"The Times When We're Honest" [1/1]
Title: The Times When We're Honest [1/1]
Pairing: Jaejoong/Junsu, Yunho/Changmin
Genre: AU, comedy/romance, supernatural
Warnings: Massive suspension of disbelief required. Light smut.
Summary: Jaejoong thinks it's much easier just to blame the fairy. Damn Changmin.
The first time he caught sight of Changmin, he thought he was going insane.
That could probably have been attributed to the fact that he hadn't actually seen him - felt him, gotten that odd sense of a presence behind him - by the time he'd finally neared his residence building, Jaejoong was about ready to pick a fight with the first person to cross his path.
Paranoia lined his every movement and every step he took warranted a look back. Nervously, he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket and hunched slightly, hiding behind his mane of black hair (his eldest sister threatened him with the kitchen scissors every time he went home for the holidays) until the door to the building was in sight.
Hurriedly, he reviewed every person he knew on campus, any enemy he may have unknowingly made (he tended to do that and he was perfectly alright with admitting it). But other than the guy from the drama department's latest production (whom he'd gleefully managed to steal the lead role from), he didn't think he'd pissed off anyone in the last week. Or the week before that.
Kim Junsu's face tightened as soon as he neared. "Don't you have a girl to knock up or something?" He sat on the bench that lined the walk leading up to the residence building they both lived in - a book in hand, his short auburn hair blowing in the wind - there was something unapproachable about him.
Of course, that had never stopped Jaejoong before.
"Nope," he swivelled around on the heels of his feet and promptly dropped down onto the empty seat next to him. "We broke up twenty minutes ago." Oh, he'd forgotten about her. Suspiciously, Jaejoong glanced down the path he'd just taken, hoping that perhaps a head of orange would be seen hovering over a particularly large bush.
"Typical," Junsu muttered with a snort of disgust and looked back down at the booklet he held in his hands.
"It's not my fault you're a prude," he shrugged, abandoning his watch to glance curiously down at what he was reading. "Aren't we gay lovers in the play?"
He watched with amusement as Junsu visibly blanched at the thought, shutting the book and edging several inches away from him in the other direction. "No! Why don't you try reading the script before trying out?"
"Is that what you're doing right now?"
Junsu pointedly ignored him, re-opening the book. It was indeed the script of the play, a thin booklet of photocopied pages binded by thick black spirals. Jaejoong had picked up his copy last week; he tried very hard to recall where he'd placed it. His sock drawer? Beneath his bed?
"The lady said we only had to sing. Didn't mention anything about reading the script."
"Well now that you have the lead role, reading it wouldn't be a bad idea."
Jaejoong tried not to chuckle at the way Junsu gritted his teeth, refusing to lift his eyes to look at him. "I figured I'd wing it."
"Are you taking this seriously at all?"
"Not really."
Junsu shut his eyes, rubbing gingerly at the spot between his eyes as if Jaejoong's response had just given him a migraine. "Then why did you try out?"
He laughed, the memory suddenly coming back. "I think I was drunk and I made a bet with Yoochun. He said I'd never be able to beat the vocal star of the music department."
"Park Yoochun?"
Jaejoong grinned at the surprised look. "Yeah, he's my roommate. Why, have you heard of him?"
Almost on cue, a faint redness spread across his cheeks. Yet that seemed to give Junsu courage, because he continued to glare steadily at Jaejoong. "Who hasn't?"
"Ah, right, I forgot everyone's a fan of his songs. Well, you'd be happy to know he thinks very highly of your voice. Even if I did beat you."
"You didn't beat me. Your voice just fits the role better." It looked like it took everything for Junsu to admit this.
"Oh really? And what role is that?"
Junsu rolled his eyes and flipped to the page of the character profiles. "The fact that you don't even know who you're playing means you should probably quit while you're ahead."
"Will you just read it?"
He continued to glare at him as he grudgingly dictated what was on the page out loud. "Jung Ryeowon. Twenty-year-old music student. Extremely dedicated to his music and practices everyday. Doesn't have much of a social life. Feels that there is something missing in his life. Eventually rediscovers his inspiration and passion for music in the process of training Pak Soojong."
"You're kidding."
"I'm playing Soojong," Junsu continued, irritated at being interrupted. "A party animal on campus, but feels something missing. Attracts the attention of Ryeowon one day, and through the voice training that Ryeowon offers him, discovers a love for music. The final scene is the two of them being forced to reconcile social differences and singing at a campus event."
"And you're sure we're not playing gay lovers?"
"No!"
"So we are."
"I mean, yes I'm sure!" Jaejoong raised an eyebrow as Junsu made as if to pitch the book at his head. "It's supposed to be some kind of coming of age story, reaching across the aisle between social groups with the power of music - "
Jaejoong looked at him strangely.
" - or something."
"Did a couple of your female classmates get together and write this? It sounds like a girl's gay sexual fantasy. Next thing you know, Ryeowon and Soojong find themselves making out in the music room."
"Don't you mean your female classmates as well?"
"Actually, about that..."
"You lied about being a drama major?"
Jaejoong laughed nervously as Junsu looked angrier by the second. "Well I didn't exactly - "
"Is there anything that you haven't lied about?"
"Hey, I resent that," he muttered. "I'm undecided, okay? I still have a vocal minor so I'm not ineligible. I can't believe - no social life? Do I look like a Jung Ryeowon to you? Better yet, do you look like a Pak Soojong?"
"You don't have to do it if you don't want to," Junsu said harshly and stood up, "better yet, maybe you should quit right now. Save everyone who actually cares about this production the trouble."
Jaejoong stared up at him, observing Junsu despite himself. During the audition, he'd had to admit to himself that Yoochun's admiration for this man's voice was not unfounded - on a technical level, he was perfect; on an emotional level, he was astounding. It was unfortunate that, like everyone else who wasn't his friend, Junsu viewed him with the same hostility. As always, his reputation preceded him.
Now, there seemed to be that same passion surfacing, even if it was anger at Jaejoong's nonchalance. It gave Junsu an intimidating presence, despite his lack of height or physical build.
Junsu was already walking away when Jaejoong spoke. "I was thinking about doing that," he said, smiling as nicely as he could at him. Junsu stared back. "But now I think I'll stay on."
"Why?" Junsu asked, frustration etched all over his face.
For once, he decided to be honest. "Seeing you at rehearsals and annoying you with my presence might actually be the highlight of my week."
Junsu made a face at him and finally stomped away. Chuckling, Jaejoong stood up and went into his residence. He flirted with the girl manning the front desk, greeted several guys he'd met at a party two nights ago, and finally reached his door, unlocking it with his key card.
"I'm home!" He called out dramatically, shutting the door behind him. "Blessed are you to be in the presence of the star of Truth and Harmony - what kind of title is that anyway - you may bow down before me."
Yoochun looked up from his work at their small wooden table. Barely able to seat two people, Yoochun and Jaejoong had spent many nights huddled around it slurping ramen at ungodly hours in the morning, usually right before tests or exams.
"No thanks. But try the girl's floor - I'm sure you'll find someone willing to get down on her knees for you."
"And people think I'm the pervert," Jaejoong muttered, taking a seat. He peered at what he was working on. "Another song?"
"Yeah, for the play. You have no idea what a dream it is to be able to work with voices like yours and Junsu's. It's too bad it's for such a bad script."
"You know, letting me read it before tricking me into trying out would've helped."
"And have you find out how crappy it is? What would be the fun in that?"
"I didn't think the drama department put on such awful plays," Jaejoong muttered, leaning his chin against the heel of his palm as he watched Yoochun suddenly scribble furiously on his music sheets. It often amazed him how Yoochun could compose without so much as a keyboard in front of him - having perfect pitch helped, as well as the ability, as he had often tried to describe to Jaejoong, 'to visualize music in my head.'
"I'm not supposed to tell you," Yoochun said quietly, still scribbling, "but this is actually an effort to fund the Drama Students Association."
"Who?"
"They self-produce those artsy productions that nobody goes to see except other drama students and their friends. The admin told them if they couldn't bring in some profit instead of always breaking even or losing money they would shut them down."
"And somehow, this has to do with me?"
"Well, everyone knows you, hyung," Yoochun looked up again, a smile on his face. "And hardly anybody knows you can sing circles around most of the vocal majors here. I figured you would bring in a good crowd."
Jaejoong frowned indignantly. "I don't appreciate being used, Yoochun."
"Meanwhile," he continued as if he hadn't heard him, "Kim Junsu is quite literally the vocal and drama departments' rising star. He's a second year double major. Who better to act alongside you?"
"Someone who doesn't have a stick up his ass?"
Yoochun blinked. "He doesn't though. He always says hi to everyone. I've never seen him without a smile."
"Around you maybe," Jaejoong grumbled, "he's got a man crush on you and your songs."
He took a second to think about that, before shrugging. "Who doesn't?" It wasn't a boastful admission but a simple acknowledgement that ever since he'd accepted the school's offer to work for the music department and compose for the school orchestra, choir, and soloists, everyone had jumped the bandwagon and his popularity had shot up.
"And he thinks I'm the campus impregnator or something."
Yoochun burst out laughing. "What?"
"He thinks I go around knocking girls up. Anyhow," Jaejoong stood up, planting his hands flat on the table. "If this all turns out badly I know who to go after. Don't forget I know where you live, Park Yoochun."
"I'll lock my door at night." He'd gone back to his music making and Jaejoong knew not even an earthquake would break his concentration.
With a dejected sigh, he walked over to his own bedroom door. So he'd gotten roped into doing a play because of his face, his co-star thought he was an irresponsible liar (except he kind of was, because he wasn't really undecided either, he just didn't think an art history major was very impressive and had yet to officially choose one) and he had two essays to write by the end of the week. Jaejoong was sure he hadn't signed up for this when he'd decided to pursue a post-secondary education.
When he threw open his door and stepped inside, he was pretty sure the man sitting on his bed, rifting through the script he should've been reading, wasn't part of the plan either.
Jaejoong took a step back, so that he was leaning half way out the door and the back of his roommate's head was in sight.
"Yoochun, can you please not leave strange men in my room? My heart can't take the shock."
"If I ever do, I'll be sure to let you know beforehand."
"Then how'd he get in?"
"Who?"
"Him." He pointed.
Yoochun stood up, walked over, and peeked into his room. The man looked up. Jaejoong would never be able to recount to another person what happened in the next few seconds (though he would try very hard to), because the man's eyes flashed golden, Yoochun's face twisted, and suddenly Jaejoong found himself listening to a very, very improbable explanation spilling from the lips of a person whom he could always depend on to be rational (at least, to counteract his own brand of random).
"It's just Changmin, he was waiting for you." With a little shrug, Yoochun went back to his seat.
From where he'd been standing, Jaejoong stared at him with unabashed shock. "Who?"
