winter wonderland
Bandfic, written for haeym or the 2013 HoMin Fic Exchange. Yunho and Changmin go through their seventh Valentine’s Day together-but will something change this year? Original prompt at the end to avoid spoilers :)
Pairings: Homin obviously, mentions of others
Rated: PG-14 for romance and cuteness (and brief mentions of sex I guess?)
~
Yunho shivers, cold fingers fumbling to get the apartment keys out of his jeans pocket but only managing to knock the small box out of his pocket. He glares at the offending object for a moment, before leaning down and swiping it up to stuff it in his other pocket as he finally manages to wrestle the keys out.
Leader of Dong Bang Shin Ki, huh? hangmin’s voice seems to (affectionately) tease him You’re so clumsy I honestly don’t know how you can dance at all.
Yunho smiles to himself, stomping his feet to get most of the snow off his shoes before he enters the apartment. Changmin calls out a cheerful greeting from the kitchen where he’s cooking kimchi jjigae that smells wonderful. “Evening, hyung!”
Taepoong, who is staying with the two of them for the week, lets out a happy bark as well, but apparently the lure of the meat in the kimchi jjigae is enough to keep him from running to greet his master. Just as well, because he’d knock Yunho to the ground in two seconds flat.
The man grins, hanging up his coat and carefully lining up his shoes with the rest before heading to the kitchen. He sidles up behind Changmin at the stove, pressing himself flush against Changmin’s back and wrapping an arm around the younger man’s thin waist as he presses a kiss to his jawline. “Evening, baby,” he murmurs.
Changmin is blushing, Yunho knows it. “Ge off e,” the younger man complains, but he lifts his left hand from the handle of the pot and drops it to lace his fingers with Yunho’s over his stomach. “God, hyung, your hands are freezing.”
“Well, I got sent out into the storm to buy you chocolate,” Yunho says, pretending to play the part of the martyr. “Because manager-hyung is in a meeting and you were having cravings. Like a pregnant woman, I swear.”
The only warning he gets is the way Changmin tenses before the younger man steps on his toes, hard. There’s not too much damage done (hopefully) because Changmin’s only wearing slippers, but Yunho pouts and retreats nonetheless, sitting down at the table and scratching Taepoong absently between the ears when the husky rears up and puts his front paws in Yunho’s lap.
“Good, now stay there,” Changmin orders, without turning around. “And just in case you didn’t notice, there isn’t a storm outside. It’s just cold. And a little windy. Like February is kind of supposed to be, you know?” he adds sarcastically.
Yunho huffs but wisely decides not to argue. He is, in fact, smarter than Changmin probably thinks, and he knows that if he protests as to how cold and windy it actually is, Changmin will ask why he was walking in the cold for so long when the nearest chocolate-selling shop is barely a block away, and Yunho isn’t good enough to lie his way out of that. Especially not when it’s Changmin, who over the years has all but developed the ability to read Yunho’s mind.
He sighs silently as he thinks about the box in his pocket, which suddenly seems to gain several pounds the more he dwells on it. It’s something he’s been doing for years-for seven years, to be exact, for seven Valentine’s Days since he and Changmin started dating-and this year, like every year, he wonders if he’ll actually tell Changmin about it.
“Hyung?” Changmin’s amused voice breaks into his musings. “Dinner’s ready.”
“Huh?” Yunho blinks. “Oh. Right.”
Changmin gives him that since-perfected look o you’re such an idiot and I don’t know why I love you anyway nd Yunho just beams at him as they sit down to kimchi jjigae. It always works; he’s been told (and of course not from Changmin) that his smile rivals the sun.
After dinner, Changmin announces his plan to watch a movie (with or without Yunho), “because it’s snowing so much that we’ll probably have the day off tomorrow. Not like we had anything important to do tomorrow anyway, right?”
“You just said there wasn’t a storm,” Yunho points out, chuckling as Changmin attempts half-heartedly to slap him for his supposed insolence.
“Just for that, you’re washing the dishes,” Changmin sniffs, and saunters off into the living room.
Yunho laughs to himself as he clears the table, generously giving Taepoong a few more scraps. Changmin has obviously forgotten that in their house, washing dishes is slightly easier than getting a movie started; their DVD player has been carted around the house so frequently that not even their manager knows where it is at any given moment.
There aren’t many dishes either, only the pot and their two bowls and chopsticks, and just as Yunho finishes and heads for the living room, Changmin steps through the doorway and presses him up against the wall before the older man can react, kissing him rough and passionate until they’re both gasping for breath.
“Is that something in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” Changmin asks cheekily once he catches his breath, tugging the hem of Yunho’s shirt back down and letting his fingers wander dangerously low across Yunho’s jeans.
