[Fic] Collide - 4/?
Title: Collide
Author: Coley Merrin
Rating: PG-13? this chapter
Pairings: Siwon/Hankyung
Genre: AU. Drama/Romance
Summary: As children they had been friends, until circumstances had broken them apart. Siwon had never given up the hope that one day they would find each other again. But what he finds is different than he imagined. And in himself, more than he had ever expected.
Chapter One * Chapter Two * Chapter Three * Chapter Four * Chapter Five
***
Siwon relaxed as much as he was able into the seat behind the desk of the office. Technically where the manager would be.
Where he was. As owner.
And waiting for the man who was responsible for shredding Han Geng’s confidence.
Maybe it wasn’t up to him to put Han Geng back together, but he was damn well going to make sure that he wasn’t damaged any further.
The cafe was closed, Han Geng at home, and Siwon waiting to do what had to be done.
The door opened, and the man Siwon would have cheerfully tossed to Antarctica walked in. Surprise was written all over his face when he saw Siwon in the chair.
“I think you’re in my spot,” the man said, smirking.
“Actually,” Siwon said, standing, “I’m in my spot. It’s not yours any more.”
“I’m supposed to be meeting the owner here, so however you got in after hours...”
“I don’t know if we’ve met. I’m Choi Siwon. I am the owner, as of this morning.” He pushed a piece of paper across the desk, with an envelope across it. “There’s your proof. And here’s a check. It’s two weeks pay, which you don’t deserve. But then you really don’t need it do you? Leaving the cafe on its own, putting a few hours in every week. And having a second full time job on the side? Great for your wallet, but really bad for business. So I wouldn’t complain too loudly, if I were you.”
The man just stared. “Who are you?”
“I already told you. Now, I want you to leave. And remember this part,” Siwon said, making sure he was at his full height. “Never, ever, contact Han Geng again.”
“You bought a business and took over the whore in residence. Congratulations. I told him you were hanging around for a chance at him. You probably could have gotten him cheaper than that. He never said you were rich.”
“Maybe you could have exploited my connection to him, then? You wouldn’t have gotten far. Take care that your next scam isn’t so obvious.”
Siwon sat, casually crossing one leg over the other and in essence dismissing the other man.
“You think money can buy you everything? Not even that whore will stay with you after his mommy is all better. You think you...”
“I think that under the circumstances, I’ve been generous,” Siwon said, laying his hand flat on the table. “If you continue to insult Han Geng, it might end differently.”
What Han Geng had done was a sacrifice. And this scum had only used him. And to tell him any more was to give him credence and worth.
“Now leave,” Siwon said softly. “And I won’t call the police.”
“He won’t stay. You’ll see.”
But Siwon stayed seated until he heard the outer door slam closed.
It was done. He was gone. And Siwon had done what he had to.
***
“I fired him last night,” Siwon said, after he had asked Han Geng into the back room to speak with him. “Everything is final now. Everything has been transferred into my name. He won’t bother you again.”
Han Geng frowned a little as the thought sank in. “So I’m... I’m the manager now?”
Siwon grinned. “This is your office now! I don’t want to interfere in that. I don’t want you to think I’m looking over your shoulder. So if you need something, just let me know?”
Han Geng rested his hand on the edge of desk. “Did he go easily?
Siwon sucked in a breath, wondering for a moment if he should say. But he thought that Han Geng deserved to know. “He had another job. So he was being paid two salaries, when you were doing his work for him.”
He wasn’t sure what he was expecting. Betrayal? Disgust? What he got was anger, and it thrilled him. “I knew he was using me, but that’s beyond even what I thought. I can’t really believe it. How did you find out?”
“I had someone follow him. Something didn’t feel right. So I was glad to find out, because it meant that he didn’t fight me as much as he could have. I hope... I hope you don’t mind that I did that without...telling you.”
“It’s your right as the owner. Though would you have let me be there if I had wanted to be?”
Perhaps it was a battle Han Geng could have fought. Maybe he’d been wrong. But it hadn’t felt like it. He’d wanted Han Geng as far away from hearing the spewing talk as he could get him.
“I’m sorry.”
Han Geng shook his head, but didn’t look so upset, not as much as he might have feared. “I’m not used to having someone look out for me. I’m sure he was very complimentary to both of us.”
“Very. Are we okay then?”
“Yes, we are.”