Yoochun had the gall to twist around in his chair, staring back at him with raised eyebrows. "What do you mean 'who'? You told me yesterday he was coming over to work on that assignment with you."
Jaejoong opened his mouth, closed it, and blinked once, twice. Just as a "No I didn't, what are you on?" was about to slip out of his mouth, he turned, feeling a slight breeze behind him.
And nearly jumped out of his skin. "How did you - !"
The man smiled placatingly, leaning against the doorframe while towering over his head. "Yoochun hyung told me you were out so he let me in to wait for you. Don't you think we should get started, Jaejoong hyung?"
He continued to stare as 'Changmin' took a firm grip of his wrist and pulled him into the room. Flashing an observing Yoochun another polite smile, he shut the door behind him.
"What did you just - "
"A simple mind trick." Changmin took a step back and extended a hand. "I'm Shim Changmin. You're going to be my target for the next few weeks."
Jaejoong stared down at his hand, before frowning. "I hope you don't expect me to actually shake it. What do you mean, target? But wait, let's get back to the basics." He smiled his polite, disinterested smile. "What the fuck are you doing in my room?"
With an almost disappointed look, Changmin dropped the offered hand and looked around. Jaejoong watched, wide-eyed, as his chair slid across the floor to bump gently at the back of Changmin's knees. He promptly sat down. In his chair. His chair that had just moved on its own.
"Why don't you take a seat on your bed and I'll explain?"
Jaejoong's eyes continued searching his room for a weapon. Making those paintbrushes would make good projectiles -
With a little sigh, Changmin flicked long, slender fingers and Jaejoong found himself sitting cross-legged on the bed. With a yelp, he scrambled back.
"Oh my god, what are you?"
Tilting his head to the side thoughtfully, Changmin looked to be seriously contemplating his question. After a second, he shrugged. "I don't think there's a word in your language for my kind. Something like tricksters, maybe?"
"Excuse me?"
"I find whoever's captured my fancy and that just happens to be you," He smiled. Kindly, if Jaejoong was actually paying attention and not trying to shake his way out of his skin.
"Wait," Jaejoong tried to chuckle, except what came out was a strangled noise. He cleared his throat. "What, is this a hidden camera on some poor unsuspecting college student? I'm pretty sure that's illegal. I mean, aren't I supposed to sign some contract first? And what kind of special effects are you using?" He edged away from the younger man - he looked younger anyhow - and continued, "Maybe you can just sort of leave now and we'll forget this ever happened."
Changmin looked at him quietly.
He closed his mouth with a frustrated glare of his own. Jaejoong knew he was fooling himself even before he'd opened his mouth. He'd felt a tug, somewhere deep inside, and he'd blinked, found himself on his bed, and the gold in Changmin's eyes fading.
Satisfied that he'd stopped protesting, Changmin smiled again. "Now, where were we? Oh, right. I'm here to help you accomplish something. It's up to you to decide what that goal will be."
"But what are you?" He repeated, a nervous churning in his stomach. His voice sounded weak even to his ears, but he willed himself to stop shaking. The idea that the perfectly normal looking man was able to do things he hadn't even thought were possible minutes ago was really scaring him.
Luckily, Kim Jaejoong did not usually submit to panic attacks and held himself together with admirable calm. Changmin was almost impressed.
"Like I said, a trickster."
"A fairy?" He suggested, unable to keep the sarcasm from his voice.
"If you mean the non-tutu wearing, non-flying, non-wand waving kind, sure. Whatever makes you feel better."
"Hey, less on the patronizing, okay?" He said in a hard voice, eyes suddenly fierce with frustration.
Changmin reeled back, eyes a little wide. And then he smiled tentatively. "I forgot about - I mean, I should call you hyung, right? And actually try to treat you like one..." He gave a little sigh. "I haven't done this in awhile. You're my first target in a long time."
"If you're going to crash land into my room, at least treat me with some respect," Jaejoong muttered, feeling a little sorry for him despite himself (and he had to admit, the fairy comment wasn't meant to be a kind one).
"So you're a fairy." (Also not one he was quite ready to give up yet).
At the face Changmin pulled, he at least felt that he'd paid him back for what he'd done to Yoochun. Speaking of Yoochun, "What you did to my friend. It's not permanent, is it?" For one thing, if he'd fried Yoochun's music making abilities, there was definitely going to be hell to pay.
With an amused grin, Changmin shook his head. "I just planted some memories that weren't there before. I didn't touch anything essential of his. I would never harm anyone."
"If I say you're giving me heart failure, will you toss up some fairy dust and disappear then?"
Changmin, to his credit, looked the tiniest bit sympathetic. "It doesn't work like that, sorry."
With a little sigh of his own, Jaejoong flopped onto his side and groaned. It seemed like nothing wanted to work according to plan anymore.
~*~*~
"I'm being stalked."
Yunho paused in his attempt to slide into the seat without giving his presence away to the man sitting opposite of him. Taking in the grim expression on his face as Jaejoong looked up, a determined glint in his eyes, Yunho wondered again why he bothered with Kim Jaejoong.
"By whom?" He asked, choosing to adopt the indulgent smile as he always did when talking to his friend. Friends. He had pretty crazy friends.
"A fairy," Jaejoong answered flatly.
Like him.
"A - what?"
"That's what he said! I didn't make it up!" With a groan, Jaejoong buried his face in his arms.
Yunho stared at him, this time with concern. "Jaejoong, have you been going to too many parties and not getting enough sleep again? Because you know how you get - "
"Yunho." Jaejoong stared up, somewhere above his head with something akin to panic and Yunho stopped, glancing back curiously.
"He means me."
Barely able to keep his jaw from dropping, he watched as a tall younger man slid into view. Giving him a slow bow (Yunho made a sort of twitch that was supposed to be a bow in return and then blushed beet red), he indicated towards the seat next to him.
"May I?"
"Of course," he said, voice a little higher than usual, and skittered to the side. In front of him, Jaejoong groaned.
"My name is Shim Changmin. I'm working with Jaejoong hyung on an assignment. Sorry to interrupt your lunch." He gazed down at the box Yunho had been in the process of opening.
His natural tendency towards courtesy immediately kicked in. "You're welcome to join us," he said, a little relieved that Changmin seemed normal (compared to the rest of Jaejoong's crowd). 'And really attractive,' his traitorous heart whispered, sounding a lot like Jaejoong himself. "I'm Jung Yunho, a friend of Jaejoong's."
"Yunho hyung," Changmin said respectfully, and Yunho tried not to stab his other hand with his chopsticks at the way his name sounded in that baritone voice. Then he tried not to smack himself - he was clearly hanging around vocal majors too much; their vocabulary was even beginning to work their way into his.
"By the way," Changmin said pleasantly as he turned to face Jaejoong. "I didn't say that and you most definitely made it up."
"Jaejoong, that's pretty rude, even for you."
Jaejoong stared at the two of them, open-mouthed. "Whose side are you on?"
"I'm not taking sides!" Yunho laughed, shaking his head. "But I am more inclined to believe that Changmin sshi had to chase you down to get you to work on that assignment with him."
"Shut up," Jaejoong finally sulked, sighing inaudibly into his hands.
Smiling, Yunho turned to ask Changmin what kind of assignment it was - and was met with glowing golden eyes staring steadily at Jaejoong. Yunho blinked, opened his mouth - then those golden eyes turned to him, seemed only to brighten even more, and then eventually faded away.
"Not him too!" Jaejoong's voice sounded very far away.
Yunho shook his head as if to clear it - except to clear it of what he wasn't quite sure yet - and blinked several times.
"You're unaffected," Changmin said, surprised. Though 'surprise' was an understatement, he looked like he was about to strain a muscle, with the way his eyes had widened to an impossible size. "That's impossible."
"It didn't work?" Jaejoong sounded absolutely delighted and Yunho tried to focus on his voice, because he felt as though he was somehow underwater and had yet to break through the surface. Finally, he just shut his eyes and waited for it to pass.
He awoke to being gently shaken on the shoulder and opened his eyes to peer at a concerned Changmin, who looked terribly apologetic, and a Jaejoong kneeling beside him, looking murderous.
"I thought you didn't hurt anyone."
"What happened?" He groaned, rubbing his head. It wasn't a headache but there seemed to be a pounding behind his eyes anyway. "One minute I was looking at Changmin - "
"The next your head feels like someone's going at it with a sledgehammer," Changmin said helpfully and frowned. "This has never happened to me before."
"You could just not do it," Jaejoong muttered. Then he turned to Yunho. "He is a fairy. He tried to turn your brain into mush because he didn't want you to ask too many questions."
"Excuse me?" He managed to croak before Changmin, still looking confused and uncertain, finally sighed and nodded.
"Trickster. Of sorts." Changmin smiled wryly. "I'm here to help Jaejoong hyung accomplish something. Except he's having trouble deciding exactly what he wants."
"What?" He stared at the dark eyes that adorned the face of the person he'd been contemplating how to ask out, and said person stared back at him, perfectly still.
"Oh shit!"
Both Yunho and Changmin turned to him, identical looks of surprise on their face. Jaejoong would've laughed at them if he hadn't suddenly remembered his previous obligation.
"First rehearsal!" Jaejoong got up from his position on bended knees and threw himself across the table to make a grab for his bag.
"For the play?" Still confused, Yunho watched as Jaejoong checked his watch again and prepared himself to spring across campus.
"More reason for Kim Junsu to hate me. He's going to ask if I have any orgies to go to or something," Jaejoong groaned and glanced wildly at Changmin. His gaze sharpened. "No more magic from you. And when I get back, we lay down some ground rules if you're so adamant about following me around. Keep an eye on Yunho because if he starts thinking he's a dog and starts humping everything it would be all your fault."
Changmin nodded meekly, though a tad offended at Jaejoong's lack of confidence in his abilities to perform his 'magic.' At that thought, he glanced at the man in question. How had Yunho blocked him?
"But - what? Magic?" Yunho began to feel frustrated. It was obvious he was out of the loop.
"I'll explain later," Jaejoong muttered. "If you'd believe me. Drop by tonight and Changmin can do his whole routine for you."
"Routine?" Changmin sputtered. But it was all in vain, for Jaejoong had set off and disappeared around the corner in a blink of an eye.
The two stared after him.
"Quite a whirlwind, isn't he?"
Yunho nodded numbly.
"I know you have questions," Changmin began. The only indication that he was nervous was the way his eyes darted from Yunho's face to some distant point past his head. "I have some for you too. But I think tonight would be a better time to ask them." The smile was slow to take form on his face, making it look more enticing than he'd probably intended.
Barely an hour into meeting him and Yunho was beginning to find himself hard pressed to resist that smile.
~*~*~*~
"It looks like you just came from an orgy," Junsu said, his attempt at being snide failing miserably as his eyes scanned a dishevelled Jaejoong.