Yunho wants nothing more than to grab Changmin and kiss him senseless again, but when Changmin’s words finally register in his mind, he tenses, and immediately realizes his mistake when Changmin goes on the alert, big brown eyes narrowing. “I’m...happy to see you?” Yunho offers weakly.
Changmin smirks playfully, and steps closer until Yunho can feel the warmth radiating from the younger man. “Liar,” Changmin breathes, and lunges for Yunho’s pocket. Taepoong goes into a fit.
Yunho tries valiantly to defend his pocket from invasion, but even though he honestly thinks Changmin is one of the most beautiful people in this world, Changmin is still very much a man and Yunho never forgets it. The maknae has been stronger than the leader for a long time now and easily pins Yunho to the floor, straddling his hips with a triumphant smirk. Just as he reaches for Yunho’s pocket, the porch door behind them opens.
“Oh, sorry, am I interrupting something?” Kyuhyun says, obnoxiously cheerful and cheerfully obnoxious, until Taepoong bounds up to him and licks his face. Yunho smothers a chuckle.
Changmin growls and (fortunately for Yunho) seems to decide that his so-called best friend is more worth his attention than the secret in Yunho’s pocket. “I’m breaking into your dorm next time and taking pictures of you and you bed-warmer,” he says pointedly.
Kyuhyun scowls, decidedly not amused. “He’s not my bed-warmer, he’s m boyfriend, you cheeky bastard. Either show your hyung some respect or don’t mention him at all.”
Changmin returns his gaze evenly. “If he’s not your hyung, he’s not mine either.”
“Oh, come on,” Kyuhyun complains. “H is y hyung, I just don’t call him that all the time. You know how it is, you’ve done it before.”
Changmin lifts his chin, showing his defiance in a way he had definitely picked up from the (long-distance) mother of Dong Bang Shin Ki. “Yes, but I wasn’t sleeping with him, was I?”
If Kyuhyun were anyone else but Changmin’s best friend and twin in every way but blood, he’d have backed down by now. But Kyuhyun is just as proud as Changmin is, Changmin who despite the way he constantly doubts himself, can sometimes be even more prideful than Yunho, whose sense of pride sort of came with being leader of the greatest boy band in Asia at the very least.
“Were ou sleeping with him?” Kyuhyun says with a wicked grin. “I’d totally understand if you didn’t tell me, if I were you I’d have hid my true relationship with him too. You’re no Hyukjae, after all.”
Changmin snarls and lunges.
Yunho shakes his head fondly at their antics, taking advantage of the opportunity to sneak away to the bedroom he and Changmin share, and hides the box with the other six from the previous years, in his closet where Changmin is least likely to find it before Yunho figures out what exactly he wants to do with it.
Meanwhile, he hopes the two maknaes’ wrestling match doesn’t actually get bloody. Jungsu would totally snipe Yunho first and ask questions later.
~
The next day dawns hushed and white and perfect, and Changmin doesn’t want to get out of bed at all, perfectly comfortable the way he is with his limbs tangled around Yunho and his head tucked under Yunho’s chin. But he has to check the messages on his phone informing him that, indeed, their schedules for today have been canceled, and then draws back the curtains so he can admire the view from the bed before diving back into the welcome warmth of Yunho’s embrace.
Some hours later judging from the brightness of the winter sun illuminating the room, Changmin and Yunho are forced to get out of bed because Taepoong is scratching at the door and whining-he wants to go for a walk, which they already know will probably end with a lot of snow down one or both of their backs. Resigning themselves to their fate, they shower and eat quickly, dressing warmly before stepping out into what Yunho proclaims a winter wonderland.
It’s peaceful at first, the snow blanketing the earth seeming to hush all sound as well, and Changmin takes the time (and the opportunity) to surreptitiously admire the silhouette of Yunho’s figure against the clear sky, tall and strong and almost regal. But of course, Changmin knows exactly how to get under that princely exterior, and when they cut through the backyard on the way back to their apartment complex, he crouches down and scoops up a handful of snow.
“Hey, hyung!” he shouts, and takes careful aim.
Yunho turns around just in time for the snowball to hit his throat, disintegrating into frigid glittering powder. “You,” Yunho growls, but he’s smiling.
“Yes, what about me?” Changmin replies cheerfully.
Yunho throws a snowball at his head.
Before long, Taepoong is yipping excitedly, darting back and forth trying to defend Yunho as snowballs fly across the yard. Changmin’s out of breath with laughter, warmth in his chest at how much this reminds him of his childhood. The only thing that could possibly make this better is if their other friends were here-from past experience, Changmin knows they’ll all ally with him and seize the only opportunity ever available to take down the leader.
As it is, Yunho is almost winning (if one can actually win a snowball fight, now that he thinks about it). Changmin holds up his hands, laughing. “Okay, okay, peace!” he calls out, taking a few steps closer to Yunho.
