Sono et Voce
Title : Sono et Voce
Prompt-# : 10
For : _keysteam @ twitter
Pairing : Jonghyun/Key, side (platonic) Taemin/Kai
Author : Anonymous until reveals
Word Count : 16,164
Rating : G
Warnings : none
Summary : The summer before Kibum's senior year would be the same had it not been for three things: Taemin, Jongin, and the chance sighting of Jonghyun's voice from around the corner.
❖❖❖
Special thank you to: ottomancouch, royaltysystem, holycanid, loveleyy and xfilesapphic on tumblr, synesthetes that took the time to help me make sure my descriptions of synesthesia were real and accurate.
Taemin’s voice makes Kibum think of lazy mornings and the smell of coffee in the air, waking up with a light heart and next to a warm body. When Kibum opens his eyes, however, he sees the trail of sky blue floating around Taemin’s head, and he focuses on that, not on Taemin’s smiling eyes and messy hair and bright, tired grin.
Jongin’s voice is more earthy, warm brown and comforting; and Kibum always always always gets the image of grass blowing in the wind, of the wave of sunlight travelling across the land and the way clouds cover the sun, only for the sun to reappear moments later. Kibum thinks its funny how Jongin and Taemin can be so alike, (how their mannerisms and looks give them double takes and the question are you two brothers? whenever they’re together) yet their voices are so different, so beautiful and unique in their own ways.
It’s Monday, 10:03pm and Jongin’s wiping down the counters while Taemin sweeps, and Kibum focuses back on them as Taemin begins to dance with his broom, ignores the way Jongin’s voice swells above him when he laughs. It’s 10:03pm and it’s just them: Taemin and his broom, Jongin and the dishes, Kibum and his half-empty caramel-vanilla frappuccino.
“Kibum, are you watching my voice again?” Taemin’s voice is playful and Kibum rolls his eyes, but they’ve done this enough so Kibum already knows how this will end.
“Yes, Tae-”
“Tell me how my voice looks!” The demand is childish, but then, so is Taemin - so is Jongin, they all are - and Kibum hums.
“Your voice is light blue, Taemin-”
“I know, I meant what does it remind you of today?” Taemin looks genuinely curious now, an impish grin still on his lips.
“Lazy mornings and the smell of coffee in the air. Waking up with someone holding you, and feeling so...happy and in love.”
“What about me?” that’s Jongin. He’s finished with the counters and is now waiting for Taemin to finish so they can leave. He looks more serious than his ‘twin,’ but Kibum can feel the playfulness in the way he holds himself.
“Warm brown, like...caramel? Your voice reminds me of grass blowing in the wind, and clouds covering the sun, and the wave the sun makes on the grass when it appears again.”
“Ha,” Taemin crows, “my voice is prettier than yours!”
“Shut up, Taemin.”
“Make me then.”
“Jongin, Taemin, you both stop. Are you done yet, Tae?”
Taemin flips Jongin off very conspicuously and then turns back to Kibum with an innocent grin on his lips before he nods, “Yeah, we can go.”
Kibum follows Taemin out the shop, juggling his coffee and trying to find his headphones.; Jongin’s just behind after he locks the shop up. It’s surprisingly uncrowded for a warm July night and Kibum breathes a sigh of relief as Taemin begins to tug him down the streets. There’s no need for his headphones anymore and Kibum shoves them in his pockets, eyes unwillingly going from the bob of Taemin’s hair to his voice and Jongin’s, to the violets and yellows and reds and blues of the people they pass every so often.
Taemin’s small hand is in his own and Jongin takes his now empty coffee-cup to throw it out; and just when they’re about to round the corner, Kibum sees it. Light, enchanting hazy gray and Kibum doesn’t think twice before going to follow it. Taemin calls after him, but Kibum needs to see the source of this pretty, playful voice. Around the corner is a circle of people crowding around a singer and Kibum shoves his way through the crowd and-
The singer is petite and blonde, wearing a fluffy white sweater and ripped jeans, even though it’s hot and mildly humid out. He has a guitar perched on his lap and he’s smiling down at it as he tunes it. He’s humming low under his breath and when he looks up, he’s smiling wide, eyes squinting up into crescents as he puts his fingers to the strings and starts to play. Kibum closes his eyes to focus only on his voice: melodic and breathy and beautiful. And when he opens his eyes, the haze above the delicate singer is dove gray, almost like mist or stormy seas and the cold stillness of winter’s dawn.
Kibum doesn’t know how long he stands there, in a trance from that voice, but suddenly there’s a hand on his arm, pulling him back. It’s Jongin; he looks confused but he doesn’t even look at the singer, just tugs Kibum from the crowd and continues walking at a brisk pace.
“We’re going to miss our bus, did you forget?” Jongin lets go of Kibum and jogs to catch up to Taemin, who had been impatiently waiting at the corner.
And shit, Jongin’s right. Kibum hurries to catch up to them both and puts all thought of the petite blonde singer with the breathy gray voice out of his mind.
But it’s funny, because the more he tries to forget the man, the more he comes into Kibum’s mind. Whenever Kibum tries to paint, he ends up sketching the singer and his round eyes and plush lips, the guitar in his lap and the way he looked so happy doing nothing at all. Kibum draws the man and his voice, sketches his hands curved delicately over the strings, draws his eyes and his nose and his lips, the soft fabric of the sweater, his slim legs, the way he bent his neck over the guitar.
Taemin and Jongin take every Friday off to spend at the dance studio and the three of them meet up before the heat of the summer day sets in, dance until they’re hungry, order food and then dance until the sun goes down. The other days, Taemin and Jongin work at the coffee shop from dawn until dusk. Kibum stays inside every day: avoids all the crowds and the voices by drawing and painting and blogging. It gets tiresome, but he’s used to it, and on the especially hot days, Taemin and Jongin come over and they all head out to Jongin’s friend Suho’s pool. And every evening close to closing time, Kibum goes out to meet Taemin and Jongin at the coffee shop, get a drink and walk home with them. But today is different, because Taemin realizes that he’s left his wallet at home, and neither Kibum nor Jongin have enough money to pay for his bus fare. And since Taemin and Jongin live in the opposite direction as Kibum, they all decide to walk home.
But it’s so nice out, warm and not humid at all, and Kibum’s feet end up taking him to the old playground by the river, the one no one goes to anymore because it only has a slide, a seesaw and four swings left that work. Which is why he stops short when he sees someone sitting at the top of the swings, not facing him. Kibum coughs to announce his presence and the person on the slide spins around, and of course it’s the petite blonde singer from before. He gives Kibum a soft smile and waves, slides down the old slide and heads over, completely unhesitant.
“Hi,” he says. This close, Kibum notices that he’s almost a head taller than the singer, that the singer’s eyes twinkle and that his face is open and friendly.
“Hi,” Kibum mimics, breathless; then, “I’m Kibum.”
“Jonghyun. I remember you, you were in the crowd the other day. Your friend pulled you away before you could donate.”
“Starving artist, huh?”
“Only mentally,” Jonghyun says it lightly even as he heads over to the swings, “but it’s fine. I like singing. What do you do?”
His speaking voice is brown - darker than Jongin’s with reddish overtones, and it reminds Kibum of autumn, of freshly tilled soil and hot chocolate and firewood. Kibum wants to fall into it, wants Jonghyun to sing him to sleep.
“I draw,” Kibum shrugs, tries to relax as he sits on the swing next to Jonghyun, “nothing too exciting, really.”
“You don’t go out much.” It’s a simple observation, and Jonghyun points to the pale of Kibum’s wrist, “why not?”
“I don’t like the heat,” Kibum throws out the first excuse that comes to his mind, “I burn easily.”
“Oh.” Jonghyun smiles wide, pushes himself on the swing gently, “I don’t like going out much either, I understand. For some reason, I get the best sleep during the day, if I do at all. Insomnia.”
