A Duet in G
Title: A Duet in G
Pairing: Sehun/Lu Han
Rating: NC-17
Genre: AU, Romance, Smut
Word count: 3974
Summary: Two music aficionados who didn't believe in love... that is, until they met each other. (From this; credit to myung_soo)
G sharp, shift to third position, down bow, vibrato.
Lithe fingers danced on the surface of the violin’s neck, holding it firmly yet gently as it would a lover and seducing its velvety voice out with practiced ease. The room filled with the tune sung by the instrument, casting a magical spell on all those who listened, if there was anyone to listen. By the time other people would trickle into the school building, the lone violinist would be long gone, taking the spell of his morning ritual with him.
That is, usually.
“You’re dwelling on that whole note too long. It ruins the tempo.”
The music stopped abruptly and all that could be heard was the even beat of the metronome atop the polished piano. The violinist turned to the door with an irritated frown fixed on his pixie-like features. On someone usually so bright and delicate, the expression was out of place but the intruder was used to it; it was the only expression the other male directed toward him.
“See; you’re not even following the beat. Why do you even bother using the metronome in the first place, Lu Han?”
The mention of his name seemed to stir something in the violinist as he immediately moved to his open violin case, loosening his bow on the way. “No one asked for your opinion, Sehun.”
The other boy shrugged, sauntering over lazily, his steps in perfect syncopation with the metronome’s sharp ticks, and coming to a stop at the piano where he halted the metronome with a slender finger. The bored expression on his face as he watched Lu Han put his instrument away had not changed. “I’m only helping my esteemed colleague.”
Lu Han scoffed. “’My esteemed colleague’ my ass. We both know that my playing is too fickle and flamboyant for your liking.”
“And you think mine is cold and overbearing; what of it?” Sehun watched the curve of Lu Han’s brows tilt lower as his eyes flashed with ire.
“Leave me alone, Sehun.”
A glower and a sneer later, the room felt awfully empty, so oddly void without the lilting melody filling the now stuffy air of the old music room. Sehun fingered the metronome absentmindedly, letting the coarse tips of his fingers slide down the pendulum before giving it a light push.
Tick, tick, tick.
The ticking sounded deafening in the empty room.
-
A snap in front of his face called him back to reality abruptly. He tugged the earphones from his ears, letting the last movement of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons spill into the air to be swallowed whole by the abrasive cacophony of everyday life, and looked up with pointed boredom. He was greeted by a frown as a muffin was tossed in his general direction; he caught it as his companion dropped into the seat across from him.
When the expression of the other did not change, he sighed. “What is it this time, Jongin?”
“You saw Lu Han today.” It was a statement given with a critical raise of his eyebrow.
Sehun only raised an eyebrow at the query but didn’t miss a beat, easily responding, “Yes, what of it?”
Jongin’s frown deepened. “Lu Han came by the dance studio to talk to Yixing earlier and he had that look he always gets after he talks to you.” When the other merely continued to give him an indifferent stare, he sighed. “I don’t get you two. Why can’t you just get along? You’re both considered genius violinists - which is already amazing considering how renowned our arts school is - and, sure, a little harmless rivalry is fun but I don’t see why you have to be at each others’ throats each time you so much as look at each other.”
Sehun shrugged. “I didn’t know I was obligated to become friends with all the violinists in the school. In fact, I didn’t know you were even friends with him.”
The dancer waved a hand in the air dismissively. “Lu Han’s friends with everyone. Except you, apparently.” He narrowed his eyes at Sehun again.
“I don’t see how this is a problem. I don’t need more friends. And, if I’m not mistaken, it was you who named me an ‘antisocial robot’ so I don’t see how this is news to you.”
Exasperated, Jongin threw his hands in the air. “You’re completely ignoring my point!”
“Look,” Sehun sighed, placing the remains of his meager meal back on the table. Talking to Jongin could wear him out, sometimes. “We just don’t get along, okay? We’re too different - like two pieces played on different scales, different tempos. It can’t be helped.”
Jongin hummed contemplatively. “I don’t know about that. I may be in the dance department, but I’m pretty sure something could be done to bring two different pieces together.”
Something resembling a smile - a rare occurrence - tugged at the corner of Sehun’s lips. It would have been a pretty sight if not for the emotionless glaze to his eyes. “We’re the genius violinists, right? If it was possible, I’m pretty sure we’d have figured it out by now.”
-
The conductor tapped her baton against the music stand abruptly, calling silence to the music room. She surveyed the room critically before looking on the strings section.
“Joonmyun, switch seats with Lu Han. The first violin needs to be more pronounced; you’ll be better on second violin.”
