Those Meddling Kids! (Chapter 3)
Title: Those Meddling Kids! (Chapter 3)
Author: 7dragon_Zodiac / Verocity
Fandom: Super Junior, Dong Bang Shin Ki
Featuring: ChangMin [DBSK], KiBum, EunHyuk, RyeoWook, DongHae, YeSung
Pairings: KiBum [Super Junior] x ChangMin [DBSK]; EunHyuk x RyeoWook (okay, I give in.)
Rating: I’m pretty sure it’s still G.
Warnings: The yaoi is slowly sneaking in.
Genre: General, a bit of romance, a bit of psych-horror in the future chapters.
A/N: (relocated to the end of the chapter)
Summary: The one where KiBum proves to himself that he really shouldn’t mess with intelligent people. Also, personal growth!
Word Count: 4,154
Dance rehearsals. They had too many dance rehearsals. Even dancers need to rest.
The company’s studios were always fully booked. The senior artists were prioritized in reservations, which meant that the younger groups had to banter among themselves on which among the remaining studios could be used by whom during which nights. LeeTeuk assigned SungMin to be the group’s negotiator, and because he was very thorough and efficient and, well, he was SungMin, Super Junior practically had their own room. Every night, someone from the group needed to practice and HyukJae was always there whenever he could because he is the king of dancing. He had to work on choreography, synchronization, blocking, grouping…
Yet even the king of dancing can get completely tired of his craft.
So when SHINee barged into their studio and begged on bended knees to be allowed to rehearse for their dance battle the night after next, and they really needed a place where they can do their routine privately… Well, SungMin almost heartily said “no”. Had they not rigorously negotiated on their rehearsal schedules? What was all this commotion?
But LeeTeuk, hyung to everyone and not just Super Junior, overrode SungMin and allowed the lenience just this once. Their next dance schedule wasn’t for another five days and the group already had the routine down, and Shinee agreed to replace this night with one of theirs to be chosen on an emergency basis.
“Couldn’t we have asked for two nights?” SungMin mused on their way home, but LeeTeuk-hyung confidently shushed him. There was time for frugality, and there was time for compassion. Under orders from their leader, the hyung of all hyungs, the mother of Super Junior, the dance group was specifically instructed to rest that night. It was the first time they were able to leave the studios before eight in the evening.
SungMin decided to use the sudden free time to shop for wine. He’d heard there was an Australian wine merchant in town and he’d really been itching to see their wares. If he didn’t grab the opportunity now he’d have to order online and he’d waste money on shipping and handling. ShinDong agreed to accompany him on the grounds that they could buy steak and cheese to compliment SungMin’s wine. LeeTeuk went with them mostly because he’d never been to a wine gallery before. If his members were interested in something, then he should try it out as well - it would help him keep track of their development.
EunHyuk just wanted to go home. DongHae went along with him. “I need to feed RyeoWook,” the latter said, winking. “I didn’t give him much for breakfast. I didn’t want his home to be dirty with uneaten food.”
EunHyuk looked sideways at his best friend. “So you… what, feed him small bits and pieces?”
“Yeah! I stop when he doesn’t eat the last flake I put in. That way his home can stay cleaner.” It’s been three days since he found the intruder in his room and had given up resisting the thought of being a pet owner. Listening to him now, no one would think he’d been so flustered about having such a thing forced on him. There were even times when EunHyuk would catch him muttering to himself, something along the lines of “I wonder if RyeoWook would like that,” and he had to wonder if DongHae meant the fish or the person. (With DongHae, you just never know.)
“Can we stop for take-out on the way home?” EunHyuk asked as they got into DongHae’s car.
“I guess. Do you have your disguise?” They always wore disguises in public. DongHae’s was a blond wig and a pair of oversized shades, while EunHyuk’s was just a simple hoodie and a surgical mask. “Don’t you always have dinner at home?”
“You’re not the only one with a RyeoWook to feed,” EunHyuk said.
“Ah. Won’t your precious dongsaeng cook for you?” DongHae replied, teasing (but as far as EunHyuk was concerned there was nothing to tease about). “What did you do wrong?”
“Not a thing. It’s just that he always cooks on top of his other duties. If we can have a break tonight, then so should he.”
DongHae nodded like he knew exactly what EunHyuk meant, or perhaps even more. EunHyuk ignored him. Again: with DongHae, you just never knew.
* * *
EunHyuk entered the apartment armed with bowls of kimchi, seasoned spinach, stir fried sweet potato noodles, and braised short ribs.
“What if we turn this chord into a diminished seven?” YeSung’s voice floated over to him from one of the rooms. “You can sing the top note, I’ll sing the melody, KyuHyun can sing the root…”
“… and the seventh?” RyeoWook’s voice asked.
“If you pull it an octave lower, SungMin could probably reach it easy.”
A chord was played and two voices hummed their pitches. EunHyuk put the bag of food on the kitchen table and wondered if he should reheat it himself. The answer was obvious.
YeSung opened the door to RyeoWook’s room before EunHyuk could even knock on it.
EunHyuk stared. “Seriously, hyung, how do you do that? It’s creepy!”
“I could tell you,” YeSung answered with his trademark stone-like expression, “but then I‘d have to kill you.”
EunHyuk smiled uneasily. Even being best friends with DongHae didn’t prepare him for the ball of utter randomness that was YeSung. “Please don’t kill me. I brought dinner.”
“Welcome home, hyung!” RyeoWook greeted him cheerfully. “I didn’t know you’ll be home early so I haven’t made dinner yet…”
“He brought dinner,” YeSung said before EunHyuk could, without taking his eyes off his dongsaeng.
“Oh.” RyeoWook’s face fell. “You could have just messaged me to cook, hyung, I wouldn’t have minded.”
“I-“ EunHyuk began, but was completely cut off.
