering and muttering obscenities and Minho’s foot went back where it had been.
“Leave him alone. Shouldn’t you be studying or something?” Minho smiled, hands resting behind his head.
Onew sat himself upright again, sticking his tongue out in Minho’s direction. “Actually, Min-hoooo, I do no-oh fiddlesticks.” Onew bolted up seconds later, grabbing for his backpack. A quick goodbye and a wave of his hand, he was gone, leaving Taemin more than a little confused.
“…Where is he going?” He asked once it was clear Onew wouldn’t come stumbling back over to them.
Minho glanced up, thinking. “It’s Thursday, right? That means he’s tutoring over at the elementary school.”
Taemin nodded slowly, hands lightly folding down on his lap, and ultimately, Minho’s ankles. He innocently fingered the end of his pants, Minho stealing glances at him from the corner of his eye.
“Onew seems…. Nice.” Taemin voiced, giving an affirmative nod.
“Sometimes a little too nice.” Minho grumbled, but he was smiling lightly, and Taemin noticed that Minho finally seemed completely relaxed. Not that he hadn’t seemed relaxed before in his bathroom stall, but here and now he seemed a bit more carefree, not as closely guarded. When he glanced up a moment later, he caught Taemin’s eye and he realized he must have been staring.
“What?” Minho asked, voice smooth.
Flushing, Taemin looked away, remembering his earlier conversation with Key and how the majority of the student population suspected him and Minho of things that couldn’t be further from the truth. Then, he remembered that Minho knew nothing about what was being said. In fact, Minho didn’t know much of what went outside bathroom stall or back alley, like the older boy had his own special world with his own rules that he only shared with a special few. Onew was someone Minho trusted, Taemin knew that much.
And maybe he was starting to trust Taemin, too.
“You’re zoning again. You always been this much of a space cadet?”
--
Friday was a frighteningly boring one in the town of Blue Meadows. Everyone seemed sluggish now that school was in full swing and all traces of summer vanishing. Activities seemed to have come to a standstill, and even the ever energetic Key seemed to not have anything new to say.
Taemin was relieved. Maybe this meant that whatever drama people had made up between him and Minho would finally blow over.
Five minutes before school let out, Taemin slipped out of class and headed straight to the Senior boys bathroom, finding Minho slumped on the bathroom counter. He was about to shout a greeting when there was no response at his entrance, but upon closer inspection Taemin found that the older boy was… sleeping?
Minho was still, arms wrapped lightly around his own chest as he snoozed. Despite his current surroundings, Minho looked comfortable and Taemin stood a few feet away from him, finding it a bit difficult to keep quiet. He shuffled a bit closer, letting his backpack fall to the ground.
Now, he was close enough to hear Minho’s soft and even breaths as he remained completely oblivious to Taemin’s presence.
Biting his lip, Taemin had to think through on how he would handle this situation. After taking a moment to think the situation through, he decided to go ahead and wake him up, since a school bathroom was definitely not the place to sleep, but then he figured that because Minho was sleeping in a school bathroom it had to be for a good reason, and anyone tired enough to sleep here was probably one that shouldn’t be woken up.
In the end, Taemin decided that waking Minho would be doing him a favor. After all, the bell was going to ring soon, and the bells in this school could pierce time with their immeasurably loud volume. Even with Minho slumped against the wall Taemin had to stand on the tip of his toes to properly reach him. Silently cursing Minho for being so freakin’ tall, Taemin extended a finger, lightly poking Minho’s cheek.
“Heeeeeeey.” He said softly. “Miiiiiiiinho. Wake up!”
Minho shifted, mumbling softly, but ultimately, no response. Taemin was ready to poke him again and maybe speak up a little bit when the door to the bathroom burst open and Onew came in shouting seconds later.
“TGIF, AM I RIGHT?” Onew was saying, while Taemin squeaked at the sudden interruption, jumping at the sound and ending up half way on Minho’s lap, pushing himself against him, hands tightly clutching at the fabric of the other boys shirt.