Unfortunately, Taepoong has other ideas, barking loud and sharp before charging at Changmin and sending him tumbling face-first into the snow.
“Changminnie!” he hears Yunho shout, before he feels frantic warm hands turn him over and brush the snow from his face. “Are you okay?”
Changmin looks at him. “You dog,” he says slowly, “jus attacke me.”
Yunho flails kind of adorably. “I’m sorry!”
Changmin tries his hardest not to laugh. “Prove it,” he says, voice low, and tackles Yunho.
Taepoong barks at them, nudges them with his paws, but by the time they abandon all pretenses of a wrestling match and progress to a full-on make-out session-never mind the snow-the husky sniffs and trots away.
~
Yunho, “cliché to a fault” as Changmin always complains, comes down with a fever the next day.
“You are such an idiot,” Changmin grumbles, but Yunho isn’t too delirious to see the loving concern in Changmin’s eyes as the younger man wrings out a cloth to lay on Yunho’s forehead.
“Am not,” Yunho tries to argue. His throat is killing him, but he thinks Changmin understood him anyway.
Changmin sighs and strokes Yunho’s hair.
Later, manager-hyung drops by to yell at Yunho through Changmin, who gets heartwarmingly worked up and protective an this close o yelling back, before manager-hyung takes a step towards redeeming himself by leaving a plate of food for both of them, courtesy of his girlfriend.
Still, Changmin stabs at the pear he’s cooking, grumbling to himself until manager-hyung leaves. “One would think he should care about your well-being,” he mutters as he brings Yunho a cup of tea and the cooked pear-it’s good for Yunho’s throat, according to their mothers.
“He does,” Yunho says drowsily, sitting up to eat. “Didn’t your mother ever yell at you when you got sick?”
Changmin scowls. “All the time.”
Yunho chuckles, before it turns into a cough. Finished with the food, he lays back down, flushing a little when Changmin tucks the blankets securely around him. “I’m not a child, you don’t need to take care of me,” he murmurs, embarrassed.
The corner of Changmin’s mouth quirks up into a wry smile. “I want to take care of you, hyung,” he whispers, thumb stroking Yunho’s cheek. “You always work yourself too hard, you know? You need someone to take care of you.”
Yunho would have argued further, but Changmin leans in and presses a kiss to Yunho’s forehead. “Hyung, go to sleep,” he orders gently. “I’ll be here if you need me.” He starts singing when Yunho stubbornly keeps his eyes open, a lullaby that Yunho’s mother loves, and Yunho sighs, falling asleep with Changmin’s hand warm in his under the blankets.
Changmin watches Yunho sleep for a few minutes, not even aware of the fond smile touching his lips. When he’s sure Yunho’s asleep, he gently tugs his hand free and goes to clean up the room. It’s not something he likes to do (what young man does?) but it’ll make Yunho happy, especially since he’s sick, and Changmin is a little wary of leaving the room at all in case Yunho wakes up and panics because he doesn’t know where Changmin is.
It’s not until Changmin opens Yunho’s closet to put the other man’s clothes away and sees the small boxes arranged neatly on a shelf that he remembers the box he had felt in Yunho’s pocket the other day which Yunho had been so secretive about. Changmin pauses in his motions, wanting to satisfy his curiosity but at the same time afraid that there’s a good reason Yunho, the kindest person he knows, is keeping this a secret.
He forces himself to finish organizing the clothes but when he goes to close the closet door, his gaze lands on the boxes again and he finds himself unable to stop wondering what exactly is in them. Flicking a glance over his shoulder to make sure Yunho’s still sleeping, he leans in to take a closer look at the boxes, promising himself he won’t open them.
Except that plan goes out the window when he sees the letters printed with gold leaf on the side of the box nearest him Tiffany’s, it says, and Changmin isn’t big on sweet gestures or anything but he at least knows they make rings. Either Yunho is hiding something that Changmin really does not want to know about, or he’s just being his ridiculous romantic self-and Changmin can’t be sure which one it is.
Com on, Kyuhyun would say. Actually, anyone would say it-you should know that Yunho loves you and will only ever love you. Have you seen the way he looks at you?
It’s a long story but Changmin has never been sure of that, even though it appears to be obvious to everyone else. Normally he’s content with what Yunho does for him and says to him, but at times like this the anxiety comes back tha you weren’t Yunho’s first love n what if he’s gotten tired of you?
Changmin slaps himself mentally. There’s no use fretting over it, he decides in a rush, closing his eyes and picking a box at random before his bravery deserts him.
He opens it and, as expected, there’s a ring nestled into the velvet, a silver band with designs etched in platinum, something pretty yet masculine at the same time. It’s not the one from Tiffany’s; it actually looks rather cheap, but in the sense that it looks practical and like something that Changmin might actually wear outside of a photoshoot. A piece of paper folded several times flutters to the floor as well and Changmin bends to pick it up with his free hand.
