The Truth About Leader Jaebum Prequel
Title: The Truth About Leader Jaebum Prequel or How Jaebum and Evil Genius Nichkhun Became Best Friends
Character/Pairing: barely there TaecJay, Khun, Junho and 2AM
Genre: humor, crack, angst in the beginning and a little romance
Rating: PG-13 for this chapter for swearing (NC-17 overall for series)
Word Count: 2, 841
Disclaimer: Blarg! Don't remind me of what I don't have
Older parts: ( 1) ,( 2), ( 3), ( 4a), (4b), ( 5A), ( 5A Extra), ( 5B), ( 2pm/2am Christmas Spin-off), ( 6), ( 7), ( 8), ( 9)
A/N: It begins with an angst filled Jaebum since it is set in the early trainee days and his cootiephobia is bringing him down. Also, sorry for the bad writing, my 2PM muse is being a wet sandwich.
Jaebum had always known that he was a bit of a neat freak and germaphobe; his bedroom back in Seattle was always impeccably clean and he showered a lot, but it wasn’t until moving to Korea and sharing a dorm with a pack of other boys that Jaebum realized just how serious his problem really was. All the sweating, drooling, farting, general body odor and the inability to clean up after themselves, added to all the “brotherly” touching that was going on left Jay terrified. He didn’t know if he should laugh or cry after finding himself stuck in the midst of a human sty; he could literally feel the cooties crawling all over him.
Jay hated that his fear of cooties had grown into an almost crippling condition. He also hated that the cooties had kept him from properly befriending his fellow trainees. It was bad enough that he had to struggle with learning Korean and having a hard time communicating with the others. His homesickness wouldn’t seem to lessen and after months, Jay still felt like he was on the outside looking in on the other trainees. What made it all worse was that the others were trying so hard to befriend him and he kept shutting them down; afraid of coming in contact with their cooties. There was one giant boy in particular that he hated to say no to, especially since the other had been acting as his translator and trying to stick by his sides all times of the day. Ok Taecyeon was gigantic, had too many teeth and was a complete clumsy nerd - and he was also the only person to ever make Park Jaebum’s (or Jay Park’s for that matter) heart race and send the butterflies in his stomach fluttering in circles. It was a strange power that this giant held over him and it made him wish every night when he cried himself to sleep that he would wake up in the morning and not care about the evil giant cooties that covered Taecyeon’s body. Jay was sure that, no matter how many cooties had latched onto Ok Taecyeon, the younger boy’s soul was still pure and good.
Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul knows everything. He is a genius - so why is the Korean language proving so difficult for him? It may have something to do with the fact that the only English speaking trainee fluent in Korean was overly preoccupied with helping out Park Jaebum. Or, it could be that his fellow trainees were too distracting, especially one Kim Junsu - with his full, rich voice and his pretty, pretty - CONTROL KHUN!!! Stay under control. You can’t let anyone anything get in your way now.
Nichkhun knew that if he wanted to take over the world (beginning with the k-pop scene) he would actually have to learn Korean. To do this, he would need his translator to actually pay attention and explain things to him. And for this to happen, Ok Taecyeon needed to spend less time trying to bring Park Jaebum out of his shell and more time bending to Nichkhun’s will. If Taecyeon wanted Jaebum to socialize more, then Khun was just going to have to make it happen. Now, who could he get to do his dirty work? Nichkhun surveyed the commoners around him and noticed one boy in particular who buzzed around the room taking pictures with everyone. If anyone could get Park Jaebum out of his shell it would be this man. Khun grinned at his own genius before approaching the man. Oh wait, my electronic dictionary…..
Jo Kwon was born a diva. No one will ever dispute that. But Kwon was also a very sweet, kind and sensitive boy, so when that Thai kid came up to him during their lunch break and explained to him in broken Korean that the short kid from America wasn’t rude but incredibly shy, Kwon felt sorry for his fellow trainee. The poor thing was struggling and he decided to take it upon himself to help the man out. Sure Kwon didn’t know any much English, but he figured that friendship had no language - almost. Surveying the other boy, Kwon had noticed right away how clean and neat Park Jaebum was and how well kept his appearance always was, so Kwon thought that maybe the other enjoyed picture taking as much as himself.
“Jaebum-sii!” Kwon called out as his raced through the dorms; excited about his plan.
