Beauty & The Geek [jongkey, onkey, 2min] [9/11]
Title: Beauty & The Geek
Pairing: Jongkey, Onkey, 2min
Genre: AU, Drama, Romance, Angst
Word Count: 2275
Rating: PG-13 [Language, Sexual Situations, Mentions of Attempted Suicide]
Disclaimer(s): I own nothing.
Summary: Office romances never come without drama.
Prologue | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight
A/N: No picture today ~ In case it was overlooked, I am planning a follow up series to this one. So keep your eyes out for it once I finish this one! Also, music is a big part of my writing process, which is why I like to share certain tunes that help get me into the right mood for this series, so if you ever find a song that you think is rlevant to this fic, please tell me! Thank you so much for all of the support! <3
Beauty & The Geek : Chapter Nine
Lie To Me | Broken Strings | Realize | Angels On The Moon | Cry No More (Thanks lilliandesyra !)
Kibum takes a deep breath when he enters his apartment. The air feels stagnant in comparison to the open beaches of Hawaii.
He shuffles off his shoes, trying to block out the noise of the man behind him doing the same. This is not in his plans. Life's missing something - but Jinki can't be that. Kibum doesn't need that kind of toll on his heart, to be tugged back to the man he had only been using to get Jonghyun back with. That's all Jinki was, is, a tool to get Jonghyun.
Even if … if Jonghyun isn't what he wants anymore, isn't the same Jonghyun as he had once been. The charismatic smile is gone, but there has to be at least a tiny portion of the old Jonghyun in that beat up, weathered frame. Somewhere.
Migraine pounding, Kibum drops his luggage in the foyer while discarding his coat and scarf. Just as he's putting his coat on it's hook, he catches Jinki sucking in a deep breath in the corner of his eye. Before he can start, Kibum places a silencing finger on his plump lips.
“Wait - let me shower first, before you start your speech?”
Jinki's eyebrows pinch together in confusion, but he nods and lets Kibum push him back a couple of steps. Reaching up, Kibum pats him on the cheek.
“Good boy, make yourself useful and get some coffee ready, hm?” Kibum doesn't have to think when giving orders, it's second nature. Emotions can't get in the way. Thank god.
Dazed, Jinki wordlessly follows the command and waddles off into the kitchen. Satisfied, Kibum releases a deep breath of air and gathers the energy to go into his room and bypass his oh so welcoming bed to instead enter his bathroom.
He reemerges from the steam shower fresher, but his mind still isn't any clearer as he slips a deep maroon colored turtle neck over his head. A crash sounds from outside his bedroom, diverting his attention and making his dressing process speed up. Socked feet finding no holding on polished wood floors, Kibum slides into the kitchen's entryway.
“What did you break?” He demands, critical gaze scanning the entirety of the room for signs of damage.
Standing in the middle with two mugs of coffee in his hands, Jinki bats his eye lashes at him guiltily. “One of the cups slipped from my hands,” he says bashfully, “But don't worry, I cleaned up the mess. I'll replace it if you want.”
Kibum shakes his head and tiredly motions for Jinki to follow him into the living room. Curling his legs underneath him, Kibum takes his seat on the couch while Jinki sets his coffee on the table beside him and cautiously sits down with his own at the opposite end of the couch. Countless memories arise just from sitting on this piece of furniture, together once again, and Kibum finds himself forced to divert his gaze to the fireplace to keep his emotions at bay.
“So … ?”
Jinki raises his eyebrows, looking over the brim of his cup. Kibum shoots him an expecting look that makes him jump. Setting his coffee mug down with a clink, Jinki smiles tightly, nervously, and it looks more like a grimace.
“Kibum, you can't deny we have something,” Jinki says, attempting seriousness but failing with the air of relaxation drifting through the apartment, “And, well, Jonghyun isn't good for you …” His eyes roam the room and he breaks off on a tangent, “Are those the meditating candles I bought you? They work really well … “
The brunette snorts. “Is this your try at swaying me back to you? If so, you're not doing very well.”