He’s so open about it, and Kibum frowns. To be so trusting, so comfortable with strangers…(But then, he thinks, synesthesia is a lot different from insomnia.)
“Do you write your own lyrics, then?”
“I do! Lyrics, composition, everything. Or, I did, I’m burnt out now. I haven’t written anything I liked in a while. Now everything’s just garbage. But then, I think I’ve always been hard on myself.”
“That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It can make you want to do better. Believe me, I know.”
Jonghyun looks over, startled, then he grins. “It must be a creative thing. So what brings you here?”
“Do you want me to push you?”
Jonghyun seems to read the mood because he slips off the swing, points to the seesaw, a playful look in his eyes. “Let’s do that instead.”
Kibum doesn’t think he could resist anything Jonghyun offers, so he follows. He’s sure they must look strange, two adult men on a seesaw meant for children, but Jonghyun’s laughing and Kibum finds that in this moment, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks.
They end up staying in the park almost all night; they’re sitting on the lone bench next to each other and suddenly, Jonghyun’s head lolls and falls onto Kibum’s shoulder and Kibum realizes that Jonghyun is fast asleep. His head is heavy, but Kibum doesn’t mind because he smells good (almost like cinnamon vanilla) and it’s warm, and just when Kibum shifts to lay his head on top of Jonghyun’s, he starts awake, knocking Kibum’s head in the process.
“Oh my god, I’m sorry-” Jonghyun still sounds sleepy, and he yawns even though he looks panicked, and Kibum laughs.
“It’s fine. Lay down, go back to sleep.”
Jonghyun eyes Kibum’s lap doubtfully, worrying his plush lower lip between his teeth and he glances back up at Kibum before moving over to rest his head in Kibum’s lap. He tenses up when Kibum gently runs his fingers through soft blonde hair, but he soon relaxes and Kibum listens to the cicadas hum as Jonghyun’s breaths deepen and even out as he falls back asleep.
Kibum stays awake for the whole night, listening out for...he doesn’t know what exactly, and there are no voices out here and it’s so refreshing, to be outside and not have to worry about being distracted or overwhelmed in a thick crowd.
Jonghyun starts awake close to dawn, rubbing his eyes as he yawns, turns over so his face is pressed into Kibum’s stomach and he hums, voice rough with sleep. “Morning…”
“Morning, sleeping beauty. Do you want to catch the sunrise?”
“Mm...yeah.” Jonghyun doesn’t move for a solid five minutes after that, and just when Kibum goes to rouse him, he sits up and stands, cracks his back and grins down at Kibum. And suddenly Kibum isn’t so tired anymore.
They watch the sunrise from the top of the hill by the ballpark, head back and Kibum buys them both coffee and a doughnut from the coffee shop (Taemin’s eyes are on Jonghyun and Jongin stage-whispers to Taemin that isn’t Kibum wearing the same clothes from yesterday?) but Kibum doesn’t mind their teasing, because Jonghyun giggles, and Kibum finds that he likes that sound.
People are starting to pour in and Kibum tries his best to focus on the people and not the clouds of color floating above their heads, tries to focus on Jonghyun’s pretty lips as he speaks, how Jongin concentrates on the register while Taemin handles the orders given, but it’s as hard as it had always been. It’s distracting and Kibum feels almost nauseous (because at least in crowds, he has his headphones, but now…) but Jonghyun looks so happy sipping his hot chocolate that Kibum doesn’t have the heart to tell him how much he’s suffering.
They end up leaving only because Taemin (sweet, gentle Taemin) notices Kibum’s state and rushes over, shoos them away for taking up space even though they don’t have any drinks. Kibum decides that he’s going to buy dinner for him for a week, he’s that grateful.
“So you said you write songs?” Kibum asks, eyes cast down as they aimlessly walk the streets.
“Yeah...I play mostly on street corners. Sometimes bars and similar gigs, but mostly for my baby, Roo. She’s with my sister now, though. Do you like dogs?”
“No, but I want them. I love dogs.”
Jonghyun claps, delighted, and suddenly turns to face Kibum, lips pursed. “Do you want to come over?”
“Isn’t that a bit fast?” Kibum’s eyes have unwittingly latched onto the haze of earthy brown above Jonghyun even as he listens to Jonghyun speak.
“Well, I already slept in your lap, I think we know each other pretty well.”
Kibum purses his lips as he considers, then shrugs and nods. “What the hell, I may as well. Lead the way, Jjong.”
Jonghyun’s face brightens considerably and he nods eagerly, latching onto Kibum’s hand and tugging him down the street as if they can’t afford to go any slower.
Jonghyun’s house is quaint, small in size but Kibum can tell that it’s a home and not just a house as soon as he steps inside. Jonghyun toes off his shoes and kicks them in a corner haphazardly and Kibum sets his next to Jonghyun’s (albeit more neat), and follows Jonghyun to the kitchen, where Jonghyun pulls out a can of soda for them both. It’d already warmed up outside and Kibum is grateful for the cool drink, then Jonghyun tows Kibum upstairs and into his room. His room is small, made smaller by all the clothes on the floor and the papers strewn across the desk. His guitar is propped up in the corner held up by a stand and there are even papers taped to the wall. There’s what looks like scribbled (crossed out and marked up and highlighted) lyrics and music notes written in a chaotic stream across the papers and Jonghyun chuckles, shoves the clothes into his closet and Kibum tries not to laugh because Taemin is exactly the same. Otherwise, Jonghyun’s room is bare, just his desk and unmade bed, a lamp on the nightstand and his guitar. It’s painted a pretty dark blue color that reminds Kibum of the sea.
“I like your room.”
Jonghyun shrugs, finishes tidying up and sits on the bed with a heavy sigh. “It’s nothing much. It’s home.”
“It suits you,” Kibum affirms, gingerly sits next to Jonghyun on the bed. They’re both quiet then, but it’s the type of silence that Kibum relishes, no voices, no colors, just peaceful quiet.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” Jonghyun blurts out, and Kibum shrugs, nods.
“What kinds of movies do you like?”
Jonghyun shrugs, tilts his head back to stare at the ceiling as he hums. “Anything, really. You?”
“The same. Anything but horror, really. Unless you want me screaming in your ear.”
Jonghyun glances over, surprised, and then he bursts into giggles, and again, Kibum finds that he likes that sound, that color.
When Kibum looks over at Jonghyun about halfway through the movie, (they’re watching Zootopia and Kibum absolutely loves it; he’s seen it close to ten times but he never gets tired of it) he realizes that Jonghyun is fast asleep, head pillowed on folded arms. He looks peaceful, and Kibum only now just notices the heavy dark circles under his eyes. As quietly and slowly as he can, Kibum reaches over for the remote to turn the TV off.
On a blank sheet of paper on the desk he writes his name and number, that he’d had a lot of fun and that maybe they could hang out again sometime. And after one last look over at Jonghyun, Kibum steals out of the room as quietly as possible so as to not wake him. Outside is frightfully hot and Kibum now wishes that he’d taken that soda with him, but it’s far too late now and he decides to just head home as quickly as possible to shower and then to nap himself. The shower is quick (he starts with hot water and eases it down to cold water; he’d read that cold water was better for the skin) and then he flops down onto his bed, phone in hand.
From Tae: can i com over?
From Jongin: pls dont answer tae hes trying to ditch work
To Tae: why are you trying to leave work?
From Tae: its s o h o t
To Tae: stay at work
To Jongin: if he tries to leave know that i said no
From Jongin: thx
From Jongin: dinner later?
To Jongin: sure
From Tae: >n< ihu kibum
To Tae: get back to work
Kibum scrolls through all the mandatory apps (instagram, twitter, snapchat and tumblr) and then tosses his phone to the far corner of his bed. Of course though, it buzzes as soon as he does so, and when Kibum picks it up, it’s a text from an unknown number.