Her shrill voice was met with absolute silence, as if the whole room stopped breathing in that moment, all eyes focusing on Lu Han seated in the second row as well as on Sehun’s stiff form in the first. It was an unspoken rule since both had had the misfortune of landing in the same music class in their second year that the two would never play the same section in orchestra pieces. The two were simply too different and tried to overpower each other with their own styles when forced to play together. It was truly a miracle that they had managed to remain so civil to each other in class when every pause in between playing was filled with suffocating silence from their corner of the room; at this moment, the silence was deathly oppressive.
Wordlessly, Lu Han stood from his seat and gathered his things. Upon seeing this, Joonmyun immediately scrambled for his own and clumsily made his way to Lu Han’s vacated spot while Lu Han inched his way towards Joonmyun’s empty seat - right next to Sehun. He dropped himself on the seat unceremoniously and pointedly ignored his seatmate; Sehun did the same. Though no words or outward signs of refusal were exchanged between them, an uncomfortable tension settled on the whole room, like a piano string drawn too tightly.
The class continued disastrously, as they had all expected. Each one tried to play louder than the other, regardless of the tempo or dynamics written on the pages. In fact, the music sheets in front of them were ignored, both steadfastly refusing to turn the page for the other. Eventually, the conductor dismissed the class early and stormed off with a livid glare at both of them, declaring, “I don’t care how great each of you think you are but I am not changing your positions or seat partners so you had better learn to get along before the concert or I am taking you both out of my class!”
Then they were alone with the weight of her words looming over them as they sat unmoving in their seats.
“This isn’t going to work.”
Lu Han scoffed, finally coming out of his stupor to cram his violin in its case. He stole a glance at the stoic boy beside him, meeting steely eyes before looking away just as quickly.
“At least there’s one thing we can agree on.”
Each step he took out of the room sounded as though a bolded sforzando was etched onto each low thud echoing in Sehun’s mind.
-
All he really knew growing up was the violin. Every day, every waking moment not devoted to school or necessary daily routines, was spent with the sleek maple instrument in his hand, learning to converse with it in ways he would never be able to do with people, learning to manipulate its voice until the tips of his fingers turned coarse and his heart hardened to match it.
So when Jongin approached him in the library during lunch, a few days after the rearrangement in his music class, forcing him against a shelf of books none too gently in the far corner of the room with a look of frustration and disappointment he had never seen on his face before, all he could do was meet it with a look of practiced indifference.
“What did you do this time?”
“What?”
Jongin released him with an aggravated sigh. “Damn it, Sehun. You’re my friend but when you do stupid things like this, I don’t know what to do with you.”
Sehun furrowed his brows, perplexed. “I… don’t understand…”
“I overheard Lu Han speaking to Yixing.” The frown on the dancer’s face grew deeper when Sehun stiffened at the name. “He’s thinking of transferring, Sehun.”
The violinist just stared at him, unable to think of a reply.
“Look. I know you’re not so heartless that you’d chase another person out of the school just because he’s your rival. You can convince him to stay. Just… I don’t know… convince him that you can get along? You both love music so-”
Sehun scoffed, stopping Jongin’s speech. “’Love’? What bullshit. Don’t use such a stupid word for my music.”
Jongin took in a deep breath, trying to control his rising fury. “You are seriously testing my patience, you little prick.” He jabbed at Sehun’s shoulder fiercely, nearly causing the other boy to knock his head against the neatly stacked books behind him. “Of all things to be concerned about, that’s what you focus on? Your music?”
He grabbed at the collar of Sehun’s uniform, ready to plow into a rage-filled rant when he caught sight of Sehun’s face. Sehun looked at him with such a conflicted expression that Jongin couldn’t bear to hold onto the anger that had fueled him to corner his friend in the first place. He loosened his hold just as the other turned his head away.
“…Sehun?” Sehun refused to face him but Jongin didn’t really need to look at his face to be able to feel the tremors racking through his body. “This… isn’t about your music… is it?” Jongin didn’t need the almost unnoticeable shake of Sehun’s head either. Sehun wasn’t a mean-spirited person to begin with anyway. He was just a little lost, confused. “So what are you going to do?”
The violinist turned to him hesitantly, bearing a look of scared confusion that Jongin never believed he would ever see on his friend’s face. “I don’t… we’re too different… I can’t…”
The ringing of the school bell rippled through the air but couldn’t dismiss the expression on Sehun’s face.
-
The only place he could truly relax was the music room. Found on the furthest corner of the school, it was far removed from the noise of rest of the school, allowing him to immerse himself in the voices of Bach and Handel. They did not feel the need to comment on everything he did, on every contest he won or lost, on every quality Lu Han possessed that he lacked.
He brought his hand down heavily, eliciting a sharp screech from the E string. He let out a slow breath and placed his bow on the music stand in front of him.
“Too heavy.”
His head snapped toward the door. Lu Han stood by the entrance, violin case slung on his shoulder and arms crossed over his chest with an unnervingly expressionless face. Sehun, unsure as to how to react to it, stayed immobile, letting the air of silence persist between them.