He followed Han Geng into the kitchen, and they noted what equipment was nearly gone and needed to be replaced, and he prepared to fade himself back out of the business so that Han Geng could step up and do what Siwon knew he could.
***
Because of Han Geng taking over the managerial spot, it allowed him to quite the two jobs he had been doing on the weekend and at nights. That alone made Siwon happy because it meant not only that Han Geng was able to rest, but that his mother was more available to him. And, definitely not least of his concern, that Han Geng was more available to Siwon.
“What do you like to do on dates?” Siwon asked, leaning over the counter casually as Han Geng cleaned.
“Aren’t we together right now?” Han Geng asked, his eyes flicking to Siwon for a moment as he ran his cloth along the back counter.
Siwon laughed, wiggling further over the counter to be closer. “I don’t think me watching you clean constitutes a date, Han Geng.”
Han Geng mimed pushing his cloth into Siwon’s face.
“You want more? Seeing me around here isn’t enough?”
“Do you do anything fun? You were working so much... What’s the one thing you wished you could do just to have fun?”
Han Geng thought a moment, his hip cocking and mouth pursed.
“Go see a movie, I guess.”
“Oh! We should then. We could go from here and see your mom, and then see if there’s anything at the theater that you want to see.”
He could almost see the idea rolling through Han Geng’s mind. Something that he could do without obligations or worries, something he could do just to relax.
“I think... It sounds like it could be fun. Could you wait fifteen minutes?”
“Sure.” He pushed himself back, and flopped into one of the empty booths to wait. He wasn’t able to hide his grin.
Fifteen minutes wasn’t long in the scheme of things, and they were driving toward the hospital. It was comfortable, with Han Geng beside him.
“I don’t know how you’ll take this,” Han Geng said. “But I don’t want my mother to know about us dating.”
“It might upset her?” Siwon asked. But he thought there was more than that. Han Geng not knowing how long they might be together, how long Siwon would stick around. Not wanting to disappoint or hurt her.
“Yeah,” Han Geng said. “And, I guess...”
“It’s okay.” Siwon glanced over and smiled. “You know better than I do what would be good for your mother. Don’t worry.”
Han Geng’s laughter was bright. “Would you jump out of the car if I asked you to?”
“Depends on what reason you gave me.”
“Were you this easygoing when you were young? For some reason I don’t remember that. You’re impossible to fight with.”
“I’ll fight if I find a reason to,” Siwon told him. “I told you I wouldn’t leave, didn’t I?”
“That was really fighting for me, not with me. Did you fight much with him, when you fired him?”
“Fight? Not really. When I laid it out for him, it took a lot of the steam out of him. Though, I’d have liked to have fought a little. At least he was gone.”
He probably sounded a little disgruntled at that. In truth, he’d have liked to have had to toss him out on his...
Well. It was enough that his tone made Han Geng laugh again.
They did not stay long at the hospital. Han Geng’s mother had just finished eating and was beginning to rest. But what was important was that Han Geng got to see her. How long had it been since Han Geng could regularly visit? The shocked pleasure on her face as they came in gave him a buzz all the way to the theater.
It didn’t really matter to Siwon what they saw. He trusted Han Geng’s judgement...and it was for Han Geng at the root of things that he was there. Of course, he got the pleasure of Han Geng’s company. It wasn’t completely altruistic. They had their drinks, and settled in, Han Geng moving about in his seat for a moment like an excited little boy.
“I don’t... I have no idea what movie I saw last in a theater,” Han Geng said, leaning halfway onto the armrest that was between them.
They had time to share a smile before the movie began.
It took half of the movie, hearing Han Geng’s laughter at the humor on the screen, to work up the courage to reach over and slide their hands together. Han Geng stiffened for a moment, but then his fingers softened, curling lightly around Siwon’s. If Siwon had to say exactly, his own focus on the movie after that wasn’t quite what it should have been.
“You don’t have to walk me up,” Han Geng said as Siwon edged around the car. He was a little late to actually get to the car door, but the thought had crossed his mind.
“It’s a date, so I should, right?”
There wasn’t any argument after that. He let Han Geng lead him up the narrow stairs to his door. Han Geng sidled up to the handle as though Siwon were going to get to it first.
“So, ‘thank you’ kind of sounds weird, but... I had a good time,” Han Geng said
“Me too.” Siwon leaned in, pressing a soft, slow kiss against Han Geng’s mouth. “Sleep well and I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? Did you want me pick you up or anything?”
