The Flat Country, 4/?
The Flat Country 4/?; mixed pairings, 2187 words, nc-17
a/n: unbeta'd. comments much appreciated!
Summary: Onew and Key move to the city to start new friendships and a new life.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Onew counted down from five after Key walked out the door, and upon reaching zero, slammed the textbook in his lap shut. The noise was loud so early in the morning when everything else was quiet, and he wondered if Key could hear it from down the hall. He waited another few seconds, attempting to reign in the emotions turned wild, but without success. His back ached when he stood. He felt years older after yesterday, years that he wouldn’t be able to get back. He walked to the coat rack by the front door. Key’s jacket was still there, meaning he really had gone downstairs to Jonghyun’s place, otherwise he would have taken it. Onew put his own coat on, patted the pocket to make sure he had his cigarettes and lighter, checked that there were enough left in the pack, grabbed his keys from the glass bowl Key had placed on top of the shoe rack for convenience, and shut the front door softly behind him. He trudged over ugly, worn rust-orange carpet, deciding to go down the stairwell at the opposite end of the hall, just to make sure he didn’t run into Key waiting outside of Jonghyun’s door downstairs.
The park was a five minute walk down the street to the left of their apartment. It took up a whole block, large compared to others in the area. Early as it was, the birds were just starting to wake up, whistling back and forth in high-pitched little voices. The lightening sky diminished the power of the streetlamps, and then turned off before Onew made it to the open space he hoped, along with the cool air, would clear his mind. The green seemed more vivid under the bright gray above and dull colors of the surrounding buildings. He sat on a concrete bench covered in profane graffiti. He could feel the coolness of it through his pants and shivered. He lit a cigarette and took a long drag, blowing the smoke out above his head, watching it disappear into thin air. It immediately calmed him, and he surveyed the spread of green dotted with browned leafless trees and a jungle gym, once red and yellow, now faded and paint-peeled. One of the swings was blocked with yellow tape, the other swinging lopsidedly with a creak of chains. It blended well with the twitter of birds and bustling sounds from a nearby bakery.
Already through the first cigarette, Onew lit another. He coughed on the smoke, and he cynically thought how it was less painful than what Key put him through. He nervously tapped his foot against the pavement, thinking how he probably had never been so angry for a sustained period of time before, especially not over Key. Still, he couldn’t help the sinking feeling of regret which had settled in his throat, right next to the feeling that made him want to cry-or maybe that was the breeze blowing smoke back into his eyes. He hadn’t fought with Key too many times in his life. There hadn’t been reason to; they just got along so well. Every time they did fight, though, they didn’t stop talking or wait a few days for things to blow over. They had always talked things out or apologized as soon as possible because it’d been a petty misunderstanding.
It was different this time. This wasn’t petty, and Onew didn’t know if he was ready, or if he would be ready, to forgive Key for this. Liking Jonghyun…
But, Key hadn’t actually done anything wrong. It wasn’t strange for him to like someone. It’d happened before, back in their hometown, when they were in high school-a time which now seemed years and another lifetime ago. Onew guessed that back home, Key hadn’t done anything about it because he hadn’t been able to. Most people weren’t okay with a gay relationship, and if they were, they didn’t show it. Especially after the incident that had caused, in part, their friendship, Key hadn’t been able to be himself around anyone except Onew. So there’d never been a chance for him to date anyone. Now that they were out here, though, he was smart, young, attractive, and generally perfect, in a whole world which would see him that way. Of course it wouldn’t take long for him to find someone. And Jonghyun wasn’t bad, not at all. Onew supposed that if he had to choose someone for Key besides himself, Jonghyun wouldn’t be a bad choice at all. Key didn’t do anything wrong.
The anger seeped out of Onew as though a hole had been poked through him, just leaving a vestige of hurt around the edges. He finished up his third cigarette, aware that he’d only have about an hour and a half of sleep before he had to wake up and face the rest of the day, one that had already started. It seemed surreal, that life didn’t stop for personal tragedies. Onew chuckled to himself. Seemed as though Key’s dramatics had affected him. He stopped at the bakery, picking up a few butter croissants and pear honey for an apology breakfast before going home.