From Unknown: hey kibum! did u go home?
From Unknown: its jonghyun btw
From Jonghyun: i napped well ^^
To Jonghyun: do you get a lot of sleep?
From Jonghyun: insomnia lol;;; i sleep wehn i can
To Jonghyun: i’m sorry
From Jonghyun: ^^
From Jonghyun: do u wanna do smtg later?
From Jonghyun: im bored lolol
From Jonghyun: do u wanna get dinner?
To Jonghyun: im going out with friends but you can come too. Its just taemin and jongin, from the coffeeshop
From Jonghyun: ^^ sounds fun! waht time?
To Jongin: what time for dinner?
From Jongin: after we close up. Just come here
To Jongin: ok
To Jonghyun: i’ll pick you up at around 10 okay?
From Jonghyun: ^^
Jonghyun texts cutely, Kibum thinks. Bright and bubbly and Kibum can practically see him, bent over his phone, soft smile on his lips. Kibum also thinks he’s thinking way too much about Jonghyun, so he decides to take a quick nap instead.
His quick nap turns into sleeping the day away (which is understandable because of the impromptu all nighter he’d just pulled) and he wakes at close to 9pm. Which leaves no time left for his hair and outfit because he’ll be damned if he had to go anywhere looking as sloppy as Taemin usually did (and especially in front of Jonghyun, he can’t help thinking). He ends up throwing on his worn white shirt, the light translucent one that he always pairs with the black pants that make his thighs look slimmer. He’s back at Jonghyun’s house and even before he can knock, Jonghyun’s opening the door, hair slicked back and Kibum’s eyes fall to the beauty spot exposed by the deep v of his shirt.
“Where are we going?”
“I don’t know yet, actually. I think it’s Jongin’s treat this time.”
Jonghyun frowns at that, worrying his lip between his teeth before turning around to lock the front door. “Is that okay? I can pay for myself-”
“We always do this, don’t worry. Just...don’t be like Taemin and order the most expensive thing off the menu.”
Kibum’s eyes immediately fly to the brown haze about Jonghyun’s head when he laughs (he can’t miss though, the way his eyes squint up and the way his hand covers up to hide his wide grin) and he feels a similar grin begin to creep over his lips unbidden.
Jonghyun lets Kibum set a brisk pace down the street and they’re both quiet; they reach the coffee shop and Taemin and Jongin have already closed up and are waiting outside. Taemin is the first to see them, he nudges Jongin and whispers something, eyes not leaving Jonghyun.
Kibum ignores their twin mischievous grins in favor of gesturing to each in turn, “Jonghyun, this is Taemin and Jongin. Jongin, Taemin, this is Jonghyun.”
“We remember you,” Taemin says, “you’re cute. Do you think Kibum is cute?”
“Don’t answer that, what did you two do all day?” and then to Taemin, “no hickies on either of them-”
“Do either of you know how to be civil? Christ. Where are we going?”
Taemin shrugs the same time Jongin says, “I thought you were planning this.”
Kibum sighs.
They end up going to Starbucks (Kibum’s choice because Taemin and Jongin always gripe about how expensive their coffee is) and then they head to the old playground again. Taemin has already downed half of his iced caffe mocha and Jongin has finished his iced chile mocha; both of them are swinging without a care while Kibum and Jonghyun find themselves back on the bench. Jonghyun is delicately sipping his-
“What is that?”
“Caramelized honey latte,” Jonghyun glances at Kibum sidelong, a soft grin flirting with his lips, “would you like to try?”
“No thanks...isn’t it too hot for that?”
“I like being warm. Is yours good?”
Kibum shrugs, looks down at his drink and takes another sip. “I’m not really a fan of coffee, but Jongin was buying, so.”
“Iced…”
“Iced white chocolate mocha,” Kibum holds the drink out and Jonghyun’s plush lips wrap around the lip of the straw as he tastes.
“I like it. It’s sweet.” the way Jonghyun looks at Kibum when he says it though, sounds like…
“Tae, they’re matching, how gross!” (And they are; Kibum’s white long sleeved shirt and Jonghyun’s white t shirt.)
Taemin whips his head over to look at them and makes an exaggerated puking noise as Jongin laughs, eyes squinting shut as he ducks his head.
“I like the way they laugh,” Jonghyun murmurs, “it’s so genuine. Jongin laughs with his whole body, but Taemin’s whole face lights up when he laughs. It’s cute.”
And it’s true, Kibum realizes. Jongin ducks his head when he laughs, always has to reach out to the person next to him (usually Taemin) to grip their wrist or hit their arm because he’s laughing so hard. His laugh is loud and unrestrained, a huge contrast from Taemin’s quieter laughs, muted by a hand held up to his mouth.
“Look at you,” Kibum nudges Jonghyun, “what a poet.”
Jonghyun huffs like he’s offended, but he’s smiling and it makes Kibum smile too. Jonghyun’s plush lips are curved into a pretty grin and Kibum wants to capture this moment with his pen and paper, wants to sketch the sharpness of his cheekbones and the softness in his eyes, the gentle slope of his nose and the curve of his lips.
“You’re staring at me…” Jonghyun’s voice is quiet and he’s holding his cup tightly now, with both hands.
“You’re beautiful-” (Jonghyun squeaks) “and I want to draw you.”
“Gross.”
“Disgusting,” Taemin agrees, he takes his cup of coffee and downs it, tosses the cup at Jongin to throw it out, “absolutely disgusting. So, Jonghyun. You never answered my question from earlier. Is our Kibum cute?”
“I think you’re cute,” Jonghyun says, lips tilting up to match Taemin’s grin, “I think you’re gorgeous. I want to write a song about you.”
“Oh,” Taemin looks startled, but pleased, and he turns to Jongin, “oh, I like him.”
“You just like being complimented, you brat.”
“I think you’re cute too, Jongin.”
Jongin’s mouth opens and then shuts, and he nods slowly. “Kibum, we’re gonna steal him.”
Jonghyun just giggles at that and looks over at Kibum, mirth in his eyes, “They’re gonna steal me!”
“You sound awfully happy about that.”
“We’ll be nice,” Taemin sits down next to Jonghyun, pulls him over so the blonde is perched delicately in his lap, “Jonghyun is super cute, so we’ll be nice.”
“They said I’m cute!” Jonghyun sounds even happier, if possible.
“Because you are. Right, Kibum?”
Jongin and Taemin are being ruthless, Kibum thinks. He absolutely does not like their twin cheshire grins, the laughter they’re trying to suppress. “I’m not going to answer that.”
“You hear that? He doesn’t think you’re cute.”
“I never said that-”
“So you do think he’s cute! And I mean, how could you not, look at him!” Taemin turns Jonghyun’s face to Kibum and Jonghyun tilts his head down just a little to pout obligingly, eyes wide and pretty pink lips pursed.
“I think,” Kibum glances from Taemin to Jongin in turn, then back, “that that’s enough meddling for the month.”
“The entire month?” Taemin sounds incredulous, but he’s still grinning, “I don’t even think it was meddling. Do you think it was meddling, Jonghyun?”
Jonghyun twists around to look at Taemin and he has a soft little grin on his lips when he turns back to Kibum. “I wanna know if you think I’m cute, Kibummie.”
Kibum ignores Taemin and Jongin’s crowing to tug Jonghyun closer and whisper in his ear, “I think you’re really cute.”
The midnight haze of summer heat, Jonghyun’s flustered grin, even Taemin and Jongin’s playful laughter and the sheer closeness between them all - physical and emotional - makes Kibum feel like he’s coming home.
Kibum ends up walking Jonghyun home: they all part at the coffeeshop - Taemin and Jongin go left, and Jonghyun and Kibum go right. It’s quiet, but it’s the comfortable kind of silence and Jonghyun keeps glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.