“I’ll be okay. Thanks, though. Have a safe trip...”
“I will. Good night...”
He wanted to lean in for another kiss, and so he walked away instead.
***
Two days later, they saw a different movie, and it was easier to reach for Han Geng’s hand. Easier to lean in for a kiss to say goodbye.
When Siwon proposed they see another movie, days after that, he could see the humor in Han Geng’s eyes, but he still agreed.
“Is movies all we’ll do on dates?” Han Geng asked, just before they were getting to his door.
Siwon smiled, squeezing Han Geng’s hand. “Well, it’s what you said you wanted to do. Is there something else?”
“Letting me get my fill?” They laughed a bit together at that. “I like to stay in, too. Just be... Oh.” Han Geng’s eyes lit at the idea. “I could make dinner. And then...whatever?”
“We could watch a movie on TV!” Siwon suggested, grinning. But inside, he was shouting, Han Geng wants to cook me dinner!
It was that night that they shared two kisses. As he leaned close, Han Geng stepped toward him, and the angle changed just so, inviting him to kiss again. He pulled back almost with a gasp.
“So, let me know when, okay?” he asked.
Han Geng nodded.
Siwon made it all the way into his car before he whooped, almost scaring himself before he drummed his hands on the steering wheel.
“Choi Siwon!” he roared in something that felt like triumph.
He blew out a breath, and sent a kiss toward Han Geng’s building. Han Geng couldn’t see, since his window faced the other way, but it was the thought that counted.
***
He looked up as Han Geng walked by, making sure his dimples flashed. He had seen the corners of Han Geng’s mouth twitch and his eyes light before, and he thought it wasn’t too much to use that to his advantage. He had started out in a corner, so that he could see Han Geng. And it made sense to stay there, where he had plenty of room to spread out his things, his laptop, working, being close. Never too close, though. He never asked for a kiss during working hours, never requested that Han Geng sit with him. He was always conscious of the things that man had done, and was more than ready to avoid them.
Still, Han Geng would come over on break most days, and it was Siwon’s pleasure to show him a silly video that he had found, or a news event that had happened. He thought of those times as mini dates, tiny areas of time that were his opportunities to show Han Geng another side of himself, different than the times they spent after. He could show the side of him that loved to laugh, that was interested in the world. A side of him that went beyond his role as owner and Han Geng’s as his manager, one that wasn’t threatening to either of them. He never, ever brought up the cafe, even if they were sitting in it. Han Geng was an efficient, capable manager. He had asked Han Geng to let him know what he needed as manager from Siwon. If that was nothing but to sit back and watch him work, then that was what Siwon would do. Still, he pondered the inside of the cafe, wondering about little improvements that could be made. A new coat of paint, an update to the sometimes sticky booths.
So he scheduled an appointment. One morning as he came in, he stopped by the manager’s office, where Han Geng was filing paperwork and knocked.
“Do you have to knock if you own the building?” Han Geng asked, looking a bit amused.
“The label on the door says manager’s office, not owner’s office,” Siwon told him, grinning. “And good morning! I just wanted to kind of pop an idea on you... If you want to think about anything that needs updating in the dining area... New benches, new paint... Decorations? I know we did a little updating in the kitchen, but I was thinking maybe out in the dining room too...”
“We can go look now,” Han Geng said, standing.
“No! No, that’s okay. Take some time to think it over... You know it best, you know? Maybe the others have ideas, or something. Then when you’re ready, we can schedule some time and go over it together.”
Han Geng gave his muted consent, and Siwon retreated to his corner seat. Yeah, maybe he was being too careful. Giving Han Geng too much say, too much power in his role as manager. He trusted Han Geng to be Han Geng, and it was as simple as that. Maybe if it had been someone else, the power would have been abused. But the books still made it to Siwon, and if anything, they were more solid than they had been before. Cutting out an extra salary had helped. But it went beyond that. Han Geng was finally able to do as he had wanted, and manage the business. It took no higher degree, but it took brains. And Han Geng had that.
“The head cook wants to maybe start a new menu, add some things, when we go into the next season,” Han Geng told him the next afternoon, standing beside his table with some amount of ease.
“Sure,” Siwon said, a little baffled. He wasn’t too aware of the goings-on in the kitchen except for the part where it sent out good food. “If you think that’s...”