Onew took the regular staircase, and automatically looked for Key near Jonghyun’s apartment when he passed it. With a sigh of tired frustration, he went up the last flight of stairs. Inside, he checked for Key’s shoes, but they weren’t there and his door was open; the lights were off. Onew set the bakery box on the table, ready for Key whenever he gets back. Suddenly exhausted, Onew took off his clothes and got into bed naked. Compared to the chill outside, the sheets were smooth and cozy against his skin. He spread his legs and arms out, moving in a modified snow angel. It wasn’t cold enough to snow yet, but he was looking forward to it. After class he’d talk to Key.
====
Key rapped on Jonghyun’s door gently with his knuckles, white with the cold. The sound was amplified in the hall and stairwell when everything else was silent; he hoped it was enough to let Jonghyun know he was there. The dim gray-purple light gave everything an eerie glow, and emotionally drained as he was, he felt as though he were in a dream world, completely separate from reality. Sure enough, Jonghyun answered in a moment and ushered him quickly inside.
“Can I come in?” whispered Key, even though the door was already shut behind him.
“Of course,” answered Jonghyun. He was whispering too. “Minho isn’t here, he’s visiting his parents for the week. Come on, get under the blanket.” Key didn’t think twice. He slipped under the blanket on the couch on his usual side; he’d become accustomed to it when they’d play video games or study together. He rubbed his hands together and blew warm air on them. They were so cold it almost felt like he was touching someone else’s hand.
“Right now is okay?”
“I said anytime,” smiled Jonghyun, and as if sensing Key’s precarious insecurity and his unusual timidity, pulled him into a tight hug and held him there, rubbing his back, letting silence fill the spaces around them. “What happened?” he asked tentatively, wrapping his arms around Key’s waist.
“Nothing, I feel better.” They sat close to each other like that, Jonghyun’s temple resting against Key’s cheek. Jonghyun can feel the evenness of the in and out of Key’s ribcage, at a pace which makes him think Key is nervous.
“Jonghyun?”
“Yeah?”
And suddenly, Jonghyun’s breathing sped up to match Key’s tenseness; they were so close, and Key was looking into his eyes, and he could feel the warmth of their breath between them. Key’s gaze fluttered down with his long eyelashes, eyebrows drawn slightly, and in synchronization they leaned toward each other and kissed. It was their first; Jonghyun had felt before it was a long time in coming, but the delicacy of the moment and the urgency bleeding into his lips from Key’s erased every preconceived notion he had about what it would be and sucked him into that moment so completely he couldn’t begin to think what was coming next. But his body moved on its own, and as though he were seeing what was going on from outside himself but feeling it from inside, he felt his fingers tangle in the soft hair at the nape of Key’s neck, and felt the ghost tracing of Key’s fingertip against his neck.
The kiss deepened; Key’s mouth was hot, and Jonghyun moaned into it when he felt Key’s hands slide down the soft cotton covering his chest and over his stomach, and then up again under his shirt. Fingers brushed over his nipples, so sensitive he shivered.
Jonghyun pulled away, only to grasp Key’s bony wrist and lead him to the bedroom. They undressed each other slowly, letting eyes wander, tasting neck and shoulder. Jonghyun had to hold back-he could smell Key’s scent, sweet, but the boy would swear it wasn’t perfume; he felt his willpower cracking, but this was Key, and he wasn’t about to ruin him by going too quickly. The unveiling of Key’s arms and hips and thighs was dulcet torture. Every part of him was fair and smooth, and Jonghyun couldn’t help but run his fingertips from Key’s collarbones to the jut of his hips. He moved supplely and with grace despite the rigidity of his back when he sat down on the bed. It might have been nervousness. His eyes traveled abashedly, a light blush on his cheeks and nose, from Jonghyun’s face to his lower body and up again, meeting his eyes with knowledge and acceptance of what was going to come.
Jonghyun lay down on the bed, sinking into the mattress, pulling Key on top of him. He stroked Key’s sleek hair, kissed him, pulled their hips together and relished in the automatic rock of Key’s hips into his. He kneaded the skin of Key’s ass, drawing him closer, if it was possible. Key pushed his lips to Jonghyun’s again, hesitancy gone with their closeness and nakedness.
“We’ll always be friends, right?” he asked, putting his cheek against Jonghyun’s, still, waiting for an answer.