“What are you looking at?”
“You,” it’s open and honest and Jonghyun’s voice is soft, thoughtful, “I wish I could draw. You’re gorgeous.”
Kibum swallows down the butterflies in his stomach and laughs, smoothing a hand through his hair to hide how flustered he is. “Isn’t it a little too soon to say that? God, Jongin and Taemin would never let that go.”
“I’m just saying the truth.” Jonghyun sounds amused, but doesn’t pursue the subject and Kibum breathes a sigh of relief when they reach Jonghyun’s doorstep.
“Ah,” Jonghyun’s unlocked the door, but he turns around, a playful grin on his lips, “where’s my goodnight kiss?”
Kibum’s mouth opens, then closes when Jonghyun giggles. “It was a joke, Kibummie.”
“Very funny, Jong.”
Jonghyun gives Kibum a pleased grin, then his expression changes and just as quickly as he’d dropped the playful exterior, he leans in and presses his soft lips to Kibum’s cheek. Everything is still when he pulls away, whispers a soft, “Good night, Kibummie.” and then he goes inside and shuts the door behind him.
The next morning, Kibum wakes because of the buzzing of his phone. He checks the time first (9:47am) and then his notifications. What catches his eye though, is that Jonghyun has messaged him.
From Jonghyun: morning ^^
From Jonghyun: wanna do something today?
From Jonghyun: a movie or the arcade or somethign
And oh, because Kibum wonders for half a second is this a date? And oh again, because the movies and arcade don’t mix well with his synesthesia, but then…
To Jonghyun: idk…
From Jonghyun: it’s fine! We can do something another time
Kibum doesn’t know why he feels so guilty. And against his better judgement, he sends a quick message back:
To Jonghyun: we could do something tonight?
From Jonghyun: ^^ what kind of food do you like?
To Jonghyun: no no i dont want you to spend money on me its fine!
From Jonghyun: at least ice cream…
To Jonghyun: fine
To Jonghyun: i’ll be at your house at 8 then
From Jonghyun: @_@ i hsould celn up then
To Jonghyun: do you want to come over then?
Kibum’s heart feels like it’s going to pound out of his chest while he waits for Jonghyun’s response, and when Jonghyun replies (From Jonghyun: ^^) it only worsens.
From Tae: me nd kai are going to the movies later wanna come?
To Tae: no can do
From Tae: whaaaat why
From Tae: do you have a date?
From Tae: HOLY SHIT U HAVE A DTAE
From Jongin: u have a date?? Is it jong????
To Jongin: shut up
To Tae: shut up
From Jongin: you totally have a date
From Tae: make sure you use protection lololol
From Jongin: we’ll need all the details later
Kibum leaves their messages unanswered, decides to draw instead to pass the time. All the pictures he sketches end up being of Jonghyun: the curve of his slim waist, the shape and warmth of his eyes, his hands around his coffee cup, his lips curved up into a sweet smile, his pout as he sat perched in Taemin’s lap. Kibum also sketches Jongin and Taemin laughing, heads bent together. He shades in the dark of their hair mingling, inks out the curve of their grins and the way they mirror each other when they dance. He tries to pencil in the haze of their voices, gives up halfway through because no color is exactly right for the bright blue of Taemin’s voice and the brown of Jongin’s, the gray of Jonghyun’s breathy high notes and the earthy brown of his voice.
Kibum draws until his fingers begin to cramp up, until his hand is smudged with ink, until his eyes burn from keeping them open. Then he puts his pen down and closes his sketchbook and wanders downstairs for a snack. He ends up eating a salad to balance out all the junk food he’d been eating before, finishes it off with half a water bottle. It’s only 11 now, so Kibum goes back upstairs, collapses on the bed and falls asleep almost immediately.
He wakes up hours later feeling completely refreshed, warm and hungry and satisfied. Taemin’s sent him a video on snapchat of him and Jongin, they’re fucking around in the coffeeshop since there are no customers. Kibum’s almost amazed that the both of them have managed to keep their jobs for so long; another video comes in, this time of a rundown of all of the snacks at the shop. The caption reads “do you want anything?” and he does, but to go all the way to the shop…
To Tae: how’s the weather?
From Tae: warm. Not many customers, we might close early
To Tae: pls be responsible
From Tae: we will!!!
To Tae: i’ll be there within the hour, but i’m not staying long
From Tae: ^^
Which is suspicious, but Kibum thinks nothing of it. And he only realizes just how wrong he is when he gets to the store, sees a familiar head of blonde hair and a slim waist. Jonghyun’s not facing him, but Taemin waves and Jonghyun spins around and smiles when he sees Kibum, and it makes Kibum’s cheeks warm even as he waves back. Jongin’s making a cup of coffee for the girl at the counter, but when he sees Kibum, he grins as well and inclines his head towards Jonghyun, who is still smiling that soft smile at Kibum. Kibum sits next to him, eyes falling to his plush lips without meaning to. He can practically still feel the gentle brush of them against his cheek, the wisp of warm breath and the quiet words that had broken the silence between them.
“Hi Kibummie,” Jonghyun says quietly. He’s still smiling, but it looks more like he’s trying and failing to fight it down.
“Hi Jonghyunnie,” Kibum mimics just as quietly. Jonghyun’s hand looks so inviting all of a sudden, so soft and small and warm, and Kibum wants to hold it, feel those slim fingers close around his own. He doesn’t though, grounds himself with the fact that they’ve known each other for only four days, and you can’t really go around kissing and holding hands with people you’ve known for four days, however cute they are.
“I thought you were busy?”
Kibum winces, shakes his head slowly before turning to Taemin - who looks interested - and asking for a double chocolate chip frappucino. Taemin looks disappointed, as he has to move away from the gossip to make Kibum’s drink, and Kibum turns back to Jonghyun, speaking quickly, quietly. “What happened last night-”
“It was nothing,” Jonghyun interrupts, “nothing. Just...impulse.”
Kibum feels...almost disappointed? “It’s only because...if it were Taemin, I would think nothing of it. We’ve known each other for years, but me and you have known each other for four days, and I just-”
“Here’s your drink, Kibum.” Taemin looks even more interested, and he opens his mouth again, “what happened last-”
“You have another customer,” Jonghyun interjects, grinning (it doesn’t quite reach his eyes, not like his usual smiles do), “go do your job.”
“Okay, Jonghyunnie,” Taemin says it pointedly before seeing to the couple at the counter. He nudges Jongin as he passes the register, whispers something in his ear and Jongin’s mouth drops a little before he smooths his face over to a neutral expression.
“So,” Taemin and Jongin crowd Jonghyun and Kibum when the customers leave the shop, “what happened last night?”
Jonghyun giggles and looks shyly over at Kibum, which does absolutely nothing to help their situation, and Kibum hides his grin with his fist as before he speaks. “None of your business.”
“Something definitely happened then, and you’re not leaving until you tell us.” Taemin brandishes a straw and points it between them, “you don’t wanna know what I can do with this straw.”
“Trust me,” Jongin looks slightly sick but he’s laughing, “you don’t want to know.”
Kibum stands then, grips Jonghyun’s hand in his (it’s just as soft and warm as he had imagined it would be) and pulls him to stand as well, “I would tell you, but me and Jonghyun had prior engagements, so unfortunately, we have to go.”
Neither Taemin nor Jongin stop them, and Kibum can practically see their twin cheshire grins when he pulls Jonghyun out the coffeeshop.
“What engagements?” Jonghyun sounds confused, but Kibum doesn’t look at him, only slows their pace when they’ve rounded the corner. There, he drops their hands (doesn’t let go, and Jonghyun doesn’t either, and it’s making him dizzy) and turns to Jonghyun.
“Ice cream, remember?”