“We’d like you to be there, give your opinions on the new dishes. Get your input,” Han Geng said, interrupting him. “You didn’t seem like you wanted to be very hands-on, until you came to me about the dining room. So... The food is an important part, obviously. You’re Korean, so you’d know better than I would.”
“What if I have terrible taste in food?” Siwon said, a little startled by this sudden invitation.
“It’s your cafe, so you should own it,” Han Geng said, eyes dancing as he kept them level with Siwon’s shoulder. “And we’re not asking you to make it. Just taste it.”
“And you’ll blame me if what I liked isn’t successful?”
“Welcome to owning a cafe.” Han Geng’s eyes rose, meeting his. “If you have time, would tomorrow morning be okay to go over the dining room? I’ve talked to the others and we’ve come up with some ideas. We can do the tasting right after.”
“Sure,” Siwon said, still a bit dazed as all of it fell on his head.
“Good. Thank you. I’ll send over one of the girls to get you fresh tea.”
“Han Geng,” Siwon called, before he could get far. “Um. Thanks.”
They shared a smile, and it melted through him. He had not risked much of anything in trusting Han Geng with this job, not really. But he was reaping the rewards, oh so much. Because just a little, that trust was being returned. That Han Geng could smile at him, like that, without doubt in his eyes? He would have traded every cent invested in the cafe, just for that.
And Han Geng, when they had finished, had turned to him.
“Do you... Would you come over tonight? If you’re free?”
He thought the smile might have split his face as he said yes.
***
Han Geng had been ready for him, all the ingredients for cooking already in his kitchen. It was the first time he had seen Han Geng’s apartment. Small, neat, and a little worse for the wear. But there was pride in it. Han Geng had pointed out the single bedroom with it’s tiny bathroom, the small living space, and the kitchen/dining room as they had entered. It didn’t take seeing too far to see all of it.
There were pictures on the wall, of Han Geng and his parents when he had been very young, of Han Geng and his mother when he was older. Some small pictures of the Great Wall, of a sunset.
And one of Seoul.
Han Geng saw where he was looking and cleared his throat. “My mother bought that for me... The year we didn’t see each other the first time.”
And he kept it on his wall? A reminder of happier times, or...?
Han Geng didn’t seem to want to discuss it. But he was okay with that. Just being in the kitchen with Han Geng, having Han Geng invite him... Trusting him enough. Trusting both of them, actually. He slid his eyes away from Han Geng’s hips, and focused instead on his hands as he worked.
It was a pleasure to watch Han Geng cook. He had offered his limited services, but had been rejected, and ordered to sit.
As he bit into the succulent, slightly sweet chicken, he was catapulted back into his childhood. He looked up in surprise.
“Your mother made this for us!”
Han Geng nodded, and looked somewhat impressed. “You remember that?”
“I remember so much...”
And so dinner was spent reminiscing of meals spent in the kitchen with Han Geng’s mother, meals in China that had not faded for either of them.
It turned out Han Geng’s television was smaller than Siwon’s hand. And he had no real living space, just a few folding chairs, but Siwon made the most of that, pulling two up beside each other and being glad just to feel Han Geng sitting beside him, resting against him.
“You’re getting more rest, now that you don’t have the other jobs to worry about?”
Han Geng nodded. “I am. A lot more. I think my body likes it.”
“And your mother is happy to see you more.” It was hardly a question. Siwon knew the answer quite well.
“Oh, yes. She... She seems to do better when I’m around. I hope anyway. It was hard when I couldn’t see her...”
“You are her reason to keep fighting,” Siwon said, reaching up to gently stroke Han Geng’s cheek. “And she knew you were fighting for her even when you weren’t there.”
Han Geng lifted his head from Siwon’s shoulder, looking at him with such incredible eyes. He kissed Han Geng softly, feeling an arm come up around his shoulders as they hugged, leaning a bit awkwardly against each other.
“It drives me crazy sometimes that you know what to say,” Han Geng mumbled against his neck.
He could have happily stayed for an hour like that, Han Geng warm in his arms, but the clock was telling him a different story. Morning came early, for both of them.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Siwon said, kissing Han Geng once more as he reached for the door handle.
Han Geng’s hand covered his. “Thanks for coming by.”
It was nothing but warmth that he felt as he smiled. “Thanks for having me. And feeding me.”