“That part is supposed to be more airy.”
“What are you doing here?”
Both seemed to freeze at Sehun’s outburst, pouring from his mouth with more bite than intended. Sehun bit his lip, regretting it the instant the words left him. He had never been good at words, at emotions, or with people, preferring instead to immerse himself in the black and white sheets of manuscript paper, of evenly spaced ledger lines, and noted tempo marks. Those were easy. Those were understandable. Those did not confuse him like the way Lu Han’s knitted brows and stunned - or perhaps hurt? - expression did at that moment. He wished he could take it back, mark off a da capo somewhere to erase the guilt that was gnawing at him. As the thought registered in his head, a smile pulled on Lu Han’s lips and Sehun wanted to yell at him to stop because Lu Han never smiled at him - Lu Han never smiled like that, like the smile stretched his very being so much that he could no longer function.
“Sorry, I should have realized that I was interrupting your practice.” He made to turn but stopped when a sound, nearly too quiet to be heard, came from behind him. Slowly, he faced Sehun again, taking in the bewildered expression on his face, as though he wasn’t sure if he was the one who had emitted the sound himself. “Did you say something?”
Sehun cleared his throat though it did little to clear the lump in his throat. “You can stay. This is a duet, after all.”
Uncertainly, Lu Han nodded, stepping into the room fully and closing the door behind him. Everything was silent as Lu Han prepared his instrument, as if each of them were waiting for some signal to continue but neither knowing what to continue with in the first place. To Sehun, it was like improvisation; he knew the theory, the possible notes to play, but in practice, he was lost. Spontaneity had always been Lu Han’s forte but the other looked just as unsure as he and perhaps that was to be expected when they were dealing with an unwritten duet, fumbling with strings and notes along the way.
They eyed each other warily, bows raised just above the steel strings, then there was an intake of breath (from which one, neither knew) and they were playing.
It was perplexing, music. For once, the only thing they ever really understood was so completely alien to them. Their own rhythms clashed harshly, with Lu Han going a little fast before slowing down to draw out deep tones that sent shivers up their spines while Sehun maintained a heavy, steady thrum throughout. Slowly, their melodies converged, one giving way to the other and adopting the others’ style during particular bars. It was as if every move they made, every synchronized breath, every unplanned harmonization was already pre-written on the sheet, alongside the little accent marks and crescendos. When ended, with the last note still ringing in the air, they looked at each other uncertainly though the tension now resting between them was far from their earlier apprehensive one.
“Don’t transfer.”
Sehun’s voice came out with a slight crack, as if his own voice was fighting against his thoughts. Lu Han’s eyes widened in response before his eyelids began blinking rapidly to hide the confusion within them.
“I-”
“I don’t hate you. I never did.” Part of Sehun wished that he would just stop talking because he was so far from his comfort zone now but something, perhaps Jongin’s words or hesitant look of - was that hope? - on Lu Han’s face, was urging him on. “I don’t know why we keep fighting. It’s just that we’re-”
“So different?” The smile on Lu Han’s face was rather disarming. “Like two melodies that just don’t fit together?” When Sehun didn’t reply, he turned to the piano on which his opened violin case was resting and returned his instrument to its place. “But are we really? Superficially, we look completely different, our musical styles are complete opposites, and our personalities aren’t exactly what someone would call carbon copies. But… the more I think about it, the more similar we seem? We’re both too competitive and stubborn for our own good, kind of emotionally stunted and kind of really big idiots. We’re more like the same song in different key signatures, actually.”
As he spoke, Sehun had come to his side and, when he finished speaking, their eyes met cautiously.
“You…” Sehun began, reaching a tentative hand to brush against Lu Han’s cheek. The hitch in Lu Han’s voice when their skins came in contact was at least a whole note above his usual pitch and that was really the only thing he needed to convince himself that this - whatever this was - was okay. “Confuse me… But I don’t think it’s a bad thing.”
Before either of them really knew what had happened, they were kissing, with lips swallowing every low whimper and fingers finding sanctuary on each other’s skin. Sehun’s hand found its place on Lu Han’s chest, feeling the rapid staccato of his heart - one that matched his own with every beat. The other hand crept along Lu Han’s back, eventually tugging on the hem of his uniform there.
“Can I…?”
Lu Han’s eyes fluttered closed as he let out a breathy whisper. “Yes. Yes.”
Usually nimble fingers stumbled on the buttons of his button up but, soon, white fabric gave way to cream-coloured flesh. Unable to resist, Sehun created a path from Lu Han’s lips, down his neck and settling on his dainty collarbones, occasionally dotting the pale skin with red marks. The contrast between the coolness of the air conditioned room and the warmth of Sehun’s breath against him created goose bumps all over his exposed skin and, when Sehun’s mouth finally descended on his nipple, Lu Han couldn’t stop a moan from spilling out of his lips. The sound only made Sehun crave for more, prompting him to lap at the hardened nubs to elicit more of the beautiful sound to fill the air; he only stopped when Lu Han tugged at his shirt to coax him out of it.
