The Next Best Thing; Taemin/Minho
A 2min oneshot (drabble-ish) where Taemin finds the next best thing to substitute Minho when he's not around.
Author's Note: Slowly posting my 2min fics on LJ. This whole lot of fluff is inspired by this similar jacket that Taemin and Minho have. Starring Key Umma as well. Enjoy! Comments would be lovely. ^^
Shifting on the sofa uneasily, Taemin watched as Minho searched through their walk in wardrobe for his jacket. The rapper didn’t say anything but Taemin knew he was looking for his jacket because it was the last thing Minho needed before he left the dorm for his first script reading session for the new sitcom that he would be starring in. What’s more, Taemin even knew which jacket Minho was specifically looking for but he chose to remain silent, hoping Minho would just give up and choose another jacket.
Of course, the maknae should have known that it was impossible for Minho to give up because this was the Choi Minho he was talking about. True enough, since he couldn’t find it on his own effort, Minho decided to get some help.
“Kibum!” Minho, who was still flipping through the rack of clothes, shouted. “Where’s my green military jacket?!”
“It’s hanging on one of the racks!” Key, not even bothering to walk out of the kitchen, shouted back, perfectly playing his role of the group’s Umma.
“It isn’t!” Minho huffed, finally stopping his search and taking a step back so he could see the entire view of their wardrobe. “I’ve looked through the whole wardrobe. I can’t find it!”
“Ask Taemin then!” Key’s voice came in response a few seconds later.
Minho, although slightly puzzled, turned towards the living room where he had seen Taemin lying on the sofa when he walked past earlier, only to realize that the sofa was now empty and Taemin was nowhere to be seen.
“Tae!” Minho called out.
No response.
This was so unlike Taemin. Minho frowned. He knew something was up but he just didn’t know what. Without wasting any more time, Minho walked towards the corridor that led to their rooms and saw that only one of the room doors were closed. And the fact that said room was Minho and Jonghyun’s shared room made things even more suspicious. From what he remembered, Minho was certain he left the door open when he came out of the room. It also couldn’t be Onew and Jonghyun since they weren’t even at the dorm, both leaving in the early morning for a trip back home as they were given some time off, while Key had been in the kitchen the entire time. That meant there was only one certain maknae left. Minho placed his hand on the door knob and was about to turn it when the door opened from inside.
“Hyung!” Taemin smiled (Minho noticed it was rather fake). “What are you still doing at home? You should get going! Wouldn’t want to be late for your first script reading session now would you?”
Taemin nudged Minho on his side and then squeezed past the rapper to leave the room and escape his presence. However, Taemin only got as far as two steps away before Minho pulled him back closely in front of him.
“What were you doing in my room, Tae?” Minho asked, looking straight down into Taemin’s eyes.
“I was, was…” Taemin stuttered. “Umm, returning some stuff I borrowed from Jonghyun hyung.”
“Oh?” Minho obviously knew Taemin was lying. The maknae had never been a good liar.
“Yeah.” Taemin nodded, trying to wriggle out of Minho’s grip at the same time. “Hyung, you should really get going.”
“I would if I could just find my green jacket.” Minho refused to let Taemin go, even pulling Taemin closer to his body. “Kibum told me to ask you.”
“Why would he say that?” Taemin bit his bottom lip.
“I don’t know, you tell me.” Minho questioned back.
“Hyung...” Taemin pouted and whined, not caring that he was no different from a five year old kid. “Can’t you just grab another jacket?”
“No.” Minho simply replied.
“Why do you have to be so persistent?!” Taemin groaned.
“Thought you liked me for that?” Minho smirked. “Besides, wasn’t it my persistence that got us together?”
A blush crept onto Taemin’s cheeks. That’s right. If it wasn’t for Minho’s determination, Taemin would still be running away from his feelings for the rapper, refusing to even recognise that what he felt for Minho was more than just friendship or brotherly love.
Minho finally released his hold over Taemin’s arm and chose to snake an arm around the maknae’s waist instead, hugging Taemin close to his body.