Minho blinked awake, still too far in dream land to realize that Taemin was currently on top of him, but awake enough to know that Taemin was there. Lifting a hand, he poked Taemin’s back. “what’re ya doin.” He asked groggily. Onew’s presence had yet to be noted.
Taemin was hardly paying any attention to Minho or the fact that he was currently awake, more focused on Onew and that god damn knowing look on his face, like he had just caught them doing something not so innocent…
Onew was smirking, leaning against the wall by the doorway as he let the door to the bathroom swing shut. “Am I interrupting something here?”
“I… Uh-Minho was-and then uhhh….”
Taemin forgot how to properly speak.
“Hmmm?” Onew rose an eyebrow, knowing smirk still there and Taemin hoped that he wasn’t blushing. But for some reason, he just couldn’t get himself to move.
“No, you don’t understand! He was asleep!”
“Oh, so you’re molesting him in his sleep? Taemin, you dog!”
Before Taemin could stutter out a reply Minho poked Taemin in the middle of his forehead, not taking too kindly to being ignored, even if he still wasn’t sure what the conversation between the two was about. Tearing his gaze from Onew, Taemin glanced up, their faces only inches apart. For a moment, he forgot Onew was standing just five feet away and his gaze softened. This Minho-this sleepy, defenseless, vulnerable Minho-was something else completely new.
“What’re ya doing, Taemin?” Minho repeated, voice still rumbly, eyes still drooped.
“Uh… I was just-“ His hold on the older boys shirt loosened, and be pulled himself away, eyes locked firmly to the ground. Anywhere but at Minho. (Or Onew, who had decided to sit back and enjoy the show, snickering every now and then.) “Um, you were sleeping and-“
And at that moment, the bell decided to ring, making Taemin jump once more. But this time, Minho was conscious enough to catch him.
The sound of voices could be heard as classes let out for the week, mixed in with the excitement for the weekend, and it was enough to fill the silence in the bathroom. Well, except for Onew, who was now clutching at his chest from laughter.
Taemin didn’t move, arms latched around Minho’s neck and face buried in the fabric of his jacket. His face was burning red. Minho lightly patted him on his back, seeming to be fully awake now, chin resting on the top of Taemin’s head. Swallowing once, he asked, “You alright there?”
“Yeah, just give me a minute.”
“Uh… Okay.”
And so they stayed like that, Minho slightly confused, but not complaining and Taemin not sure if he was on the verge of tears or of some great big discovery. Thinking probably wasn’t his best choice of action right then, so he focused on the here and now, listening to Minho’s slow breathing and noticing how he smelled kind of like smoke, toothpaste, and, oddly enough, cookies.
Onew, by this point, had recovered from his laughing fit, and was back to standing and staring, feeling right and proud in all the right ways. He smiled in their direction, the two seeming to be lost in a world of their own, and that was how he left them, but not without a parting comment.
“Oh, you guys. Cuter than kittens, I swear.”
--
Taemin never did find out why Minho had decided to take a nap in the boys bathroom, but he did spend the rest of his Friday evening in Minho’s back alley with him and Onew, the three settled onto the couch as Minho smoked cigarettes and Onew talked, the space filling with smoke and Onew’s over the top laugh.
Onew spoke with his whole body, used hand motions to tell even the simplest of stories. He laughed at all his own jokes, but his laugh was contagious. Taemin liked that about him.
Minho had sat in the middle of the couch, legs stretched out in front of him and Onew sat to his right, taking up the most space as he wiggled about to tell the two about his day. Taemin was on Minho’s left, Minho’s fingertips ghosting over the nape of his neck, maybe on accident, maybe on purpose. Taemin just leaned back, enjoying the company and catching Minho’s gaze whenever he happened to look over, smiling every time. By the end of the night, Taemin had Minho smiling back.
--
“That your phone?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Lemme see it.”
“…”
“I’m not going to do anything to it, just lemme see it.”
“O-okay…”
“There.”
“What’d you do?”
“I put in my phone number.”
“This would have been a lot more convenient if you had told me your number earlier.”
“… Well, now you know.”