Once his shirt was removed, Lu Han wasted no time in exploring the planes of Sehun’s body with his hands. The feather-light brushes of his violin-worn fingertips sent shivers all over Sehun body while the other preoccupied himself with covering Lu Han with as many kisses as possible. That task was effectively put to a halt with a guttural moan pulled from his throat at the dipping of those same fingers beneath the band of his trousers and caressing the sensitive flesh there.
“L-Lu Han-” was all Sehun managed to choke out before the boy pulled him in for another kiss, one that took Sehun’s breath away with gentle tugs to his lips and the dancing of tongues, just as he fiddled with the zipper of his pants, teasing his trapped arousal almost cruelly. Sehun whimpered against Lu Han’s lips.
“Shh, it’s okay. Let me do this for you.”
The next thing Sehun knew, his legs were embraced by cool air which was a beautiful contrast to the warmth of Lu Han’s tongue against the tip of freed arousal. It took everything within him not to buck his hips at the sensation, nearly causing him to lose his balance if not for the piano being within reach. He gripped the edge of the ebony wood so hard that he could have sworn he lost all circulation in his fingers though whether he even had any blood left in any part of his body other than in between his legs, where Lu Han was doing magical things with his tongue, was questionable at best.
Already overwhelmed by the onslaught of pleasure, the added sensation of delicate fingers with the slick slide of Lu Han’s lips against him took Sehun entirely by surprise and caused a string of nonsensical moaning to leave him. When the vibrations of Lu Han’s own moans shot up his spine, making his toes curl against his will, he nearly lost all control of his body, his hips canting forward into the welcome heat of Lu Han’s mouth.
His mistake was looking down to see the cause of Lu Han’s moans and catching sight of the expression of pure ecstasy on his face as he matched the movements of his mouth with his free hand on his own erection.
By the time Sehun managed to pull himself out of cloud nine, Lu Han was coming with the most satisfied groan of pleasure, head thrown back with eyes closed, surrendering himself to the waves of bliss washing over him. To Sehun, no opus in the world could match it. He waited for Lu Han to come down from his high before crouching down to press their lips together, tasting salty bitterness on his tongue. He felt Lu Han’s lips curve up into a smile against his own identical one.
He may not be the best at talking and the rhythmic beat of his heart in his chest, one that was certainly not due to what he had just experienced and more likely caused by the one with whom he had shared that experience, still frightened him - in a good way, if it was possible - but certain things didn’t need to be written down on manuscript paper to be understood. It was like improvisation and while it wasn’t his forte, the happy hum of the boy beneath him as he pulled Sehun closer was enough to make him believe that maybe he’d learn.
-
“May I sit here?”
Sehun looked up to meet familiar glittering eyes, not missing the shocked expression on Jongin’s face that also caused half-chewed morsels of his sandwich to tumble out of his mouth, and felt the corners of his lips turn up. It was a minute movement but it was enough to cause Jongin to start choking on whatever food he had remaining in his mouth. The brief smile on his face was quickly replaced by a more common one of annoyance as he shoved a water bottle in his friend’s direction though, while Jongin was preoccupied by his near-death experience with Yixing, who had accompanied Lu Han and bore the same confused expression that Jongin wore, patting him on the back, he shifted closer to the corner to make room for Lu Han beside him.
“So…” Jongin began when he had finally calmed down, eyes flitting between Lu Han and Sehun uncertainly, as Yixing took his seat beside him and mimicked the look he was giving the two. The pair made no indication that they noticed their apprehension nor of the fact that people were eyeing them from all corners of the cafeteria; they merely resumed eating as if it was perfectly normal for two people who, just yesterday, could not be seen in each other’s presence without getting into an argument to be sitting together like they had been doing so their whole lives. “I’m guessing you guys worked out your differences?”
Sehun shrugged noncommittally. Beside him, Lu Han merely smiled.
“You won’t transfer then?” asked Yixing, confusion giving way to excitement.
“No, I don’t think I will. I have too much to learn here.” Lu Han replied contemplatively. Yixing grinned brightly and engaged Jongin in happy banter, his infectious joy causing Jongin to grin as well.
They were too busy to notice the twinning of hands beneath the table. It was fine that no one knew anyway. After all, the song of two hearts was a duet in pianissimo. Sometimes it’s too quiet to hear so the tempo and key could go a little off but, with a little practice and patience, it could make the most beautiful melody.
