The Show Must Go On 1/2
Chanyeol/Kai, ~3600
Chanyeol's trying to say something. Jongin doesn't know what. ( prompt)
He really has no idea how it started. Or what prompted it. It just kind of happened.
They’re picking the most handsome member and Chanyeol looks right at him. “Kai.”
Sehun spits out his drink. Jongin laughs. When it gets to his turn, he points to Tao immediately, grinning at Chanyeol’s reaction. He wonders if someone dared the elder to act like this today. Probably Baekhyun. But it doesn’t really matter. He writes it off as an isolated incident.
-
Joonmyun doesn’t seem to be in on it either, because halfway through their self-proclaimed doggy date a few days later, the leader hardens his gaze when the cameramen stop to take care of a technical problem. “Jongin. Be honest. Is there something going on between you and Chanyeol?”
The younger laughs. “No way.”
Joonmyun doesn’t seem convinced. “Jongin.”
“Honest,” the younger promises, “now. Show me more pictures of Byul.”
Joonmyun’s face lights up and he quickly drops the conversation.
-
Apparently, it isn’t a one time thing.
“Who would you buy a present for?” Sehun’s stalling, they need to leave and buy a birthday gift as soon as possible.
The tall man pauses and looks up thoughtfully, “Kai.”
Did he hear that right? “What?” He laughs. It’s a joke. Has to be. But then Chanyeol goes on about being his fan, confessing some brewing feelings from room-sharing and having purposefully followed him out here. Jongin laughs it off.
Sehun’s not as entertained. “Oh, then should I leave?”
Chanyeol points to the door, then retracts his hand. “Wait no, if you go it’ll be awkward, since I’m with the one I like.”
Jongin can practically feel Sehun cringing, and looks away. What is going on?
“Well, Kai,” the eldest starts, face somber, “what do you want?”
“A house.”
“Of course you want a house.” Chanyeol sounds almost like he’s contemplating buying a house for him and Jongin doesn’t know what is going on. At all.
“How about we all say what we want,” Sehun suggests, throwing himself back into the conversation, sounding slightly miffed, “Chanyeol, you first.”
“A scarf. And fluffy hats,” he glances over his shoulder at the beanies he and Sehun had been trying on earlier and makes his way over to them.
Sehun immediately taps Jongin on the shoulder and they make their way to the door. Jongin checks to make sure Chanyeol hasn’t noticed and then starts off at a run. What just happened? Sure, he and Chanyeol share the occasional fan service but there’s the others. Kris. Baekhyun, his ever present other half. Jongin was sure he hadn’t even popped up on his radar. “Sehun, what-” but Sehun’s not there. He glances around and swears when he doesn’t see his bandmate. He flips out his phone with a frown ingrained on his face.
Later, when the camera’s are just far away enough so they can’t hear, Sehun leans against the wall of the convenience store whilst Jongin shuffles through band aids.
“So, what was that?”
Jongin freezes. “No idea. I really,” he clears his throat, deciding between plain and Pororo, “no idea.”
Sehun hums and smirks. “Hyung’s got a crush on you.”
“Shut up!”
It’s all forgotten in the bargain buying and the present guessing, Jongin leaning on Sehun to catch a breath and then feeling slightly sorry when Chanyeol gets the buyer wrong. Then they bring out the cake and there’s singing and enthusiastically shouted congratulations which Chanyeol brings to a halt by taking a small present out of his pocket.
“Michael Jackson?” Jongdae laughs, “it’s for Kai.”
Yixing pokes his head through the crowd. “For Kai?”
“I have good sense, right?” Chanyeol says, sounding satisfied and answering absolutely none of the questions.
Jongin blinks, feeling slightly nauseous. “Me?”
“Of course it’s you.” Jongdae rolls his eyes.
Chanyeol whips out a card and begins reading a heartfelt letter that has Jongin laughing hysterically, no idea what’s going on. Kyungsoo slings a scarf around his neck and Jongdae hands him a mug. When the elder finishes, he looks to Jongin for a reaction.