“Jaebum- sii!” he exclaimed again as he sidled up to the older boy who had been quietly and innocently eating his lunch. “How are you today?”
Jaebum listened carefully and filtered the Korean words through his English speaking brain. “I am well. Thank you Kwon-sii.” The words were spoken carefully.
“Oh Jaebum-hyung, let’s not be so formal, ne?” Jay only nodded in agreement.
“Do you like doing selcas?”
“Selca?”
“Pictures” Kwon explained in accented English and held up his phone, miming taking a photograph.
“Oh. Yes?” Suddenly Kwon’s face was up close to his and he was signing in victory.
‘Click’
Jaebum was stunned and stayed unmoving as Kwon surveyed the picture. Jay looked like a deer in headlights while Kwon himself looked perfect. Waving the phone’s screen angrily in Jaebum’s face Kwon began to complain.
“Hyung!” He whined. “Do it properly!” Kwon pouted, better than any girl Jaebum had ever known.
Jaebum blinked and held up two fingers - of course he half wished he was holding up only one. Kwon was nice, but definitely a closer talker and an even closer photo taker. Couldn’t it have at least been Taecyeon usurping his personal space? Also, Jay bet his cooties were just as much of divas as he was; and that was something he was certain he could not handle. After several more staged photos Jay was able to scurry away from the overzealous man. He spent the next three days hiding from photo enthusiast Jo Kwon and Taecyeon spent three days looking for Jaebum instead of helping Nichkhun with his Korean.
Nichkhun did not like this lack of progress. Jaebum had seemed to pull more into his shell and it distracted Taecyeon even more. Nichkhun was pretty sure he was forgetting al his little Korean knowledge. He would have to find someone else to help Jaebum. Kwon was too ‘in your face’, he needed someone less threatening. Nichkhun took stock of the other trainees. He needs to find someone that wouldn’t scare Jay way, someone as harmless as a bunny…
Junho and Jinwoon were two of the younger trainees. Junho was a talented dancer who kind of looked like Rain and Jinwoon was a great musician who longed to dance like Rain. They were sweet and had adorable eye smiles. Who could resist their aegyo fluffiness? After Nichkhun suggested that they asked the not in the least bit scary Jaebum hyung - the legendary b-boy form America - for dance tips during a break from practice the two boys rushed over to the older boy who was minding his own business in the corner.
“Hyung!” “Jaebum-hyung!” They chimed. “Let’s not be formal!”
Jaebum had a feeling it was going to be one of those weeks.
“Yes Junho-ah, Jinwoon-ah?”
“Hyung can you help us with our dancing?” “Please hyung? We want to be as good as you!” They flashed their best eye smiles. Jay grumbled at their cuteness and agreed to help.
Jay gave the pair some tips and a few words of encouragement. It was what a hyung was supposed to do and it made him feel good. The boys were sweet - too sweet, being three and four years younger than him they looked up to him and idolized him, but Jay knew he was a long ways away from being an idol. The more they praised him the worse he felt. Finally the break was over and they returned to following the choreographer’s steps. Later that day the two kept follow Jay round like lost puppies even after he assured them he was not an expert on aerobatics and break dancing.
“When I’m older I want to be just like you Jaebummie-hyung!” Junho gushed. Jinwoon nodded furiously in agreement. Jay face palmed, not even bothering to hide it. The last thing he need was a fan club hanging off of him with their cooties, no matter how cute they were.
In the end, he had to revert back to his hiding ways. Taecyeon spent the afternoon talking to Jaebum’s locked bedroom door and Nichkhun marked another day off on the calendar; another day to add to the others during which he didn’t learn any new Korean words.
Reviewing the failed schemes, Nichkhun thought that maybe he needed to find someone who shared the same interests as Jay. But what did Jay like? He was very much in shape, which meant he liked working out. Seulong worked out all the time and was much less - excitable than Kwon and less mushy than Junho and Jinwoon. Handy electronic dictionary powered up, Khun made his way over to Seulong’s bedroom. Real men bonded while breaking a sweat and pumping iron; that’s what he would use to convince Seulong to befriend Jaebum.
It was early morning before their trainee schedule and some of the guys had headed to the gym for a pre-practice work out. The boys mostly kept to their selves as the sun had yet to rise and they were all grumpy. Jaebum was doing his regular warm-up and stretching before starting his routine when he felt a strange presence. He stealthily looked up at the mirrored wall to see Im Seulong right beside him, copying his every move. He was pretty sure that this is what being a creeper looked like.