--
It was well into Sunday evening and Taemin, being a little too good at procrastination, was only halfway done with his homework when his phone buzzed and he received a blank message from Jonghyun.
Now, a blank message from Jonghyun only meant one thing to Taemin; he wanted to talk. Taemin welcomed the distraction. Closing his math book, he slid out of his desk chair and into the bathroom that was conveniently connected to his room.
Way back in the day, Taemin and Jonghyun had quickly discovered the connection between their two houses. They were neighbors, which had allowed their friendship to exist, and in between their two houses was a large oak tree, the branches extending from Jonghyun’s bedroom window to Taemin’s bathroom window, the branches just sturdy enough to hold them both. (actually, the discovery had been Jonghyun’s fault, who, at the age of nine had decided that he was going to run away with Taemin in tow and had shimmied out of his bedroom window and onto the connecting tree branch, knocking furiously at Taemin’s window until he opened it. And that was how Jonghyun broke his arm for the first time, but that’s a story for another time.)
Present-day Taemin seated himself on the edge of the toilet, turning so he faced the window and lifted the blinds. Through his closed window he could see Jonghyun, arms folded on the windowsill and his chin resting on top of them, hair looking windswept and eyes glazed and faraway.
Taemin opened the window and the sound alerted Jonghyun, who looked up. Taemin mimicked his position and for a moment, that’s how they sat, five feet apart in their respective homes. The night was noisy with wildlife.
“Hey.” Taemin greeted and Jonghyun let his arms dangle out his bedroom window, wiggling them slightly in greeting.
“Haven’t seen much of you lately. Outside of school, I mean.” Jonghyun shrugged, looking grim.
Cocking an eyebrow, Taemin studied him. “Really?” He had to think back, pull out information to prove Jonghyun wrong. But looking back over the events on the past few days, he could only remember time spent with Minho. He didn’t really have an excuse, but didn’t really want to admit the neglect to his best friend, either.
“Sorry. Been busy.” Was the best he could come up with.
“Seems like you’re always hanging out with Minho now.” Jonghyun had a stained smile, voice not quite sturdy. “I’m feeling possessive.”
Taemin was having a serious case of déjà vu. Hadn’t Onew said almost the exact same thing to Minho a few days back? It was hard to remember, Onew had spoken to him a lot the past weekend.
Okay, so maybe Taemin had been neglecting Jonghyun. But it wasn’t on purpose, nor was it out of spite. Taemin might not always get along with Jonghyun, but they were friends, no doubt about it. Thinking back, Taemin tried to remember times without Jonghyun. He ended up remembering times when Key and Jonghyun would run off, laughing about inside jokes and not bothering to fill in Taemin. This was only fair.
He bit his lip, knowing he had to fix things between him and Jonghyun now before things got worse. Jonghyun was nice-like a diamond-he didn’t deserve to be treated badly.
Stretching his arms out, Taemin held out his index finger and thumb, making an L shape with both his hands. Jonghyun watched, not even bothering to pretend to smile anymore. Taemin fit his fingers together until they made a rectangle. Squinting, he brought his hands up to his face, turning his hands until he could just see Jonghyun wrapped in the frame that was Taemin’s fingers.
“Flash, flash! How about a photo shoot outside of school sometime?” He suggested, aiming for casual, aiming for carefree, like they had used to be.
Jonghyun wasn’t amused, just sighed and shook his head. Taemin’s grin faltered and his arms retreated back to his side. “Do… do you not want to?” Taemin’s voice was still a little hopeful.
“Sorry. I’m busy.” And then Jonghyun was turning away, window closing with a slam behind him.
author: Bingi (indelible-x)
pairing: Minho/Taemin
rating: PG-13
genre: romance, drama, with a side of fluff (Yeah, let's go with that...)
Disclaimer: OH YEAH, SHINEE? YEAH, WE'RE TIGHT. LEMME JUST CALL 'EM UP ON MY CELLULAR DEVICE. i own nothing
Warnings: AU, high school cliche, cursing, predictable plot, and general abuse of the English language.
chapters
chapter one
chapter two
chapter three
chapter four
chapter five
interlude: minho and key
chapter six
chapter seven
interlude: taemin and jonghyun
Chapter Four: You can all just kiss off into the air. Behind my back, I can see that stare.