"I'm surprised you even know what an orgy is," he said pleasantly, "but I'd be happy to show you." He added a wink for good measure and watched with a great deal of gratification as Junsu blushed, made a face, and pointedly turned away from him, studying his script with great interest instead.
"Jaejoong sshi!" The girl that had led the audition a few days ago came running to him now and he had to bite back a scathing remark. What Yoochun had told him still had yet to leave his mind. He wondered abstractly if Junsu knew they were both being used. Then he cursed himself for falling for it. Damn Yoochun.
She was impossibly tall, nearly eye level with him, and had long black hair spilling down her back, slightly tanned skin, and a mischievous grin. He had yet to catch her name. "So glad you could make it!"
At first he thought she was being sarcastic, and then realized she was genuinely happy that he'd shown up. 'Do I really look that irresponsible?' He thought to himself, annoyed, and knew exactly what the answer to that question would be.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he said with a flirtatious grin and she blushed, giggling as she wrapped her fingers loosely around his wrist and pulled him to the center of the room.
"The play isn't for another two months so we're just going through the basics, like rehearsing, getting measurements for costumes, designing the sets, composing and writing the songs you'll be singing with Junsu, so on and so forth. We thought that the two stars could rehearse the majority of lines on your own since most of the scenes are just you two interacting. Once we get you measured, we can go practice with Junsu. Is that okay with you?"
"Just peachy," he said and watched with amazement as the measuring tape flew all over him, wrapping around places he was sure was unnecessary but by the time he'd opened his mouth to protest, the other girl wielding the tape had already moved on to another, less invasive part of his body.
Then the girl whisked him back to Junsu and promptly abandoned him, with strict instruction to arrange two to three practices a week and that she'd be checking up on them via Junsu.
With a look that was probably meant to make Jaejoong feel completely inadequate but made him laugh instead, Junsu got up from the ground where he'd taken up residence in the large auditorium.
Before Jaejoong could even open his mouth, Junsu was already thumbing through the script. "You've read the script since last time, right?"
Jaejoong coughed. "Um - "
"I can't believe you." Junsu's voice was laced with venom and Jaejoong sighed. "Look, I don't know what I did to you but don't stay on my account. Leave if you're just going to treat this as a joke."
"I didn't even know you existed until a week ago and last time I checked, you were the reason we didn't start off on a good foot, not me." Jaejoong ran a hand through his long black hair absentmindedly. "Why do you seem to dislike me so much?"
He snorted. "I wouldn't waste my time disliking you."
"Right. Because you're treating me with so much kindness and courtesy right now." Jaejoong finally sighed and shifted his weight. "Well, where and when do you want to meet for practice?"
Junsu blinked at him in surprise, mouth forming a small 'o', and Jaejoong tried to resist the urge to flick his forehead.
And failed.
"Hey!" Junsu brought a hand to rub his forehead and stared at him openly with shock.
"Anyone ever told you you'd be cute if you weren't so anal?" Jaejoong chuckled.
"I'm not - !"
"I'm free Tuesday and Thursday nights. We could meet at the res common room?"
"That's fine," Junsu muttered grudgingly, still rubbing his forehead.
"Aw, do you need me to kiss it better?"
Junsu finally shot him a frustrated look, gathered his things, and stomped out, much like last time. Jaejoong laughed, shaking his head, and lingered in the auditorium for a little while longer before taking his own leave.
~*~*~
"Yoochun, are you busy?"
"Not really." He yawned, stretching his arms over his head. "I think I'm done for the day. Good thing you and Junsu only sing three songs."
"While the play will suck, at least you're a guarantee the music won't." Jaejoong laughed and waved at him from his door. "Mind coming in for a sec?"
"Sure? What's up?" Yoochun walked right into a small audience. Changmin sat by the desk in Jaejoong's chair, Yunho stood somewhere off to the side, looking comfortable, and Jaejoong was sprawled on the bed, a grin on his face.
"Okay, show them," Jaejoong commanded and Changmin sighed.
"You know this is against the rules right?"
"You know you're messing up my life right? Just do it."
Changmin threw him another uncertain look, and just as Yoochun was about to ask exactly what the hell was going on, a pair of eyes flashed golden and suddenly Yoochun found himself looking at everything in the room, other than Changmin's chair, floating an inch from the ground.
The response was immediate.
"Holy shit!"
"What in the - "
"Very flashy," Jaejoong grumbled. He directed a sharp glance at Yunho, who was too busy staring at Changmin. "Now will you believe me when I say he's a fairy?"
Yunho gulped, and then nodded a little fearfully.
"A fairy?" Yoochun was quick to get his bearings together, but even he breathed a sigh of relief when everything floated back down. "I thought Changmin was just a freshman you had a class with."
A flash of gold again and Yoochun was clutching at his head, horrified at what felt like a gaping hole in his memories that was slowly filling itself in. "Please don't do that again."
"Sorry," Changmin said hesitantly. "I've never - had to take it back before."
Something was amiss. "Why did you?" Yunho suddenly said, a little suspicious. Attraction to someone who probably wasn't even human shouldn't trump his own judgement, he told himself firmly.
"Yeah," Yoochun said, immediately catching on. Yunho threw him a grateful look. "Why bother telling and showing us? You don't need to listen to Jaejoong hyung; hardly anybody ever do anyway."
"Hey!"
"And how do we know you're not dangerous?"
Changmin steeled his expression into a serious one. "First of all, if I wanted to hurt any of you I wouldn't be sitting here inviting all of you to cross-examine me. Second of all, I'm here to accomplish one thing and that's to assist Jaejoong hyung with accomplishing something. As soon as he makes up his mind as to what that something will be, I can get on with my work and leave all of you alone."
Somehow, Yunho could tell Changmin was telling the truth. It wasn't as if he was particularly good at reading people - in fact, Jaejoong and Yoochun had both told him often he trusted too easily - but this time, it seemed as though he was absolutely certain that Changmin had no ill feeling towards them.
"But why Jaejoong?" Yoochun wondered out loud. "By the way, this doesn't mean I believe you, just that you could probably kill us all with a blink of an eye - literally - and there's not much we can do about it."
Changmin shrugged and looked Jaejoong. He looked back at him.
"Usually we choose people who feel as though they're missing something."
"Have you been missing something lately?" Yunho asked him, amusement clearly on his face.
"They may not yet be aware of it," Changmin continued, still looking at him. Jaejoong shifted uneasily. "And my instinct tells me that if I assist you in something, it will act as a catalyst of sorts. I would not have appeared if you didn't need my help. Has anything happened recently that you've found yourself involved in, perhaps?"
"Well, that's easy enough. The play."
"I don't need magic to help me get through a play. That you tricked me into doing, in case you've forgotten," Jaejoong protested indignantly.
"Well, think about it," Yoochun said thoughtfully, unmindful of the accusation. "What else in your life do you need help with?"
"Oh I don't know, my student loans?"
"I mean, what's new in your life that would explain the sudden appearance of a fairy - " he sniggered, and stopped when both Changmin and Yunho threw him an annoyed look, " - who insists he has to help you with something in order for you to fill the emptiness in your heart?" He dodged just as a pillow flew past his head.
"This is the script?" Changmin held up the book he'd been leafing through when Jaejoong had first found him lounging on his bed. The words Truth and Harmony was scrawled messily on the front.
"That's it," Jaejoong said gloomily, and flopped onto his back. "This talk about 'missing something' sounds like you took it straight from the play."
"Who're you playing?" Changmin asked, flipping through it casually, Yunho reading over his shoulder.
Jaejoong frowned, trying to remember. "Ryeowon."
There was several seconds of blessed silence as they read through the cast list. And then came the predicted burst of laughter.
"You should be playing Soojong! Junsu's far more of a Ryeowon than you are." Yunho chuckled, Yoochun grinned, and Changmin cracked a smile.
"Oh sure, laugh it up - Wait, you know him?"
"I met him at a party last month," he explained, still grinning. "He's quiet but really nice. Great voice."
"How come everyone knows him except me?"
Changmin looked up. "I don't know him."
"Well that's because you fell from the sky. You wouldn't want to anyway," he grumbled.
"Of course I do - he may be an important person. When can I meet him?"
All three of them blinked at him. The sudden commanding tone was definitely an unexpected surprise.
"Well, we're got practice tomorrow night in the common room. You could tag along, I guess."
He felt something that was not quite a shiver when Changmin smiled slowly.
"Excellent."
~*~*~
Yunho was chatting with several classmates when he spotted the tall figure leaning against the wall several feet down the hall from his classroom door. Almost as if he'd known exactly the moment Yunho would notice him, Changmin looked up and gave him a tiny wave
He wiped his palms onto his pants as he excused himself from his friends and made his way towards where the 'fairy' stood.
"Hey." He stopped short in front of him.
If possible, Changmin looked even better. As if slowly adjusting to the world around him, he seemed more at ease, dressed in a blue shirt and grey slacks. Yunho had to look away when Changmin slowly smiled at his greeting.
"I'm not bothering you, I hope?"
"No, I'm done with classes for the day. Are you..." He hesitated. "Did you want to talk to me about something?"
"Am I that easy to read?" Changmin shot him a piercing look and Yunho suddenly remembered the surety he'd felt last night at Changmin's trustworthiness.
"I just get the feeling we have something to discuss," Yunho said with his usual honesty.
"You're right." Changmin looked around them pointedly. "Can we go somewhere more private?"
Well, that wasn't helping the direction his imagination was taking. "Sure. I have an apartment off campus - do you mind?"
"No, that sounds good."
"My car's parked outside, we could - "
"Or we could - "
He felt a hand take his in a strong grip, a tug from somewhere deep inside, and before he could whimper - because that feeling of being underwater was threatening to drown him - and he was standing in his apartment, his bag sliding down his shoulder to land hard at his feet. As if nothing had happened, Changmin took several steps forward and then turned around.
"Is this it?"
"Let - let me catch my breath," he gasped, and collapsed onto the ground in a heap.
There was a hand on his arm and another hand stroking his hair. Unconsciously, he leaned into the touch and it took a far shorter time to regain a sense of himself. For one thing, he didn't black out this time.
"A warning next time, please," he mumbled.
"I don't understand," Changmin growled, frustration making him frown hard. "Why is it not working on you? Just you. It makes no sense."
"I hope you're not planning on experimenting," Yunho gasped, feeling his racing heart beginning to slow. He was calming down. "I don't think I'll survive it."
"No, I wouldn't do that to you," Changmin smiled, as if he was trying to be brave and failing. "I'll just have to figure it out on my own."
"Is it a problem?" Yunho hadn't realized how serious it was to him - none of them had, he supposed - but attempting to view the situation in Changmin's perspective was difficult, because Yunho really didn't know the first thing about him.
"It means either there's something wrong with my powers or - " He fell silent, eyes wide, and turned to stare at Yunho with astonishment.