YeSung grabbed the youngest (at heart) in a one-armed hug. “Why don’t you broil that salmon you have in the fridge? EunHyuk can eat his nasty store-bought food while we eat something delicious.” RyeoWook nodded enthusiastically. “Then off to the kitchen with you, and make it yummy!”
“But I brought enough for everyone! Wookie, you don’t have to cook!” EunHyuk called out to RyeoWook’s retreating back. Why must everyone make his life so hard?
RyeoWook turned in his step and smiled brightly at him. “I know, hyung! But I was already planning on serving salmon for dinner anyway.” Seconds later, EunHyuk heard the rattle of pots and pans being placed on the stove, and the smell of soy honey and cooking salmon began to fill the dorm.
“Really. If you want to be his hyung, you should know him better,” YeSung scolded EunHyuk, still standing by the bedroom door. “It’s not just about feeding him.”
“But I brought food,” EunHyuk repeated helplessly. Why can’t these people understand the sheer importance of the fact that he bought dinner for them?
YeSung shook his head pityingly. “Idiot. You don’t give flowers to a florist.”
Here we go. YeSung-speak. “He’s not a florist, hyung.”
“I think,” a low voice said from the doorway, “YeSung-hyung means you screwed up.”
“KIBUM!” both boys yelled as they tackle-hugged their long lost brother. RyeoWook would later greet him with similar excitement - nothing ever disturbs his concentration in the kitchen, not even a full-blown chainsaw massacre right outside the door.
* * *
Dinner at the upper dorm was always a simple affair, and was completely dependent on the chef’s mood: if HanKyung was indulgent, the first person to request a particular food was gratified with an exemplary sample of that dish; but on HanKyung’s off days, the members could eat what he’d already served and they’d better show their appreciation for every bite. HanKyung was a great cook, and he’d never serve anything bad to his dorm-mates. Not even when they angered him for any reason whatsoever. So whatever happens, members of the upper dorm could always look forward to good food when they got home.
That was assuming, of course, that HanKyung was available to prepare dinner.
As soon as DongHae entered the dorm, he noted the lack of aroma and immediately decided to renege on his denial to join the lower dorm for dinner. He could cook to feed himself… but only if there was someone else to help him put out fires and clean up the mess and the resultant meal was never really satisfying after all the effort.
There was just one thing he had to do before going downstairs.
There was a bucket under his bed. The salt-water fish merchants strongly advised him to keep an acclimation bucket for any new fish he wanted to add to his aquarium. He crouched beside his bed and gently pulled the bucket out, which contained the yellow sea goldfish that in a few minutes would be RyeoWook’s tank-mate.
* * *
“So preparing for this new drama is really filling up my schedule,” KiBum said, wrapping up his story. “But since my character’s one of the leads, I’ll get a lot of screen time and hopefully finally get my big break in acting.”
“Wow, KiBummie! You should have come over as soon as you heard the news. We would have celebrated with you!” RyeoWook exclaimed, meaning every word.
“Tsk. So you’re saying you’ll see us even less often these coming days,” YeSung said. He always pointed out unpleasant truths. This was why very few of the older members liked him.
KiBum shrugged. “Actually, hyung, I was trying not to say it… but yeah.”
“Aww, KiBum… the night your new drama airs, you come straight here and we’ll throw a party,” EunHyuk offered. “But since it’s your celebration, you pay for everything.”
KiBum just laughed - the kind that ChangMin said he should never show on television because he’d have nothing left for those whom he considered special. KiBum understood, and he kept this laugh only for when he was with Super Junior or Dong Bang Shin Ki, and both families accepted its sincerity.
RyeoWook’s cellphone timer went off. “Clear the table,” RyeoWook he commanded. He put out the stove and carefully spooned the reheated dishes into separate bowls. He laid out the meal before his hyungs and KiBum, a combination of EunHyuk’s take-out (which RyeoWook gave a personal touch by adding a few spices) and his home-cooked salmon and bean sprout soup, which was greeted with much gusto around the table.
“This is one thing I’ll always miss,” KiBum said heartily. “Hyung, your cooking is one of a kind.”
“Then you should visit more often,” RyeoWook remarked. EunHyuk nodded while chewing.
“Or you could invite us over,” YeSung opined. “We’d go in a heartbeat. We’ve been waiting to be invited for ages.”
Again with YeSung’s truths, and this time KiBum’s laughter was tinged with discomfort.
“Little Sweet Potato misses you, you know,” YeSung added, referring to his turtle. “Sometimes he stares at me for a really long time and I think he’s trying to imitate you. I almost enrolled him in a boxing class once just to get it over with.”
“One of these days,” KiBum said sincerely. “I’m just waiting for the right time.” He studiously avoided looking at EunHyuk. If JunSu-hyung knew that ChangMin went over to his place a lot, then he would have certainly told EunHyuk to keep an eye on them. And if he did, EunHyuk didn’t show it; he only ate his meal with every bit of enjoyment he could show.
KiBum ate with them. It really has been a while. His phone rang before he could really dig in, and he checked his message quietly. It was ChangMin.
“You can go if you have to,” YeSung said offhandedly as if he either didn’t care, or just knew that KiBum didn’t mean anything bad by having to leave in the middle of dinner. RyeoWook’s mouth was full and couldn’t speak in protest.
“Yesung-hyung,” EunHyuk began (he, unlike RyeoWook, had no problems with speaking while eating), but KiBum cut him off.
“Sorry for the hassle, hyung,” KiBum said to no one and everyone. YeSung was often misunderstood by many, but KiBum believed he wasn’t one of those people. “I’ll make up for it some other time.”
YeSung nodded. “I’ll send you a message everyday to remind you to invite us over.”
“KiBummie, at least take some with you,” RyeoWook said. He stood up to pack some food, but KiBum put his hands on his shoulders to say that it was okay.