AN: THIS IS ALL MO'S FAULT. (ILU MO~) I AM SO SORRY. I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SMUT. OTL
Pairing: Sehun/Lu Han
Rating: NC-17
Genre: AU, Romance, Smut
Word count: 3974
Summary: Two music aficionados who didn't believe in love... that is, until they met each other. (From this; credit to myung_soo)
G sharp, shift to third position, down bow, vibrato.
Lithe fingers danced on the surface of the violin’s neck, holding it firmly yet gently as it would a lover and seducing its velvety voice out with practiced ease. The room filled with the tune sung by the instrument, casting a magical spell on all those who listened, if there was anyone to listen. By the time other people would trickle into the school building, the lone violinist would be long gone, taking the spell of his morning ritual with him.
That is, usually.
“You’re dwelling on that whole note too long. It ruins the tempo.”
The music stopped abruptly and all that could be heard was the even beat of the metronome atop the polished piano. The violinist turned to the door with an irritated frown fixed on his pixie-like features. On someone usually so bright and delicate, the expression was out of place but the intruder was used to it; it was the only expression the other male directed toward him.
“See; you’re not even following the beat. Why do you even bother using the metronome in the first place, Lu Han?”
The mention of his name seemed to stir something in the violinist as he immediately moved to his open violin case, loosening his bow on the way. “No one asked for your opinion, Sehun.”
The other boy shrugged, sauntering over lazily, his steps in perfect syncopation with the metronome’s sharp ticks, and coming to a stop at the piano where he halted the metronome with a slender finger. The bored expression on his face as he watched Lu Han put his instrument away had not changed. “I’m only helping my esteemed colleague.”
Lu Han scoffed. “’My esteemed colleague’ my ass. We both know that my playing is too fickle and flamboyant for your liking.”
“And you think mine is cold and overbearing; what of it?” Sehun watched the curve of Lu Han’s brows tilt lower as his eyes flashed with ire.
“Leave me alone, Sehun.”
A glower and a sneer later, the room felt awfully empty, so oddly void without the lilting melody filling the now stuffy air of the old music room. Sehun fingered the metronome absentmindedly, letting the coarse tips of his fingers slide down the pendulum before giving it a light push.
Tick, tick, tick.
The ticking sounded deafening in the empty room.
-
A snap in front of his face called him back to reality abruptly. He tugged the earphones from his ears, letting the last movement of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons spill into the air to be swallowed whole by the abrasive cacophony of everyday life, and looked up with pointed boredom. He was greeted by a frown as a muffin was tossed in his general direction; he caught it as his companion dropped into the seat across from him.
When the expression of the other did not change, he sighed. “What is it this time, Jongin?”
“You saw Lu Han today.” It was a statement given with a critical raise of his eyebrow.
Sehun only raised an eyebrow at the query but didn’t miss a beat, easily responding, “Yes, what of it?”
Jongin’s frown deepened. “Lu Han came by the dance studio to talk to Yixing earlier and he had that look he always gets after he talks to you.” When the other merely continued to give him an indifferent stare, he sighed. “I don’t get you two. Why can’t you just get along? You’re both considered genius violinists - which is already amazing considering how renowned our arts school is - and, sure, a little harmless rivalry is fun but I don’t see why you have to be at each others’ throats each time you so much as look at each other.”
Sehun shrugged. “I didn’t know I was obligated to become friends with all the violinists in the school. In fact, I didn’t know you were even friends with him.”
The dancer waved a hand in the air dismissively. “Lu Han’s friends with everyone. Except you, apparently.” He narrowed his eyes at Sehun again.
“I don’t see how this is a problem. I don’t need more friends. And, if I’m not mistaken, it was you who named me an ‘antisocial robot’ so I don’t see how this is news to you.”
Exasperated, Jongin threw his hands in the air. “You’re completely ignoring my point!”
“Look,” Sehun sighed, placing the remains of his meager meal back on the table. Talking to Jongin could wear him out, sometimes. “We just don’t get along, okay? We’re too different - like two pieces played on different scales, different tempos. It can’t be helped.”
Jongin hummed contemplatively. “I don’t know about that. I may be in the dance department, but I’m pretty sure something could be done to bring two different pieces together.”
Something resembling a smile - a rare occurrence - tugged at the corner of Sehun’s lips. It would have been a pretty sight if not for the emotionless glaze to his eyes. “We’re the genius violinists, right? If it was possible, I’m pretty sure we’d have figured it out by now.”
-
The conductor tapped her baton against the music stand abruptly, calling silence to the music room. She surveyed the room critically before looking on the strings section.
“Joonmyun, switch seats with Lu Han. The first violin needs to be more pronounced; you’ll be better on second violin.”