“Are you going to tell me where my jacket is or do I have to force it out of you?” Minho gave Taemin two options.
Yet, Taemin knew the outcome was the same. He would ultimately still have to tell the truth and so, the dancer surrendered, letting out a defeated sigh. “Alright alright. It’s with me. I want it for myself.”
“You like it that much?” Minho asked. “Maybe we should have just bought another one…”
“No.” Taemin shook his head. “It’s different. I wouldn’t even want it anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because it doesn’t belong to you!” Taemin exclaimed, very much agitatedly. “I only want your jacket because considering you have this new role in the drama, you won’t be around too much and I want something that will keep me company when you’re not around.”
“Tae…”
“I know it’s stupid and all but I like being able to wear your jacket because it feels like I’m surrounded by your warmth, your scent, you. It’s as if you’re hugging me all the time… so when I’m at my own schedules, I won’t feel that alone.” Taemin confessed. “Do you get it, babo?”
Taemin breathed in and then out to calm himself down. “So can you just choose another one? Please?”
Minho’s smile was as wide as can be. “Sure baby, you could have just told me that from the very beginning. Then you wouldn’t have to go through the trouble to hide it and all…”
“This is so embarrassing…” Taemin hid his face into Minho’s chest and mumbled. “This is exactly why I wanted to just hide your jacket from you. I didn’t want to go through all that.”
Minho let out a low chuckle. “But I like hearing your true feelings… you should do it more often.”
Taemin punched Minho on his chest. “Just grab another jacket and get out of the house, will you.”
“Not going to miss me?” Minho teased.
Taemin glared. “You see? This is exactly why I-“
Minho shut Taemin up by pressing a bruising kiss against the maknae’s lips.
“I’ll miss you too.” Minho whispered against his boyfriend’s slightly parted lips.
Taemin sighed and hugged Minho tightly. “Have fun. And act well. Don’t bring SHINee’s name down.”
“I won’t.” Minho promised.
Before Taemin and Minho could enjoy the moment with each other, a familiar nagging voice entered their ears.
“He would if he doesn’t get his hands off you and leave the house right now!” Key shouted from where he was standing at the entrance of the kitchen. “You’re really late now, Choi Minho!”
“Shit!” Minho cursed and immediately released Taemin, but not before he gave a quick but solid kiss straight on the dancer’s lips. “Do well in your activities too, baby! I’ll see you when I get back. Bye!”
And with that, Minho rushed towards their walk-in wardrobe, pulling some old random jacket roughly off a hanger and then disappeared out of the dorm like a gust of wind.
Once the door closed, Key turned towards Taemin and gave him a teasing look that Taemin didn’t like one bit.
“Key hyung, just don’t say anything, please?” Taemin pleaded. “I’m humiliated enough.”
Key sniggered and then placed on the most innocent look he could muster. “I wasn’t going to!”
“Yeah right.” Taemin rolled his eyes. “You’ll just act out the whole scene by yourself to Onew hyung and Jonghyun hyung when they get back and everyone will start making fun of me.”
“And incur the wrath of Choi Minho?” Key said. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“Since when were you afraid of Minho hyung?” Taemin was honestly surprised.
“Who says I’m afraid of him?” Key retorted.
“But you just-“
“Enough Taemin.” Key interrupted. “Now go back to the room and hang the jacket up properly before it stays crumpled and gets all dusty seeing how you stuffed it under Minho’s bed.”
“How did you know I stuffed it under Minho hyung’s bed?!” Taemin widened his eyes in shock.
“Taeminnie, I practically watched you grow up.” Key rolled his eyes, flipping his fringe, as he turned around and walked back into the kitchen to attend to his chores.
Taemin laughed and headed back into the room, doing what Key instructed him to do and pulling the jacket from under the bed. He grinned with satisfaction at the jacket in his hands and decided that he wasn’t going to hang it up just yet. Instead, he put the jacket on and wrapped himself with it.
“Feels just like Minho hyung…” A natural smile graced Taemin’s lips.
He had indeed found the next best thing to substitute Minho. A green military jacket that was a size bigger for him but it couldn't fit him more perfectly than now.