He watched EunHyuk out of the corner of his eye. “Dong Bang Shin Ki’s leaving for Thailand in two days. ChangMin made me promise to meet for dinner tonight.”
EunHyuk blinked and his eyes lost focus for not longer than a split-second, but in that instant Kibum confirmed that JunSu told him about him and ChangMin. KiBum didn’t know what EunHyuk thought of it, but he sincerely hoped his hyung didn’t feel that they were being traded for ChangMin and his group.
Dong Bang Shin Ki were great brothers, and they were definitely much saner… but KiBum was still a Super Junior.
* * *
DongHae watched his two fish inspect each other. RyeoWook, having had the aquarium to himself for three days, seemed startled to meet someone new. The new fish was much more concerned with the tank’s spaciousness - the acclimation bucket wasn’t roomy at all.
The merchant assured DongHae that these two species would get along just fine (as they did in the wild). They were both beginners’ fish and were easy to keep alive. He took his feeding chopsticks and, with infinite care that the other members didn’t think he had, gently pushed flakes of fish food just beneath the water surface. The fish acknowledged his presence and began to eat.
His stomach growled. He’d better go downstairs before HyukJae and the others ate everything.
You’re not the only one with a RyeoWook to feed, HyukJae had said earlier tonight. DongHae smirked at the yellow fish.
“EunHyukkie, play nice with Wookie, okay? DongHae-umma has to eat.”
* * *
“I hope I didn’t tear you away from anything too important,” ChangMin said as they entered KiBum’s apartment.
They met in front of KiBum’s building, with ChangMin carrying a picnic basket that smelled strongly of garlic, cheese, and chicken, but KiBum was fairly sure there was more to dinner than just that. As if the basket’s size wasn’t enough of a clue, the way ChangMin’s gait was unbalanced showed just how heavy the contents were. Certainly more than enough for tonight’s meal. Certainly enough to have left-over food for the day after, and the day after that.
“Are we having a feast?” KiBum asked. He removed his stuff from the dinner/work table and opened the windows to let in the night air.
ChangMin busied himself with the preparations. He had asked JaeJoong-hyung to help him cook, and even with their unfamiliarity with Italian cuisine they both believed that they got the food right. Still, Kibum came from the west and his appreciation for western cuisine might be of a completely different level from theirs. “Not a feast. Just a celebration. Why don’t you take a quick bath while I get things ready? You smell of sweat and salmon, and that won’t go well with the meal at all.”
KiBum grinned. “Why? Are you having me for dinner?”
“Not if you smell like that. Just a quick bath, KiBum.”
“Seriously? How much preparation time do you need?”
“I’ll just plate the food. That’s why I said ‘quick’.”
KiBum appraised ChangMin, thought ‘to hell with it’ and took off his shirt then and there with ChangMin studiously Not Looking At Him. He pretended to wipe some beads of sweat off his chest with his shirt, not-so-subtly flexing his muscles to see if the other man would steal a glimpse... but there was nothing, and KiBum just let it go.
ChangMin knew KiBum wouldn’t be too prissy about presentation, not when it’s just the two of them. He put the grilled antipasto on one of KiBum’s white noodle bowls, and then laid out several types of cheeses and grapes on a fish platter. He took two dinner plates from the cupboard and on each put generous servings of creamy pesto on penne and some chicken cordon bleu, and a small pile of olives, orange, and celery that could, in dim light, pass for a salad. From the picnic basket came a nice bottle of merlot (the cheap kind, and ChangMin honestly had no idea if it went with the meal of not - alcohol was alcohol as far as he and KiBum were concerned) and a small box of store-bought tiramisu (even JaeJoong-hyung had limits: he drew the line at baking). He removed the cake from the box and set it on a dessert plate at the center of the table. He had absolutely no idea what to do with the wine, except that it needed to set for some time before being opened and that he didn’t need to chill this kind. Simplifying matters, he put it on the table and left it there. Neither boy owned any wine glasses so they’d just settle for ordinary ones.
The lights went out. ChangMin jerked in surprise, but then had to suppress an urge to roll his eyes as KiBum, smelling of milk soap, set a lighted candle on the table. “What, no roses?” he joked, unsure of whether he crossed boundaries.
“Fans didn’t give me any today,” KiBum joked back. He sat by one of the plates and ChangMin by the other. KiBum noted that the candle’s flame was exactly leveled with ChangMin’s eyes.
“So I’m just a receiver of sloppy second-hands?” ChangMin bantered, feigning disgust.
“That’s the fate of the youngest in any group. And that’s why we have to make up for it by being unbearably cute.”
ChangMin laughed. “I used to do that a lot for the fans. JunSu-hyung just had to steal my image.”
“To be fair, he’s doing a far better job of it than you ever did,” KiBum observed. He winked at ChangMin and began to eat.
“I’m not really the cute type, anyway,” ChangMin acknowledged and dug in. “I’m the diabolical magnae who whips his hyungs into being good brothers.”
“Then I’m really thankful you’re not in Super Junior.”
ChangMin chewed his food slowly to stall for time. “How are they?” he asked, wondering how much KiBum will disclose.
“They’re still alive,” KiBum began. “I was at the dorm when I got your message. RyeoWook and EunHyuk seem closer to each other now, and Yesung is… still YeSung. The others weren’t there.”
“And the fish?”
“I don’t know. They didn’t mention anything about it, but then the discussion was focused on me so it’s understandable.” Shop talk during dinner. He wondered how much of it ChangMin really wanted to hear. On one hand, he does seem genuinely interested in KiBum’s concern for his group… but on the other hand, they lately talked about nothing else. With all the effort he put into dinner KiBum thought he should at least make tonight different.
“Why don’t you enlist YeSung’s help?” ChangMin offered.
KiBum waved the question away to say they could talk about something else.
But ChangMin pursued the topic. “No, seriously, YeSung might be able to help. A lot, even.” ChangMin, on his part, was reasonably confident that this was what KiBum wanted to talk about. It was yet another of their unspoken trends: they could have anything for dinner anywhere, but the conversation was always the same.