“Seulong-sii,” he began slowly. “Is there something that I can help you with?” Fear sure did help with his Korean.
Seulong grinned like one of those clown’s from his childhood nightmares. “Oh hyung. No need to be so formal.” The smile widened and Jay wasn’t sure what would happen first; Seulong’s face splitting in half or him going blind from the pearly whites.
“Alright.” Jay nodded, a small smile on his lips. It was hard not to smile with Seulong looking so bright and happy. He looked at Seulong expectantly.
“ Oh, hyung, can we work out together?” Jay figured that a simple ‘no’ wouldn’t really work on the other and his Korean wasn’t good enough to go into details, so he just nodded.
As Jaebum went around doing his own work out Seulong followed him. Jay thought Seulong’s mimicking act was kind of sweet, he almost felt like a real hyung again. The morning went by easily until he approached the bench press and felt hands on his bare shoulders. Sweat was mixing with sweat and Jay was about to have a cootie induced panic attack. He looked behind him to see a still smiling Seulong.
“Can I spot you hyung?” The request seemed harmless, helpful even.
“If you don’t mind.” Seulong nodded vigorously.
Jay lay down on the machine and wrapped his hands firmly around the bar of the weight above his head. Just as he was about to lift the bar up he felt hands run down his arms.
“Wow hyung! How’d you get so toned?” Jaebum’s eyes bulged out of his head and yelped in surprise. As he let go of the barbell and bolted up. Running out of the gym he cried “I need an adult and some disinfectant!” in English while passing by a very confused Taecyeon and a rather annoyed Nichkhun.
“What happened Seulong-ah?” Taecyeon asked the fellow giant, who seemed stunned.
The boy shrugged. “I was just trying to bond with him like a real man.”
Jaebum never wore a tank top to the gym again. He either wore long-sleeved tees or hoodies. And to make sure no one tried to “work out” with him again he brought his music player. Taecyeon frowned throughout their next two morning work outs.
Nichkhun could not take any more fuck-ups! He was going to make Jaebum normal so Taecyeon would stop mopping about Jaebum not getting along with anyone and would start teaching him some god damn Korean so that he could finally put his plan for world domination into action.
Nichkhun found a rather jumpy Jaebum in the dorms one rainy morning. The others were still asleep; too lazy to head to the gym in the storm. The older boy was pacing in the kitchen, head down, muttering to himself.
“Hyung?” Khun stepped into the kitchen. Jesus, maybe I broke him…
“Just call me Jay, please. I don’t think I can process Korean this early and it will be easier for you too anyways.” His voice wavered, just slightly.
“Jay, are you okay?” Khun almost felt bad, almost.
Jay looked up, tears in his eyes. “I don’t have any control here.”
The statement was simple but it was something Khun could identify with. Control. It was what Nichkhun had always wanted and always had, until now. Maybe Jay Park from Seattle felt the same way. Nichkhun did the only thing he could do.
“Do all b-boys cry.” He teased him.
“Do all Thai boys have such small faces?” Jay tried to hide his sniffle.
“Of course we do.” Khun smiled and broke the tension.
“Are you all evil geniuses too?” Jaebum regain his composure, hardening his features.
Well that had him stunned. “What?” Insert awkward laugh - real smooth Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul.
“I can see the wheels turning in your head when you’re plotting.” Jaebum narrowed his eyes. “This whole thing has been one of your conspiracies, right? Kwon suddenly making me cam whore with him, the unnecessary praise from Junho and Jinwoon and Seulong all over my muscles was all your doing, wasn’t it!” Instead of being angry, Jay sounded impressed.
“Jay, I don’t think you’re thinking clearly right now.” Nichkhun backed out of the kitchen but Jaebum advanced on him.
“Just admit it Khun. This week of torment has been all your doing!”
Jaebum may seem small, but the man was packing guns. “Alright, alright. I did it. I planned it all!” Nichkhun flinched as Jay took another step towards him. “Please don’t hit my face!”
“Dude. Calm down. I won’t hit you, yet. Just tell me your reason for torturing me.” He took a step back in emphasis.