Jinki frowns. “You know what I mean.”
It's Kibum's turn to frown at this, because he honestly does understand what the other man is trying to say despite his utter lack of tact. That's troublesome. “Jinki, you know I only used you to get back Jonghyun?” He looks up into the childish face with a hard stare.
“Yes,” Jinki answers, and there's no quiver of hurt like Kibum assumed there would be, “But like I said, Jonghyun isn't good for you. The relationship you have … I can see the difference in you Kibum, you aren't happy with him.”
“And you think I'm happy with you?” Kibum questions in disbelief. How could this man, just a mere employee of his, think so highly of himself? Where did he go wrong, how did he lead him on to believe -
“Yes.”
Jinki's eyes are steely - set. It catches Kibum off guard, but even more surprising is his own heart, which is sent racing by the one word. His eyes widen and all he can do is purse his lips together. This is all too much …
“Just accept it,” Jinki's voice rolls over him, deep and unfamiliar as the man moves forward, closing the distance between them. He's almost … seductive.
Kibum shakes his head vehemently. “No, Jinki, I can't - Not right now - I … “
Jinki stops, hovering only a small space away from him, and all at once the undying compassion Kibum is used to returns. Expression softening, Jinki drops back on the couch, allowing for his face to fall down into his hands, propped up by his elbows on his knees.
“I'm sorry,” he mutters between his fingers, “You're probably exhausted. I really should know better, I'm sorry. I just want … I want to be with you so bad, it's driving me insane.”
Watching the man, Kibum can see for the first time just how disheveled he. Jinki appears to have aged years in the time they've been apart. It pulls at his insides, twists and tugs until he can't ignore it. Reaching out, Kibum gently takes one of Jinki's hands away from his face and into his hold.
“I'm not giving you an answer yet,” Kibum says slowly as Jinki turns a confused gaze on him, “But … I'll rest better if you're at my side. So … Stay?”
“You can go too.”
Kikwang looks up from the Consumers Report with brows furrowed. “Excuse me?” He asks, thinking he must have heard the man on the bed wrong.
Jonghyun levels tired, blood shot eyes on him. “You can go,” he repeats, “You don't have to stay here and babysit me.”
Hurt, Kikwang stares at the bare white wall just beyond Jonghyun. “But I want to stay.”
Lying back on the crisp sheets, Jonghyun nods. “Right, of course,” he turns away from the secretary, “It's your own death sentence.”
Reaching out, Kikwang tries to place a gentle hand on Jonghyun's shoulder, but the older man quickly shakes him off.
“Don't.”
Tears are brimming and Kikwang curses himself for not being strong enough to deal with this. This, this relationship between him and Jonghyun. It's perfectly normal, it's everything he needs. Right. Then why does it stab so deeply into him every time he's rejected? Forcefully pushed away. No, this is what Jonghyun wants, to keep a safe distance so he won't get hurt. Kikwang can suck it up and get passed his rocky exterior, he just has to wait it out.
A tear falls and he has to jump to catch it before Jonghyun has a chance to see it.
“Jonghyun, I - “ Kikwang is cut off by his phone. He turns his eyes to the ceiling, blinks back the last of his emotion, pulls himself together with a final sniffle, before shuffling out of his chair to take the call.
In the hall way, Kikwang answers with a quick and cheery, “Kikwang speaking.”
“Where's Jonghyun?”
Kikwang blinks. “Taemin, is that you?”
“Yeah, I'm calling from the office phone,” the speaker on the other line, Taemin, informs in a hushed tone, “I just came in to take care of a few details for a meeting tomorrow - you won't believe what I just heard.”
“What is it?” Kikwang demands, stomach knotting in anxiety.
“Where's Jonghyun?” Taemin asks again.
Kikwang bites down on his lower lip, eyes shifting towards the closed hospital door in uncertainty. “He's … not feeling well right now, why?”
“I just heard … “
The phone slips from Kikwang's hold, falling to the floor and bursting apart. No, no, this can not be happening. It's too horrible, no one can possibly be that heartless. Yet, he can envision it, exactly how it's going to play out - what a bastard. What a cold, heartless bastard.