“Any time.”
He wondered if he could hold Han Geng to that...
***
In the manager’s room at the cafe was a soft bench. And on it, Siwon occasionally took what he referred to as a power nap. If the heat was bothering him more than usual, or he had slept poorly, and the heat that week was something horrendous, he would stretch out and sleep with Han Geng’s blessing. It was not used much during the day anyway. And it did get Siwon out of Han Geng’s sight out front...
He smiled at Han Geng’s soft hands caressing his face. It was so infrequent that Han Geng reached for him that the touch elated him. He was half out of sleep when he felt lips press gently to his. His hand rose, prepared to cup Han Geng’s head, to press closer, when his fingers sank into long hair, long and heavy between his fingers. Han Geng’s hair was thick and soft, but long?
He sat up with a gasp, pushing away the person kissing him with a forearm. It was one of the waitresses from the store, her eyes as wide as China and her horrified fellow waitress behind her. And in the doorway behind them, Han Geng.
***
Author: Coley Merrin
Rating: PG-13? this chapter
Pairings: Siwon/Hankyung
Genre: AU. Drama/Romance
Summary: As children they had been friends, until circumstances had broken them apart. Siwon had never given up the hope that one day they would find each other again. But what he finds is different than he imagined. And in himself, more than he had ever expected.
Chapter One * Chapter Two * Chapter Three * Chapter Four * Chapter Five
***
Siwon relaxed as much as he was able into the seat behind the desk of the office. Technically where the manager would be.
Where he was. As owner.
And waiting for the man who was responsible for shredding Han Geng’s confidence.
Maybe it wasn’t up to him to put Han Geng back together, but he was damn well going to make sure that he wasn’t damaged any further.
The cafe was closed, Han Geng at home, and Siwon waiting to do what had to be done.
The door opened, and the man Siwon would have cheerfully tossed to Antarctica walked in. Surprise was written all over his face when he saw Siwon in the chair.
“I think you’re in my spot,” the man said, smirking.
“Actually,” Siwon said, standing, “I’m in my spot. It’s not yours any more.”
“I’m supposed to be meeting the owner here, so however you got in after hours...”
“I don’t know if we’ve met. I’m Choi Siwon. I am the owner, as of this morning.” He pushed a piece of paper across the desk, with an envelope across it. “There’s your proof. And here’s a check. It’s two weeks pay, which you don’t deserve. But then you really don’t need it do you? Leaving the cafe on its own, putting a few hours in every week. And having a second full time job on the side? Great for your wallet, but really bad for business. So I wouldn’t complain too loudly, if I were you.”
The man just stared. “Who are you?”
“I already told you. Now, I want you to leave. And remember this part,” Siwon said, making sure he was at his full height. “Never, ever, contact Han Geng again.”
“You bought a business and took over the whore in residence. Congratulations. I told him you were hanging around for a chance at him. You probably could have gotten him cheaper than that. He never said you were rich.”
“Maybe you could have exploited my connection to him, then? You wouldn’t have gotten far. Take care that your next scam isn’t so obvious.”
Siwon sat, casually crossing one leg over the other and in essence dismissing the other man.
“You think money can buy you everything? Not even that whore will stay with you after his mommy is all better. You think you...”
“I think that under the circumstances, I’ve been generous,” Siwon said, laying his hand flat on the table. “If you continue to insult Han Geng, it might end differently.”
What Han Geng had done was a sacrifice. And this scum had only used him. And to tell him any more was to give him credence and worth.
“Now leave,” Siwon said softly. “And I won’t call the police.”
“He won’t stay. You’ll see.”
But Siwon stayed seated until he heard the outer door slam closed.
It was done. He was gone. And Siwon had done what he had to.
***
“I fired him last night,” Siwon said, after he had asked Han Geng into the back room to speak with him. “Everything is final now. Everything has been transferred into my name. He won’t bother you again.”
Han Geng frowned a little as the thought sank in. “So I’m... I’m the manager now?”
Siwon grinned. “This is your office now! I don’t want to interfere in that. I don’t want you to think I’m looking over your shoulder. So if you need something, just let me know?”
Han Geng rested his hand on the edge of desk. “Did he go easily?
Siwon sucked in a breath, wondering for a moment if he should say. But he thought that Han Geng deserved to know. “He had another job. So he was being paid two salaries, when you were doing his work for him.”