“It’s not even my birthday,” he manages through a chuckle. And then everyone, who had remained silent during the note, starts chanting kiss, kiss and Chanyeol steps closer for a hug that Jongin stumbles into, giving a few pats before stepping back.
The filming ends and they all pile into their vans. Jongin, who’s almost completely out of it, gets on last and sits alone beside a window, peeking over his shoulder at Baekhyun, Chanyeol and Kyungsoo crowded into the rear. Sehun notices and quirks an eyebrow. Jongin rolls his eyes and turns back around, figuring he and Chanyeol will talk about… whatever is going on when they get back to the dorm.
Except when they get back Jongin’s exhausted and it doesn’t take much for Joonmyun to herd him into their room and send him to bed with a meaningful stare. Tomorrow, he promises himself as he strips down and throws the blankets over his head.
-
Tomorrow never really happens because they’re always given gruelling schedules. One of which includes the Oven Radio filming. All the rappers have to host for The Star.
Five minutes turns into an eternity, especially when Sehun starts rapping. Jongin groans inwardly. Tao groans outwardly. Chanyeol nods along.
During the event, Chanyeol has a hand on his back every other second. It’s warm and grounding and completely disorienting. “Chanyeol’s turn,” he announces, and then his bandmate turns to him and begins rapping about him. Jongin laughs along but feels warmth spreading through his body. But wait, he can’t let this get out of hand. “Now Tao.”
And of course Tao has written down a little piece of art that he reads with all his being. Very Tao.
Kris wraps it up, Chanyeol beat-boxing for him and Sehun nodding his head along. Tao looks at the eldest like he’s an otherworldly being.
“Chanyeol,” Jongin announces the winner, permitting himself to be swept away by the giant grin just this once. He even believes it this time when Chanyeol calls himself his fan.
But then the cameras turn off and Chanyeol turns to Kris. Jongin takes a deep breath and feels the warmth receding. Just what is going on?
“Jongin.” Tao bites his lip, paper clutched between his hands and voice unsure, “was there something wrong with my rap?”
“No,” Jongin sighs. Delicate. He has to be delicate. “It was fantastic, Tao, really.” The other preens under his praise. “It’s just…”
“It’s Chanyeol,” Tao chirps, much happier than a few seconds ago. “I understand.”
Good, Jongin thinks, looking at the man leaning up against Kris’ side, because I don’t.
-
They honestly have little to no time for socializing with the current schedule until showtime filming pops up. This time it’s presents, arm wrestling, and a movie. Jongin’s squished between Kyungsoo-whom Luhan almost instantly physically bonds himself to-and Tao. Chanyeol sits on the end of the other couch, next to Kris, and Jongin tells himself not to be upset. It means nothing. He lets himself be swept into the craziness that results from all of them being crowded into one room together.
When he gets Kris, a cheer starts up and he wonders if everyone’s in on the Chanyeol thing, and they’re just messing with him. But no, Sehun would’ve told him by now if that were the case. He’s horrible with a secret. Tao nudges him to open the present and his spirits immediately pick up when neatly laid out pork strips are beneath the cardboard lid. Of course. Trust Kris to buy the most expensive present under 10,000 won.
The rest is a blur. He takes his loss to Joonmyun in stride; the man is strong, just not intimidating. Then he stays still while everyone moves around before the movie, slipping off his shoes while no one’s looking.
All the while, Chanyeol doesn’t so much as glance his way.
-
“I don’t get it,” he whispers to Sehun one day, when everyone else is dispersed throughout the dorm, making and cleaning messes.
“I don’t think anyone does,” Sehun replies, head pillowed on his arms, running his fingers through his hair and making a face when the strands feel like straw beneath his palm. “Except maybe Chanyeol. You should talk to him.”
“Yeah,” Jongin agrees half-heartedly, staring at the brunet in the living room. “I should.”
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