The Changtique Shoppe, 13 of 21
Title: The Changtique Shoppe
Pairings/Characters: Jaejoong/Changmin, Yunho/Heechul, Yoochun, Ryeowook, Kyuhyun, Leeteuk, Donghae, Junsu, G-Dragon,
Rating/Warnings: T for language and (eventual) making out
Disclaimer: I own nothing; written just for fun
Summary: Changmin owns an antique shop. Jaejoong is an interior decorator. Ryeowook is a genius who bakes delicious cake.
A/N: (cross posted to AO3)
The Changtique Shoppe, Part 13
Changmin woke to find sunlight streaming into the room between unfamiliar green curtains, a too-squashy pillow wedged between his chin and neck. He sat up abruptly, coming face to face with a snapshot of Yunho and Heechul grinning from a sparkly purple frame. Well, Yunho was grinning; Heechul's expression could be more accurately described as a smirk.
Right. He was at Jaejoong’s, in Yunho’s bed. And he had a headache. Again.
Changmin groaned and reluctantly released the pillow he was clinging to, stretched his long legs over the side of the bed, and attempted to straighten the covers into some semblance of order. He stumbled down the hall to kitchen to find Jaejoong at the stove, swaying his hips to the pop song he was singing loudly to the eggs in the frying pan.
Jaejoong was dressed in tight white slacks and an expensive black silk button down. A limp blue towel was draped across his shoulders to catch the drips from his messy hair, still wet from the shower. Jaejoong flipped an egg with a flourish and whirled around to lean against the sink while he toweled his hair briskly.
“Good morning!” he greeted Changmin brightly, catching sight of him in the doorway. “I have to go meet a client soon, but I made you breakfast.”
“Oh…” Changmin wasn’t quite sure why his stomach was sinking in disappointment at the announcement, but he obediently took a seat at the table when Jaejoong gestured at him. Jaejoong slid four fried eggs, their whites neatly browned around the edges, onto a large plate and whisked it over to Changmin.
“Eat it all.” Changmin caught the pair of chopsticks slid towards him. “Soy sauce is on the counter if you need it.” Jaejoong disappeared into the bedroom, still hummingly breezingly. Changmin took a bite, chewed slowly, and slumped down in his chair. He had forgotten how comfortable Jaejoong’s kitchen was.
“Did you fall asleep?” Changmin startled at a breathy laugh near his ear and the scent of strong perfume. He looked up to find Jaejoong with hair neatly combed and a sharply tailored blazer buttoned over his shirt. “I’ve got to head out, but take your time.” Jaejoong nodded towards the food in front of him as he buckled on his watch. “You better eat it all.”
“Oh…” Changmin straightened the chopsticks that had slipped out of his grasp and onto the table.
“Peace.” Jaejoong flounced out of the kitchen, slamming the front door behind him. The homey kitchen suddenly felt unbearably empty. Changmin tried to take another bite, but the taste of now cooled oil on his tongue turned his empty stomach and he stumbled to the sink, gagging. Coffee, then. That should fix him.
But Jaejoong was out, or at least Changmin couldn’t find any in the crowded cabinets. He slid the unfinished breakfast onto a napkin and wrapped the greasy mound in several paper towels before dumping it into the trash; maybe Jaejoong wouldn’t notice that way. He rinsed his mouth at the sink, properly laced his shoes, and slowly descended the stairs to his car.
There was a note on the windshield. “If you seriously thought you could sneak away without eating first, you’re an idiot. You owe me dinner. Answer your phone :P” was scrawled in Jaejoong’s messy script onto the back of an order slip.
Changmin rolled his eyes, crumpled the thin slip of paper in his fist, and slipped it into his coat pocket. The jerk was even annoying when he thought he was being nice. Changmin kicked his tire and then got in and drove home.
He decided to stop at the coffee shop on the way back. His stomach was still queasy, but he was in desperate need of caffeine after getting stuck in the hordes of stiffs on their way to white collar slavery. He was so, so glad he had opened his own shop.
The cafe was quiet when Changmin entered, the morning rush already dissipated. Ryeowook grinned and waved.
“You want an egg tart? They’re just out of the oven.”
“Um, maybe not eggs.” Changmin gulped, thinking of his failed attempt at breakfast.
“Ok.” Ryeowook finished wiping down the counter and tossed the rag into the kitchen. “Then how about some black coffee and sweet porridge?”
“Sure?” That actually didn’t sound half bad.
“Okay! Just a sec.” Ryeowook disappeared into the back, reemerging with a large bowl of pumpkin porridge. It smelled heavenly. “Kyuhyunnie came down with the flu,” he explained, handing Changmin a spoon.
“And the idiot still came in to work?”
“Of course!” Ryeowook rolled his eyes but smiled fondly. “I fed him and sent him home to sleep it off.” Changmin took a large bite. It tasted heavenly, too. Leave it to Ryeowook to know exactly what he needed, even when he didn’t know himself. “How is it?” Ryeowook eyed him expectantly.
“This is good,” Changmin mumbled around a mouthful, sniffling slightly when the steam made his eyes water.