“Sir, you dropped your phone,” a nurse says sweetly, touching Kikwang's elbow carefully.
Scrambling to pick up the shattered pieces, Kikwang nods shakily. “Sorry, so sorry.”
“Are you okay?”
“No - Yes!” Kikwang laughs, high and tight, “Excuse me.” Damaged plastic in hands, Kikwang backs into the hospital room, leaving the nurse standing, confused, outside, all the while muttering to himself, “Oh God, Oh God.”
“What are you trying to say?”
Never before did Minho think he would end up in this office and most definitely did he never think it would be under these circumstances.
As if seated on a throne of gold, Daeho peers at him with a narrowed gaze. “According to reports, you are the most efficient in the department and thus the most appropriate candidate to fill the position. Will you accept?”
Minho begins to shake his head in utter disagreement; it would go against everything he stands for.
“Before you turn down my offer, consider this.” Daeho leans forward, hands folded just below his chin. “He will be fired. He will be replaced. No matter what past loyalties you may have, put them behind you. This is an opportunity of a life time for you, for your career,” he pauses, pointing an accusatory finger at Minho, “Don't let it slip past you because of trivial morals, because I guarantee the next man will not hesitate to, no matter what his qualifications. Would you like to work under an incompetent leader? Would you like your department to be at risk of chaos and dismay? The responsibility lies directly on your shoulders no matter what decision you make.”
Sucking in a deep breath, Minho shuts his eyes for a moment. The advancement in pay will be enough to pay off all of his debts in little to no time …
“I have no choice then. I accept.”
Daeho's stoic appearance never shifts, but the tone he address Minho in is enough to make his skin crawl. “You've made the right choice, Choi Minho, Head of Development.”
It's as if he can't breath. Kikwang doesn't even acknowledge what he's doing until he's slumped in his seat once again, staring straight ahead but not seeing. “Oh God,” he groans.
Jonghyun, bristling at the unwanted noise, stares up with bleary eyes at the other man. “What are you going on about?”
Kikwang shakes his head, eyes unblinking. “I can't believe he could do this to you.”
“Do what?”
“How could someone?”
Growing more irritated by the cryptic responses, Jonghyun sits up, harshly tugging at the IV in his arm in the process. “What the fuck are you talking about Kikwang?”
“You're fired,” Kikwang says simply, finally looking into Jonghyun's eyes, “GHD is letting you go.”
If he wasn't already deathly pale, Jonghyun's complexion dips even further into an unnatural pallid. “What?” He asks, unbelieving.
“Daeho, that bastard, is going to fire you.” Tears start to cascade down Kikwang's cheeks. “And it's all Kibum's fault.”
He's indescribably comfortable. A cashmere blanket is wrapped closely around him, the scent of American cologne drifting up from it like a lullaby. Kibum blinks. Cashmere … Cologne … Pushing past his sleep induced haze, he realizes that those are in fact arms entrapping him and it's a firm, yet warm, chest he's pulled snug against. He jerks up right out of the hold.
At the same time, Jinki is startled awake. He looks just as lost as Kibum, but when he puts the pieces together, he's left with a honey sweet smile.
Kibum adjusts his sweater so that it isn't riding up, exposing half of his milky stomach, and sniffs. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep on you.”
“Do you think I mind?” Jinki says, new found bluntness surfacing as he stretches, not nearly as modest as Kibum as his shirt pulls up to show off a just as new set of abs.
Kibum looks away. “You've been working out?”
Jinki shrugs. “Not much else to do … Why?” There's a twinkle in his eye that makes Kibum stumble a step farther away from the couch.
“No reason,” he says quickly, “I'm going to … make some tea.”
Jinki catches the panic stricken expression and his face falls immediately. “Oh. Okay.”
Kibum escapes into the kitchen, relieved to be away from that boyish face with it's undeniable pull. How can he be so damn attracted to the man? It can only cause problems, and as if he needs any more of those.