Taemin ended up skipping classes for the rest of the day, staying with Minho in his bathroom, watching him light cigarettes and not smoke them, occasionally talking, mostly staring off into space in a content silence. What must have been an hour later Minho got up, fumbled around in the bathroom a bit collecting all his stuff before leaving, and Taemin followed a bit timidly. Minho had glanced behind him once and gave off a bit of a half-smile, so his presence must not have been unwanted.
Minho seemed to have little spots and hangouts all over the town that were clearly just for Minho. Even though Taemin knew these streets just as well as he knew the layout to his own house, walking them with Minho was a different experience entirely. When he saw the remains of cigarettes tossed onto the sidewalk or stuck between cracks in the street he wondered just how many of those were Minho’s. When he saw a broken window, a rip in a chain link fence, a stretch of graffiti, a broken-down car or trashcan tagged with some abstract symbol, he saw Minho, wondered if he had done that with his gang some night while the rest of the city slept. Or maybe he had done it in broad daylight, with crowds of people there to witness him deface public property; rules, even laws, always seemed to bend around Minho.
People called out to Minho as they passed, and he would usually nod a greeting in reply or shout out a ‘hey’ before moving on. Two guys who looked old enough to be students up at the local university stopped to start a conversation with him. They spoke like they were familiar with each other, but they looked at Minho with a form of respect that Taemin thought didn’t exist anymore.
Taemin hung back, watching and noticing how a certain look came over Minho’s face. Something a little bit darker, a mischievous half smirk spreading around his face as he spoke. He held himself a bit taller than usual, his hands balled into fists as he took on a posture and tone of voice that Taemin had only caught a glimpse of briefly in that senior boys restroom that first day they had met.
This Minho, the one standing in front of him this very moment, was different. This Minho was the one in the rumors; fearless and untouchable.
Was this how Minho acted when not around him? Taemin wondered that, praying to whatever god would listen that that dark look on Minho’s face would never be intended for him.
“Taemin, hellooo?” Taemin glanced up, saw the two older men walking away and Minho standing in front of him, dark look gone and the small smile that Taemin was used to lightly playing on his lips.
Taemin blinked. Minho poked him on the forehead before continuing on down the sidewalk. “I can’t have you zoning out on me all the time. C’mon.”
“Errr, sorry.” Taemin caught up with him, staying close to his side. “Who were they?”
“Friend’s of friend’s.” Minho waved it off. “Must have met them at a party some night. Happens a lot.” No big deal, just like that.
“They looked like… they knew a lot about you.” Taemin pressed.
“I’m sure a lot of people do.” He raised an eyebrow at him, possibly wondering what all the questions were about. “Nothing in this town is kept a secret for long.”
Taemin stopped to think about that for a moment, biting his lower lip as he realized just how much different of a life he led compared to Minho. In comparison, he must look extremely dull. No one knew Taemin’s name, but everyone-even friends of friends-knew Minho’s.
“And there you go again, with the zoning out and the staring at nothing.”
They had stopped walking and were standing in a spot just a little ways away from the abandoned park and somewhere not quite under the overpass. The walls were covered in graffiti and there was a couch pushed up against a wall that looked like it’d seen better days. Minho had seated himself on that couch, looking like he belonged there, which knowing Minho, he probably did.
Taemin had passed this spot almost every day, but had never really thought much of it. Hadn’t even been interested enough to look into the little alley way and see what was inside. Never once did he think this would be another one of Minho’s spots, but he didn’t dwell on it long before he thought that it made sense; this spot seemed to fit him.
“I’m not zoning out.” Taemin muttered, letting out a frustrated huff at being caught spaced out again.
“As cute as you are when you’re looking pissed off with the world, it really doesn’t suit you much. Something wrong or is it just one of those days?” Minho had leaned back on the couch, one foot still on the ground while the other was propped up on the armrest, his hands behind his head as he tilted his head in Taemin’s direction.