“Of course we will.” Key nuzzled into the crook of Jonghyun’s neck, feeling his hands play along his back, petting, tapping. His skin had cooled, a prickle of goose bumps streaked up his thighs, but he still felt warm compared to the air around them. Key nipped at Jonghyun’s neck, biting remorselessly, and tickling Jonghyun, who bucked under him giggling. Jonghyun growled and flipped them over-Key’s legs flew up in the air, Jonghyun devoured his mouth, and soon the giggling turned again to breathy moans. He took Key’s dick in hand and stroked smoothly. Key collapsed against him, body writhing, jerking when Jonghyun smoothed his thumb over the slit. Key had Jonghyun’s biceps in each hand and was squeezing, leaving nail marks, nearly breaking the skin. He threw his head back, moaning Jonghyun’s name. He could see Key’s stomach ripple has he came hot between them.
Jonghyun took Key’s hand and led it to his cock. In a daze, Key dragged his hand up and down sloppily, and Jonghyun came quickly on his hand. They flopped down on the bed together and waited a few moments in silence. Key stretched and sat up, poking Jonghyun in the chest and smearing semi-dried cum up to his nipple.
“Want to take a shower?”
“You can lick it off. I don’t wanna get up.”
“Okay, but I’m going to take one by myself.” Key stood up and slinked over to the bedroom door, wagging his butt sexily in the doorway.
Jonghyun found shapes and faces in the popcorn textured ceiling, and then imagined constellations. He bid the shapes and curves of Key’s body to come to mind instead, trying to capture those images in his memory in case he wanted them later-he wasn’t sure if he’d have the chance to see them ever again.
====
Minho looked at the familiar posters and sought out new ones while he was waiting for his coffee at his favorite shop. No, he wasn’t at home anymore; he’d stayed for a few days, but he hadn’t told Jonghyun that-he was staying with a friend for another few days before going back to the apartment. Just planning to stay with his parents had brought up the idea of moving out, and then actually leaving, if only for a week, had been good for him.
On the bulletin board was a new roommate wanted post. Male student preferred, non-smoking, furniture included. The price wasn’t too bad, $20 more a month than he was currently paying. He tore off a slip of paper with the phone-number on it. His name was called by the barista, coffee ready. He sat down with it and dialed the number.
The boy on the other end of the line seemed nice enough. He was friendly and didn’t sound like a creep. Even better, he was open to meet right away.
Part 5
a/n: unbeta'd. comments much appreciated!
Summary: Onew and Key move to the city to start new friendships and a new life.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Onew counted down from five after Key walked out the door, and upon reaching zero, slammed the textbook in his lap shut. The noise was loud so early in the morning when everything else was quiet, and he wondered if Key could hear it from down the hall. He waited another few seconds, attempting to reign in the emotions turned wild, but without success. His back ached when he stood. He felt years older after yesterday, years that he wouldn’t be able to get back. He walked to the coat rack by the front door. Key’s jacket was still there, meaning he really had gone downstairs to Jonghyun’s place, otherwise he would have taken it. Onew put his own coat on, patted the pocket to make sure he had his cigarettes and lighter, checked that there were enough left in the pack, grabbed his keys from the glass bowl Key had placed on top of the shoe rack for convenience, and shut the front door softly behind him. He trudged over ugly, worn rust-orange carpet, deciding to go down the stairwell at the opposite end of the hall, just to make sure he didn’t run into Key waiting outside of Jonghyun’s door downstairs.
The park was a five minute walk down the street to the left of their apartment. It took up a whole block, large compared to others in the area. Early as it was, the birds were just starting to wake up, whistling back and forth in high-pitched little voices. The lightening sky diminished the power of the streetlamps, and then turned off before Onew made it to the open space he hoped, along with the cool air, would clear his mind. The green seemed more vivid under the bright gray above and dull colors of the surrounding buildings. He sat on a concrete bench covered in profane graffiti. He could feel the coolness of it through his pants and shivered. He lit a cigarette and took a long drag, blowing the smoke out above his head, watching it disappear into thin air. It immediately calmed him, and he surveyed the spread of green dotted with browned leafless trees and a jungle gym, once red and yellow, now faded and paint-peeled. One of the swings was blocked with yellow tape, the other swinging lopsidedly with a creak of chains. It blended well with the twitter of birds and bustling sounds from a nearby bakery.