PART 2
Prompt-# : 10
For : _keysteam @ twitter
Pairing : Jonghyun/Key, side (platonic) Taemin/Kai
Author : Anonymous until reveals
Word Count : 16,164
Rating : G
Warnings : none
Summary : The summer before Kibum's senior year would be the same had it not been for three things: Taemin, Jongin, and the chance sighting of Jonghyun's voice from around the corner.
❖❖❖
Special thank you to: ottomancouch, royaltysystem, holycanid, loveleyy and xfilesapphic on tumblr, synesthetes that took the time to help me make sure my descriptions of synesthesia were real and accurate.
Taemin’s voice makes Kibum think of lazy mornings and the smell of coffee in the air, waking up with a light heart and next to a warm body. When Kibum opens his eyes, however, he sees the trail of sky blue floating around Taemin’s head, and he focuses on that, not on Taemin’s smiling eyes and messy hair and bright, tired grin.
Jongin’s voice is more earthy, warm brown and comforting; and Kibum always always always gets the image of grass blowing in the wind, of the wave of sunlight travelling across the land and the way clouds cover the sun, only for the sun to reappear moments later. Kibum thinks its funny how Jongin and Taemin can be so alike, (how their mannerisms and looks give them double takes and the question are you two brothers? whenever they’re together) yet their voices are so different, so beautiful and unique in their own ways.
It’s Monday, 10:03pm and Jongin’s wiping down the counters while Taemin sweeps, and Kibum focuses back on them as Taemin begins to dance with his broom, ignores the way Jongin’s voice swells above him when he laughs. It’s 10:03pm and it’s just them: Taemin and his broom, Jongin and the dishes, Kibum and his half-empty caramel-vanilla frappuccino.
“Kibum, are you watching my voice again?” Taemin’s voice is playful and Kibum rolls his eyes, but they’ve done this enough so Kibum already knows how this will end.
“Yes, Tae-”
“Tell me how my voice looks!” The demand is childish, but then, so is Taemin - so is Jongin, they all are - and Kibum hums.
“Your voice is light blue, Taemin-”
“I know, I meant what does it remind you of today?” Taemin looks genuinely curious now, an impish grin still on his lips.
“Lazy mornings and the smell of coffee in the air. Waking up with someone holding you, and feeling so...happy and in love.”
“What about me?” that’s Jongin. He’s finished with the counters and is now waiting for Taemin to finish so they can leave. He looks more serious than his ‘twin,’ but Kibum can feel the playfulness in the way he holds himself.
“Warm brown, like...caramel? Your voice reminds me of grass blowing in the wind, and clouds covering the sun, and the wave the sun makes on the grass when it appears again.”
“Ha,” Taemin crows, “my voice is prettier than yours!”
“Shut up, Taemin.”
“Make me then.”
“Jongin, Taemin, you both stop. Are you done yet, Tae?”
Taemin flips Jongin off very conspicuously and then turns back to Kibum with an innocent grin on his lips before he nods, “Yeah, we can go.”
Kibum follows Taemin out the shop, juggling his coffee and trying to find his headphones.; Jongin’s just behind after he locks the shop up. It’s surprisingly uncrowded for a warm July night and Kibum breathes a sigh of relief as Taemin begins to tug him down the streets. There’s no need for his headphones anymore and Kibum shoves them in his pockets, eyes unwillingly going from the bob of Taemin’s hair to his voice and Jongin’s, to the violets and yellows and reds and blues of the people they pass every so often.
Taemin’s small hand is in his own and Jongin takes his now empty coffee-cup to throw it out; and just when they’re about to round the corner, Kibum sees it. Light, enchanting hazy gray and Kibum doesn’t think twice before going to follow it. Taemin calls after him, but Kibum needs to see the source of this pretty, playful voice. Around the corner is a circle of people crowding around a singer and Kibum shoves his way through the crowd and-
The singer is petite and blonde, wearing a fluffy white sweater and ripped jeans, even though it’s hot and mildly humid out. He has a guitar perched on his lap and he’s smiling down at it as he tunes it. He’s humming low under his breath and when he looks up, he’s smiling wide, eyes squinting up into crescents as he puts his fingers to the strings and starts to play. Kibum closes his eyes to focus only on his voice: melodic and breathy and beautiful. And when he opens his eyes, the haze above the delicate singer is dove gray, almost like mist or stormy seas and the cold stillness of winter’s dawn.
Kibum doesn’t know how long he stands there, in a trance from that voice, but suddenly there’s a hand on his arm, pulling him back. It’s Jongin; he looks confused but he doesn’t even look at the singer, just tugs Kibum from the crowd and continues walking at a brisk pace.
“We’re going to miss our bus, did you forget?” Jongin lets go of Kibum and jogs to catch up to Taemin, who had been impatiently waiting at the corner.
And shit, Jongin’s right. Kibum hurries to catch up to them both and puts all thought of the petite blonde singer with the breathy gray voice out of his mind.
But it’s funny, because the more he tries to forget the man, the more he comes into Kibum’s mind. Whenever Kibum tries to paint, he ends up sketching the singer and his round eyes and plush lips, the guitar in his lap and the way he looked so happy doing nothing at all. Kibum draws the man and his voice, sketches his hands curved delicately over the strings, draws his eyes and his nose and his lips, the soft fabric of the sweater, his slim legs, the way he bent his neck over the guitar.
Taemin and Jongin take every Friday off to spend at the dance studio and the three of them meet up before the heat of the summer day sets in, dance until they’re hungry, order food and then dance until the sun goes down. The other days, Taemin and Jongin work at the coffee shop from dawn until dusk. Kibum stays inside every day: avoids all the crowds and the voices by drawing and painting and blogging. It gets tiresome, but he’s used to it, and on the especially hot days, Taemin and Jongin come over and they all head out to Jongin’s friend Suho’s pool. And every evening close to closing time, Kibum goes out to meet Taemin and Jongin at the coffee shop, get a drink and walk home with them. But today is different, because Taemin realizes that he’s left his wallet at home, and neither Kibum nor Jongin have enough money to pay for his bus fare. And since Taemin and Jongin live in the opposite direction as Kibum, they all decide to walk home.
But it’s so nice out, warm and not humid at all, and Kibum’s feet end up taking him to the old playground by the river, the one no one goes to anymore because it only has a slide, a seesaw and four swings left that work. Which is why he stops short when he sees someone sitting at the top of the swings, not facing him. Kibum coughs to announce his presence and the person on the slide spins around, and of course it’s the petite blonde singer from before. He gives Kibum a soft smile and waves, slides down the old slide and heads over, completely unhesitant.
“Hi,” he says. This close, Kibum notices that he’s almost a head taller than the singer, that the singer’s eyes twinkle and that his face is open and friendly.
“Hi,” Kibum mimics, breathless; then, “I’m Kibum.”
“Jonghyun. I remember you, you were in the crowd the other day. Your friend pulled you away before you could donate.”
“Starving artist, huh?”
“Only mentally,” Jonghyun says it lightly even as he heads over to the swings, “but it’s fine. I like singing. What do you do?”
His speaking voice is brown - darker than Jongin’s with reddish overtones, and it reminds Kibum of autumn, of freshly tilled soil and hot chocolate and firewood. Kibum wants to fall into it, wants Jonghyun to sing him to sleep.
“I draw,” Kibum shrugs, tries to relax as he sits on the swing next to Jonghyun, “nothing too exciting, really.”
“You don’t go out much.” It’s a simple observation, and Jonghyun points to the pale of Kibum’s wrist, “why not?”
“I don’t like the heat,” Kibum throws out the first excuse that comes to his mind, “I burn easily.”
“Oh.” Jonghyun smiles wide, pushes himself on the swing gently, “I don’t like going out much either, I understand. For some reason, I get the best sleep during the day, if I do at all. Insomnia.”