There was a moment of silence while Taemin processed what he had just heard, a silence that Minho took as Taemin just organizing his thoughts before he spoke.
“….Cute?”
Minho smirked, an expression that Taemin took as a teasing gesture when in all actuality it was more of a ‘Oh shit I said that out loud’ gesture. But Minho went along with it anyway. “Yeah. Adorable. Just like a girl.”
Taemin frowned slightly at that. “Like… a girl.” He spoke in a disbelieving voice, arms crossed over his chest.
“Yup.” The teasing smirk was still there. “See? You’re even pouting. Very cute Taemin. Glad you’ve been practicing.”
Taemin’s frown deepened, until he caught Minho’s amused chuckle and forced his lips into a thin line. “What if I told you that you were cute?” He bounced back.
And Minho, still chuckling, quickly replied, voice dripping with sarcasm, “Oh, do you mean it Taemin?”
“Whoa, hey now! I never said you were cute!”
Minho was laughing now, eyes crinkling as he spoke around his smile, “But you were thinking it, weren’t you?”
“Asshole.” Taemin growled, kicking the couch and feeling a bit better because of it, even managing a small grin.
“Hey man, leave my couch out of this. It suffers from too much abuse as it is.”
Taemin didn’t seem to care much about Minho’s abused furniture. “It’s either you or the couch.”
“Whatever, Kid.” He glanced up at the sky through the beams before talking again. “But seriously. What’s up?”
Taemin was beginning to think that Minho knew close to nothing about the rumors floating around about him. If he knew the things people said about him would he even be here with Taemin right now? He doubted it, but he wasn’t going to be the one to fill him in.
Taemin looked up through the beams, too, hands in his pockets. He saw a bird hovering from beam to beam, look about a moment, and then fly away. Taemin followed it with his eyes until he couldn’t see it anymore. “I guess it’s just one of those days.”
Minho grunted, obviously knowing exactly what Taemin was talking about. “Man oh man, isn’t being a teenager great?” Taemin looked back at him, eyes set in a glare as he shrugged off all the events in the past day.
“Gee, could you get anymore sarcasm in that statement?”
“Stuff it, shortie. Just be glad I’ve stopped calling you cute.” He made a swipe at Taemin, who flicked him in the back of the head. “Unless, of course, you like it.” Minho had risen an eyebrow and that teasing smirk was back.
“Darn. You found me out.”
Taemin joined Minho on the couch, trying to mimic Minho’s relaxed look but knowing he probably didn’t pull it off. He smiled lightly in Minho’s direction. “You always hang out here?”
“Sometimes.” Minho shrugged, and swung his legs up onto the couch, feet resting in Taemin’s lap. Taemin shifted slightly but didn’t move them.
“Don’t let him lie to you. He’s always here.”
Taemin squeaked at the not-quite familiar voice and Minho’s head swiveled to see Onew make his entrance, backpack slung over a shoulder.
“He only goes home to sleep. Don’t ask why he’s always here, it’s one of the world’s biggest mysteries.” Onew continued, coming to halt at the end of the couch, staring down at Minho who was making a point to ignore his friend.
Onew poked at the back of his head, making Minho scowl. “What do you want?”
“Minho, that hurts me. Do I need an excuse to hang out with you now?” Onew mused, letting his backpack fall to the ground and his arms to curl around Minho’s neck in an uncomfortable looking backwards hug.
“Ugh, get off!”
Taemin stayed silent on his small corner of the couch, wondering if the two had completely forgotten about him yet. He twirled a piece of hair between two fingers, eyes wide as he stared on in interest. Every day, he was getting closer and closer to solving the great big mystery that was Minho.
“Noooooo~” Onew was saying. “I’m feeling possessive. You spend all your time with Taemin now. Not that I mind.” Onew finally released his hold on Minho and shuffled his way over to where Taemin was seated.
On instinct, Taemin tried to make himself look smaller, sinking down in the cushions slightly when he found that all eyes were on him, Onew looking like he was going to pounce and Minho looking slightly protective. Before Taemin could decipher what exactly that possessive look could mean Onew was grinning.