“Good.” He opened his watering eyes to see Ryeowook staring at him and Changmin choked slightly under the scrutiny.
“Hyung?”
“Button your coat properly so you don’t catch it too,” he said sternly. Chanmin rolled his eyes but nodded. He kept spooning porridge. Now that his stomach was feeling slightly better, maybe he could go back to sleep once he got upstairs. After putting away the laundry, of course. Maybe he should clean the kitchen up, too, before Yoochun got back.
“So,” Ryeowook announced, cutting into his wandering thoughts. “I was thinking about ordering new curtains to freshen up the place for spring after we do our big purge at New Year’s! Do you think yellow gingham would look good? Or maybe something sprigged?” Changmin sighed wearily. Spring cleaning was the last thing he wanted to think about right now.
“Changmin? Are you in there?” Ryeowook prodded his shoulder with a tentative finger.
“How would I know. Do I look like a douche of an interior decorator?” Changmin snapped. Ryeowook’s expression flashed from dreamy inspiration to mute surprise to weary resignation in a matter of seconds.
“What did Jaejoong do this time,” he sighed, leveling Changmin with a heavy look. Changmin looked away, swirling his spoon in the thickening porridge.
“Nothing.”
“Really.”
“Um...well...he made me drive over there at midnight and fix his computer. And then he told me I had to stay the night, ‘cause he’s afraid of the dark,” Changmin huffed, although he was not really sure anymore why exactly his chest was tight with frustration. He had actually gotten a decent night's sleep, despite the hangover.
“I see.” Ryeowook leaned back, steepling his fingers under his chin. “Changmin…” he looked down, as if studying the flecked pattern of his countertop.
“Hyung?” For some reason Changmin’s stomach was jumping nervously again.
“Have you ever heard of boundaries, Min-ah?” Ryeowook finally asked, his eyebrows raised but expression innocent. Changmin sighed. One of those talks. Lovely. He dropped his spoon into the empty bowl.
“Um...those sound...familiar?”
“Let’s practice: I’ll be Jaejoong-hyung, you be you. So I say--”
“Hyung,” Changmin said quickly, painfully aware that he was starting to blush a deep maroon all over again, “I finished eating so can I go now.” He was already slipping into his coat.
“Fine,” Ryeowook sighed, reaching for Changmin’s empty bowl. “Go sleep it off, and try not to get sick.” He watched to make sure Changmin buttoned his coat up to his chin and securely tied on his scarf before waving goodbye with a soft smile and disappearing into the kitchen.
Changmin was so ready for bed by the time he got upstairs he decided the laundry could wait another day.
Part 12, Part 14
Pairings/Characters: Jaejoong/Changmin, Yunho/Heechul, Yoochun, Ryeowook, Kyuhyun, Leeteuk, Donghae, Junsu, G-Dragon,
Rating/Warnings: T for language and (eventual) making out
Disclaimer: I own nothing; written just for fun
Summary: Changmin owns an antique shop. Jaejoong is an interior decorator. Ryeowook is a genius who bakes delicious cake.
A/N: (cross posted to AO3)
The Changtique Shoppe, Part 13
Changmin woke to find sunlight streaming into the room between unfamiliar green curtains, a too-squashy pillow wedged between his chin and neck. He sat up abruptly, coming face to face with a snapshot of Yunho and Heechul grinning from a sparkly purple frame. Well, Yunho was grinning; Heechul's expression could be more accurately described as a smirk.
Right. He was at Jaejoong’s, in Yunho’s bed. And he had a headache. Again.
Changmin groaned and reluctantly released the pillow he was clinging to, stretched his long legs over the side of the bed, and attempted to straighten the covers into some semblance of order. He stumbled down the hall to kitchen to find Jaejoong at the stove, swaying his hips to the pop song he was singing loudly to the eggs in the frying pan.
Jaejoong was dressed in tight white slacks and an expensive black silk button down. A limp blue towel was draped across his shoulders to catch the drips from his messy hair, still wet from the shower. Jaejoong flipped an egg with a flourish and whirled around to lean against the sink while he toweled his hair briskly.
“Good morning!” he greeted Changmin brightly, catching sight of him in the doorway. “I have to go meet a client soon, but I made you breakfast.”
“Oh…” Changmin wasn’t quite sure why his stomach was sinking in disappointment at the announcement, but he obediently took a seat at the table when Jaejoong gestured at him. Jaejoong slid four fried eggs, their whites neatly browned around the edges, onto a large plate and whisked it over to Changmin.
“Eat it all.” Changmin caught the pair of chopsticks slid towards him. “Soy sauce is on the counter if you need it.” Jaejoong disappeared into the bedroom, still hummingly breezingly. Changmin took a bite, chewed slowly, and slumped down in his chair. He had forgotten how comfortable Jaejoong’s kitchen was.
“Did you fall asleep?” Changmin startled at a breathy laugh near his ear and the scent of strong perfume. He looked up to find Jaejoong with hair neatly combed and a sharply tailored blazer buttoned over his shirt. “I’ve got to head out, but take your time.” Jaejoong nodded towards the food in front of him as he buckled on his watch. “You better eat it all.”