“Kibum,” Jinki calls from the sofa, “Your phone is ringing. It's the company.”
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Pairing: Jongkey, Onkey, 2min
Genre: AU, Drama, Romance, Angst
Word Count: 2275
Rating: PG-13 [Language, Sexual Situations, Mentions of Attempted Suicide]
Disclaimer(s): I own nothing.
Summary: Office romances never come without drama.
Prologue | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight
A/N: No picture today ~ In case it was overlooked, I am planning a follow up series to this one. So keep your eyes out for it once I finish this one! Also, music is a big part of my writing process, which is why I like to share certain tunes that help get me into the right mood for this series, so if you ever find a song that you think is rlevant to this fic, please tell me! Thank you so much for all of the support! <3
Beauty & The Geek : Chapter Nine
Lie To Me | Broken Strings | Realize | Angels On The Moon | Cry No More (Thanks lilliandesyra !)
Kibum takes a deep breath when he enters his apartment. The air feels stagnant in comparison to the open beaches of Hawaii.
He shuffles off his shoes, trying to block out the noise of the man behind him doing the same. This is not in his plans. Life's missing something - but Jinki can't be that. Kibum doesn't need that kind of toll on his heart, to be tugged back to the man he had only been using to get Jonghyun back with. That's all Jinki was, is, a tool to get Jonghyun.
Even if … if Jonghyun isn't what he wants anymore, isn't the same Jonghyun as he had once been. The charismatic smile is gone, but there has to be at least a tiny portion of the old Jonghyun in that beat up, weathered frame. Somewhere.
Migraine pounding, Kibum drops his luggage in the foyer while discarding his coat and scarf. Just as he's putting his coat on it's hook, he catches Jinki sucking in a deep breath in the corner of his eye. Before he can start, Kibum places a silencing finger on his plump lips.
“Wait - let me shower first, before you start your speech?”
Jinki's eyebrows pinch together in confusion, but he nods and lets Kibum push him back a couple of steps. Reaching up, Kibum pats him on the cheek.
“Good boy, make yourself useful and get some coffee ready, hm?” Kibum doesn't have to think when giving orders, it's second nature. Emotions can't get in the way. Thank god.
Dazed, Jinki wordlessly follows the command and waddles off into the kitchen. Satisfied, Kibum releases a deep breath of air and gathers the energy to go into his room and bypass his oh so welcoming bed to instead enter his bathroom.
He reemerges from the steam shower fresher, but his mind still isn't any clearer as he slips a deep maroon colored turtle neck over his head. A crash sounds from outside his bedroom, diverting his attention and making his dressing process speed up. Socked feet finding no holding on polished wood floors, Kibum slides into the kitchen's entryway.
“What did you break?” He demands, critical gaze scanning the entirety of the room for signs of damage.
Standing in the middle with two mugs of coffee in his hands, Jinki bats his eye lashes at him guiltily. “One of the cups slipped from my hands,” he says bashfully, “But don't worry, I cleaned up the mess. I'll replace it if you want.”
Kibum shakes his head and tiredly motions for Jinki to follow him into the living room. Curling his legs underneath him, Kibum takes his seat on the couch while Jinki sets his coffee on the table beside him and cautiously sits down with his own at the opposite end of the couch. Countless memories arise just from sitting on this piece of furniture, together once again, and Kibum finds himself forced to divert his gaze to the fireplace to keep his emotions at bay.
“So … ?”
Jinki raises his eyebrows, looking over the brim of his cup. Kibum shoots him an expecting look that makes him jump. Setting his coffee mug down with a clink, Jinki smiles tightly, nervously, and it looks more like a grimace.
“Kibum, you can't deny we have something,” Jinki says, attempting seriousness but failing with the air of relaxation drifting through the apartment, “And, well, Jonghyun isn't good for you …” His eyes roam the room and he breaks off on a tangent, “Are those the meditating candles I bought you? They work really well … “
The brunette snorts. “Is this your try at swaying me back to you? If so, you're not doing very well.”
Jinki frowns. “You know what I mean.”