Already through the first cigarette, Onew lit another. He coughed on the smoke, and he cynically thought how it was less painful than what Key put him through. He nervously tapped his foot against the pavement, thinking how he probably had never been so angry for a sustained period of time before, especially not over Key. Still, he couldn’t help the sinking feeling of regret which had settled in his throat, right next to the feeling that made him want to cry-or maybe that was the breeze blowing smoke back into his eyes. He hadn’t fought with Key too many times in his life. There hadn’t been reason to; they just got along so well. Every time they did fight, though, they didn’t stop talking or wait a few days for things to blow over. They had always talked things out or apologized as soon as possible because it’d been a petty misunderstanding.
It was different this time. This wasn’t petty, and Onew didn’t know if he was ready, or if he would be ready, to forgive Key for this. Liking Jonghyun…
But, Key hadn’t actually done anything wrong. It wasn’t strange for him to like someone. It’d happened before, back in their hometown, when they were in high school-a time which now seemed years and another lifetime ago. Onew guessed that back home, Key hadn’t done anything about it because he hadn’t been able to. Most people weren’t okay with a gay relationship, and if they were, they didn’t show it. Especially after the incident that had caused, in part, their friendship, Key hadn’t been able to be himself around anyone except Onew. So there’d never been a chance for him to date anyone. Now that they were out here, though, he was smart, young, attractive, and generally perfect, in a whole world which would see him that way. Of course it wouldn’t take long for him to find someone. And Jonghyun wasn’t bad, not at all. Onew supposed that if he had to choose someone for Key besides himself, Jonghyun wouldn’t be a bad choice at all. Key didn’t do anything wrong.
The anger seeped out of Onew as though a hole had been poked through him, just leaving a vestige of hurt around the edges. He finished up his third cigarette, aware that he’d only have about an hour and a half of sleep before he had to wake up and face the rest of the day, one that had already started. It seemed surreal, that life didn’t stop for personal tragedies. Onew chuckled to himself. Seemed as though Key’s dramatics had affected him. He stopped at the bakery, picking up a few butter croissants and pear honey for an apology breakfast before going home.
Onew took the regular staircase, and automatically looked for Key near Jonghyun’s apartment when he passed it. With a sigh of tired frustration, he went up the last flight of stairs. Inside, he checked for Key’s shoes, but they weren’t there and his door was open; the lights were off. Onew set the bakery box on the table, ready for Key whenever he gets back. Suddenly exhausted, Onew took off his clothes and got into bed naked. Compared to the chill outside, the sheets were smooth and cozy against his skin. He spread his legs and arms out, moving in a modified snow angel. It wasn’t cold enough to snow yet, but he was looking forward to it. After class he’d talk to Key.
====
Key rapped on Jonghyun’s door gently with his knuckles, white with the cold. The sound was amplified in the hall and stairwell when everything else was silent; he hoped it was enough to let Jonghyun know he was there. The dim gray-purple light gave everything an eerie glow, and emotionally drained as he was, he felt as though he were in a dream world, completely separate from reality. Sure enough, Jonghyun answered in a moment and ushered him quickly inside.
“Can I come in?” whispered Key, even though the door was already shut behind him.
“Of course,” answered Jonghyun. He was whispering too. “Minho isn’t here, he’s visiting his parents for the week. Come on, get under the blanket.” Key didn’t think twice. He slipped under the blanket on the couch on his usual side; he’d become accustomed to it when they’d play video games or study together. He rubbed his hands together and blew warm air on them. They were so cold it almost felt like he was touching someone else’s hand.
“Right now is okay?”
“I said anytime,” smiled Jonghyun, and as if sensing Key’s precarious insecurity and his unusual timidity, pulled him into a tight hug and held him there, rubbing his back, letting silence fill the spaces around them. “What happened?” he asked tentatively, wrapping his arms around Key’s waist.
“Nothing, I feel better.” They sat close to each other like that, Jonghyun’s temple resting against Key’s cheek. Jonghyun can feel the evenness of the in and out of Key’s ribcage, at a pace which makes him think Key is nervous.
“Jonghyun?”
“Yeah?”
And suddenly, Jonghyun’s breathing sped up to match Key’s tenseness; they were so close, and Key was looking into his eyes, and he could feel the warmth of their breath between them. Key’s gaze fluttered down with his long eyelashes, eyebrows drawn slightly, and in synchronization they leaned toward each other and kissed. It was their first; Jonghyun had felt before it was a long time in coming, but the delicacy of the moment and the urgency bleeding into his lips from Key’s erased every preconceived notion he had about what it would be and sucked him into that moment so completely he couldn’t begin to think what was coming next. But his body moved on its own, and as though he were seeing what was going on from outside himself but feeling it from inside, he felt his fingers tangle in the soft hair at the nape of Key’s neck, and felt the ghost tracing of Key’s fingertip against his neck.