He wasn’t sure what he was expecting. Betrayal? Disgust? What he got was anger, and it thrilled him. “I knew he was using me, but that’s beyond even what I thought. I can’t really believe it. How did you find out?”
“I had someone follow him. Something didn’t feel right. So I was glad to find out, because it meant that he didn’t fight me as much as he could have. I hope... I hope you don’t mind that I did that without...telling you.”
“It’s your right as the owner. Though would you have let me be there if I had wanted to be?”
Perhaps it was a battle Han Geng could have fought. Maybe he’d been wrong. But it hadn’t felt like it. He’d wanted Han Geng as far away from hearing the spewing talk as he could get him.
“I’m sorry.”
Han Geng shook his head, but didn’t look so upset, not as much as he might have feared. “I’m not used to having someone look out for me. I’m sure he was very complimentary to both of us.”
“Very. Are we okay then?”
“Yes, we are.”
He followed Han Geng into the kitchen, and they noted what equipment was nearly gone and needed to be replaced, and he prepared to fade himself back out of the business so that Han Geng could step up and do what Siwon knew he could.
***
Because of Han Geng taking over the managerial spot, it allowed him to quite the two jobs he had been doing on the weekend and at nights. That alone made Siwon happy because it meant not only that Han Geng was able to rest, but that his mother was more available to him. And, definitely not least of his concern, that Han Geng was more available to Siwon.
“What do you like to do on dates?” Siwon asked, leaning over the counter casually as Han Geng cleaned.
“Aren’t we together right now?” Han Geng asked, his eyes flicking to Siwon for a moment as he ran his cloth along the back counter.
Siwon laughed, wiggling further over the counter to be closer. “I don’t think me watching you clean constitutes a date, Han Geng.”
Han Geng mimed pushing his cloth into Siwon’s face.
“You want more? Seeing me around here isn’t enough?”
“Do you do anything fun? You were working so much... What’s the one thing you wished you could do just to have fun?”
Han Geng thought a moment, his hip cocking and mouth pursed.
“Go see a movie, I guess.”
“Oh! We should then. We could go from here and see your mom, and then see if there’s anything at the theater that you want to see.”
He could almost see the idea rolling through Han Geng’s mind. Something that he could do without obligations or worries, something he could do just to relax.
“I think... It sounds like it could be fun. Could you wait fifteen minutes?”
“Sure.” He pushed himself back, and flopped into one of the empty booths to wait. He wasn’t able to hide his grin.
Fifteen minutes wasn’t long in the scheme of things, and they were driving toward the hospital. It was comfortable, with Han Geng beside him.
“I don’t know how you’ll take this,” Han Geng said. “But I don’t want my mother to know about us dating.”
“It might upset her?” Siwon asked. But he thought there was more than that. Han Geng not knowing how long they might be together, how long Siwon would stick around. Not wanting to disappoint or hurt her.
“Yeah,” Han Geng said. “And, I guess...”
“It’s okay.” Siwon glanced over and smiled. “You know better than I do what would be good for your mother. Don’t worry.”
Han Geng’s laughter was bright. “Would you jump out of the car if I asked you to?”
“Depends on what reason you gave me.”
“Were you this easygoing when you were young? For some reason I don’t remember that. You’re impossible to fight with.”
“I’ll fight if I find a reason to,” Siwon told him. “I told you I wouldn’t leave, didn’t I?”
“That was really fighting for me, not with me. Did you fight much with him, when you fired him?”
“Fight? Not really. When I laid it out for him, it took a lot of the steam out of him. Though, I’d have liked to have fought a little. At least he was gone.”
He probably sounded a little disgruntled at that. In truth, he’d have liked to have had to toss him out on his...
Well. It was enough that his tone made Han Geng laugh again.
They did not stay long at the hospital. Han Geng’s mother had just finished eating and was beginning to rest. But what was important was that Han Geng got to see her. How long had it been since Han Geng could regularly visit? The shocked pleasure on her face as they came in gave him a buzz all the way to the theater.
It didn’t really matter to Siwon what they saw. He trusted Han Geng’s judgement...and it was for Han Geng at the root of things that he was there. Of course, he got the pleasure of Han Geng’s company. It wasn’t completely altruistic. They had their drinks, and settled in, Han Geng moving about in his seat for a moment like an excited little boy.