"What?" Yunho felt like he was saying that a lot lately.
"I have to go," Changmin mumbled and was on his feet in a second.
Something inside Yunho knew his eyes were about to flash gold and he reached up to grab his hand. The touch made Changmin pause and he looked down questioningly.
"You'll tell me when you figure it out, right?"
The eyes were already glinting. "Of course."
"And..." He searched his mind desperately for something else. "Is my car still at the school parking lot?"
The smile was amused. "No, it's parked just under this building, you'll find it in the usual spot." With that, Changmin disappeared.
Yunho decided he really shouldn't hang out with Jaejoong anymore.
~*~*~
"I thought you'd have forgotten, too busy picking up girls."
"What is it with you and starting a conversation with sex?"
Junsu looked like he was about to protest, but wrinkled his nose instead. "You smoke?"
"Yeah. Got a problem with that?" He was annoyed tonight, because Changmin was sitting several couches away and judging by the completely nonchalant expression on his face as he pretended to read his magazine, he could hear every word they said. The room was empty save the three of them. He'd instructed Changmin to go in several minutes earlier, so that it appeared as though he'd been there all along. When Junsu and him met at the door and walked in together, Junsu didn't bat an eyelash towards the 'fairy.'
Junsu watched him for a minute or two as he thumbed through the script quickly. Attempts at skimming it last night had failed because he couldn't stop thinking about what Changmin had said and he had never thought of himself as a person who was missing anything, maybe a good drink when he really needed it (and he really needed it last night), but on an mental level he'd always been levelheaded. Maybe not the Yunho type of levelheaded, but -
"You should quit."
"What?"
"You. Should. Quit." Junsu stared at him as if he was ten years old, and for some reason, he actually felt like he should be cowering before his gaze. "It's bad for your voice."
"Thank you for stating the obvious, Dr. Kim."
"I'm serious."
"And I'm seriously contemplating whether you hate me or you're trying to get in my pants, because there's no way any person can be this persistent in trying to pick a fight with me. Are you like one of those bullies who pull on little girls' pigtails to get their attention?"
Oh shit. That wasn't what he'd intended to say. Something like 'Well it's hard to take you seriously' or something equally harmless had been at the tip of his tongue - what had come out was something he'd had a passing thought or two about, but definitely had had no intention of giving voice too.
Not yet, anyway.
"Oh, you caught me."
He turned his head so fast he almost got whiplash.
Junsu sighed dramatically and made the worst attempt at puppy eyes Jaejoong had ever seen. "I definitely want in your pants," he said in a throaty voice and Jaejoong almost blushed, except this was very, very wrong and he was definitely not thinking of - "It's not because smoking will ruin your voice in the long run and give you lung cancer at all. I absolutely," he paused, and then continued, leaning forward and lowering his voice even more, "don't care that you're slowly killing yourself."
Jaejoong stared. Junsu stared back.
Except he stared for so long that Junsu eventually drew back and gave him a weird look.
"Your cue to laugh passed a long time ago."
"What?"
"Just taking a page out of your book," Junsu shrugged and turned back to the script. "Taste of your own medicine."
"You - "
"What? Don't think I'll always just sit here and take it." Junsu grinned triumphantly, as if he'd won a battle, thought not yet the war.
"Don't do that again," Jaejoong said in all seriousness, looking straight at him.
"Why not?"
"Because." Jaejoong paused. He swallowed. He tried coughing. He tried to clear his throat. Then he threw a glare at Changmin, who tilted his head innocently at his magazine. The words were fighting to get out and he couldn't stop himself. It had to be the fairy's fault. "It makes me think of you taking it and it has nothing to do with a little harmless teasing. In fact, I'm imagining you writhing beneath me as I tongue your - Ow!"
When he looked up again after making sure the book hadn't taken out his eye, Junsu had scooted to the far end of the couch.
"What the hell," Junsu hissed, face brilliantly red.
"Good aim," he groaned, rubbing his cheek.
Looking a little guilty, Junsu edged closer to pick up his book from the ground where it had fallen. "Why can't you be serious for three seconds?"
"Too much effort," he said honestly and paused, wincing.
"Let me see."
Gingerly, Jaejoong removed his hand and Junsu clasped his chin, turning his face side to side to check for injuries. Jaejoong watched Junsu as he did this, and once Junsu backed away again, satisfied that he hadn't scarred Jaejoong's face permanently, he had a question of his own.
"Why can't you smile around me once in awhile?"
"You haven't exactly given me a reason to," Junsu said quietly, sitting back with the book on his lap once again. He turned to face him, for the first time revealing a tiredness that rimmed his eyes. "Can we just please get on with this?"
"Fine. Fine," Jaejoong sighed and flipped to the first scene that had Ryeowon and Soojong interacting exclusively. It was mostly them bitching about how the other was such a snob and an irresponsible asshole.
'Hm, sounds familiar.'
As the two prepared to read through the scene for the first time, Jaejoong couldn't help but watch Junsu and imagine what a genuine smile on his face would look like.
~*~*~
"Why're you so quiet?"
Changmin watched him with an amused air. It pissed him off.
"I know what you did back there."
Changmin shrugged.
"Remember those ground rules I mentioned yesterday? Here's the first one. Don't. Do. Magic. Unless. I. Tell. You. To. Especially not on me."
"It's beyond my control now."
"What does that mean?" Jaejoong gaped at him.
"Jaejoong hyung," he sighed, making a mockery of the respectful suffix he still used without fail, "let me explain to you how this works. I couldn't do so until it was already in motion so I hope you'll forgive me for that."
He didn't look the least bit sorry.
"You don't look the least bit sorry."
"Let me explain, okay?"
Jaejoong grabbed a pillow and buried his face into it, pouting fiercely now that no one could see him.
"I can see you."
"No you can't."
"No?"
Rising unbidden in his mind was the image of Changmin's eyes glowing. He brought the pillow away from his face, furious. "Fine! Now explain!"
Smiling slowly, Changmin indicated towards his eyes. "All of my kind has the same basic abilities. They're mostly for convenience - to hide our identity, to make sure our targets listen to us - " he looked at him pointedly, which Jaejoong ignored, " - to ensure basic safety. But our real powers kick in once we've found our targets and once they determine what their goal will be."
"I didn't agree to anything!"
"Your heart did."
"Can we please try not to sound like a bad romance novel?"
Changmin shrugged. "Basically, my power adjusts to your needs. Last night, you told me that this was what you wanted. All you need to know is that when you're around Kim Junsu, you will always be inclined to speak the truth."
He gaped at him. "Please tell me you're kidding."
When Changmin merely looked at him, Jaejoong fell back, eyes wide. There was no reason not to believe him, as last night had shown.
"There's no way I told you that."
Changmin shrugged again. "I cannot lie as well. That's the consequence - whatever my power inflicts on you, I also have to endure it."
"I don't suppose you'll tell me why you're so determined to ruin my life?" Jaejoong asked dubiously.
At another one of Changmin's shrugs, Jaejoong shut his eyes and fell over onto his side.
~*~*~
"You don't understand anything," Jaejoong said viciously, a look of exaggerated anger on his face. "All you do is party and waste your life away. You don't deserve that voice."
"It's not my fault you're so bitter about your own damn life - if you can even call it one," Junsu sneered. Jaejoong almost reeled back at his tone - it never ceased to surprise him how good Junsu was at this acting business, even if the words coming out of his mouth were beyond ridiculous. "Here's a suggestion - why don't you stay the fuck out of my business?"
They glared at each other, until Junsu sighed and looked away while Jaejoong blinked.
"What? I thought it was going well!"
"Not enough self-righteous anger," Junsu mumbled, skimming the script again. "I can see why you're not in theatre."
Jaejoong leaned against the couch, eyebrows knitted in frustration as he kept his mouth shut, refusing to rise to the bait. He was a little afraid what would come out of his mouth otherwise. He'd decided that the best way to keep their conversation on track was to concentrate fully on the play and not to allow topics to derail. Hence, he ran a hand through his hair and cracked a half-smile.
"Let's try again."
Junsu stared at him for a second, before shrugging and flipping the page back. "Sure."
They went through the scene that Junsu had interrupted and got as far as the scene right before Ryeowon caught Soojong singing by himself before Junsu chose that moment to derail.
"Why the sudden dedication?"
"What?" He mumbled absentmindedly, eyes scanning the pages.
Ryeowon: Let me train you.
Soojong: [laughs] I don't want it. I've got better things to do than hang out with a fag like you.
Jaejoong blinked. "Whoa."
Junsu leaned over against his side to look at what he'd just read. "Oh, that part. Sooyoung was thinking about taking it out. Too political."
"Sooyoung?"
He looked at him as if he was crazy. "Yeah, the director? The girl at the auditions and at the first meeting?"
"...Right. I knew that." Jaejoong averted his eyes and read on in silence.
Suddenly, however, a thought came to him. "Hey, did you know that they're - " using us -
"I can't figure you out, Jaejoong sshi."
"Eh?" He said intelligently.
Junsu was looking at him with an odd expression, one that Jaejoong could only describe as half apprehensive, half scared.
As always, his mouth ran away from him. "I think this is the first time you've addressed me respectfully." He patted him on the head with a fond look on his face. "Good job."
"Why can't you take anything seriously?" He suddenly exploded and Jaejoong reeled back, eyes wide. "Your voice is beautiful. Amazing. I've never heard anything like it. But you're a vocals minor with an undecided major. You could be a vocals specialist with that voice of yours and enough training. Do you even know? What anyone in the department would do for talent like yours?"
His last thought was, 'this can't be good,' before his mouth ran away from him again. "Is this why you've been biting my head off every time I see you?"
"...Maybe," Junsu finally said reluctantly, sighing a little as he sagged against the couch.
Jaejoong noted that with some interest. Had they been engaging in some rivalry he hadn't even been aware of? Somehow, Junsu saw him as that typical talented but uncaring asshole - like Soojong, as a matter of fact. The similarities that play had with the two of them were almost uncanny - as if the playwright had the two in mind when they had penned it.
Frankly, what amazed him was that Junsu was actually conversing with him without wanting to simultaneously take his throat out.
"You're not jealous or anything, are you?" The thought had occurred to him but the very notion of it was ridiculous.
"...Maybe," Junsu repeated, staring at the ground past his feet.
"Why?" Jaejoong laughed. "You can't possibly not know that your voice is the best on campus. The best I've heard, actually."
When Junsu looked up at him, startled, Jaejoong widened his eyes incredulously. They looked at each other.
"I don't think it is," Junsu finally said softly, shaking a little as he closed the script on his lap. "But...thank you for saying that."
Jaejoong continued staring. When Junsu didn't try to maintain a biting and harsh exterior, there was a soft lilt to his voice. Once he stopped trying to hide behind a hostile facade, his eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, really, for the first time in Jaejoong's presence.