“Well…” Nichkhun tried to make as much space between himself and Jay as he could. “Taecyeon has been trying to get you to socialize more and it is taking time away from him helping me with my Korean and that means I can’t -” Nichkhun stopped himself.
“That means what? You won’t be able to take over the world fast enough?” Jay surveyed Khun’s face for his reaction. “Oh don’t look at me like that. I know how these conspiracies work.” Jay backed away and returned to the kitchen. He took out his cereal and his ‘special bowl and spoon’. The boy only ate from the few dishes that he had brought with him from America.
“So, you’re not mad?” Khun peaked into the kitchen, wary of Jaebum’s undisturbed reaction.
“I mean it was an awful week and your motives were selfish, but in an odd way it was kind of sweet.”
“What?” Nichkhun fully entered the kitchen. “Sweet? Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul is not sweet.”
“ Sweet is a good thing, you know. Man you’re weird.” Jay shook his head and picked up his bowl to sit at the table.
“Sweet is for puppies.” Khun muttered.
As Jay passed him by he reached out to pat his head. “Who’s a good boy?” Nichkhun swatted at his hands. Jay put his bowl down on the table and continued to tease Nichkhun. This, of course, ended in a girly slapping fight. And lots of laughter.
“It’s good to see you smiling.” Taecyeon had somehow miraculously ninjaed his giant body into the small kitchen. “I’ve been worried about you.” He gave Jay a tender smile before eyeing Nichkhun. His heart sunk a little. Why couldn’t it have been him to coax out that melodious laughter?
“I thought I was the hyung here?” The words came out of Jay’s mouth a little slurred, but it was his best shot at Korean to date.
“Who said that?” Taec stood in front of Jay and looked clear over the shorter male’s head, hoping to cash in on the jovial mood. Nichkhun pointed and laughed. Jay marched right out of the room.
“Was it too much?” Before Nichkhun could answer the question, Taec was blindsided by a flying pillow.
Jaebum let out a sound akin to a war cry before launching himself at Taecyeon, another pillow in hand. The taller man fortunately dodged the attack and lunged for the pillow that had nearly taken his head off. Taec and Jay then engaged in a deadly pillow fight on the kitchen floor. Nichkhun settled himself down at the table with his stolen cereal to enjoy the show.
Hit Counter
Character/Pairing: barely there TaecJay, Khun, Junho and 2AM
Genre: humor, crack, angst in the beginning and a little romance
Rating: PG-13 for this chapter for swearing (NC-17 overall for series)
Word Count: 2, 841
Disclaimer: Blarg! Don't remind me of what I don't have
Older parts: ( 1) ,( 2), ( 3), ( 4a), (4b), ( 5A), ( 5A Extra), ( 5B), ( 2pm/2am Christmas Spin-off), ( 6), ( 7), ( 8), ( 9)
A/N: It begins with an angst filled Jaebum since it is set in the early trainee days and his cootiephobia is bringing him down. Also, sorry for the bad writing, my 2PM muse is being a wet sandwich.
Jaebum had always known that he was a bit of a neat freak and germaphobe; his bedroom back in Seattle was always impeccably clean and he showered a lot, but it wasn’t until moving to Korea and sharing a dorm with a pack of other boys that Jaebum realized just how serious his problem really was. All the sweating, drooling, farting, general body odor and the inability to clean up after themselves, added to all the “brotherly” touching that was going on left Jay terrified. He didn’t know if he should laugh or cry after finding himself stuck in the midst of a human sty; he could literally feel the cooties crawling all over him.
Jay hated that his fear of cooties had grown into an almost crippling condition. He also hated that the cooties had kept him from properly befriending his fellow trainees. It was bad enough that he had to struggle with learning Korean and having a hard time communicating with the others. His homesickness wouldn’t seem to lessen and after months, Jay still felt like he was on the outside looking in on the other trainees. What made it all worse was that the others were trying so hard to befriend him and he kept shutting them down; afraid of coming in contact with their cooties. There was one giant boy in particular that he hated to say no to, especially since the other had been acting as his translator and trying to stick by his sides all times of the day. Ok Taecyeon was gigantic, had too many teeth and was a complete clumsy nerd - and he was also the only person to ever make Park Jaebum’s (or Jay Park’s for that matter) heart race and send the butterflies in his stomach fluttering in circles. It was a strange power that this giant held over him and it made him wish every night when he cried himself to sleep that he would wake up in the morning and not care about the evil giant cooties that covered Taecyeon’s body. Jay was sure that, no matter how many cooties had latched onto Ok Taecyeon, the younger boy’s soul was still pure and good.
Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul knows everything. He is a genius - so why is the Korean language proving so difficult for him? It may have something to do with the fact that the only English speaking trainee fluent in Korean was overly preoccupied with helping out Park Jaebum. Or, it could be that his fellow trainees were too distracting, especially one Kim Junsu - with his full, rich voice and his pretty, pretty - CONTROL KHUN!!! Stay under control. You can’t let anyone anything get in your way now.
Nichkhun knew that if he wanted to take over the world (beginning with the k-pop scene) he would actually have to learn Korean. To do this, he would need his translator to actually pay attention and explain things to him. And for this to happen, Ok Taecyeon needed to spend less time trying to bring Park Jaebum out of his shell and more time bending to Nichkhun’s will. If Taecyeon wanted Jaebum to socialize more, then Khun was just going to have to make it happen. Now, who could he get to do his dirty work? Nichkhun surveyed the commoners around him and noticed one boy in particular who buzzed around the room taking pictures with everyone. If anyone could get Park Jaebum out of his shell it would be this man. Khun grinned at his own genius before approaching the man. Oh wait, my electronic dictionary…..
Jo Kwon was born a diva. No one will ever dispute that. But Kwon was also a very sweet, kind and sensitive boy, so when that Thai kid came up to him during their lunch break and explained to him in broken Korean that the short kid from America wasn’t rude but incredibly shy, Kwon felt sorry for his fellow trainee. The poor thing was struggling and he decided to take it upon himself to help the man out. Sure Kwon didn’t know any much English, but he figured that friendship had no language - almost. Surveying the other boy, Kwon had noticed right away how clean and neat Park Jaebum was and how well kept his appearance always was, so Kwon thought that maybe the other enjoyed picture taking as much as himself.
“Jaebum-sii!” Kwon called out as his raced through the dorms; excited about his plan.
“Jaebum- sii!” he exclaimed again as he sidled up to the older boy who had been quietly and innocently eating his lunch. “How are you today?”
Jaebum listened carefully and filtered the Korean words through his English speaking brain. “I am well. Thank you Kwon-sii.” The words were spoken carefully.
“Oh Jaebum-hyung, let’s not be so formal, ne?” Jay only nodded in agreement.
“Do you like doing selcas?”
“Selca?”
“Pictures” Kwon explained in accented English and held up his phone, miming taking a photograph.
“Oh. Yes?” Suddenly Kwon’s face was up close to his and he was signing in victory.
‘Click’
Jaebum was stunned and stayed unmoving as Kwon surveyed the picture. Jay looked like a deer in headlights while Kwon himself looked perfect. Waving the phone’s screen angrily in Jaebum’s face Kwon began to complain.
“Hyung!” He whined. “Do it properly!” Kwon pouted, better than any girl Jaebum had ever known.
Jaebum blinked and held up two fingers - of course he half wished he was holding up only one. Kwon was nice, but definitely a closer talker and an even closer photo taker. Couldn’t it have at least been Taecyeon usurping his personal space? Also, Jay bet his cooties were just as much of divas as he was; and that was something he was certain he could not handle. After several more staged photos Jay was able to scurry away from the overzealous man. He spent the next three days hiding from photo enthusiast Jo Kwon and Taecyeon spent three days looking for Jaebum instead of helping Nichkhun with his Korean.
Nichkhun did not like this lack of progress. Jaebum had seemed to pull more into his shell and it distracted Taecyeon even more. Nichkhun was pretty sure he was forgetting al his little Korean knowledge. He would have to find someone else to help Jaebum. Kwon was too ‘in your face’, he needed someone less threatening. Nichkhun took stock of the other trainees. He needs to find someone that wouldn’t scare Jay way, someone as harmless as a bunny…
Junho and Jinwoon were two of the younger trainees. Junho was a talented dancer who kind of looked like Rain and Jinwoon was a great musician who longed to dance like Rain. They were sweet and had adorable eye smiles. Who could resist their aegyo fluffiness? After Nichkhun suggested that they asked the not in the least bit scary Jaebum hyung - the legendary b-boy form America - for dance tips during a break from practice the two boys rushed over to the older boy who was minding his own business in the corner.