“Hey Taemin. I’m Onew. I don’t think we’ve ever actually met? And Minho would have never introduced us, so…. How goes it?”
Onew was leaning back on his heels, all bright and grinning and patient, waiting for Taemin to answer.
He blinked. “Um... things are-“
Minho’s foot (which just moments before had been resting rather comfortably in Taemin’s lap) found itself shoved in Onew’s face. The older boy promptly fell over, spluttering and muttering obscenities and Minho’s foot went back where it had been.
“Leave him alone. Shouldn’t you be studying or something?” Minho smiled, hands resting behind his head.
Onew sat himself upright again, sticking his tongue out in Minho’s direction. “Actually, Min-hoooo, I do no-oh fiddlesticks.” Onew bolted up seconds later, grabbing for his backpack. A quick goodbye and a wave of his hand, he was gone, leaving Taemin more than a little confused.
“…Where is he going?” He asked once it was clear Onew wouldn’t come stumbling back over to them.
Minho glanced up, thinking. “It’s Thursday, right? That means he’s tutoring over at the elementary school.”
Taemin nodded slowly, hands lightly folding down on his lap, and ultimately, Minho’s ankles. He innocently fingered the end of his pants, Minho stealing glances at him from the corner of his eye.
“Onew seems…. Nice.” Taemin voiced, giving an affirmative nod.
“Sometimes a little too nice.” Minho grumbled, but he was smiling lightly, and Taemin noticed that Minho finally seemed completely relaxed. Not that he hadn’t seemed relaxed before in his bathroom stall, but here and now he seemed a bit more carefree, not as closely guarded. When he glanced up a moment later, he caught Taemin’s eye and he realized he must have been staring.
“What?” Minho asked, voice smooth.
Flushing, Taemin looked away, remembering his earlier conversation with Key and how the majority of the student population suspected him and Minho of things that couldn’t be further from the truth. Then, he remembered that Minho knew nothing about what was being said. In fact, Minho didn’t know much of what went outside bathroom stall or back alley, like the older boy had his own special world with his own rules that he only shared with a special few. Onew was someone Minho trusted, Taemin knew that much.
And maybe he was starting to trust Taemin, too.
“You’re zoning again. You always been this much of a space cadet?”
--
Friday was a frighteningly boring one in the town of Blue Meadows. Everyone seemed sluggish now that school was in full swing and all traces of summer vanishing. Activities seemed to have come to a standstill, and even the ever energetic Key seemed to not have anything new to say.
Taemin was relieved. Maybe this meant that whatever drama people had made up between him and Minho would finally blow over.
Five minutes before school let out, Taemin slipped out of class and headed straight to the Senior boys bathroom, finding Minho slumped on the bathroom counter. He was about to shout a greeting when there was no response at his entrance, but upon closer inspection Taemin found that the older boy was… sleeping?
Minho was still, arms wrapped lightly around his own chest as he snoozed. Despite his current surroundings, Minho looked comfortable and Taemin stood a few feet away from him, finding it a bit difficult to keep quiet. He shuffled a bit closer, letting his backpack fall to the ground.
Now, he was close enough to hear Minho’s soft and even breaths as he remained completely oblivious to Taemin’s presence.
Biting his lip, Taemin had to think through on how he would handle this situation. After taking a moment to think the situation through, he decided to go ahead and wake him up, since a school bathroom was definitely not the place to sleep, but then he figured that because Minho was sleeping in a school bathroom it had to be for a good reason, and anyone tired enough to sleep here was probably one that shouldn’t be woken up.
In the end, Taemin decided that waking Minho would be doing him a favor. After all, the bell was going to ring soon, and the bells in this school could pierce time with their immeasurably loud volume. Even with Minho slumped against the wall Taemin had to stand on the tip of his toes to properly reach him. Silently cursing Minho for being so freakin’ tall, Taemin extended a finger, lightly poking Minho’s cheek.
“Heeeeeeey.” He said softly. “Miiiiiiiinho. Wake up!”