Her shrill voice was met with absolute silence, as if the whole room stopped breathing in that moment, all eyes focusing on Lu Han seated in the second row as well as on Sehun’s stiff form in the first. It was an unspoken rule since both had had the misfortune of landing in the same music class in their second year that the two would never play the same section in orchestra pieces. The two were simply too different and tried to overpower each other with their own styles when forced to play together. It was truly a miracle that they had managed to remain so civil to each other in class when every pause in between playing was filled with suffocating silence from their corner of the room; at this moment, the silence was deathly oppressive.
Wordlessly, Lu Han stood from his seat and gathered his things. Upon seeing this, Joonmyun immediately scrambled for his own and clumsily made his way to Lu Han’s vacated spot while Lu Han inched his way towards Joonmyun’s empty seat - right next to Sehun. He dropped himself on the seat unceremoniously and pointedly ignored his seatmate; Sehun did the same. Though no words or outward signs of refusal were exchanged between them, an uncomfortable tension settled on the whole room, like a piano string drawn too tightly.
The class continued disastrously, as they had all expected. Each one tried to play louder than the other, regardless of the tempo or dynamics written on the pages. In fact, the music sheets in front of them were ignored, both steadfastly refusing to turn the page for the other. Eventually, the conductor dismissed the class early and stormed off with a livid glare at both of them, declaring, “I don’t care how great each of you think you are but I am not changing your positions or seat partners so you had better learn to get along before the concert or I am taking you both out of my class!”
Then they were alone with the weight of her words looming over them as they sat unmoving in their seats.
“This isn’t going to work.”
Lu Han scoffed, finally coming out of his stupor to cram his violin in its case. He stole a glance at the stoic boy beside him, meeting steely eyes before looking away just as quickly.
“At least there’s one thing we can agree on.”
Each step he took out of the room sounded as though a bolded sforzando was etched onto each low thud echoing in Sehun’s mind.
-
All he really knew growing up was the violin. Every day, every waking moment not devoted to school or necessary daily routines, was spent with the sleek maple instrument in his hand, learning to converse with it in ways he would never be able to do with people, learning to manipulate its voice until the tips of his fingers turned coarse and his heart hardened to match it.
So when Jongin approached him in the library during lunch, a few days after the rearrangement in his music class, forcing him against a shelf of books none too gently in the far corner of the room with a look of frustration and disappointment he had never seen on his face before, all he could do was meet it with a look of practiced indifference.
“What did you do this time?”
“What?”
Jongin released him with an aggravated sigh. “Damn it, Sehun. You’re my friend but when you do stupid things like this, I don’t know what to do with you.”
Sehun furrowed his brows, perplexed. “I… don’t understand…”
“I overheard Lu Han speaking to Yixing.” The frown on the dancer’s face grew deeper when Sehun stiffened at the name. “He’s thinking of transferring, Sehun.”
The violinist just stared at him, unable to think of a reply.
“Look. I know you’re not so heartless that you’d chase another person out of the school just because he’s your rival. You can convince him to stay. Just… I don’t know… convince him that you can get along? You both love music so-”
Sehun scoffed, stopping Jongin’s speech. “’Love’? What bullshit. Don’t use such a stupid word for my music.”
Jongin took in a deep breath, trying to control his rising fury. “You are seriously testing my patience, you little prick.” He jabbed at Sehun’s shoulder fiercely, nearly causing the other boy to knock his head against the neatly stacked books behind him. “Of all things to be concerned about, that’s what you focus on? Your music?”
He grabbed at the collar of Sehun’s uniform, ready to plow into a rage-filled rant when he caught sight of Sehun’s face. Sehun looked at him with such a conflicted expression that Jongin couldn’t bear to hold onto the anger that had fueled him to corner his friend in the first place. He loosened his hold just as the other turned his head away.
“…Sehun?” Sehun refused to face him but Jongin didn’t really need to look at his face to be able to feel the tremors racking through his body. “This… isn’t about your music… is it?” Jongin didn’t need the almost unnoticeable shake of Sehun’s head either. Sehun wasn’t a mean-spirited person to begin with anyway. He was just a little lost, confused. “So what are you going to do?”
The violinist turned to him hesitantly, bearing a look of scared confusion that Jongin never believed he would ever see on his friend’s face. “I don’t… we’re too different… I can’t…”
The ringing of the school bell rippled through the air but couldn’t dismiss the expression on Sehun’s face.
-
The only place he could truly relax was the music room. Found on the furthest corner of the school, it was far removed from the noise of rest of the school, allowing him to immerse himself in the voices of Bach and Handel. They did not feel the need to comment on everything he did, on every contest he won or lost, on every quality Lu Han possessed that he lacked.
He brought his hand down heavily, eliciting a sharp screech from the E string. He let out a slow breath and placed his bow on the music stand in front of him.
“Too heavy.”
His head snapped toward the door. Lu Han stood by the entrance, violin case slung on his shoulder and arms crossed over his chest with an unnervingly expressionless face. Sehun, unsure as to how to react to it, stayed immobile, letting the air of silence persist between them.