“Hyung!” “Jaebum-hyung!” They chimed. “Let’s not be formal!”
Jaebum had a feeling it was going to be one of those weeks.
“Yes Junho-ah, Jinwoon-ah?”
“Hyung can you help us with our dancing?” “Please hyung? We want to be as good as you!” They flashed their best eye smiles. Jay grumbled at their cuteness and agreed to help.
Jay gave the pair some tips and a few words of encouragement. It was what a hyung was supposed to do and it made him feel good. The boys were sweet - too sweet, being three and four years younger than him they looked up to him and idolized him, but Jay knew he was a long ways away from being an idol. The more they praised him the worse he felt. Finally the break was over and they returned to following the choreographer’s steps. Later that day the two kept follow Jay round like lost puppies even after he assured them he was not an expert on aerobatics and break dancing.
“When I’m older I want to be just like you Jaebummie-hyung!” Junho gushed. Jinwoon nodded furiously in agreement. Jay face palmed, not even bothering to hide it. The last thing he need was a fan club hanging off of him with their cooties, no matter how cute they were.
In the end, he had to revert back to his hiding ways. Taecyeon spent the afternoon talking to Jaebum’s locked bedroom door and Nichkhun marked another day off on the calendar; another day to add to the others during which he didn’t learn any new Korean words.
Reviewing the failed schemes, Nichkhun thought that maybe he needed to find someone who shared the same interests as Jay. But what did Jay like? He was very much in shape, which meant he liked working out. Seulong worked out all the time and was much less - excitable than Kwon and less mushy than Junho and Jinwoon. Handy electronic dictionary powered up, Khun made his way over to Seulong’s bedroom. Real men bonded while breaking a sweat and pumping iron; that’s what he would use to convince Seulong to befriend Jaebum.
It was early morning before their trainee schedule and some of the guys had headed to the gym for a pre-practice work out. The boys mostly kept to their selves as the sun had yet to rise and they were all grumpy. Jaebum was doing his regular warm-up and stretching before starting his routine when he felt a strange presence. He stealthily looked up at the mirrored wall to see Im Seulong right beside him, copying his every move. He was pretty sure that this is what being a creeper looked like.
“Seulong-sii,” he began slowly. “Is there something that I can help you with?” Fear sure did help with his Korean.
Seulong grinned like one of those clown’s from his childhood nightmares. “Oh hyung. No need to be so formal.” The smile widened and Jay wasn’t sure what would happen first; Seulong’s face splitting in half or him going blind from the pearly whites.
“Alright.” Jay nodded, a small smile on his lips. It was hard not to smile with Seulong looking so bright and happy. He looked at Seulong expectantly.
“ Oh, hyung, can we work out together?” Jay figured that a simple ‘no’ wouldn’t really work on the other and his Korean wasn’t good enough to go into details, so he just nodded.
As Jaebum went around doing his own work out Seulong followed him. Jay thought Seulong’s mimicking act was kind of sweet, he almost felt like a real hyung again. The morning went by easily until he approached the bench press and felt hands on his bare shoulders. Sweat was mixing with sweat and Jay was about to have a cootie induced panic attack. He looked behind him to see a still smiling Seulong.
“Can I spot you hyung?” The request seemed harmless, helpful even.
“If you don’t mind.” Seulong nodded vigorously.
Jay lay down on the machine and wrapped his hands firmly around the bar of the weight above his head. Just as he was about to lift the bar up he felt hands run down his arms.
“Wow hyung! How’d you get so toned?” Jaebum’s eyes bulged out of his head and yelped in surprise. As he let go of the barbell and bolted up. Running out of the gym he cried “I need an adult and some disinfectant!” in English while passing by a very confused Taecyeon and a rather annoyed Nichkhun.
“What happened Seulong-ah?” Taecyeon asked the fellow giant, who seemed stunned.
The boy shrugged. “I was just trying to bond with him like a real man.”
Jaebum never wore a tank top to the gym again. He either wore long-sleeved tees or hoodies. And to make sure no one tried to “work out” with him again he brought his music player. Taecyeon frowned throughout their next two morning work outs.