“I have no idea how to approach YeSung,” KiBum admitted. “He’s too…”
“Random?” ChangMin offered.
KiBum shook his head. “Complicated, more like. He’s very smart, but then intelligence and insanity aren’t mutually exclusive.”
“Ah.”
KiBum remembered a certain concern. “You told JunSu-hyung where I live, right?”
“It was the only way they would let me come here any time I want. But you already know this.” ChangMin tried the olives, gagged, and chased it down with a large gulp of wine. His companion chuckled mildly but otherwise ignored it.
“What do you think the odds are that JunSu-hyung told EunHyuk-hyung you’re almost always here?” KiBum noticed the sudden blush on ChangMin’s cheeks and forehead and discovered that he was the type who handled beer just fine but got buzzed easily on wine. Chances are ChangMin didn’t know this fact before: he was particularly careful about alcohol around KiBum.
“Pretty good odds,” ChangMin answered. “But JunSu-hyung hasn’t relayed any concerns to me. If your hyungs are worried about it, he’d probably know and he’d probably tell me.”
KiBum considered ChangMin’s scenario. “Too many probabilities.” Even with his gusto there was still too much food for just one night, and ChangMin just didn’t make these errors in estimation. Chances are he purposefully made too much food so that they’d have leftovers and KiBum wouldn’t have to eat cheap ramen and kimchi the day after. And since the producers provided food during their shoots, KiBum might have enough food to last three more days (he didn’t mind eating reheated pasta, and the chicken was spiced so it wouldn’t lose flavor easily), which was exactly the amount of time Dong Bang Shin Ki would be in Thailand. KiBum shrewdly suspected that ChangMin calculated this.
“Still,” ChangMin continued. “I’ll keep an ear out. Maybe I can weasel some info out of Junsu-hyung while we’re in Thailand.”
KiBum nodded. They never said ‘thanks’ or ‘sorry’ to each other. They believed they just understood each other that way. “Your glass is empty.” KiBum filled it with more wine when ChangMin didn’t move.
“I think I’ve had enough,” ChangMin said. There was already a pleasant buzz in his head and it came earlier than expected. “Yah. Is this stuff strong? Or am I a wimp at alcohol after all?”
“Some people get drunk on wine more easily than with beer,” KiBum explained. “That doesn’t matter. Come on, the night’s young and we’re supposed to be celebrating.” He pushed ChangMin’s glass closer to him.
“Really, I’m at my limit,” ChangMin insisted, pushing the glass away. “And I still have to drive home.”
“Then sleep here tonight. I’ll take the couch.”
ChangMin shook his head a bit too vigorously. “Ha! YunHo-hyung would kill me. And the wine’s for you so you should enjoy it. I really shouldn’t have more.”
KiBum rolled his eyes. They both knew why ChangMin didn’t want to drink to his limits and it sometimes put a dampener on their nights. KiBum respected his friend’s need for space, but it frustrated him because ChangMin refused to become the drinking buddy that KiBum sometimes needed. Their friendship now was great… yet an unspoken glass wall held them back - a glass wall that stopped ChangMin from being who he really was around KiBum, and put a limit to their friendship. KiBum held off doing something about it for the longest time…
But tonight, when they were celebrating small victories, when they were supposed to be themselves, the glass wall had to be broken.
KiBum rolled his eyes at ChangMin’s protestations. Decisively, he leaned over the table (careful of the candle) and, before the taller man could react, pressed his lips against his.
ChangMin froze. Neither boy breathed. KiBum pulled away at his own time and sat back across the table.
ChangMin was staring steadily at his empty plate, seemingly lost in a tide of thoughts.
KiBum grinned cheekily. “Now will you drink with me?”
ChangMin remained silent a moment more before his eyes regained focus. “I think I should leave,” he said as he stood and clumsily reached for his basket.
“Wait,” KiBum said, standing up as well.
“Goodnight, KiBum.” Moving with uncharacteristic speed, ChangMin was out the door before the sudden change in atmosphere fully hit KiBum.
KiBum ran to the door and looked out but ChangMin was already out of sight. Damn it. He was about to chase him to the elevators when a completely unexpected voice spoke up from the other end of the hallway.
“I think,” YeSung said, “you just screwed up.”
“Hyung,” KiBum answered in complete surprise. He couldn’t think of anything more to say.
“Call JaeJoong,” YeSung instructed calmly.
As far as strangeness goes, this was a completely different level involving YeSung. KiBum usually saw him as the oddball: a man with just as much energy DongHae but had too many interests to focus on just one thing. And now it appears that part of YeSung-hyung’s strangeness was how he can produce such a commanding aura during times of crisis. Indeed, as far as strangeness goes, this was off the charts. But he would process this later. YeSung-hyung was right.
KiBum fumbled quickly with his phone. “JaeJoong-hyung,” Kibum said urgently as soon as the line connected. “ChangMin’s had a little too much to drink and he’s driving home. I couldn’t dissuade him.”
It was the alarm and concern in JaeJoong’s voice that drove the situation fully home in KiBum. “What happened?”
“I… I did something stupid.” KiBum heard the ruffle of clothes and from the other end of the line. A door opened and there was video game music in the background.
“I’ll wait for him outside. I’ll text you as soon as he arrives.”
“Please don’t kill me.” In all the drama KiBum’s been part of, he has never sounded this sincere.
“I can’t promise that yet,” JaeJoong answered with equal sincerity and hung up.
YeSung sighed. “Still such a child. Tell me what happened.” He draped an arm on KiBum’s shoulder and steered him back inside. “You don’t mind if I enter uninvited, right?”
KiBum just silently let himself be led into his own apartment.
Author’s Note: Erm. So we finally touch the meat of the plot. This is the first of many, many things KiBum will have to face.