Minho shifted, mumbling softly, but ultimately, no response. Taemin was ready to poke him again and maybe speak up a little bit when the door to the bathroom burst open and Onew came in shouting seconds later.
“TGIF, AM I RIGHT?” Onew was saying, while Taemin squeaked at the sudden interruption, jumping at the sound and ending up half way on Minho’s lap, pushing himself against him, hands tightly clutching at the fabric of the other boys shirt.
Minho blinked awake, still too far in dream land to realize that Taemin was currently on top of him, but awake enough to know that Taemin was there. Lifting a hand, he poked Taemin’s back. “what’re ya doin.” He asked groggily. Onew’s presence had yet to be noted.
Taemin was hardly paying any attention to Minho or the fact that he was currently awake, more focused on Onew and that god damn knowing look on his face, like he had just caught them doing something not so innocent…
Onew was smirking, leaning against the wall by the doorway as he let the door to the bathroom swing shut. “Am I interrupting something here?”
“I… Uh-Minho was-and then uhhh….”
Taemin forgot how to properly speak.
“Hmmm?” Onew rose an eyebrow, knowing smirk still there and Taemin hoped that he wasn’t blushing. But for some reason, he just couldn’t get himself to move.
“No, you don’t understand! He was asleep!”
“Oh, so you’re molesting him in his sleep? Taemin, you dog!”
Before Taemin could stutter out a reply Minho poked Taemin in the middle of his forehead, not taking too kindly to being ignored, even if he still wasn’t sure what the conversation between the two was about. Tearing his gaze from Onew, Taemin glanced up, their faces only inches apart. For a moment, he forgot Onew was standing just five feet away and his gaze softened. This Minho-this sleepy, defenseless, vulnerable Minho-was something else completely new.
“What’re ya doing, Taemin?” Minho repeated, voice still rumbly, eyes still drooped.
“Uh… I was just-“ His hold on the older boys shirt loosened, and be pulled himself away, eyes locked firmly to the ground. Anywhere but at Minho. (Or Onew, who had decided to sit back and enjoy the show, snickering every now and then.) “Um, you were sleeping and-“
And at that moment, the bell decided to ring, making Taemin jump once more. But this time, Minho was conscious enough to catch him.
The sound of voices could be heard as classes let out for the week, mixed in with the excitement for the weekend, and it was enough to fill the silence in the bathroom. Well, except for Onew, who was now clutching at his chest from laughter.
Taemin didn’t move, arms latched around Minho’s neck and face buried in the fabric of his jacket. His face was burning red. Minho lightly patted him on his back, seeming to be fully awake now, chin resting on the top of Taemin’s head. Swallowing once, he asked, “You alright there?”
“Yeah, just give me a minute.”
“Uh… Okay.”
And so they stayed like that, Minho slightly confused, but not complaining and Taemin not sure if he was on the verge of tears or of some great big discovery. Thinking probably wasn’t his best choice of action right then, so he focused on the here and now, listening to Minho’s slow breathing and noticing how he smelled kind of like smoke, toothpaste, and, oddly enough, cookies.
Onew, by this point, had recovered from his laughing fit, and was back to standing and staring, feeling right and proud in all the right ways. He smiled in their direction, the two seeming to be lost in a world of their own, and that was how he left them, but not without a parting comment.
“Oh, you guys. Cuter than kittens, I swear.”
--
Taemin never did find out why Minho had decided to take a nap in the boys bathroom, but he did spend the rest of his Friday evening in Minho’s back alley with him and Onew, the three settled onto the couch as Minho smoked cigarettes and Onew talked, the space filling with smoke and Onew’s over the top laugh.
Onew spoke with his whole body, used hand motions to tell even the simplest of stories. He laughed at all his own jokes, but his laugh was contagious. Taemin liked that about him.
Minho had sat in the middle of the couch, legs stretched out in front of him and Onew sat to his right, taking up the most space as he wiggled about to tell the two about his day. Taemin was on Minho’s left, Minho’s fingertips ghosting over the nape of his neck, maybe on accident, maybe on purpose. Taemin just leaned back, enjoying the company and catching Minho’s gaze whenever he happened to look over, smiling every time. By the end of the night, Taemin had Minho smiling back.