He’s so open about it, and Kibum frowns. To be so trusting, so comfortable with strangers…(But then, he thinks, synesthesia is a lot different from insomnia.)
“Do you write your own lyrics, then?”
“I do! Lyrics, composition, everything. Or, I did, I’m burnt out now. I haven’t written anything I liked in a while. Now everything’s just garbage. But then, I think I’ve always been hard on myself.”
“That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It can make you want to do better. Believe me, I know.”
Jonghyun looks over, startled, then he grins. “It must be a creative thing. So what brings you here?”
“Do you want me to push you?”
Jonghyun seems to read the mood because he slips off the swing, points to the seesaw, a playful look in his eyes. “Let’s do that instead.”
Kibum doesn’t think he could resist anything Jonghyun offers, so he follows. He’s sure they must look strange, two adult men on a seesaw meant for children, but Jonghyun’s laughing and Kibum finds that in this moment, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks.
They end up staying in the park almost all night; they’re sitting on the lone bench next to each other and suddenly, Jonghyun’s head lolls and falls onto Kibum’s shoulder and Kibum realizes that Jonghyun is fast asleep. His head is heavy, but Kibum doesn’t mind because he smells good (almost like cinnamon vanilla) and it’s warm, and just when Kibum shifts to lay his head on top of Jonghyun’s, he starts awake, knocking Kibum’s head in the process.
“Oh my god, I’m sorry-” Jonghyun still sounds sleepy, and he yawns even though he looks panicked, and Kibum laughs.
“It’s fine. Lay down, go back to sleep.”
Jonghyun eyes Kibum’s lap doubtfully, worrying his plush lower lip between his teeth and he glances back up at Kibum before moving over to rest his head in Kibum’s lap. He tenses up when Kibum gently runs his fingers through soft blonde hair, but he soon relaxes and Kibum listens to the cicadas hum as Jonghyun’s breaths deepen and even out as he falls back asleep.
Kibum stays awake for the whole night, listening out for...he doesn’t know what exactly, and there are no voices out here and it’s so refreshing, to be outside and not have to worry about being distracted or overwhelmed in a thick crowd.
Jonghyun starts awake close to dawn, rubbing his eyes as he yawns, turns over so his face is pressed into Kibum’s stomach and he hums, voice rough with sleep. “Morning…”
“Morning, sleeping beauty. Do you want to catch the sunrise?”
“Mm...yeah.” Jonghyun doesn’t move for a solid five minutes after that, and just when Kibum goes to rouse him, he sits up and stands, cracks his back and grins down at Kibum. And suddenly Kibum isn’t so tired anymore.
They watch the sunrise from the top of the hill by the ballpark, head back and Kibum buys them both coffee and a doughnut from the coffee shop (Taemin’s eyes are on Jonghyun and Jongin stage-whispers to Taemin that isn’t Kibum wearing the same clothes from yesterday?) but Kibum doesn’t mind their teasing, because Jonghyun giggles, and Kibum finds that he likes that sound.
People are starting to pour in and Kibum tries his best to focus on the people and not the clouds of color floating above their heads, tries to focus on Jonghyun’s pretty lips as he speaks, how Jongin concentrates on the register while Taemin handles the orders given, but it’s as hard as it had always been. It’s distracting and Kibum feels almost nauseous (because at least in crowds, he has his headphones, but now…) but Jonghyun looks so happy sipping his hot chocolate that Kibum doesn’t have the heart to tell him how much he’s suffering.
They end up leaving only because Taemin (sweet, gentle Taemin) notices Kibum’s state and rushes over, shoos them away for taking up space even though they don’t have any drinks. Kibum decides that he’s going to buy dinner for him for a week, he’s that grateful.
“So you said you write songs?” Kibum asks, eyes cast down as they aimlessly walk the streets.
“Yeah...I play mostly on street corners. Sometimes bars and similar gigs, but mostly for my baby, Roo. She’s with my sister now, though. Do you like dogs?”
“No, but I want them. I love dogs.”
Jonghyun claps, delighted, and suddenly turns to face Kibum, lips pursed. “Do you want to come over?”
“Isn’t that a bit fast?” Kibum’s eyes have unwittingly latched onto the haze of earthy brown above Jonghyun even as he listens to Jonghyun speak.
“Well, I already slept in your lap, I think we know each other pretty well.”
Kibum purses his lips as he considers, then shrugs and nods. “What the hell, I may as well. Lead the way, Jjong.”
Jonghyun’s face brightens considerably and he nods eagerly, latching onto Kibum’s hand and tugging him down the street as if they can’t afford to go any slower.
Jonghyun’s house is quaint, small in size but Kibum can tell that it’s a home and not just a house as soon as he steps inside. Jonghyun toes off his shoes and kicks them in a corner haphazardly and Kibum sets his next to Jonghyun’s (albeit more neat), and follows Jonghyun to the kitchen, where Jonghyun pulls out a can of soda for them both. It’d already warmed up outside and Kibum is grateful for the cool drink, then Jonghyun tows Kibum upstairs and into his room. His room is small, made smaller by all the clothes on the floor and the papers strewn across the desk. His guitar is propped up in the corner held up by a stand and there are even papers taped to the wall. There’s what looks like scribbled (crossed out and marked up and highlighted) lyrics and music notes written in a chaotic stream across the papers and Jonghyun chuckles, shoves the clothes into his closet and Kibum tries not to laugh because Taemin is exactly the same. Otherwise, Jonghyun’s room is bare, just his desk and unmade bed, a lamp on the nightstand and his guitar. It’s painted a pretty dark blue color that reminds Kibum of the sea.
“I like your room.”
Jonghyun shrugs, finishes tidying up and sits on the bed with a heavy sigh. “It’s nothing much. It’s home.”
“It suits you,” Kibum affirms, gingerly sits next to Jonghyun on the bed. They’re both quiet then, but it’s the type of silence that Kibum relishes, no voices, no colors, just peaceful quiet.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” Jonghyun blurts out, and Kibum shrugs, nods.
“What kinds of movies do you like?”
Jonghyun shrugs, tilts his head back to stare at the ceiling as he hums. “Anything, really. You?”
“The same. Anything but horror, really. Unless you want me screaming in your ear.”
Jonghyun glances over, surprised, and then he bursts into giggles, and again, Kibum finds that he likes that sound, that color.
When Kibum looks over at Jonghyun about halfway through the movie, (they’re watching Zootopia and Kibum absolutely loves it; he’s seen it close to ten times but he never gets tired of it) he realizes that Jonghyun is fast asleep, head pillowed on folded arms. He looks peaceful, and Kibum only now just notices the heavy dark circles under his eyes. As quietly and slowly as he can, Kibum reaches over for the remote to turn the TV off.
On a blank sheet of paper on the desk he writes his name and number, that he’d had a lot of fun and that maybe they could hang out again sometime. And after one last look over at Jonghyun, Kibum steals out of the room as quietly as possible so as to not wake him. Outside is frightfully hot and Kibum now wishes that he’d taken that soda with him, but it’s far too late now and he decides to just head home as quickly as possible to shower and then to nap himself. The shower is quick (he starts with hot water and eases it down to cold water; he’d read that cold water was better for the skin) and then he flops down onto his bed, phone in hand.
From Tae: can i com over?
From Jongin: pls dont answer tae hes trying to ditch work
To Tae: why are you trying to leave work?
From Tae: its s o h o t
To Tae: stay at work
To Jongin: if he tries to leave know that i said no
From Jongin: thx
From Jongin: dinner later?
To Jongin: sure
From Tae: >n< ihu kibum
To Tae: get back to work
Kibum scrolls through all the mandatory apps (instagram, twitter, snapchat and tumblr) and then tosses his phone to the far corner of his bed. Of course though, it buzzes as soon as he does so, and when Kibum picks it up, it’s a text from an unknown number.