Originally published in miracle______
Author: 7dragon_Zodiac / Verocity
Fandom: Super Junior, Dong Bang Shin Ki
Featuring: ChangMin [DBSK], KiBum, EunHyuk, RyeoWook, DongHae, YeSung
Pairings: KiBum [Super Junior] x ChangMin [DBSK]; EunHyuk x RyeoWook (okay, I give in.)
Rating: I’m pretty sure it’s still G.
Warnings: The yaoi is slowly sneaking in.
Genre: General, a bit of romance, a bit of psych-horror in the future chapters.
A/N: (relocated to the end of the chapter)
Summary: The one where KiBum proves to himself that he really shouldn’t mess with intelligent people. Also, personal growth!
Word Count: 4,154
Dance rehearsals. They had too many dance rehearsals. Even dancers need to rest.
The company’s studios were always fully booked. The senior artists were prioritized in reservations, which meant that the younger groups had to banter among themselves on which among the remaining studios could be used by whom during which nights. LeeTeuk assigned SungMin to be the group’s negotiator, and because he was very thorough and efficient and, well, he was SungMin, Super Junior practically had their own room. Every night, someone from the group needed to practice and HyukJae was always there whenever he could because he is the king of dancing. He had to work on choreography, synchronization, blocking, grouping…
Yet even the king of dancing can get completely tired of his craft.
So when SHINee barged into their studio and begged on bended knees to be allowed to rehearse for their dance battle the night after next, and they really needed a place where they can do their routine privately… Well, SungMin almost heartily said “no”. Had they not rigorously negotiated on their rehearsal schedules? What was all this commotion?
But LeeTeuk, hyung to everyone and not just Super Junior, overrode SungMin and allowed the lenience just this once. Their next dance schedule wasn’t for another five days and the group already had the routine down, and Shinee agreed to replace this night with one of theirs to be chosen on an emergency basis.
“Couldn’t we have asked for two nights?” SungMin mused on their way home, but LeeTeuk-hyung confidently shushed him. There was time for frugality, and there was time for compassion. Under orders from their leader, the hyung of all hyungs, the mother of Super Junior, the dance group was specifically instructed to rest that night. It was the first time they were able to leave the studios before eight in the evening.
SungMin decided to use the sudden free time to shop for wine. He’d heard there was an Australian wine merchant in town and he’d really been itching to see their wares. If he didn’t grab the opportunity now he’d have to order online and he’d waste money on shipping and handling. ShinDong agreed to accompany him on the grounds that they could buy steak and cheese to compliment SungMin’s wine. LeeTeuk went with them mostly because he’d never been to a wine gallery before. If his members were interested in something, then he should try it out as well - it would help him keep track of their development.
EunHyuk just wanted to go home. DongHae went along with him. “I need to feed RyeoWook,” the latter said, winking. “I didn’t give him much for breakfast. I didn’t want his home to be dirty with uneaten food.”
EunHyuk looked sideways at his best friend. “So you… what, feed him small bits and pieces?”
“Yeah! I stop when he doesn’t eat the last flake I put in. That way his home can stay cleaner.” It’s been three days since he found the intruder in his room and had given up resisting the thought of being a pet owner. Listening to him now, no one would think he’d been so flustered about having such a thing forced on him. There were even times when EunHyuk would catch him muttering to himself, something along the lines of “I wonder if RyeoWook would like that,” and he had to wonder if DongHae meant the fish or the person. (With DongHae, you just never know.)
“Can we stop for take-out on the way home?” EunHyuk asked as they got into DongHae’s car.
“I guess. Do you have your disguise?” They always wore disguises in public. DongHae’s was a blond wig and a pair of oversized shades, while EunHyuk’s was just a simple hoodie and a surgical mask. “Don’t you always have dinner at home?”
“You’re not the only one with a RyeoWook to feed,” EunHyuk said.
“Ah. Won’t your precious dongsaeng cook for you?” DongHae replied, teasing (but as far as EunHyuk was concerned there was nothing to tease about). “What did you do wrong?”
“Not a thing. It’s just that he always cooks on top of his other duties. If we can have a break tonight, then so should he.”
DongHae nodded like he knew exactly what EunHyuk meant, or perhaps even more. EunHyuk ignored him. Again: with DongHae, you just never knew.
* * *
EunHyuk entered the apartment armed with bowls of kimchi, seasoned spinach, stir fried sweet potato noodles, and braised short ribs.
“What if we turn this chord into a diminished seven?” YeSung’s voice floated over to him from one of the rooms. “You can sing the top note, I’ll sing the melody, KyuHyun can sing the root…”
“… and the seventh?” RyeoWook’s voice asked.
“If you pull it an octave lower, SungMin could probably reach it easy.”
A chord was played and two voices hummed their pitches. EunHyuk put the bag of food on the kitchen table and wondered if he should reheat it himself. The answer was obvious.
YeSung opened the door to RyeoWook’s room before EunHyuk could even knock on it.
EunHyuk stared. “Seriously, hyung, how do you do that? It’s creepy!”
“I could tell you,” YeSung answered with his trademark stone-like expression, “but then I‘d have to kill you.”
EunHyuk smiled uneasily. Even being best friends with DongHae didn’t prepare him for the ball of utter randomness that was YeSung. “Please don’t kill me. I brought dinner.”
“Welcome home, hyung!” RyeoWook greeted him cheerfully. “I didn’t know you’ll be home early so I haven’t made dinner yet…”
“He brought dinner,” YeSung said before EunHyuk could, without taking his eyes off his dongsaeng.
“Oh.” RyeoWook’s face fell. “You could have just messaged me to cook, hyung, I wouldn’t have minded.”
“I-“ EunHyuk began, but was completely cut off.