Dated 2010 February 12, it says simply I love you, Changminnie.
Changmin gasps, nearly dropping both the box and the note. He never knew Yunho had bought anything like this, much less for him. Intrigued, he opens another box.
This ring is plainer, a simple couple ring like they and their friends have or used to have, a gift from the fans or just something that caught their eye and wasn’t too expensive. The box has a piece of paper too, dated 2007 February 11.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Changmin ah! ^^ It’s our first together~ I know the gift isn’t much and you probably won’t even wear it, but it’s the thought that counts, right? Actually, I don’t even know if I’m going to give this to you. You’ll just laugh at me. Well, I’ll figure it out eventually.
2009 February 13. We’ve been so busy with Japan and everything, I almost forgot to get you something! Not that you’d mind, probably, since you don’t like to make such a big deal out of it. But still, with everything that’s going on, here’s to hoping we’ll still have many years to enjoy together~ Love you, Min ah~
2012 February 12. I’m still mad at you for caking me in front of the entire audience. I thought those days were over! But I’ll get back at you next week, you just wait. I love you, Changminnie~
2008 February 10. Don’t take everything so seriously, Changmin ah! People think you’re a lot older than you really are. I know you want to be mature and all, but you can still have fun while you’re at it. Happy Valentine’s Day!
2011 February 11. Changmin ah...where should I start with this? Thank you, I suppose, for staying with me, for being there for me ever since we met all those years ago. Everyone thinks I’m the hyung and I should protect you, but you always underestimate your own value, not just to me but to all of our friends as well. Thank you for being so understanding when our dreams were crumbling, for never making me feel ashamed to break down-
“What are you doing?” Yunho asks hoarsely from behind him, and Changmin jumps before turning around guiltily.
Yunho glances at what Changmin’s holding and flushes, snatching the paper out of Changmin’s hands. “You weren’t supposed to read that,” he mutters, avoiding Changmin’s gaze.
Changmin opens his mouth to accuse Yunho of making him doubt himself by being so secretive about it, but then he realizes that that’s guilt-tripping and he doesn’t want to do that right now, not right after he’s read Yunho’s heartfelt, grateful words from two years ago when the future of Dong Bang Shin Ki was uncertain and no one knew what would happen to them.
“If you addressed it to me, I’m probably meant to read it,” he says instead. He can’t help being a little snarky, after all.
Yunho flushes even more. “Yeah, but...I, um, I...I mean, you...the others...”
Changmin smiles to himself, stepping closer and cutting off Yunho’s stuttering with a gentle kiss. “Hyung,” he says when he pulls back, “you know I’m bad with words, but...it’s nice to know how you really feel. Everyone knows U-Know, leader and lead dancer of the rising gods of the east, but who’s supposed to help Jung Yunho face his demons and...and whatever?”
Yunho’s cheeks are still red but he pulls Changmin into his arms, burying his face in Changmin’s neck. “Thank you,” he whispers, hugging Changmin tightly, “I love you, thank you.”
“You know, there’s one box I didn’t open yet,” Changmin remarks, ruffling Yunho’s hair. “Care to explain that one to me? Toda is alentine’s Day, after all.”
Yunho darts a glance up at Changmin’s face, his expression nervous, but he must have seen something in Changmin’s eyes because he relaxes and reaches around Changmin for the last box, the one from Tiffany’s.
The ring nestled inside is beautiful and looks expensive, all gold and silver and tiny sparkling diamonds. “It’s a couple ring,” Yunho explains quietly, seeming to be watching Changmin’s reaction. “Like the Cartier one the fans gave me before, remember?”
Changmin pretends to scowl at the reminder, earning a raspy chuckle from Yunho. “You didn’t need to spend so much money on me,” he says, a little awestruck at the splendor of what he now realizes are two rings attached to each other. “I mean, when are we going to wear this outside of the house? You...you really shouldn’t have, hyung.”
“You’re special to me,” Yunho murmurs, “I wanted to get you something special.”
Changmin blushes at that, trying to avoid Yunho’s eyes even as the older man carefully separates the two rings and slides the smaller one onto Changmin’s right ring finger. It fits perfectly, and Changmin takes the other half of the ring and slides it onto Yunho’s little finger.
“One of these days, I’m going to marry you,” Yunho informs him, his voice still rough from sickness but the earnestness of his words not lost on Changmin.
“Whatever hyung wants,” Changmin replies, not completely sarcastically, and intertwines their hands together, the touch of metal cool on their hands.
~
Prompt: Every Valentine’s Day Yunho buys Changmin a ring but in the end he never dares to give them to him. One day Changmin cleans out their closet and finds a box of rings, all assigned to him.