From Unknown: hey kibum! did u go home?
From Unknown: its jonghyun btw
From Jonghyun: i napped well ^^
To Jonghyun: do you get a lot of sleep?
From Jonghyun: insomnia lol;;; i sleep wehn i can
To Jonghyun: i’m sorry
From Jonghyun: ^^
From Jonghyun: do u wanna do smtg later?
From Jonghyun: im bored lolol
From Jonghyun: do u wanna get dinner?
To Jonghyun: im going out with friends but you can come too. Its just taemin and jongin, from the coffeeshop
From Jonghyun: ^^ sounds fun! waht time?
To Jongin: what time for dinner?
From Jongin: after we close up. Just come here
To Jongin: ok
To Jonghyun: i’ll pick you up at around 10 okay?
From Jonghyun: ^^
Jonghyun texts cutely, Kibum thinks. Bright and bubbly and Kibum can practically see him, bent over his phone, soft smile on his lips. Kibum also thinks he’s thinking way too much about Jonghyun, so he decides to take a quick nap instead.
His quick nap turns into sleeping the day away (which is understandable because of the impromptu all nighter he’d just pulled) and he wakes at close to 9pm. Which leaves no time left for his hair and outfit because he’ll be damned if he had to go anywhere looking as sloppy as Taemin usually did (and especially in front of Jonghyun, he can’t help thinking). He ends up throwing on his worn white shirt, the light translucent one that he always pairs with the black pants that make his thighs look slimmer. He’s back at Jonghyun’s house and even before he can knock, Jonghyun’s opening the door, hair slicked back and Kibum’s eyes fall to the beauty spot exposed by the deep v of his shirt.
“Where are we going?”
“I don’t know yet, actually. I think it’s Jongin’s treat this time.”
Jonghyun frowns at that, worrying his lip between his teeth before turning around to lock the front door. “Is that okay? I can pay for myself-”
“We always do this, don’t worry. Just...don’t be like Taemin and order the most expensive thing off the menu.”
Kibum’s eyes immediately fly to the brown haze about Jonghyun’s head when he laughs (he can’t miss though, the way his eyes squint up and the way his hand covers up to hide his wide grin) and he feels a similar grin begin to creep over his lips unbidden.
Jonghyun lets Kibum set a brisk pace down the street and they’re both quiet; they reach the coffee shop and Taemin and Jongin have already closed up and are waiting outside. Taemin is the first to see them, he nudges Jongin and whispers something, eyes not leaving Jonghyun.
Kibum ignores their twin mischievous grins in favor of gesturing to each in turn, “Jonghyun, this is Taemin and Jongin. Jongin, Taemin, this is Jonghyun.”
“We remember you,” Taemin says, “you’re cute. Do you think Kibum is cute?”
“Don’t answer that, what did you two do all day?” and then to Taemin, “no hickies on either of them-”
“Do either of you know how to be civil? Christ. Where are we going?”
Taemin shrugs the same time Jongin says, “I thought you were planning this.”
Kibum sighs.
They end up going to Starbucks (Kibum’s choice because Taemin and Jongin always gripe about how expensive their coffee is) and then they head to the old playground again. Taemin has already downed half of his iced caffe mocha and Jongin has finished his iced chile mocha; both of them are swinging without a care while Kibum and Jonghyun find themselves back on the bench. Jonghyun is delicately sipping his-
“What is that?”
“Caramelized honey latte,” Jonghyun glances at Kibum sidelong, a soft grin flirting with his lips, “would you like to try?”
“No thanks...isn’t it too hot for that?”
“I like being warm. Is yours good?”
Kibum shrugs, looks down at his drink and takes another sip. “I’m not really a fan of coffee, but Jongin was buying, so.”
“Iced…”
“Iced white chocolate mocha,” Kibum holds the drink out and Jonghyun’s plush lips wrap around the lip of the straw as he tastes.
“I like it. It’s sweet.” the way Jonghyun looks at Kibum when he says it though, sounds like…
“Tae, they’re matching, how gross!” (And they are; Kibum’s white long sleeved shirt and Jonghyun’s white t shirt.)
Taemin whips his head over to look at them and makes an exaggerated puking noise as Jongin laughs, eyes squinting shut as he ducks his head.
“I like the way they laugh,” Jonghyun murmurs, “it’s so genuine. Jongin laughs with his whole body, but Taemin’s whole face lights up when he laughs. It’s cute.”
And it’s true, Kibum realizes. Jongin ducks his head when he laughs, always has to reach out to the person next to him (usually Taemin) to grip their wrist or hit their arm because he’s laughing so hard. His laugh is loud and unrestrained, a huge contrast from Taemin’s quieter laughs, muted by a hand held up to his mouth.
“Look at you,” Kibum nudges Jonghyun, “what a poet.”
Jonghyun huffs like he’s offended, but he’s smiling and it makes Kibum smile too. Jonghyun’s plush lips are curved into a pretty grin and Kibum wants to capture this moment with his pen and paper, wants to sketch the sharpness of his cheekbones and the softness in his eyes, the gentle slope of his nose and the curve of his lips.
“You’re staring at me…” Jonghyun’s voice is quiet and he’s holding his cup tightly now, with both hands.
“You’re beautiful-” (Jonghyun squeaks) “and I want to draw you.”
“Gross.”
“Disgusting,” Taemin agrees, he takes his cup of coffee and downs it, tosses the cup at Jongin to throw it out, “absolutely disgusting. So, Jonghyun. You never answered my question from earlier. Is our Kibum cute?”
“I think you’re cute,” Jonghyun says, lips tilting up to match Taemin’s grin, “I think you’re gorgeous. I want to write a song about you.”
“Oh,” Taemin looks startled, but pleased, and he turns to Jongin, “oh, I like him.”
“You just like being complimented, you brat.”
“I think you’re cute too, Jongin.”
Jongin’s mouth opens and then shuts, and he nods slowly. “Kibum, we’re gonna steal him.”
Jonghyun just giggles at that and looks over at Kibum, mirth in his eyes, “They’re gonna steal me!”
“You sound awfully happy about that.”
“We’ll be nice,” Taemin sits down next to Jonghyun, pulls him over so the blonde is perched delicately in his lap, “Jonghyun is super cute, so we’ll be nice.”
“They said I’m cute!” Jonghyun sounds even happier, if possible.
“Because you are. Right, Kibum?”
Jongin and Taemin are being ruthless, Kibum thinks. He absolutely does not like their twin cheshire grins, the laughter they’re trying to suppress. “I’m not going to answer that.”
“You hear that? He doesn’t think you’re cute.”
“I never said that-”
“So you do think he’s cute! And I mean, how could you not, look at him!” Taemin turns Jonghyun’s face to Kibum and Jonghyun tilts his head down just a little to pout obligingly, eyes wide and pretty pink lips pursed.
“I think,” Kibum glances from Taemin to Jongin in turn, then back, “that that’s enough meddling for the month.”
“The entire month?” Taemin sounds incredulous, but he’s still grinning, “I don’t even think it was meddling. Do you think it was meddling, Jonghyun?”
Jonghyun twists around to look at Taemin and he has a soft little grin on his lips when he turns back to Kibum. “I wanna know if you think I’m cute, Kibummie.”
Kibum ignores Taemin and Jongin’s crowing to tug Jonghyun closer and whisper in his ear, “I think you’re really cute.”
The midnight haze of summer heat, Jonghyun’s flustered grin, even Taemin and Jongin’s playful laughter and the sheer closeness between them all - physical and emotional - makes Kibum feel like he’s coming home.
Kibum ends up walking Jonghyun home: they all part at the coffeeshop - Taemin and Jongin go left, and Jonghyun and Kibum go right. It’s quiet, but it’s the comfortable kind of silence and Jonghyun keeps glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.