It's Kibum's turn to frown at this, because he honestly does understand what the other man is trying to say despite his utter lack of tact. That's troublesome. “Jinki, you know I only used you to get back Jonghyun?” He looks up into the childish face with a hard stare.
“Yes,” Jinki answers, and there's no quiver of hurt like Kibum assumed there would be, “But like I said, Jonghyun isn't good for you. The relationship you have … I can see the difference in you Kibum, you aren't happy with him.”
“And you think I'm happy with you?” Kibum questions in disbelief. How could this man, just a mere employee of his, think so highly of himself? Where did he go wrong, how did he lead him on to believe -
“Yes.”
Jinki's eyes are steely - set. It catches Kibum off guard, but even more surprising is his own heart, which is sent racing by the one word. His eyes widen and all he can do is purse his lips together. This is all too much …
“Just accept it,” Jinki's voice rolls over him, deep and unfamiliar as the man moves forward, closing the distance between them. He's almost … seductive.
Kibum shakes his head vehemently. “No, Jinki, I can't - Not right now - I … “
Jinki stops, hovering only a small space away from him, and all at once the undying compassion Kibum is used to returns. Expression softening, Jinki drops back on the couch, allowing for his face to fall down into his hands, propped up by his elbows on his knees.
“I'm sorry,” he mutters between his fingers, “You're probably exhausted. I really should know better, I'm sorry. I just want … I want to be with you so bad, it's driving me insane.”
Watching the man, Kibum can see for the first time just how disheveled he. Jinki appears to have aged years in the time they've been apart. It pulls at his insides, twists and tugs until he can't ignore it. Reaching out, Kibum gently takes one of Jinki's hands away from his face and into his hold.
“I'm not giving you an answer yet,” Kibum says slowly as Jinki turns a confused gaze on him, “But … I'll rest better if you're at my side. So … Stay?”
“You can go too.”
Kikwang looks up from the Consumers Report with brows furrowed. “Excuse me?” He asks, thinking he must have heard the man on the bed wrong.
Jonghyun levels tired, blood shot eyes on him. “You can go,” he repeats, “You don't have to stay here and babysit me.”
Hurt, Kikwang stares at the bare white wall just beyond Jonghyun. “But I want to stay.”
Lying back on the crisp sheets, Jonghyun nods. “Right, of course,” he turns away from the secretary, “It's your own death sentence.”
Reaching out, Kikwang tries to place a gentle hand on Jonghyun's shoulder, but the older man quickly shakes him off.
“Don't.”
Tears are brimming and Kikwang curses himself for not being strong enough to deal with this. This, this relationship between him and Jonghyun. It's perfectly normal, it's everything he needs. Right. Then why does it stab so deeply into him every time he's rejected? Forcefully pushed away. No, this is what Jonghyun wants, to keep a safe distance so he won't get hurt. Kikwang can suck it up and get passed his rocky exterior, he just has to wait it out.
A tear falls and he has to jump to catch it before Jonghyun has a chance to see it.
“Jonghyun, I - “ Kikwang is cut off by his phone. He turns his eyes to the ceiling, blinks back the last of his emotion, pulls himself together with a final sniffle, before shuffling out of his chair to take the call.
In the hall way, Kikwang answers with a quick and cheery, “Kikwang speaking.”
“Where's Jonghyun?”
Kikwang blinks. “Taemin, is that you?”
“Yeah, I'm calling from the office phone,” the speaker on the other line, Taemin, informs in a hushed tone, “I just came in to take care of a few details for a meeting tomorrow - you won't believe what I just heard.”
“What is it?” Kikwang demands, stomach knotting in anxiety.
“Where's Jonghyun?” Taemin asks again.
Kikwang bites down on his lower lip, eyes shifting towards the closed hospital door in uncertainty. “He's … not feeling well right now, why?”
“I just heard … “
The phone slips from Kikwang's hold, falling to the floor and bursting apart. No, no, this can not be happening. It's too horrible, no one can possibly be that heartless. Yet, he can envision it, exactly how it's going to play out - what a bastard. What a cold, heartless bastard.