YeSung grabbed the youngest (at heart) in a one-armed hug. “Why don’t you broil that salmon you have in the fridge? EunHyuk can eat his nasty store-bought food while we eat something delicious.” RyeoWook nodded enthusiastically. “Then off to the kitchen with you, and make it yummy!”
“But I brought enough for everyone! Wookie, you don’t have to cook!” EunHyuk called out to RyeoWook’s retreating back. Why must everyone make his life so hard?
RyeoWook turned in his step and smiled brightly at him. “I know, hyung! But I was already planning on serving salmon for dinner anyway.” Seconds later, EunHyuk heard the rattle of pots and pans being placed on the stove, and the smell of soy honey and cooking salmon began to fill the dorm.
“Really. If you want to be his hyung, you should know him better,” YeSung scolded EunHyuk, still standing by the bedroom door. “It’s not just about feeding him.”
“But I brought food,” EunHyuk repeated helplessly. Why can’t these people understand the sheer importance of the fact that he bought dinner for them?
YeSung shook his head pityingly. “Idiot. You don’t give flowers to a florist.”
Here we go. YeSung-speak. “He’s not a florist, hyung.”
“I think,” a low voice said from the doorway, “YeSung-hyung means you screwed up.”
“KIBUM!” both boys yelled as they tackle-hugged their long lost brother. RyeoWook would later greet him with similar excitement - nothing ever disturbs his concentration in the kitchen, not even a full-blown chainsaw massacre right outside the door.
* * *
Dinner at the upper dorm was always a simple affair, and was completely dependent on the chef’s mood: if HanKyung was indulgent, the first person to request a particular food was gratified with an exemplary sample of that dish; but on HanKyung’s off days, the members could eat what he’d already served and they’d better show their appreciation for every bite. HanKyung was a great cook, and he’d never serve anything bad to his dorm-mates. Not even when they angered him for any reason whatsoever. So whatever happens, members of the upper dorm could always look forward to good food when they got home.
That was assuming, of course, that HanKyung was available to prepare dinner.
As soon as DongHae entered the dorm, he noted the lack of aroma and immediately decided to renege on his denial to join the lower dorm for dinner. He could cook to feed himself… but only if there was someone else to help him put out fires and clean up the mess and the resultant meal was never really satisfying after all the effort.
There was just one thing he had to do before going downstairs.
There was a bucket under his bed. The salt-water fish merchants strongly advised him to keep an acclimation bucket for any new fish he wanted to add to his aquarium. He crouched beside his bed and gently pulled the bucket out, which contained the yellow sea goldfish that in a few minutes would be RyeoWook’s tank-mate.
* * *
“So preparing for this new drama is really filling up my schedule,” KiBum said, wrapping up his story. “But since my character’s one of the leads, I’ll get a lot of screen time and hopefully finally get my big break in acting.”
“Wow, KiBummie! You should have come over as soon as you heard the news. We would have celebrated with you!” RyeoWook exclaimed, meaning every word.
“Tsk. So you’re saying you’ll see us even less often these coming days,” YeSung said. He always pointed out unpleasant truths. This was why very few of the older members liked him.
KiBum shrugged. “Actually, hyung, I was trying not to say it… but yeah.”
“Aww, KiBum… the night your new drama airs, you come straight here and we’ll throw a party,” EunHyuk offered. “But since it’s your celebration, you pay for everything.”
KiBum just laughed - the kind that ChangMin said he should never show on television because he’d have nothing left for those whom he considered special. KiBum understood, and he kept this laugh only for when he was with Super Junior or Dong Bang Shin Ki, and both families accepted its sincerity.
RyeoWook’s cellphone timer went off. “Clear the table,” RyeoWook he commanded. He put out the stove and carefully spooned the reheated dishes into separate bowls. He laid out the meal before his hyungs and KiBum, a combination of EunHyuk’s take-out (which RyeoWook gave a personal touch by adding a few spices) and his home-cooked salmon and bean sprout soup, which was greeted with much gusto around the table.
“This is one thing I’ll always miss,” KiBum said heartily. “Hyung, your cooking is one of a kind.”
“Then you should visit more often,” RyeoWook remarked. EunHyuk nodded while chewing.
“Or you could invite us over,” YeSung opined. “We’d go in a heartbeat. We’ve been waiting to be invited for ages.”
Again with YeSung’s truths, and this time KiBum’s laughter was tinged with discomfort.
“Little Sweet Potato misses you, you know,” YeSung added, referring to his turtle. “Sometimes he stares at me for a really long time and I think he’s trying to imitate you. I almost enrolled him in a boxing class once just to get it over with.”
“One of these days,” KiBum said sincerely. “I’m just waiting for the right time.” He studiously avoided looking at EunHyuk. If JunSu-hyung knew that ChangMin went over to his place a lot, then he would have certainly told EunHyuk to keep an eye on them. And if he did, EunHyuk didn’t show it; he only ate his meal with every bit of enjoyment he could show.
KiBum ate with them. It really has been a while. His phone rang before he could really dig in, and he checked his message quietly. It was ChangMin.
“You can go if you have to,” YeSung said offhandedly as if he either didn’t care, or just knew that KiBum didn’t mean anything bad by having to leave in the middle of dinner. RyeoWook’s mouth was full and couldn’t speak in protest.
“Yesung-hyung,” EunHyuk began (he, unlike RyeoWook, had no problems with speaking while eating), but KiBum cut him off.
“Sorry for the hassle, hyung,” KiBum said to no one and everyone. YeSung was often misunderstood by many, but KiBum believed he wasn’t one of those people. “I’ll make up for it some other time.”
YeSung nodded. “I’ll send you a message everyday to remind you to invite us over.”
“KiBummie, at least take some with you,” RyeoWook said. He stood up to pack some food, but KiBum put his hands on his shoulders to say that it was okay.
He watched EunHyuk out of the corner of his eye. “Dong Bang Shin Ki’s leaving for Thailand in two days. ChangMin made me promise to meet for dinner tonight.”