“What are you looking at?”
“You,” it’s open and honest and Jonghyun’s voice is soft, thoughtful, “I wish I could draw. You’re gorgeous.”
Kibum swallows down the butterflies in his stomach and laughs, smoothing a hand through his hair to hide how flustered he is. “Isn’t it a little too soon to say that? God, Jongin and Taemin would never let that go.”
“I’m just saying the truth.” Jonghyun sounds amused, but doesn’t pursue the subject and Kibum breathes a sigh of relief when they reach Jonghyun’s doorstep.
“Ah,” Jonghyun’s unlocked the door, but he turns around, a playful grin on his lips, “where’s my goodnight kiss?”
Kibum’s mouth opens, then closes when Jonghyun giggles. “It was a joke, Kibummie.”
“Very funny, Jong.”
Jonghyun gives Kibum a pleased grin, then his expression changes and just as quickly as he’d dropped the playful exterior, he leans in and presses his soft lips to Kibum’s cheek. Everything is still when he pulls away, whispers a soft, “Good night, Kibummie.” and then he goes inside and shuts the door behind him.
The next morning, Kibum wakes because of the buzzing of his phone. He checks the time first (9:47am) and then his notifications. What catches his eye though, is that Jonghyun has messaged him.
From Jonghyun: morning ^^
From Jonghyun: wanna do something today?
From Jonghyun: a movie or the arcade or somethign
And oh, because Kibum wonders for half a second is this a date? And oh again, because the movies and arcade don’t mix well with his synesthesia, but then…
To Jonghyun: idk…
From Jonghyun: it’s fine! We can do something another time
Kibum doesn’t know why he feels so guilty. And against his better judgement, he sends a quick message back:
To Jonghyun: we could do something tonight?
From Jonghyun: ^^ what kind of food do you like?
To Jonghyun: no no i dont want you to spend money on me its fine!
From Jonghyun: at least ice cream…
To Jonghyun: fine
To Jonghyun: i’ll be at your house at 8 then
From Jonghyun: @_@ i hsould celn up then
To Jonghyun: do you want to come over then?
Kibum’s heart feels like it’s going to pound out of his chest while he waits for Jonghyun’s response, and when Jonghyun replies (From Jonghyun: ^^) it only worsens.
From Tae: me nd kai are going to the movies later wanna come?
To Tae: no can do
From Tae: whaaaat why
From Tae: do you have a date?
From Tae: HOLY SHIT U HAVE A DTAE
From Jongin: u have a date?? Is it jong????
To Jongin: shut up
To Tae: shut up
From Jongin: you totally have a date
From Tae: make sure you use protection lololol
From Jongin: we’ll need all the details later
Kibum leaves their messages unanswered, decides to draw instead to pass the time. All the pictures he sketches end up being of Jonghyun: the curve of his slim waist, the shape and warmth of his eyes, his hands around his coffee cup, his lips curved up into a sweet smile, his pout as he sat perched in Taemin’s lap. Kibum also sketches Jongin and Taemin laughing, heads bent together. He shades in the dark of their hair mingling, inks out the curve of their grins and the way they mirror each other when they dance. He tries to pencil in the haze of their voices, gives up halfway through because no color is exactly right for the bright blue of Taemin’s voice and the brown of Jongin’s, the gray of Jonghyun’s breathy high notes and the earthy brown of his voice.
Kibum draws until his fingers begin to cramp up, until his hand is smudged with ink, until his eyes burn from keeping them open. Then he puts his pen down and closes his sketchbook and wanders downstairs for a snack. He ends up eating a salad to balance out all the junk food he’d been eating before, finishes it off with half a water bottle. It’s only 11 now, so Kibum goes back upstairs, collapses on the bed and falls asleep almost immediately.
He wakes up hours later feeling completely refreshed, warm and hungry and satisfied. Taemin’s sent him a video on snapchat of him and Jongin, they’re fucking around in the coffeeshop since there are no customers. Kibum’s almost amazed that the both of them have managed to keep their jobs for so long; another video comes in, this time of a rundown of all of the snacks at the shop. The caption reads “do you want anything?” and he does, but to go all the way to the shop…
To Tae: how’s the weather?
From Tae: warm. Not many customers, we might close early
To Tae: pls be responsible
From Tae: we will!!!
To Tae: i’ll be there within the hour, but i’m not staying long
From Tae: ^^
Which is suspicious, but Kibum thinks nothing of it. And he only realizes just how wrong he is when he gets to the store, sees a familiar head of blonde hair and a slim waist. Jonghyun’s not facing him, but Taemin waves and Jonghyun spins around and smiles when he sees Kibum, and it makes Kibum’s cheeks warm even as he waves back. Jongin’s making a cup of coffee for the girl at the counter, but when he sees Kibum, he grins as well and inclines his head towards Jonghyun, who is still smiling that soft smile at Kibum. Kibum sits next to him, eyes falling to his plush lips without meaning to. He can practically still feel the gentle brush of them against his cheek, the wisp of warm breath and the quiet words that had broken the silence between them.
“Hi Kibummie,” Jonghyun says quietly. He’s still smiling, but it looks more like he’s trying and failing to fight it down.
“Hi Jonghyunnie,” Kibum mimics just as quietly. Jonghyun’s hand looks so inviting all of a sudden, so soft and small and warm, and Kibum wants to hold it, feel those slim fingers close around his own. He doesn’t though, grounds himself with the fact that they’ve known each other for only four days, and you can’t really go around kissing and holding hands with people you’ve known for four days, however cute they are.
“I thought you were busy?”
Kibum winces, shakes his head slowly before turning to Taemin - who looks interested - and asking for a double chocolate chip frappucino. Taemin looks disappointed, as he has to move away from the gossip to make Kibum’s drink, and Kibum turns back to Jonghyun, speaking quickly, quietly. “What happened last night-”
“It was nothing,” Jonghyun interrupts, “nothing. Just...impulse.”
Kibum feels...almost disappointed? “It’s only because...if it were Taemin, I would think nothing of it. We’ve known each other for years, but me and you have known each other for four days, and I just-”
“Here’s your drink, Kibum.” Taemin looks even more interested, and he opens his mouth again, “what happened last-”
“You have another customer,” Jonghyun interjects, grinning (it doesn’t quite reach his eyes, not like his usual smiles do), “go do your job.”
“Okay, Jonghyunnie,” Taemin says it pointedly before seeing to the couple at the counter. He nudges Jongin as he passes the register, whispers something in his ear and Jongin’s mouth drops a little before he smooths his face over to a neutral expression.
“So,” Taemin and Jongin crowd Jonghyun and Kibum when the customers leave the shop, “what happened last night?”
Jonghyun giggles and looks shyly over at Kibum, which does absolutely nothing to help their situation, and Kibum hides his grin with his fist as before he speaks. “None of your business.”
“Something definitely happened then, and you’re not leaving until you tell us.” Taemin brandishes a straw and points it between them, “you don’t wanna know what I can do with this straw.”
“Trust me,” Jongin looks slightly sick but he’s laughing, “you don’t want to know.”
Kibum stands then, grips Jonghyun’s hand in his (it’s just as soft and warm as he had imagined it would be) and pulls him to stand as well, “I would tell you, but me and Jonghyun had prior engagements, so unfortunately, we have to go.”
Neither Taemin nor Jongin stop them, and Kibum can practically see their twin cheshire grins when he pulls Jonghyun out the coffeeshop.
“What engagements?” Jonghyun sounds confused, but Kibum doesn’t look at him, only slows their pace when they’ve rounded the corner. There, he drops their hands (doesn’t let go, and Jonghyun doesn’t either, and it’s making him dizzy) and turns to Jonghyun.
“Ice cream, remember?”
PART 2