Next
Pairing: Jaejoong/Junsu, Yunho/Changmin
Genre: AU, comedy/romance, supernatural
Warnings: Massive suspension of disbelief required. Light smut.
Summary: Jaejoong thinks it's much easier just to blame the fairy. Damn Changmin.
The first time he caught sight of Changmin, he thought he was going insane.
That could probably have been attributed to the fact that he hadn't actually seen him - felt him, gotten that odd sense of a presence behind him - by the time he'd finally neared his residence building, Jaejoong was about ready to pick a fight with the first person to cross his path.
Paranoia lined his every movement and every step he took warranted a look back. Nervously, he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket and hunched slightly, hiding behind his mane of black hair (his eldest sister threatened him with the kitchen scissors every time he went home for the holidays) until the door to the building was in sight.
Hurriedly, he reviewed every person he knew on campus, any enemy he may have unknowingly made (he tended to do that and he was perfectly alright with admitting it). But other than the guy from the drama department's latest production (whom he'd gleefully managed to steal the lead role from), he didn't think he'd pissed off anyone in the last week. Or the week before that.
Kim Junsu's face tightened as soon as he neared. "Don't you have a girl to knock up or something?" He sat on the bench that lined the walk leading up to the residence building they both lived in - a book in hand, his short auburn hair blowing in the wind - there was something unapproachable about him.
Of course, that had never stopped Jaejoong before.
"Nope," he swivelled around on the heels of his feet and promptly dropped down onto the empty seat next to him. "We broke up twenty minutes ago." Oh, he'd forgotten about her. Suspiciously, Jaejoong glanced down the path he'd just taken, hoping that perhaps a head of orange would be seen hovering over a particularly large bush.
"Typical," Junsu muttered with a snort of disgust and looked back down at the booklet he held in his hands.
"It's not my fault you're a prude," he shrugged, abandoning his watch to glance curiously down at what he was reading. "Aren't we gay lovers in the play?"
He watched with amusement as Junsu visibly blanched at the thought, shutting the book and edging several inches away from him in the other direction. "No! Why don't you try reading the script before trying out?"
"Is that what you're doing right now?"
Junsu pointedly ignored him, re-opening the book. It was indeed the script of the play, a thin booklet of photocopied pages binded by thick black spirals. Jaejoong had picked up his copy last week; he tried very hard to recall where he'd placed it. His sock drawer? Beneath his bed?
"The lady said we only had to sing. Didn't mention anything about reading the script."
"Well now that you have the lead role, reading it wouldn't be a bad idea."
Jaejoong tried not to chuckle at the way Junsu gritted his teeth, refusing to lift his eyes to look at him. "I figured I'd wing it."
"Are you taking this seriously at all?"
"Not really."
Junsu shut his eyes, rubbing gingerly at the spot between his eyes as if Jaejoong's response had just given him a migraine. "Then why did you try out?"
He laughed, the memory suddenly coming back. "I think I was drunk and I made a bet with Yoochun. He said I'd never be able to beat the vocal star of the music department."
"Park Yoochun?"
Jaejoong grinned at the surprised look. "Yeah, he's my roommate. Why, have you heard of him?"
Almost on cue, a faint redness spread across his cheeks. Yet that seemed to give Junsu courage, because he continued to glare steadily at Jaejoong. "Who hasn't?"
"Ah, right, I forgot everyone's a fan of his songs. Well, you'd be happy to know he thinks very highly of your voice. Even if I did beat you."
"You didn't beat me. Your voice just fits the role better." It looked like it took everything for Junsu to admit this.
"Oh really? And what role is that?"
Junsu rolled his eyes and flipped to the page of the character profiles. "The fact that you don't even know who you're playing means you should probably quit while you're ahead."
"Will you just read it?"
He continued to glare at him as he grudgingly dictated what was on the page out loud. "Jung Ryeowon. Twenty-year-old music student. Extremely dedicated to his music and practices everyday. Doesn't have much of a social life. Feels that there is something missing in his life. Eventually rediscovers his inspiration and passion for music in the process of training Pak Soojong."
"You're kidding."
"I'm playing Soojong," Junsu continued, irritated at being interrupted. "A party animal on campus, but feels something missing. Attracts the attention of Ryeowon one day, and through the voice training that Ryeowon offers him, discovers a love for music. The final scene is the two of them being forced to reconcile social differences and singing at a campus event."
"And you're sure we're not playing gay lovers?"
"No!"
"So we are."
"I mean, yes I'm sure!" Jaejoong raised an eyebrow as Junsu made as if to pitch the book at his head. "It's supposed to be some kind of coming of age story, reaching across the aisle between social groups with the power of music - "
Jaejoong looked at him strangely.
" - or something."
"Did a couple of your female classmates get together and write this? It sounds like a girl's gay sexual fantasy. Next thing you know, Ryeowon and Soojong find themselves making out in the music room."
"Don't you mean your female classmates as well?"
"Actually, about that..."
"You lied about being a drama major?"
Jaejoong laughed nervously as Junsu looked angrier by the second. "Well I didn't exactly - "
"Is there anything that you haven't lied about?"
"Hey, I resent that," he muttered. "I'm undecided, okay? I still have a vocal minor so I'm not ineligible. I can't believe - no social life? Do I look like a Jung Ryeowon to you? Better yet, do you look like a Pak Soojong?"
"You don't have to do it if you don't want to," Junsu said harshly and stood up, "better yet, maybe you should quit right now. Save everyone who actually cares about this production the trouble."
Jaejoong stared up at him, observing Junsu despite himself. During the audition, he'd had to admit to himself that Yoochun's admiration for this man's voice was not unfounded - on a technical level, he was perfect; on an emotional level, he was astounding. It was unfortunate that, like everyone else who wasn't his friend, Junsu viewed him with the same hostility. As always, his reputation preceded him.
Now, there seemed to be that same passion surfacing, even if it was anger at Jaejoong's nonchalance. It gave Junsu an intimidating presence, despite his lack of height or physical build.
Junsu was already walking away when Jaejoong spoke. "I was thinking about doing that," he said, smiling as nicely as he could at him. Junsu stared back. "But now I think I'll stay on."
"Why?" Junsu asked, frustration etched all over his face.
For once, he decided to be honest. "Seeing you at rehearsals and annoying you with my presence might actually be the highlight of my week."
Junsu made a face at him and finally stomped away. Chuckling, Jaejoong stood up and went into his residence. He flirted with the girl manning the front desk, greeted several guys he'd met at a party two nights ago, and finally reached his door, unlocking it with his key card.
"I'm home!" He called out dramatically, shutting the door behind him. "Blessed are you to be in the presence of the star of Truth and Harmony - what kind of title is that anyway - you may bow down before me."
Yoochun looked up from his work at their small wooden table. Barely able to seat two people, Yoochun and Jaejoong had spent many nights huddled around it slurping ramen at ungodly hours in the morning, usually right before tests or exams.
"No thanks. But try the girl's floor - I'm sure you'll find someone willing to get down on her knees for you."
"And people think I'm the pervert," Jaejoong muttered, taking a seat. He peered at what he was working on. "Another song?"
"Yeah, for the play. You have no idea what a dream it is to be able to work with voices like yours and Junsu's. It's too bad it's for such a bad script."
"You know, letting me read it before tricking me into trying out would've helped."
"And have you find out how crappy it is? What would be the fun in that?"
"I didn't think the drama department put on such awful plays," Jaejoong muttered, leaning his chin against the heel of his palm as he watched Yoochun suddenly scribble furiously on his music sheets. It often amazed him how Yoochun could compose without so much as a keyboard in front of him - having perfect pitch helped, as well as the ability, as he had often tried to describe to Jaejoong, 'to visualize music in my head.'
"I'm not supposed to tell you," Yoochun said quietly, still scribbling, "but this is actually an effort to fund the Drama Students Association."
"Who?"
"They self-produce those artsy productions that nobody goes to see except other drama students and their friends. The admin told them if they couldn't bring in some profit instead of always breaking even or losing money they would shut them down."
"And somehow, this has to do with me?"
"Well, everyone knows you, hyung," Yoochun looked up again, a smile on his face. "And hardly anybody knows you can sing circles around most of the vocal majors here. I figured you would bring in a good crowd."
Jaejoong frowned indignantly. "I don't appreciate being used, Yoochun."
"Meanwhile," he continued as if he hadn't heard him, "Kim Junsu is quite literally the vocal and drama departments' rising star. He's a second year double major. Who better to act alongside you?"
"Someone who doesn't have a stick up his ass?"
Yoochun blinked. "He doesn't though. He always says hi to everyone. I've never seen him without a smile."
"Around you maybe," Jaejoong grumbled, "he's got a man crush on you and your songs."
He took a second to think about that, before shrugging. "Who doesn't?" It wasn't a boastful admission but a simple acknowledgement that ever since he'd accepted the school's offer to work for the music department and compose for the school orchestra, choir, and soloists, everyone had jumped the bandwagon and his popularity had shot up.
"And he thinks I'm the campus impregnator or something."
Yoochun burst out laughing. "What?"
"He thinks I go around knocking girls up. Anyhow," Jaejoong stood up, planting his hands flat on the table. "If this all turns out badly I know who to go after. Don't forget I know where you live, Park Yoochun."
"I'll lock my door at night." He'd gone back to his music making and Jaejoong knew not even an earthquake would break his concentration.
With a dejected sigh, he walked over to his own bedroom door. So he'd gotten roped into doing a play because of his face, his co-star thought he was an irresponsible liar (except he kind of was, because he wasn't really undecided either, he just didn't think an art history major was very impressive and had yet to officially choose one) and he had two essays to write by the end of the week. Jaejoong was sure he hadn't signed up for this when he'd decided to pursue a post-secondary education.
When he threw open his door and stepped inside, he was pretty sure the man sitting on his bed, rifting through the script he should've been reading, wasn't part of the plan either.
Jaejoong took a step back, so that he was leaning half way out the door and the back of his roommate's head was in sight.
"Yoochun, can you please not leave strange men in my room? My heart can't take the shock."
"If I ever do, I'll be sure to let you know beforehand."
"Then how'd he get in?"
"Who?"
"Him." He pointed.
Yoochun stood up, walked over, and peeked into his room. The man looked up. Jaejoong would never be able to recount to another person what happened in the next few seconds (though he would try very hard to), because the man's eyes flashed golden, Yoochun's face twisted, and suddenly Jaejoong found himself listening to a very, very improbable explanation spilling from the lips of a person whom he could always depend on to be rational (at least, to counteract his own brand of random).
"It's just Changmin, he was waiting for you." With a little shrug, Yoochun went back to his seat.
From where he'd been standing, Jaejoong stared at him with unabashed shock. "Who?"