EunHyuk blinked and his eyes lost focus for not longer than a split-second, but in that instant Kibum confirmed that JunSu told him about him and ChangMin. KiBum didn’t know what EunHyuk thought of it, but he sincerely hoped his hyung didn’t feel that they were being traded for ChangMin and his group.
Dong Bang Shin Ki were great brothers, and they were definitely much saner… but KiBum was still a Super Junior.
* * *
DongHae watched his two fish inspect each other. RyeoWook, having had the aquarium to himself for three days, seemed startled to meet someone new. The new fish was much more concerned with the tank’s spaciousness - the acclimation bucket wasn’t roomy at all.
The merchant assured DongHae that these two species would get along just fine (as they did in the wild). They were both beginners’ fish and were easy to keep alive. He took his feeding chopsticks and, with infinite care that the other members didn’t think he had, gently pushed flakes of fish food just beneath the water surface. The fish acknowledged his presence and began to eat.
His stomach growled. He’d better go downstairs before HyukJae and the others ate everything.
You’re not the only one with a RyeoWook to feed, HyukJae had said earlier tonight. DongHae smirked at the yellow fish.
“EunHyukkie, play nice with Wookie, okay? DongHae-umma has to eat.”
* * *
“I hope I didn’t tear you away from anything too important,” ChangMin said as they entered KiBum’s apartment.
They met in front of KiBum’s building, with ChangMin carrying a picnic basket that smelled strongly of garlic, cheese, and chicken, but KiBum was fairly sure there was more to dinner than just that. As if the basket’s size wasn’t enough of a clue, the way ChangMin’s gait was unbalanced showed just how heavy the contents were. Certainly more than enough for tonight’s meal. Certainly enough to have left-over food for the day after, and the day after that.
“Are we having a feast?” KiBum asked. He removed his stuff from the dinner/work table and opened the windows to let in the night air.
ChangMin busied himself with the preparations. He had asked JaeJoong-hyung to help him cook, and even with their unfamiliarity with Italian cuisine they both believed that they got the food right. Still, Kibum came from the west and his appreciation for western cuisine might be of a completely different level from theirs. “Not a feast. Just a celebration. Why don’t you take a quick bath while I get things ready? You smell of sweat and salmon, and that won’t go well with the meal at all.”
KiBum grinned. “Why? Are you having me for dinner?”
“Not if you smell like that. Just a quick bath, KiBum.”
“Seriously? How much preparation time do you need?”
“I’ll just plate the food. That’s why I said ‘quick’.”
KiBum appraised ChangMin, thought ‘to hell with it’ and took off his shirt then and there with ChangMin studiously Not Looking At Him. He pretended to wipe some beads of sweat off his chest with his shirt, not-so-subtly flexing his muscles to see if the other man would steal a glimpse... but there was nothing, and KiBum just let it go.
ChangMin knew KiBum wouldn’t be too prissy about presentation, not when it’s just the two of them. He put the grilled antipasto on one of KiBum’s white noodle bowls, and then laid out several types of cheeses and grapes on a fish platter. He took two dinner plates from the cupboard and on each put generous servings of creamy pesto on penne and some chicken cordon bleu, and a small pile of olives, orange, and celery that could, in dim light, pass for a salad. From the picnic basket came a nice bottle of merlot (the cheap kind, and ChangMin honestly had no idea if it went with the meal of not - alcohol was alcohol as far as he and KiBum were concerned) and a small box of store-bought tiramisu (even JaeJoong-hyung had limits: he drew the line at baking). He removed the cake from the box and set it on a dessert plate at the center of the table. He had absolutely no idea what to do with the wine, except that it needed to set for some time before being opened and that he didn’t need to chill this kind. Simplifying matters, he put it on the table and left it there. Neither boy owned any wine glasses so they’d just settle for ordinary ones.
The lights went out. ChangMin jerked in surprise, but then had to suppress an urge to roll his eyes as KiBum, smelling of milk soap, set a lighted candle on the table. “What, no roses?” he joked, unsure of whether he crossed boundaries.
“Fans didn’t give me any today,” KiBum joked back. He sat by one of the plates and ChangMin by the other. KiBum noted that the candle’s flame was exactly leveled with ChangMin’s eyes.
“So I’m just a receiver of sloppy second-hands?” ChangMin bantered, feigning disgust.
“That’s the fate of the youngest in any group. And that’s why we have to make up for it by being unbearably cute.”
ChangMin laughed. “I used to do that a lot for the fans. JunSu-hyung just had to steal my image.”
“To be fair, he’s doing a far better job of it than you ever did,” KiBum observed. He winked at ChangMin and began to eat.
“I’m not really the cute type, anyway,” ChangMin acknowledged and dug in. “I’m the diabolical magnae who whips his hyungs into being good brothers.”
“Then I’m really thankful you’re not in Super Junior.”
ChangMin chewed his food slowly to stall for time. “How are they?” he asked, wondering how much KiBum will disclose.
“They’re still alive,” KiBum began. “I was at the dorm when I got your message. RyeoWook and EunHyuk seem closer to each other now, and Yesung is… still YeSung. The others weren’t there.”
“And the fish?”
“I don’t know. They didn’t mention anything about it, but then the discussion was focused on me so it’s understandable.” Shop talk during dinner. He wondered how much of it ChangMin really wanted to hear. On one hand, he does seem genuinely interested in KiBum’s concern for his group… but on the other hand, they lately talked about nothing else. With all the effort he put into dinner KiBum thought he should at least make tonight different.
“Why don’t you enlist YeSung’s help?” ChangMin offered.
KiBum waved the question away to say they could talk about something else.
But ChangMin pursued the topic. “No, seriously, YeSung might be able to help. A lot, even.” ChangMin, on his part, was reasonably confident that this was what KiBum wanted to talk about. It was yet another of their unspoken trends: they could have anything for dinner anywhere, but the conversation was always the same.