“I don’t... I have no idea what movie I saw last in a theater,” Han Geng said, leaning halfway onto the armrest that was between them.
They had time to share a smile before the movie began.
It took half of the movie, hearing Han Geng’s laughter at the humor on the screen, to work up the courage to reach over and slide their hands together. Han Geng stiffened for a moment, but then his fingers softened, curling lightly around Siwon’s. If Siwon had to say exactly, his own focus on the movie after that wasn’t quite what it should have been.
“You don’t have to walk me up,” Han Geng said as Siwon edged around the car. He was a little late to actually get to the car door, but the thought had crossed his mind.
“It’s a date, so I should, right?”
There wasn’t any argument after that. He let Han Geng lead him up the narrow stairs to his door. Han Geng sidled up to the handle as though Siwon were going to get to it first.
“So, ‘thank you’ kind of sounds weird, but... I had a good time,” Han Geng said
“Me too.” Siwon leaned in, pressing a soft, slow kiss against Han Geng’s mouth. “Sleep well and I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? Did you want me pick you up or anything?”
“I’ll be okay. Thanks, though. Have a safe trip...”
“I will. Good night...”
He wanted to lean in for another kiss, and so he walked away instead.
***
Two days later, they saw a different movie, and it was easier to reach for Han Geng’s hand. Easier to lean in for a kiss to say goodbye.
When Siwon proposed they see another movie, days after that, he could see the humor in Han Geng’s eyes, but he still agreed.
“Is movies all we’ll do on dates?” Han Geng asked, just before they were getting to his door.
Siwon smiled, squeezing Han Geng’s hand. “Well, it’s what you said you wanted to do. Is there something else?”
“Letting me get my fill?” They laughed a bit together at that. “I like to stay in, too. Just be... Oh.” Han Geng’s eyes lit at the idea. “I could make dinner. And then...whatever?”
“We could watch a movie on TV!” Siwon suggested, grinning. But inside, he was shouting, Han Geng wants to cook me dinner!
It was that night that they shared two kisses. As he leaned close, Han Geng stepped toward him, and the angle changed just so, inviting him to kiss again. He pulled back almost with a gasp.
“So, let me know when, okay?” he asked.
Han Geng nodded.
Siwon made it all the way into his car before he whooped, almost scaring himself before he drummed his hands on the steering wheel.
“Choi Siwon!” he roared in something that felt like triumph.
He blew out a breath, and sent a kiss toward Han Geng’s building. Han Geng couldn’t see, since his window faced the other way, but it was the thought that counted.
***
He looked up as Han Geng walked by, making sure his dimples flashed. He had seen the corners of Han Geng’s mouth twitch and his eyes light before, and he thought it wasn’t too much to use that to his advantage. He had started out in a corner, so that he could see Han Geng. And it made sense to stay there, where he had plenty of room to spread out his things, his laptop, working, being close. Never too close, though. He never asked for a kiss during working hours, never requested that Han Geng sit with him. He was always conscious of the things that man had done, and was more than ready to avoid them.
Still, Han Geng would come over on break most days, and it was Siwon’s pleasure to show him a silly video that he had found, or a news event that had happened. He thought of those times as mini dates, tiny areas of time that were his opportunities to show Han Geng another side of himself, different than the times they spent after. He could show the side of him that loved to laugh, that was interested in the world. A side of him that went beyond his role as owner and Han Geng’s as his manager, one that wasn’t threatening to either of them. He never, ever brought up the cafe, even if they were sitting in it. Han Geng was an efficient, capable manager. He had asked Han Geng to let him know what he needed as manager from Siwon. If that was nothing but to sit back and watch him work, then that was what Siwon would do. Still, he pondered the inside of the cafe, wondering about little improvements that could be made. A new coat of paint, an update to the sometimes sticky booths.
So he scheduled an appointment. One morning as he came in, he stopped by the manager’s office, where Han Geng was filing paperwork and knocked.
“Do you have to knock if you own the building?” Han Geng asked, looking a bit amused.
“The label on the door says manager’s office, not owner’s office,” Siwon told him, grinning. “And good morning! I just wanted to kind of pop an idea on you... If you want to think about anything that needs updating in the dining area... New benches, new paint... Decorations? I know we did a little updating in the kitchen, but I was thinking maybe out in the dining room too...”
“We can go look now,” Han Geng said, standing.