The kiss deepened; Key’s mouth was hot, and Jonghyun moaned into it when he felt Key’s hands slide down the soft cotton covering his chest and over his stomach, and then up again under his shirt. Fingers brushed over his nipples, so sensitive he shivered.
Jonghyun pulled away, only to grasp Key’s bony wrist and lead him to the bedroom. They undressed each other slowly, letting eyes wander, tasting neck and shoulder. Jonghyun had to hold back-he could smell Key’s scent, sweet, but the boy would swear it wasn’t perfume; he felt his willpower cracking, but this was Key, and he wasn’t about to ruin him by going too quickly. The unveiling of Key’s arms and hips and thighs was dulcet torture. Every part of him was fair and smooth, and Jonghyun couldn’t help but run his fingertips from Key’s collarbones to the jut of his hips. He moved supplely and with grace despite the rigidity of his back when he sat down on the bed. It might have been nervousness. His eyes traveled abashedly, a light blush on his cheeks and nose, from Jonghyun’s face to his lower body and up again, meeting his eyes with knowledge and acceptance of what was going to come.
Jonghyun lay down on the bed, sinking into the mattress, pulling Key on top of him. He stroked Key’s sleek hair, kissed him, pulled their hips together and relished in the automatic rock of Key’s hips into his. He kneaded the skin of Key’s ass, drawing him closer, if it was possible. Key pushed his lips to Jonghyun’s again, hesitancy gone with their closeness and nakedness.
“We’ll always be friends, right?” he asked, putting his cheek against Jonghyun’s, still, waiting for an answer.
“Of course we will.” Key nuzzled into the crook of Jonghyun’s neck, feeling his hands play along his back, petting, tapping. His skin had cooled, a prickle of goose bumps streaked up his thighs, but he still felt warm compared to the air around them. Key nipped at Jonghyun’s neck, biting remorselessly, and tickling Jonghyun, who bucked under him giggling. Jonghyun growled and flipped them over-Key’s legs flew up in the air, Jonghyun devoured his mouth, and soon the giggling turned again to breathy moans. He took Key’s dick in hand and stroked smoothly. Key collapsed against him, body writhing, jerking when Jonghyun smoothed his thumb over the slit. Key had Jonghyun’s biceps in each hand and was squeezing, leaving nail marks, nearly breaking the skin. He threw his head back, moaning Jonghyun’s name. He could see Key’s stomach ripple has he came hot between them.
Jonghyun took Key’s hand and led it to his cock. In a daze, Key dragged his hand up and down sloppily, and Jonghyun came quickly on his hand. They flopped down on the bed together and waited a few moments in silence. Key stretched and sat up, poking Jonghyun in the chest and smearing semi-dried cum up to his nipple.
“Want to take a shower?”
“You can lick it off. I don’t wanna get up.”
“Okay, but I’m going to take one by myself.” Key stood up and slinked over to the bedroom door, wagging his butt sexily in the doorway.
Jonghyun found shapes and faces in the popcorn textured ceiling, and then imagined constellations. He bid the shapes and curves of Key’s body to come to mind instead, trying to capture those images in his memory in case he wanted them later-he wasn’t sure if he’d have the chance to see them ever again.
====
Minho looked at the familiar posters and sought out new ones while he was waiting for his coffee at his favorite shop. No, he wasn’t at home anymore; he’d stayed for a few days, but he hadn’t told Jonghyun that-he was staying with a friend for another few days before going back to the apartment. Just planning to stay with his parents had brought up the idea of moving out, and then actually leaving, if only for a week, had been good for him.
On the bulletin board was a new roommate wanted post. Male student preferred, non-smoking, furniture included. The price wasn’t too bad, $20 more a month than he was currently paying. He tore off a slip of paper with the phone-number on it. His name was called by the barista, coffee ready. He sat down with it and dialed the number.
The boy on the other end of the line seemed nice enough. He was friendly and didn’t sound like a creep. Even better, he was open to meet right away.
Part 5