“I have no idea how to approach YeSung,” KiBum admitted. “He’s too…”
“Random?” ChangMin offered.
KiBum shook his head. “Complicated, more like. He’s very smart, but then intelligence and insanity aren’t mutually exclusive.”
“Ah.”
KiBum remembered a certain concern. “You told JunSu-hyung where I live, right?”
“It was the only way they would let me come here any time I want. But you already know this.” ChangMin tried the olives, gagged, and chased it down with a large gulp of wine. His companion chuckled mildly but otherwise ignored it.
“What do you think the odds are that JunSu-hyung told EunHyuk-hyung you’re almost always here?” KiBum noticed the sudden blush on ChangMin’s cheeks and forehead and discovered that he was the type who handled beer just fine but got buzzed easily on wine. Chances are ChangMin didn’t know this fact before: he was particularly careful about alcohol around KiBum.
“Pretty good odds,” ChangMin answered. “But JunSu-hyung hasn’t relayed any concerns to me. If your hyungs are worried about it, he’d probably know and he’d probably tell me.”
KiBum considered ChangMin’s scenario. “Too many probabilities.” Even with his gusto there was still too much food for just one night, and ChangMin just didn’t make these errors in estimation. Chances are he purposefully made too much food so that they’d have leftovers and KiBum wouldn’t have to eat cheap ramen and kimchi the day after. And since the producers provided food during their shoots, KiBum might have enough food to last three more days (he didn’t mind eating reheated pasta, and the chicken was spiced so it wouldn’t lose flavor easily), which was exactly the amount of time Dong Bang Shin Ki would be in Thailand. KiBum shrewdly suspected that ChangMin calculated this.
“Still,” ChangMin continued. “I’ll keep an ear out. Maybe I can weasel some info out of Junsu-hyung while we’re in Thailand.”
KiBum nodded. They never said ‘thanks’ or ‘sorry’ to each other. They believed they just understood each other that way. “Your glass is empty.” KiBum filled it with more wine when ChangMin didn’t move.
“I think I’ve had enough,” ChangMin said. There was already a pleasant buzz in his head and it came earlier than expected. “Yah. Is this stuff strong? Or am I a wimp at alcohol after all?”
“Some people get drunk on wine more easily than with beer,” KiBum explained. “That doesn’t matter. Come on, the night’s young and we’re supposed to be celebrating.” He pushed ChangMin’s glass closer to him.
“Really, I’m at my limit,” ChangMin insisted, pushing the glass away. “And I still have to drive home.”
“Then sleep here tonight. I’ll take the couch.”
ChangMin shook his head a bit too vigorously. “Ha! YunHo-hyung would kill me. And the wine’s for you so you should enjoy it. I really shouldn’t have more.”
KiBum rolled his eyes. They both knew why ChangMin didn’t want to drink to his limits and it sometimes put a dampener on their nights. KiBum respected his friend’s need for space, but it frustrated him because ChangMin refused to become the drinking buddy that KiBum sometimes needed. Their friendship now was great… yet an unspoken glass wall held them back - a glass wall that stopped ChangMin from being who he really was around KiBum, and put a limit to their friendship. KiBum held off doing something about it for the longest time…
But tonight, when they were celebrating small victories, when they were supposed to be themselves, the glass wall had to be broken.
KiBum rolled his eyes at ChangMin’s protestations. Decisively, he leaned over the table (careful of the candle) and, before the taller man could react, pressed his lips against his.
ChangMin froze. Neither boy breathed. KiBum pulled away at his own time and sat back across the table.
ChangMin was staring steadily at his empty plate, seemingly lost in a tide of thoughts.
KiBum grinned cheekily. “Now will you drink with me?”
ChangMin remained silent a moment more before his eyes regained focus. “I think I should leave,” he said as he stood and clumsily reached for his basket.
“Wait,” KiBum said, standing up as well.
“Goodnight, KiBum.” Moving with uncharacteristic speed, ChangMin was out the door before the sudden change in atmosphere fully hit KiBum.
KiBum ran to the door and looked out but ChangMin was already out of sight. Damn it. He was about to chase him to the elevators when a completely unexpected voice spoke up from the other end of the hallway.
“I think,” YeSung said, “you just screwed up.”
“Hyung,” KiBum answered in complete surprise. He couldn’t think of anything more to say.
“Call JaeJoong,” YeSung instructed calmly.
As far as strangeness goes, this was a completely different level involving YeSung. KiBum usually saw him as the oddball: a man with just as much energy DongHae but had too many interests to focus on just one thing. And now it appears that part of YeSung-hyung’s strangeness was how he can produce such a commanding aura during times of crisis. Indeed, as far as strangeness goes, this was off the charts. But he would process this later. YeSung-hyung was right.
KiBum fumbled quickly with his phone. “JaeJoong-hyung,” Kibum said urgently as soon as the line connected. “ChangMin’s had a little too much to drink and he’s driving home. I couldn’t dissuade him.”
It was the alarm and concern in JaeJoong’s voice that drove the situation fully home in KiBum. “What happened?”
“I… I did something stupid.” KiBum heard the ruffle of clothes and from the other end of the line. A door opened and there was video game music in the background.
“I’ll wait for him outside. I’ll text you as soon as he arrives.”
“Please don’t kill me.” In all the drama KiBum’s been part of, he has never sounded this sincere.
“I can’t promise that yet,” JaeJoong answered with equal sincerity and hung up.
YeSung sighed. “Still such a child. Tell me what happened.” He draped an arm on KiBum’s shoulder and steered him back inside. “You don’t mind if I enter uninvited, right?”
KiBum just silently let himself be led into his own apartment.
Author’s Note: Erm. So we finally touch the meat of the plot. This is the first of many, many things KiBum will have to face.
Originally published in miracle______