“Oh…” Changmin straightened the chopsticks that had slipped out of his grasp and onto the table.
“Peace.” Jaejoong flounced out of the kitchen, slamming the front door behind him. The homey kitchen suddenly felt unbearably empty. Changmin tried to take another bite, but the taste of now cooled oil on his tongue turned his empty stomach and he stumbled to the sink, gagging. Coffee, then. That should fix him.
But Jaejoong was out, or at least Changmin couldn’t find any in the crowded cabinets. He slid the unfinished breakfast onto a napkin and wrapped the greasy mound in several paper towels before dumping it into the trash; maybe Jaejoong wouldn’t notice that way. He rinsed his mouth at the sink, properly laced his shoes, and slowly descended the stairs to his car.
There was a note on the windshield. “If you seriously thought you could sneak away without eating first, you’re an idiot. You owe me dinner. Answer your phone :P” was scrawled in Jaejoong’s messy script onto the back of an order slip.
Changmin rolled his eyes, crumpled the thin slip of paper in his fist, and slipped it into his coat pocket. The jerk was even annoying when he thought he was being nice. Changmin kicked his tire and then got in and drove home.
He decided to stop at the coffee shop on the way back. His stomach was still queasy, but he was in desperate need of caffeine after getting stuck in the hordes of stiffs on their way to white collar slavery. He was so, so glad he had opened his own shop.
The cafe was quiet when Changmin entered, the morning rush already dissipated. Ryeowook grinned and waved.
“You want an egg tart? They’re just out of the oven.”
“Um, maybe not eggs.” Changmin gulped, thinking of his failed attempt at breakfast.
“Ok.” Ryeowook finished wiping down the counter and tossed the rag into the kitchen. “Then how about some black coffee and sweet porridge?”
“Sure?” That actually didn’t sound half bad.
“Okay! Just a sec.” Ryeowook disappeared into the back, reemerging with a large bowl of pumpkin porridge. It smelled heavenly. “Kyuhyunnie came down with the flu,” he explained, handing Changmin a spoon.
“And the idiot still came in to work?”
“Of course!” Ryeowook rolled his eyes but smiled fondly. “I fed him and sent him home to sleep it off.” Changmin took a large bite. It tasted heavenly, too. Leave it to Ryeowook to know exactly what he needed, even when he didn’t know himself. “How is it?” Ryeowook eyed him expectantly.
“This is good,” Changmin mumbled around a mouthful, sniffling slightly when the steam made his eyes water.
“Good.” He opened his watering eyes to see Ryeowook staring at him and Changmin choked slightly under the scrutiny.
“Hyung?”
“Button your coat properly so you don’t catch it too,” he said sternly. Chanmin rolled his eyes but nodded. He kept spooning porridge. Now that his stomach was feeling slightly better, maybe he could go back to sleep once he got upstairs. After putting away the laundry, of course. Maybe he should clean the kitchen up, too, before Yoochun got back.
“So,” Ryeowook announced, cutting into his wandering thoughts. “I was thinking about ordering new curtains to freshen up the place for spring after we do our big purge at New Year’s! Do you think yellow gingham would look good? Or maybe something sprigged?” Changmin sighed wearily. Spring cleaning was the last thing he wanted to think about right now.
“Changmin? Are you in there?” Ryeowook prodded his shoulder with a tentative finger.
“How would I know. Do I look like a douche of an interior decorator?” Changmin snapped. Ryeowook’s expression flashed from dreamy inspiration to mute surprise to weary resignation in a matter of seconds.
“What did Jaejoong do this time,” he sighed, leveling Changmin with a heavy look. Changmin looked away, swirling his spoon in the thickening porridge.
“Nothing.”
“Really.”
“Um...well...he made me drive over there at midnight and fix his computer. And then he told me I had to stay the night, ‘cause he’s afraid of the dark,” Changmin huffed, although he was not really sure anymore why exactly his chest was tight with frustration. He had actually gotten a decent night's sleep, despite the hangover.
“I see.” Ryeowook leaned back, steepling his fingers under his chin. “Changmin…” he looked down, as if studying the flecked pattern of his countertop.
“Hyung?” For some reason Changmin’s stomach was jumping nervously again.
“Have you ever heard of boundaries, Min-ah?” Ryeowook finally asked, his eyebrows raised but expression innocent. Changmin sighed. One of those talks. Lovely. He dropped his spoon into the empty bowl.
“Um...those sound...familiar?”
“Let’s practice: I’ll be Jaejoong-hyung, you be you. So I say--”
“Hyung,” Changmin said quickly, painfully aware that he was starting to blush a deep maroon all over again, “I finished eating so can I go now.” He was already slipping into his coat.
“Fine,” Ryeowook sighed, reaching for Changmin’s empty bowl. “Go sleep it off, and try not to get sick.” He watched to make sure Changmin buttoned his coat up to his chin and securely tied on his scarf before waving goodbye with a soft smile and disappearing into the kitchen.
Changmin was so ready for bed by the time he got upstairs he decided the laundry could wait another day.
Part 12, Part 14