--
“That your phone?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Lemme see it.”
“…”
“I’m not going to do anything to it, just lemme see it.”
“O-okay…”
“There.”
“What’d you do?”
“I put in my phone number.”
“This would have been a lot more convenient if you had told me your number earlier.”
“… Well, now you know.”
--
It was well into Sunday evening and Taemin, being a little too good at procrastination, was only halfway done with his homework when his phone buzzed and he received a blank message from Jonghyun.
Now, a blank message from Jonghyun only meant one thing to Taemin; he wanted to talk. Taemin welcomed the distraction. Closing his math book, he slid out of his desk chair and into the bathroom that was conveniently connected to his room.
Way back in the day, Taemin and Jonghyun had quickly discovered the connection between their two houses. They were neighbors, which had allowed their friendship to exist, and in between their two houses was a large oak tree, the branches extending from Jonghyun’s bedroom window to Taemin’s bathroom window, the branches just sturdy enough to hold them both. (actually, the discovery had been Jonghyun’s fault, who, at the age of nine had decided that he was going to run away with Taemin in tow and had shimmied out of his bedroom window and onto the connecting tree branch, knocking furiously at Taemin’s window until he opened it. And that was how Jonghyun broke his arm for the first time, but that’s a story for another time.)
Present-day Taemin seated himself on the edge of the toilet, turning so he faced the window and lifted the blinds. Through his closed window he could see Jonghyun, arms folded on the windowsill and his chin resting on top of them, hair looking windswept and eyes glazed and faraway.
Taemin opened the window and the sound alerted Jonghyun, who looked up. Taemin mimicked his position and for a moment, that’s how they sat, five feet apart in their respective homes. The night was noisy with wildlife.
“Hey.” Taemin greeted and Jonghyun let his arms dangle out his bedroom window, wiggling them slightly in greeting.
“Haven’t seen much of you lately. Outside of school, I mean.” Jonghyun shrugged, looking grim.
Cocking an eyebrow, Taemin studied him. “Really?” He had to think back, pull out information to prove Jonghyun wrong. But looking back over the events on the past few days, he could only remember time spent with Minho. He didn’t really have an excuse, but didn’t really want to admit the neglect to his best friend, either.
“Sorry. Been busy.” Was the best he could come up with.
“Seems like you’re always hanging out with Minho now.” Jonghyun had a stained smile, voice not quite sturdy. “I’m feeling possessive.”
Taemin was having a serious case of déjà vu. Hadn’t Onew said almost the exact same thing to Minho a few days back? It was hard to remember, Onew had spoken to him a lot the past weekend.
Okay, so maybe Taemin had been neglecting Jonghyun. But it wasn’t on purpose, nor was it out of spite. Taemin might not always get along with Jonghyun, but they were friends, no doubt about it. Thinking back, Taemin tried to remember times without Jonghyun. He ended up remembering times when Key and Jonghyun would run off, laughing about inside jokes and not bothering to fill in Taemin. This was only fair.
He bit his lip, knowing he had to fix things between him and Jonghyun now before things got worse. Jonghyun was nice-like a diamond-he didn’t deserve to be treated badly.
Stretching his arms out, Taemin held out his index finger and thumb, making an L shape with both his hands. Jonghyun watched, not even bothering to pretend to smile anymore. Taemin fit his fingers together until they made a rectangle. Squinting, he brought his hands up to his face, turning his hands until he could just see Jonghyun wrapped in the frame that was Taemin’s fingers.
“Flash, flash! How about a photo shoot outside of school sometime?” He suggested, aiming for casual, aiming for carefree, like they had used to be.
Jonghyun wasn’t amused, just sighed and shook his head. Taemin’s grin faltered and his arms retreated back to his side. “Do… do you not want to?” Taemin’s voice was still a little hopeful.
“Sorry. I’m busy.” And then Jonghyun was turning away, window closing with a slam behind him.