“That part is supposed to be more airy.”
“What are you doing here?”
Both seemed to freeze at Sehun’s outburst, pouring from his mouth with more bite than intended. Sehun bit his lip, regretting it the instant the words left him. He had never been good at words, at emotions, or with people, preferring instead to immerse himself in the black and white sheets of manuscript paper, of evenly spaced ledger lines, and noted tempo marks. Those were easy. Those were understandable. Those did not confuse him like the way Lu Han’s knitted brows and stunned - or perhaps hurt? - expression did at that moment. He wished he could take it back, mark off a da capo somewhere to erase the guilt that was gnawing at him. As the thought registered in his head, a smile pulled on Lu Han’s lips and Sehun wanted to yell at him to stop because Lu Han never smiled at him - Lu Han never smiled like that, like the smile stretched his very being so much that he could no longer function.
“Sorry, I should have realized that I was interrupting your practice.” He made to turn but stopped when a sound, nearly too quiet to be heard, came from behind him. Slowly, he faced Sehun again, taking in the bewildered expression on his face, as though he wasn’t sure if he was the one who had emitted the sound himself. “Did you say something?”
Sehun cleared his throat though it did little to clear the lump in his throat. “You can stay. This is a duet, after all.”
Uncertainly, Lu Han nodded, stepping into the room fully and closing the door behind him. Everything was silent as Lu Han prepared his instrument, as if each of them were waiting for some signal to continue but neither knowing what to continue with in the first place. To Sehun, it was like improvisation; he knew the theory, the possible notes to play, but in practice, he was lost. Spontaneity had always been Lu Han’s forte but the other looked just as unsure as he and perhaps that was to be expected when they were dealing with an unwritten duet, fumbling with strings and notes along the way.
They eyed each other warily, bows raised just above the steel strings, then there was an intake of breath (from which one, neither knew) and they were playing.
It was perplexing, music. For once, the only thing they ever really understood was so completely alien to them. Their own rhythms clashed harshly, with Lu Han going a little fast before slowing down to draw out deep tones that sent shivers up their spines while Sehun maintained a heavy, steady thrum throughout. Slowly, their melodies converged, one giving way to the other and adopting the others’ style during particular bars. It was as if every move they made, every synchronized breath, every unplanned harmonization was already pre-written on the sheet, alongside the little accent marks and crescendos. When ended, with the last note still ringing in the air, they looked at each other uncertainly though the tension now resting between them was far from their earlier apprehensive one.
“Don’t transfer.”
Sehun’s voice came out with a slight crack, as if his own voice was fighting against his thoughts. Lu Han’s eyes widened in response before his eyelids began blinking rapidly to hide the confusion within them.
“I-”
“I don’t hate you. I never did.” Part of Sehun wished that he would just stop talking because he was so far from his comfort zone now but something, perhaps Jongin’s words or hesitant look of - was that hope? - on Lu Han’s face, was urging him on. “I don’t know why we keep fighting. It’s just that we’re-”
“So different?” The smile on Lu Han’s face was rather disarming. “Like two melodies that just don’t fit together?” When Sehun didn’t reply, he turned to the piano on which his opened violin case was resting and returned his instrument to its place. “But are we really? Superficially, we look completely different, our musical styles are complete opposites, and our personalities aren’t exactly what someone would call carbon copies. But… the more I think about it, the more similar we seem? We’re both too competitive and stubborn for our own good, kind of emotionally stunted and kind of really big idiots. We’re more like the same song in different key signatures, actually.”
As he spoke, Sehun had come to his side and, when he finished speaking, their eyes met cautiously.
“You…” Sehun began, reaching a tentative hand to brush against Lu Han’s cheek. The hitch in Lu Han’s voice when their skins came in contact was at least a whole note above his usual pitch and that was really the only thing he needed to convince himself that this - whatever this was - was okay. “Confuse me… But I don’t think it’s a bad thing.”
Before either of them really knew what had happened, they were kissing, with lips swallowing every low whimper and fingers finding sanctuary on each other’s skin. Sehun’s hand found its place on Lu Han’s chest, feeling the rapid staccato of his heart - one that matched his own with every beat. The other hand crept along Lu Han’s back, eventually tugging on the hem of his uniform there.
“Can I…?”
Lu Han’s eyes fluttered closed as he let out a breathy whisper. “Yes. Yes.”
Usually nimble fingers stumbled on the buttons of his button up but, soon, white fabric gave way to cream-coloured flesh. Unable to resist, Sehun created a path from Lu Han’s lips, down his neck and settling on his dainty collarbones, occasionally dotting the pale skin with red marks. The contrast between the coolness of the air conditioned room and the warmth of Sehun’s breath against him created goose bumps all over his exposed skin and, when Sehun’s mouth finally descended on his nipple, Lu Han couldn’t stop a moan from spilling out of his lips. The sound only made Sehun crave for more, prompting him to lap at the hardened nubs to elicit more of the beautiful sound to fill the air; he only stopped when Lu Han tugged at his shirt to coax him out of it.