Yoochun had the gall to twist around in his chair, staring back at him with raised eyebrows. "What do you mean 'who'? You told me yesterday he was coming over to work on that assignment with you."
Jaejoong opened his mouth, closed it, and blinked once, twice. Just as a "No I didn't, what are you on?" was about to slip out of his mouth, he turned, feeling a slight breeze behind him.
And nearly jumped out of his skin. "How did you - !"
The man smiled placatingly, leaning against the doorframe while towering over his head. "Yoochun hyung told me you were out so he let me in to wait for you. Don't you think we should get started, Jaejoong hyung?"
He continued to stare as 'Changmin' took a firm grip of his wrist and pulled him into the room. Flashing an observing Yoochun another polite smile, he shut the door behind him.
"What did you just - "
"A simple mind trick." Changmin took a step back and extended a hand. "I'm Shim Changmin. You're going to be my target for the next few weeks."
Jaejoong stared down at his hand, before frowning. "I hope you don't expect me to actually shake it. What do you mean, target? But wait, let's get back to the basics." He smiled his polite, disinterested smile. "What the fuck are you doing in my room?"
With an almost disappointed look, Changmin dropped the offered hand and looked around. Jaejoong watched, wide-eyed, as his chair slid across the floor to bump gently at the back of Changmin's knees. He promptly sat down. In his chair. His chair that had just moved on its own.
"Why don't you take a seat on your bed and I'll explain?"
Jaejoong's eyes continued searching his room for a weapon. Making those paintbrushes would make good projectiles -
With a little sigh, Changmin flicked long, slender fingers and Jaejoong found himself sitting cross-legged on the bed. With a yelp, he scrambled back.
"Oh my god, what are you?"
Tilting his head to the side thoughtfully, Changmin looked to be seriously contemplating his question. After a second, he shrugged. "I don't think there's a word in your language for my kind. Something like tricksters, maybe?"
"Excuse me?"
"I find whoever's captured my fancy and that just happens to be you," He smiled. Kindly, if Jaejoong was actually paying attention and not trying to shake his way out of his skin.
"Wait," Jaejoong tried to chuckle, except what came out was a strangled noise. He cleared his throat. "What, is this a hidden camera on some poor unsuspecting college student? I'm pretty sure that's illegal. I mean, aren't I supposed to sign some contract first? And what kind of special effects are you using?" He edged away from the younger man - he looked younger anyhow - and continued, "Maybe you can just sort of leave now and we'll forget this ever happened."
Changmin looked at him quietly.
He closed his mouth with a frustrated glare of his own. Jaejoong knew he was fooling himself even before he'd opened his mouth. He'd felt a tug, somewhere deep inside, and he'd blinked, found himself on his bed, and the gold in Changmin's eyes fading.
Satisfied that he'd stopped protesting, Changmin smiled again. "Now, where were we? Oh, right. I'm here to help you accomplish something. It's up to you to decide what that goal will be."
"But what are you?" He repeated, a nervous churning in his stomach. His voice sounded weak even to his ears, but he willed himself to stop shaking. The idea that the perfectly normal looking man was able to do things he hadn't even thought were possible minutes ago was really scaring him.
Luckily, Kim Jaejoong did not usually submit to panic attacks and held himself together with admirable calm. Changmin was almost impressed.
"Like I said, a trickster."
"A fairy?" He suggested, unable to keep the sarcasm from his voice.
"If you mean the non-tutu wearing, non-flying, non-wand waving kind, sure. Whatever makes you feel better."
"Hey, less on the patronizing, okay?" He said in a hard voice, eyes suddenly fierce with frustration.
Changmin reeled back, eyes a little wide. And then he smiled tentatively. "I forgot about - I mean, I should call you hyung, right? And actually try to treat you like one..." He gave a little sigh. "I haven't done this in awhile. You're my first target in a long time."
"If you're going to crash land into my room, at least treat me with some respect," Jaejoong muttered, feeling a little sorry for him despite himself (and he had to admit, the fairy comment wasn't meant to be a kind one).
"So you're a fairy." (Also not one he was quite ready to give up yet).
At the face Changmin pulled, he at least felt that he'd paid him back for what he'd done to Yoochun. Speaking of Yoochun, "What you did to my friend. It's not permanent, is it?" For one thing, if he'd fried Yoochun's music making abilities, there was definitely going to be hell to pay.
With an amused grin, Changmin shook his head. "I just planted some memories that weren't there before. I didn't touch anything essential of his. I would never harm anyone."
"If I say you're giving me heart failure, will you toss up some fairy dust and disappear then?"
Changmin, to his credit, looked the tiniest bit sympathetic. "It doesn't work like that, sorry."
With a little sigh of his own, Jaejoong flopped onto his side and groaned. It seemed like nothing wanted to work according to plan anymore.
~*~*~
"I'm being stalked."
Yunho paused in his attempt to slide into the seat without giving his presence away to the man sitting opposite of him. Taking in the grim expression on his face as Jaejoong looked up, a determined glint in his eyes, Yunho wondered again why he bothered with Kim Jaejoong.
"By whom?" He asked, choosing to adopt the indulgent smile as he always did when talking to his friend. Friends. He had pretty crazy friends.
"A fairy," Jaejoong answered flatly.
Like him.
"A - what?"
"That's what he said! I didn't make it up!" With a groan, Jaejoong buried his face in his arms.
Yunho stared at him, this time with concern. "Jaejoong, have you been going to too many parties and not getting enough sleep again? Because you know how you get - "
"Yunho." Jaejoong stared up, somewhere above his head with something akin to panic and Yunho stopped, glancing back curiously.
"He means me."
Barely able to keep his jaw from dropping, he watched as a tall younger man slid into view. Giving him a slow bow (Yunho made a sort of twitch that was supposed to be a bow in return and then blushed beet red), he indicated towards the seat next to him.
"May I?"
"Of course," he said, voice a little higher than usual, and skittered to the side. In front of him, Jaejoong groaned.
"My name is Shim Changmin. I'm working with Jaejoong hyung on an assignment. Sorry to interrupt your lunch." He gazed down at the box Yunho had been in the process of opening.
His natural tendency towards courtesy immediately kicked in. "You're welcome to join us," he said, a little relieved that Changmin seemed normal (compared to the rest of Jaejoong's crowd). 'And really attractive,' his traitorous heart whispered, sounding a lot like Jaejoong himself. "I'm Jung Yunho, a friend of Jaejoong's."
"Yunho hyung," Changmin said respectfully, and Yunho tried not to stab his other hand with his chopsticks at the way his name sounded in that baritone voice. Then he tried not to smack himself - he was clearly hanging around vocal majors too much; their vocabulary was even beginning to work their way into his.
"By the way," Changmin said pleasantly as he turned to face Jaejoong. "I didn't say that and you most definitely made it up."
"Jaejoong, that's pretty rude, even for you."
Jaejoong stared at the two of them, open-mouthed. "Whose side are you on?"
"I'm not taking sides!" Yunho laughed, shaking his head. "But I am more inclined to believe that Changmin sshi had to chase you down to get you to work on that assignment with him."
"Shut up," Jaejoong finally sulked, sighing inaudibly into his hands.
Smiling, Yunho turned to ask Changmin what kind of assignment it was - and was met with glowing golden eyes staring steadily at Jaejoong. Yunho blinked, opened his mouth - then those golden eyes turned to him, seemed only to brighten even more, and then eventually faded away.
"Not him too!" Jaejoong's voice sounded very far away.
Yunho shook his head as if to clear it - except to clear it of what he wasn't quite sure yet - and blinked several times.
"You're unaffected," Changmin said, surprised. Though 'surprise' was an understatement, he looked like he was about to strain a muscle, with the way his eyes had widened to an impossible size. "That's impossible."
"It didn't work?" Jaejoong sounded absolutely delighted and Yunho tried to focus on his voice, because he felt as though he was somehow underwater and had yet to break through the surface. Finally, he just shut his eyes and waited for it to pass.
He awoke to being gently shaken on the shoulder and opened his eyes to peer at a concerned Changmin, who looked terribly apologetic, and a Jaejoong kneeling beside him, looking murderous.
"I thought you didn't hurt anyone."
"What happened?" He groaned, rubbing his head. It wasn't a headache but there seemed to be a pounding behind his eyes anyway. "One minute I was looking at Changmin - "
"The next your head feels like someone's going at it with a sledgehammer," Changmin said helpfully and frowned. "This has never happened to me before."
"You could just not do it," Jaejoong muttered. Then he turned to Yunho. "He is a fairy. He tried to turn your brain into mush because he didn't want you to ask too many questions."
"Excuse me?" He managed to croak before Changmin, still looking confused and uncertain, finally sighed and nodded.
"Trickster. Of sorts." Changmin smiled wryly. "I'm here to help Jaejoong hyung accomplish something. Except he's having trouble deciding exactly what he wants."
"What?" He stared at the dark eyes that adorned the face of the person he'd been contemplating how to ask out, and said person stared back at him, perfectly still.
"Oh shit!"
Both Yunho and Changmin turned to him, identical looks of surprise on their face. Jaejoong would've laughed at them if he hadn't suddenly remembered his previous obligation.
"First rehearsal!" Jaejoong got up from his position on bended knees and threw himself across the table to make a grab for his bag.
"For the play?" Still confused, Yunho watched as Jaejoong checked his watch again and prepared himself to spring across campus.
"More reason for Kim Junsu to hate me. He's going to ask if I have any orgies to go to or something," Jaejoong groaned and glanced wildly at Changmin. His gaze sharpened. "No more magic from you. And when I get back, we lay down some ground rules if you're so adamant about following me around. Keep an eye on Yunho because if he starts thinking he's a dog and starts humping everything it would be all your fault."
Changmin nodded meekly, though a tad offended at Jaejoong's lack of confidence in his abilities to perform his 'magic.' At that thought, he glanced at the man in question. How had Yunho blocked him?
"But - what? Magic?" Yunho began to feel frustrated. It was obvious he was out of the loop.
"I'll explain later," Jaejoong muttered. "If you'd believe me. Drop by tonight and Changmin can do his whole routine for you."
"Routine?" Changmin sputtered. But it was all in vain, for Jaejoong had set off and disappeared around the corner in a blink of an eye.
The two stared after him.
"Quite a whirlwind, isn't he?"
Yunho nodded numbly.
"I know you have questions," Changmin began. The only indication that he was nervous was the way his eyes darted from Yunho's face to some distant point past his head. "I have some for you too. But I think tonight would be a better time to ask them." The smile was slow to take form on his face, making it look more enticing than he'd probably intended.
Barely an hour into meeting him and Yunho was beginning to find himself hard pressed to resist that smile.
~*~*~*~
"It looks like you just came from an orgy," Junsu said, his attempt at being snide failing miserably as his eyes scanned a dishevelled Jaejoong.