“Sir, you dropped your phone,” a nurse says sweetly, touching Kikwang's elbow carefully.
Scrambling to pick up the shattered pieces, Kikwang nods shakily. “Sorry, so sorry.”
“Are you okay?”
“No - Yes!” Kikwang laughs, high and tight, “Excuse me.” Damaged plastic in hands, Kikwang backs into the hospital room, leaving the nurse standing, confused, outside, all the while muttering to himself, “Oh God, Oh God.”
“What are you trying to say?”
Never before did Minho think he would end up in this office and most definitely did he never think it would be under these circumstances.
As if seated on a throne of gold, Daeho peers at him with a narrowed gaze. “According to reports, you are the most efficient in the department and thus the most appropriate candidate to fill the position. Will you accept?”
Minho begins to shake his head in utter disagreement; it would go against everything he stands for.
“Before you turn down my offer, consider this.” Daeho leans forward, hands folded just below his chin. “He will be fired. He will be replaced. No matter what past loyalties you may have, put them behind you. This is an opportunity of a life time for you, for your career,” he pauses, pointing an accusatory finger at Minho, “Don't let it slip past you because of trivial morals, because I guarantee the next man will not hesitate to, no matter what his qualifications. Would you like to work under an incompetent leader? Would you like your department to be at risk of chaos and dismay? The responsibility lies directly on your shoulders no matter what decision you make.”
Sucking in a deep breath, Minho shuts his eyes for a moment. The advancement in pay will be enough to pay off all of his debts in little to no time …
“I have no choice then. I accept.”
Daeho's stoic appearance never shifts, but the tone he address Minho in is enough to make his skin crawl. “You've made the right choice, Choi Minho, Head of Development.”
It's as if he can't breath. Kikwang doesn't even acknowledge what he's doing until he's slumped in his seat once again, staring straight ahead but not seeing. “Oh God,” he groans.
Jonghyun, bristling at the unwanted noise, stares up with bleary eyes at the other man. “What are you going on about?”
Kikwang shakes his head, eyes unblinking. “I can't believe he could do this to you.”
“Do what?”
“How could someone?”
Growing more irritated by the cryptic responses, Jonghyun sits up, harshly tugging at the IV in his arm in the process. “What the fuck are you talking about Kikwang?”
“You're fired,” Kikwang says simply, finally looking into Jonghyun's eyes, “GHD is letting you go.”
If he wasn't already deathly pale, Jonghyun's complexion dips even further into an unnatural pallid. “What?” He asks, unbelieving.
“Daeho, that bastard, is going to fire you.” Tears start to cascade down Kikwang's cheeks. “And it's all Kibum's fault.”
He's indescribably comfortable. A cashmere blanket is wrapped closely around him, the scent of American cologne drifting up from it like a lullaby. Kibum blinks. Cashmere … Cologne … Pushing past his sleep induced haze, he realizes that those are in fact arms entrapping him and it's a firm, yet warm, chest he's pulled snug against. He jerks up right out of the hold.
At the same time, Jinki is startled awake. He looks just as lost as Kibum, but when he puts the pieces together, he's left with a honey sweet smile.
Kibum adjusts his sweater so that it isn't riding up, exposing half of his milky stomach, and sniffs. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep on you.”
“Do you think I mind?” Jinki says, new found bluntness surfacing as he stretches, not nearly as modest as Kibum as his shirt pulls up to show off a just as new set of abs.
Kibum looks away. “You've been working out?”
Jinki shrugs. “Not much else to do … Why?” There's a twinkle in his eye that makes Kibum stumble a step farther away from the couch.
“No reason,” he says quickly, “I'm going to … make some tea.”
Jinki catches the panic stricken expression and his face falls immediately. “Oh. Okay.”
Kibum escapes into the kitchen, relieved to be away from that boyish face with it's undeniable pull. How can he be so damn attracted to the man? It can only cause problems, and as if he needs any more of those.
“Kibum,” Jinki calls from the sofa, “Your phone is ringing. It's the company.”
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