Nichkhun could not take any more fuck-ups! He was going to make Jaebum normal so Taecyeon would stop mopping about Jaebum not getting along with anyone and would start teaching him some god damn Korean so that he could finally put his plan for world domination into action.
Nichkhun found a rather jumpy Jaebum in the dorms one rainy morning. The others were still asleep; too lazy to head to the gym in the storm. The older boy was pacing in the kitchen, head down, muttering to himself.
“Hyung?” Khun stepped into the kitchen. Jesus, maybe I broke him…
“Just call me Jay, please. I don’t think I can process Korean this early and it will be easier for you too anyways.” His voice wavered, just slightly.
“Jay, are you okay?” Khun almost felt bad, almost.
Jay looked up, tears in his eyes. “I don’t have any control here.”
The statement was simple but it was something Khun could identify with. Control. It was what Nichkhun had always wanted and always had, until now. Maybe Jay Park from Seattle felt the same way. Nichkhun did the only thing he could do.
“Do all b-boys cry.” He teased him.
“Do all Thai boys have such small faces?” Jay tried to hide his sniffle.
“Of course we do.” Khun smiled and broke the tension.
“Are you all evil geniuses too?” Jaebum regain his composure, hardening his features.
Well that had him stunned. “What?” Insert awkward laugh - real smooth Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul.
“I can see the wheels turning in your head when you’re plotting.” Jaebum narrowed his eyes. “This whole thing has been one of your conspiracies, right? Kwon suddenly making me cam whore with him, the unnecessary praise from Junho and Jinwoon and Seulong all over my muscles was all your doing, wasn’t it!” Instead of being angry, Jay sounded impressed.
“Jay, I don’t think you’re thinking clearly right now.” Nichkhun backed out of the kitchen but Jaebum advanced on him.
“Just admit it Khun. This week of torment has been all your doing!”
Jaebum may seem small, but the man was packing guns. “Alright, alright. I did it. I planned it all!” Nichkhun flinched as Jay took another step towards him. “Please don’t hit my face!”
“Dude. Calm down. I won’t hit you, yet. Just tell me your reason for torturing me.” He took a step back in emphasis.
“Well…” Nichkhun tried to make as much space between himself and Jay as he could. “Taecyeon has been trying to get you to socialize more and it is taking time away from him helping me with my Korean and that means I can’t -” Nichkhun stopped himself.
“That means what? You won’t be able to take over the world fast enough?” Jay surveyed Khun’s face for his reaction. “Oh don’t look at me like that. I know how these conspiracies work.” Jay backed away and returned to the kitchen. He took out his cereal and his ‘special bowl and spoon’. The boy only ate from the few dishes that he had brought with him from America.
“So, you’re not mad?” Khun peaked into the kitchen, wary of Jaebum’s undisturbed reaction.
“I mean it was an awful week and your motives were selfish, but in an odd way it was kind of sweet.”
“What?” Nichkhun fully entered the kitchen. “Sweet? Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul is not sweet.”
“ Sweet is a good thing, you know. Man you’re weird.” Jay shook his head and picked up his bowl to sit at the table.
“Sweet is for puppies.” Khun muttered.
As Jay passed him by he reached out to pat his head. “Who’s a good boy?” Nichkhun swatted at his hands. Jay put his bowl down on the table and continued to tease Nichkhun. This, of course, ended in a girly slapping fight. And lots of laughter.
“It’s good to see you smiling.” Taecyeon had somehow miraculously ninjaed his giant body into the small kitchen. “I’ve been worried about you.” He gave Jay a tender smile before eyeing Nichkhun. His heart sunk a little. Why couldn’t it have been him to coax out that melodious laughter?
“I thought I was the hyung here?” The words came out of Jay’s mouth a little slurred, but it was his best shot at Korean to date.
“Who said that?” Taec stood in front of Jay and looked clear over the shorter male’s head, hoping to cash in on the jovial mood. Nichkhun pointed and laughed. Jay marched right out of the room.
“Was it too much?” Before Nichkhun could answer the question, Taec was blindsided by a flying pillow.
Jaebum let out a sound akin to a war cry before launching himself at Taecyeon, another pillow in hand. The taller man fortunately dodged the attack and lunged for the pillow that had nearly taken his head off. Taec and Jay then engaged in a deadly pillow fight on the kitchen floor. Nichkhun settled himself down at the table with his stolen cereal to enjoy the show.
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