Once his shirt was removed, Lu Han wasted no time in exploring the planes of Sehun’s body with his hands. The feather-light brushes of his violin-worn fingertips sent shivers all over Sehun body while the other preoccupied himself with covering Lu Han with as many kisses as possible. That task was effectively put to a halt with a guttural moan pulled from his throat at the dipping of those same fingers beneath the band of his trousers and caressing the sensitive flesh there.
“L-Lu Han-” was all Sehun managed to choke out before the boy pulled him in for another kiss, one that took Sehun’s breath away with gentle tugs to his lips and the dancing of tongues, just as he fiddled with the zipper of his pants, teasing his trapped arousal almost cruelly. Sehun whimpered against Lu Han’s lips.
“Shh, it’s okay. Let me do this for you.”
The next thing Sehun knew, his legs were embraced by cool air which was a beautiful contrast to the warmth of Lu Han’s tongue against the tip of freed arousal. It took everything within him not to buck his hips at the sensation, nearly causing him to lose his balance if not for the piano being within reach. He gripped the edge of the ebony wood so hard that he could have sworn he lost all circulation in his fingers though whether he even had any blood left in any part of his body other than in between his legs, where Lu Han was doing magical things with his tongue, was questionable at best.
Already overwhelmed by the onslaught of pleasure, the added sensation of delicate fingers with the slick slide of Lu Han’s lips against him took Sehun entirely by surprise and caused a string of nonsensical moaning to leave him. When the vibrations of Lu Han’s own moans shot up his spine, making his toes curl against his will, he nearly lost all control of his body, his hips canting forward into the welcome heat of Lu Han’s mouth.
His mistake was looking down to see the cause of Lu Han’s moans and catching sight of the expression of pure ecstasy on his face as he matched the movements of his mouth with his free hand on his own erection.
By the time Sehun managed to pull himself out of cloud nine, Lu Han was coming with the most satisfied groan of pleasure, head thrown back with eyes closed, surrendering himself to the waves of bliss washing over him. To Sehun, no opus in the world could match it. He waited for Lu Han to come down from his high before crouching down to press their lips together, tasting salty bitterness on his tongue. He felt Lu Han’s lips curve up into a smile against his own identical one.
He may not be the best at talking and the rhythmic beat of his heart in his chest, one that was certainly not due to what he had just experienced and more likely caused by the one with whom he had shared that experience, still frightened him - in a good way, if it was possible - but certain things didn’t need to be written down on manuscript paper to be understood. It was like improvisation and while it wasn’t his forte, the happy hum of the boy beneath him as he pulled Sehun closer was enough to make him believe that maybe he’d learn.
-
“May I sit here?”
Sehun looked up to meet familiar glittering eyes, not missing the shocked expression on Jongin’s face that also caused half-chewed morsels of his sandwich to tumble out of his mouth, and felt the corners of his lips turn up. It was a minute movement but it was enough to cause Jongin to start choking on whatever food he had remaining in his mouth. The brief smile on his face was quickly replaced by a more common one of annoyance as he shoved a water bottle in his friend’s direction though, while Jongin was preoccupied by his near-death experience with Yixing, who had accompanied Lu Han and bore the same confused expression that Jongin wore, patting him on the back, he shifted closer to the corner to make room for Lu Han beside him.
“So…” Jongin began when he had finally calmed down, eyes flitting between Lu Han and Sehun uncertainly, as Yixing took his seat beside him and mimicked the look he was giving the two. The pair made no indication that they noticed their apprehension nor of the fact that people were eyeing them from all corners of the cafeteria; they merely resumed eating as if it was perfectly normal for two people who, just yesterday, could not be seen in each other’s presence without getting into an argument to be sitting together like they had been doing so their whole lives. “I’m guessing you guys worked out your differences?”
Sehun shrugged noncommittally. Beside him, Lu Han merely smiled.
“You won’t transfer then?” asked Yixing, confusion giving way to excitement.
“No, I don’t think I will. I have too much to learn here.” Lu Han replied contemplatively. Yixing grinned brightly and engaged Jongin in happy banter, his infectious joy causing Jongin to grin as well.
They were too busy to notice the twinning of hands beneath the table. It was fine that no one knew anyway. After all, the song of two hearts was a duet in pianissimo. Sometimes it’s too quiet to hear so the tempo and key could go a little off but, with a little practice and patience, it could make the most beautiful melody.
AN: THIS IS ALL MO'S FAULT. (ILU MO~) I AM SO SORRY. I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SMUT. OTL