"I'm surprised you even know what an orgy is," he said pleasantly, "but I'd be happy to show you." He added a wink for good measure and watched with a great deal of gratification as Junsu blushed, made a face, and pointedly turned away from him, studying his script with great interest instead.
"Jaejoong sshi!" The girl that had led the audition a few days ago came running to him now and he had to bite back a scathing remark. What Yoochun had told him still had yet to leave his mind. He wondered abstractly if Junsu knew they were both being used. Then he cursed himself for falling for it. Damn Yoochun.
She was impossibly tall, nearly eye level with him, and had long black hair spilling down her back, slightly tanned skin, and a mischievous grin. He had yet to catch her name. "So glad you could make it!"
At first he thought she was being sarcastic, and then realized she was genuinely happy that he'd shown up. 'Do I really look that irresponsible?' He thought to himself, annoyed, and knew exactly what the answer to that question would be.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he said with a flirtatious grin and she blushed, giggling as she wrapped her fingers loosely around his wrist and pulled him to the center of the room.
"The play isn't for another two months so we're just going through the basics, like rehearsing, getting measurements for costumes, designing the sets, composing and writing the songs you'll be singing with Junsu, so on and so forth. We thought that the two stars could rehearse the majority of lines on your own since most of the scenes are just you two interacting. Once we get you measured, we can go practice with Junsu. Is that okay with you?"
"Just peachy," he said and watched with amazement as the measuring tape flew all over him, wrapping around places he was sure was unnecessary but by the time he'd opened his mouth to protest, the other girl wielding the tape had already moved on to another, less invasive part of his body.
Then the girl whisked him back to Junsu and promptly abandoned him, with strict instruction to arrange two to three practices a week and that she'd be checking up on them via Junsu.
With a look that was probably meant to make Jaejoong feel completely inadequate but made him laugh instead, Junsu got up from the ground where he'd taken up residence in the large auditorium.
Before Jaejoong could even open his mouth, Junsu was already thumbing through the script. "You've read the script since last time, right?"
Jaejoong coughed. "Um - "
"I can't believe you." Junsu's voice was laced with venom and Jaejoong sighed. "Look, I don't know what I did to you but don't stay on my account. Leave if you're just going to treat this as a joke."
"I didn't even know you existed until a week ago and last time I checked, you were the reason we didn't start off on a good foot, not me." Jaejoong ran a hand through his long black hair absentmindedly. "Why do you seem to dislike me so much?"
He snorted. "I wouldn't waste my time disliking you."
"Right. Because you're treating me with so much kindness and courtesy right now." Jaejoong finally sighed and shifted his weight. "Well, where and when do you want to meet for practice?"
Junsu blinked at him in surprise, mouth forming a small 'o', and Jaejoong tried to resist the urge to flick his forehead.
And failed.
"Hey!" Junsu brought a hand to rub his forehead and stared at him openly with shock.
"Anyone ever told you you'd be cute if you weren't so anal?" Jaejoong chuckled.
"I'm not - !"
"I'm free Tuesday and Thursday nights. We could meet at the res common room?"
"That's fine," Junsu muttered grudgingly, still rubbing his forehead.
"Aw, do you need me to kiss it better?"
Junsu finally shot him a frustrated look, gathered his things, and stomped out, much like last time. Jaejoong laughed, shaking his head, and lingered in the auditorium for a little while longer before taking his own leave.
~*~*~
"Yoochun, are you busy?"
"Not really." He yawned, stretching his arms over his head. "I think I'm done for the day. Good thing you and Junsu only sing three songs."
"While the play will suck, at least you're a guarantee the music won't." Jaejoong laughed and waved at him from his door. "Mind coming in for a sec?"
"Sure? What's up?" Yoochun walked right into a small audience. Changmin sat by the desk in Jaejoong's chair, Yunho stood somewhere off to the side, looking comfortable, and Jaejoong was sprawled on the bed, a grin on his face.
"Okay, show them," Jaejoong commanded and Changmin sighed.
"You know this is against the rules right?"
"You know you're messing up my life right? Just do it."
Changmin threw him another uncertain look, and just as Yoochun was about to ask exactly what the hell was going on, a pair of eyes flashed golden and suddenly Yoochun found himself looking at everything in the room, other than Changmin's chair, floating an inch from the ground.
The response was immediate.
"Holy shit!"
"What in the - "
"Very flashy," Jaejoong grumbled. He directed a sharp glance at Yunho, who was too busy staring at Changmin. "Now will you believe me when I say he's a fairy?"
Yunho gulped, and then nodded a little fearfully.
"A fairy?" Yoochun was quick to get his bearings together, but even he breathed a sigh of relief when everything floated back down. "I thought Changmin was just a freshman you had a class with."
A flash of gold again and Yoochun was clutching at his head, horrified at what felt like a gaping hole in his memories that was slowly filling itself in. "Please don't do that again."
"Sorry," Changmin said hesitantly. "I've never - had to take it back before."
Something was amiss. "Why did you?" Yunho suddenly said, a little suspicious. Attraction to someone who probably wasn't even human shouldn't trump his own judgement, he told himself firmly.
"Yeah," Yoochun said, immediately catching on. Yunho threw him a grateful look. "Why bother telling and showing us? You don't need to listen to Jaejoong hyung; hardly anybody ever do anyway."
"Hey!"
"And how do we know you're not dangerous?"
Changmin steeled his expression into a serious one. "First of all, if I wanted to hurt any of you I wouldn't be sitting here inviting all of you to cross-examine me. Second of all, I'm here to accomplish one thing and that's to assist Jaejoong hyung with accomplishing something. As soon as he makes up his mind as to what that something will be, I can get on with my work and leave all of you alone."
Somehow, Yunho could tell Changmin was telling the truth. It wasn't as if he was particularly good at reading people - in fact, Jaejoong and Yoochun had both told him often he trusted too easily - but this time, it seemed as though he was absolutely certain that Changmin had no ill feeling towards them.
"But why Jaejoong?" Yoochun wondered out loud. "By the way, this doesn't mean I believe you, just that you could probably kill us all with a blink of an eye - literally - and there's not much we can do about it."
Changmin shrugged and looked Jaejoong. He looked back at him.
"Usually we choose people who feel as though they're missing something."
"Have you been missing something lately?" Yunho asked him, amusement clearly on his face.
"They may not yet be aware of it," Changmin continued, still looking at him. Jaejoong shifted uneasily. "And my instinct tells me that if I assist you in something, it will act as a catalyst of sorts. I would not have appeared if you didn't need my help. Has anything happened recently that you've found yourself involved in, perhaps?"
"Well, that's easy enough. The play."
"I don't need magic to help me get through a play. That you tricked me into doing, in case you've forgotten," Jaejoong protested indignantly.
"Well, think about it," Yoochun said thoughtfully, unmindful of the accusation. "What else in your life do you need help with?"
"Oh I don't know, my student loans?"
"I mean, what's new in your life that would explain the sudden appearance of a fairy - " he sniggered, and stopped when both Changmin and Yunho threw him an annoyed look, " - who insists he has to help you with something in order for you to fill the emptiness in your heart?" He dodged just as a pillow flew past his head.
"This is the script?" Changmin held up the book he'd been leafing through when Jaejoong had first found him lounging on his bed. The words Truth and Harmony was scrawled messily on the front.
"That's it," Jaejoong said gloomily, and flopped onto his back. "This talk about 'missing something' sounds like you took it straight from the play."
"Who're you playing?" Changmin asked, flipping through it casually, Yunho reading over his shoulder.
Jaejoong frowned, trying to remember. "Ryeowon."
There was several seconds of blessed silence as they read through the cast list. And then came the predicted burst of laughter.
"You should be playing Soojong! Junsu's far more of a Ryeowon than you are." Yunho chuckled, Yoochun grinned, and Changmin cracked a smile.
"Oh sure, laugh it up - Wait, you know him?"
"I met him at a party last month," he explained, still grinning. "He's quiet but really nice. Great voice."
"How come everyone knows him except me?"
Changmin looked up. "I don't know him."
"Well that's because you fell from the sky. You wouldn't want to anyway," he grumbled.
"Of course I do - he may be an important person. When can I meet him?"
All three of them blinked at him. The sudden commanding tone was definitely an unexpected surprise.
"Well, we're got practice tomorrow night in the common room. You could tag along, I guess."
He felt something that was not quite a shiver when Changmin smiled slowly.
"Excellent."
~*~*~
Yunho was chatting with several classmates when he spotted the tall figure leaning against the wall several feet down the hall from his classroom door. Almost as if he'd known exactly the moment Yunho would notice him, Changmin looked up and gave him a tiny wave
He wiped his palms onto his pants as he excused himself from his friends and made his way towards where the 'fairy' stood.
"Hey." He stopped short in front of him.
If possible, Changmin looked even better. As if slowly adjusting to the world around him, he seemed more at ease, dressed in a blue shirt and grey slacks. Yunho had to look away when Changmin slowly smiled at his greeting.
"I'm not bothering you, I hope?"
"No, I'm done with classes for the day. Are you..." He hesitated. "Did you want to talk to me about something?"
"Am I that easy to read?" Changmin shot him a piercing look and Yunho suddenly remembered the surety he'd felt last night at Changmin's trustworthiness.
"I just get the feeling we have something to discuss," Yunho said with his usual honesty.
"You're right." Changmin looked around them pointedly. "Can we go somewhere more private?"
Well, that wasn't helping the direction his imagination was taking. "Sure. I have an apartment off campus - do you mind?"
"No, that sounds good."
"My car's parked outside, we could - "
"Or we could - "
He felt a hand take his in a strong grip, a tug from somewhere deep inside, and before he could whimper - because that feeling of being underwater was threatening to drown him - and he was standing in his apartment, his bag sliding down his shoulder to land hard at his feet. As if nothing had happened, Changmin took several steps forward and then turned around.
"Is this it?"
"Let - let me catch my breath," he gasped, and collapsed onto the ground in a heap.
There was a hand on his arm and another hand stroking his hair. Unconsciously, he leaned into the touch and it took a far shorter time to regain a sense of himself. For one thing, he didn't black out this time.
"A warning next time, please," he mumbled.
"I don't understand," Changmin growled, frustration making him frown hard. "Why is it not working on you? Just you. It makes no sense."
"I hope you're not planning on experimenting," Yunho gasped, feeling his racing heart beginning to slow. He was calming down. "I don't think I'll survive it."
"No, I wouldn't do that to you," Changmin smiled, as if he was trying to be brave and failing. "I'll just have to figure it out on my own."
"Is it a problem?" Yunho hadn't realized how serious it was to him - none of them had, he supposed - but attempting to view the situation in Changmin's perspective was difficult, because Yunho really didn't know the first thing about him.
"It means either there's something wrong with my powers or - " He fell silent, eyes wide, and turned to stare at Yunho with astonishment.
"What?" Yunho felt like he was saying that a lot lately.
"I have to go," Changmin mumbled and was on his feet in a second.
Something inside Yunho knew his eyes were about to flash gold and he reached up to grab his hand. The touch made Changmin pause and he looked down questioningly.
"You'll tell me when you figure it out, right?"
The eyes were already glinting. "Of course."
"And..." He searched his mind desperately for something else. "Is my car still at the school parking lot?"
The smile was amused. "No, it's parked just under this building, you'll find it in the usual spot." With that, Changmin disappeared.
Yunho decided he really shouldn't hang out with Jaejoong anymore.
~*~*~
"I thought you'd have forgotten, too busy picking up girls."
"What is it with you and starting a conversation with sex?"
Junsu looked like he was about to protest, but wrinkled his nose instead. "You smoke?"
"Yeah. Got a problem with that?" He was annoyed tonight, because Changmin was sitting several couches away and judging by the completely nonchalant expression on his face as he pretended to read his magazine, he could hear every word they said. The room was empty save the three of them. He'd instructed Changmin to go in several minutes earlier, so that it appeared as though he'd been there all along. When Junsu and him met at the door and walked in together, Junsu didn't bat an eyelash towards the 'fairy.'
Junsu watched him for a minute or two as he thumbed through the script quickly. Attempts at skimming it last night had failed because he couldn't stop thinking about what Changmin had said and he had never thought of himself as a person who was missing anything, maybe a good drink when he really needed it (and he really needed it last night), but on an mental level he'd always been levelheaded. Maybe not the Yunho type of levelheaded, but -
"You should quit."
"What?"
"You. Should. Quit." Junsu stared at him as if he was ten years old, and for some reason, he actually felt like he should be cowering before his gaze. "It's bad for your voice."
"Thank you for stating the obvious, Dr. Kim."
"I'm serious."
"And I'm seriously contemplating whether you hate me or you're trying to get in my pants, because there's no way any person can be this persistent in trying to pick a fight with me. Are you like one of those bullies who pull on little girls' pigtails to get their attention?"
Oh shit. That wasn't what he'd intended to say. Something like 'Well it's hard to take you seriously' or something equally harmless had been at the tip of his tongue - what had come out was something he'd had a passing thought or two about, but definitely had had no intention of giving voice too.
Not yet, anyway.
"Oh, you caught me."
He turned his head so fast he almost got whiplash.
Junsu sighed dramatically and made the worst attempt at puppy eyes Jaejoong had ever seen. "I definitely want in your pants," he said in a throaty voice and Jaejoong almost blushed, except this was very, very wrong and he was definitely not thinking of - "It's not because smoking will ruin your voice in the long run and give you lung cancer at all. I absolutely," he paused, and then continued, leaning forward and lowering his voice even more, "don't care that you're slowly killing yourself."
Jaejoong stared. Junsu stared back.
Except he stared for so long that Junsu eventually drew back and gave him a weird look.
"Your cue to laugh passed a long time ago."
"What?"
"Just taking a page out of your book," Junsu shrugged and turned back to the script. "Taste of your own medicine."
"You - "
"What? Don't think I'll always just sit here and take it." Junsu grinned triumphantly, as if he'd won a battle, thought not yet the war.
"Don't do that again," Jaejoong said in all seriousness, looking straight at him.
"Why not?"
"Because." Jaejoong paused. He swallowed. He tried coughing. He tried to clear his throat. Then he threw a glare at Changmin, who tilted his head innocently at his magazine. The words were fighting to get out and he couldn't stop himself. It had to be the fairy's fault. "It makes me think of you taking it and it has nothing to do with a little harmless teasing. In fact, I'm imagining you writhing beneath me as I tongue your - Ow!"
When he looked up again after making sure the book hadn't taken out his eye, Junsu had scooted to the far end of the couch.
"What the hell," Junsu hissed, face brilliantly red.
"Good aim," he groaned, rubbing his cheek.
Looking a little guilty, Junsu edged closer to pick up his book from the ground where it had fallen. "Why can't you be serious for three seconds?"
"Too much effort," he said honestly and paused, wincing.
"Let me see."
Gingerly, Jaejoong removed his hand and Junsu clasped his chin, turning his face side to side to check for injuries. Jaejoong watched Junsu as he did this, and once Junsu backed away again, satisfied that he hadn't scarred Jaejoong's face permanently, he had a question of his own.
"Why can't you smile around me once in awhile?"
"You haven't exactly given me a reason to," Junsu said quietly, sitting back with the book on his lap once again. He turned to face him, for the first time revealing a tiredness that rimmed his eyes. "Can we just please get on with this?"
"Fine. Fine," Jaejoong sighed and flipped to the first scene that had Ryeowon and Soojong interacting exclusively. It was mostly them bitching about how the other was such a snob and an irresponsible asshole.
'Hm, sounds familiar.'
As the two prepared to read through the scene for the first time, Jaejoong couldn't help but watch Junsu and imagine what a genuine smile on his face would look like.
~*~*~
"Why're you so quiet?"
Changmin watched him with an amused air. It pissed him off.
"I know what you did back there."
Changmin shrugged.
"Remember those ground rules I mentioned yesterday? Here's the first one. Don't. Do. Magic. Unless. I. Tell. You. To. Especially not on me."
"It's beyond my control now."
"What does that mean?" Jaejoong gaped at him.
"Jaejoong hyung," he sighed, making a mockery of the respectful suffix he still used without fail, "let me explain to you how this works. I couldn't do so until it was already in motion so I hope you'll forgive me for that."
He didn't look the least bit sorry.
"You don't look the least bit sorry."
"Let me explain, okay?"
Jaejoong grabbed a pillow and buried his face into it, pouting fiercely now that no one could see him.
"I can see you."
"No you can't."
"No?"
Rising unbidden in his mind was the image of Changmin's eyes glowing. He brought the pillow away from his face, furious. "Fine! Now explain!"
Smiling slowly, Changmin indicated towards his eyes. "All of my kind has the same basic abilities. They're mostly for convenience - to hide our identity, to make sure our targets listen to us - " he looked at him pointedly, which Jaejoong ignored, " - to ensure basic safety. But our real powers kick in once we've found our targets and once they determine what their goal will be."
"I didn't agree to anything!"
"Your heart did."
"Can we please try not to sound like a bad romance novel?"
Changmin shrugged. "Basically, my power adjusts to your needs. Last night, you told me that this was what you wanted. All you need to know is that when you're around Kim Junsu, you will always be inclined to speak the truth."
He gaped at him. "Please tell me you're kidding."
When Changmin merely looked at him, Jaejoong fell back, eyes wide. There was no reason not to believe him, as last night had shown.
"There's no way I told you that."
Changmin shrugged again. "I cannot lie as well. That's the consequence - whatever my power inflicts on you, I also have to endure it."
"I don't suppose you'll tell me why you're so determined to ruin my life?" Jaejoong asked dubiously.
At another one of Changmin's shrugs, Jaejoong shut his eyes and fell over onto his side.
~*~*~
"You don't understand anything," Jaejoong said viciously, a look of exaggerated anger on his face. "All you do is party and waste your life away. You don't deserve that voice."
"It's not my fault you're so bitter about your own damn life - if you can even call it one," Junsu sneered. Jaejoong almost reeled back at his tone - it never ceased to surprise him how good Junsu was at this acting business, even if the words coming out of his mouth were beyond ridiculous. "Here's a suggestion - why don't you stay the fuck out of my business?"
They glared at each other, until Junsu sighed and looked away while Jaejoong blinked.
"What? I thought it was going well!"
"Not enough self-righteous anger," Junsu mumbled, skimming the script again. "I can see why you're not in theatre."
Jaejoong leaned against the couch, eyebrows knitted in frustration as he kept his mouth shut, refusing to rise to the bait. He was a little afraid what would come out of his mouth otherwise. He'd decided that the best way to keep their conversation on track was to concentrate fully on the play and not to allow topics to derail. Hence, he ran a hand through his hair and cracked a half-smile.
"Let's try again."
Junsu stared at him for a second, before shrugging and flipping the page back. "Sure."
They went through the scene that Junsu had interrupted and got as far as the scene right before Ryeowon caught Soojong singing by himself before Junsu chose that moment to derail.
"Why the sudden dedication?"
"What?" He mumbled absentmindedly, eyes scanning the pages.
Ryeowon: Let me train you.
Soojong: [laughs] I don't want it. I've got better things to do than hang out with a fag like you.
Jaejoong blinked. "Whoa."
Junsu leaned over against his side to look at what he'd just read. "Oh, that part. Sooyoung was thinking about taking it out. Too political."
"Sooyoung?"
He looked at him as if he was crazy. "Yeah, the director? The girl at the auditions and at the first meeting?"
"...Right. I knew that." Jaejoong averted his eyes and read on in silence.
Suddenly, however, a thought came to him. "Hey, did you know that they're - " using us -
"I can't figure you out, Jaejoong sshi."
"Eh?" He said intelligently.
Junsu was looking at him with an odd expression, one that Jaejoong could only describe as half apprehensive, half scared.
As always, his mouth ran away from him. "I think this is the first time you've addressed me respectfully." He patted him on the head with a fond look on his face. "Good job."
"Why can't you take anything seriously?" He suddenly exploded and Jaejoong reeled back, eyes wide. "Your voice is beautiful. Amazing. I've never heard anything like it. But you're a vocals minor with an undecided major. You could be a vocals specialist with that voice of yours and enough training. Do you even know? What anyone in the department would do for talent like yours?"
His last thought was, 'this can't be good,' before his mouth ran away from him again. "Is this why you've been biting my head off every time I see you?"
"...Maybe," Junsu finally said reluctantly, sighing a little as he sagged against the couch.
Jaejoong noted that with some interest. Had they been engaging in some rivalry he hadn't even been aware of? Somehow, Junsu saw him as that typical talented but uncaring asshole - like Soojong, as a matter of fact. The similarities that play had with the two of them were almost uncanny - as if the playwright had the two in mind when they had penned it.
Frankly, what amazed him was that Junsu was actually conversing with him without wanting to simultaneously take his throat out.
"You're not jealous or anything, are you?" The thought had occurred to him but the very notion of it was ridiculous.
"...Maybe," Junsu repeated, staring at the ground past his feet.
"Why?" Jaejoong laughed. "You can't possibly not know that your voice is the best on campus. The best I've heard, actually."
When Junsu looked up at him, startled, Jaejoong widened his eyes incredulously. They looked at each other.
"I don't think it is," Junsu finally said softly, shaking a little as he closed the script on his lap. "But...thank you for saying that."
Jaejoong continued staring. When Junsu didn't try to maintain a biting and harsh exterior, there was a soft lilt to his voice. Once he stopped trying to hide behind a hostile facade, his eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, really, for the first time in Jaejoong's presence.
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