“No! No, that’s okay. Take some time to think it over... You know it best, you know? Maybe the others have ideas, or something. Then when you’re ready, we can schedule some time and go over it together.”
Han Geng gave his muted consent, and Siwon retreated to his corner seat. Yeah, maybe he was being too careful. Giving Han Geng too much say, too much power in his role as manager. He trusted Han Geng to be Han Geng, and it was as simple as that. Maybe if it had been someone else, the power would have been abused. But the books still made it to Siwon, and if anything, they were more solid than they had been before. Cutting out an extra salary had helped. But it went beyond that. Han Geng was finally able to do as he had wanted, and manage the business. It took no higher degree, but it took brains. And Han Geng had that.
“The head cook wants to maybe start a new menu, add some things, when we go into the next season,” Han Geng told him the next afternoon, standing beside his table with some amount of ease.
“Sure,” Siwon said, a little baffled. He wasn’t too aware of the goings-on in the kitchen except for the part where it sent out good food. “If you think that’s...”
“We’d like you to be there, give your opinions on the new dishes. Get your input,” Han Geng said, interrupting him. “You didn’t seem like you wanted to be very hands-on, until you came to me about the dining room. So... The food is an important part, obviously. You’re Korean, so you’d know better than I would.”
“What if I have terrible taste in food?” Siwon said, a little startled by this sudden invitation.
“It’s your cafe, so you should own it,” Han Geng said, eyes dancing as he kept them level with Siwon’s shoulder. “And we’re not asking you to make it. Just taste it.”
“And you’ll blame me if what I liked isn’t successful?”
“Welcome to owning a cafe.” Han Geng’s eyes rose, meeting his. “If you have time, would tomorrow morning be okay to go over the dining room? I’ve talked to the others and we’ve come up with some ideas. We can do the tasting right after.”
“Sure,” Siwon said, still a bit dazed as all of it fell on his head.
“Good. Thank you. I’ll send over one of the girls to get you fresh tea.”
“Han Geng,” Siwon called, before he could get far. “Um. Thanks.”
They shared a smile, and it melted through him. He had not risked much of anything in trusting Han Geng with this job, not really. But he was reaping the rewards, oh so much. Because just a little, that trust was being returned. That Han Geng could smile at him, like that, without doubt in his eyes? He would have traded every cent invested in the cafe, just for that.
And Han Geng, when they had finished, had turned to him.
“Do you... Would you come over tonight? If you’re free?”
He thought the smile might have split his face as he said yes.
***
Han Geng had been ready for him, all the ingredients for cooking already in his kitchen. It was the first time he had seen Han Geng’s apartment. Small, neat, and a little worse for the wear. But there was pride in it. Han Geng had pointed out the single bedroom with it’s tiny bathroom, the small living space, and the kitchen/dining room as they had entered. It didn’t take seeing too far to see all of it.
There were pictures on the wall, of Han Geng and his parents when he had been very young, of Han Geng and his mother when he was older. Some small pictures of the Great Wall, of a sunset.
And one of Seoul.
Han Geng saw where he was looking and cleared his throat. “My mother bought that for me... The year we didn’t see each other the first time.”
And he kept it on his wall? A reminder of happier times, or...?
Han Geng didn’t seem to want to discuss it. But he was okay with that. Just being in the kitchen with Han Geng, having Han Geng invite him... Trusting him enough. Trusting both of them, actually. He slid his eyes away from Han Geng’s hips, and focused instead on his hands as he worked.
It was a pleasure to watch Han Geng cook. He had offered his limited services, but had been rejected, and ordered to sit.
As he bit into the succulent, slightly sweet chicken, he was catapulted back into his childhood. He looked up in surprise.
“Your mother made this for us!”
Han Geng nodded, and looked somewhat impressed. “You remember that?”
“I remember so much...”
And so dinner was spent reminiscing of meals spent in the kitchen with Han Geng’s mother, meals in China that had not faded for either of them.
It turned out Han Geng’s television was smaller than Siwon’s hand. And he had no real living space, just a few folding chairs, but Siwon made the most of that, pulling two up beside each other and being glad just to feel Han Geng sitting beside him, resting against him.
“You’re getting more rest, now that you don’t have the other jobs to worry about?”
Han Geng nodded. “I am. A lot more. I think my body likes it.”
“And your mother is happy to see you more.” It was hardly a question. Siwon knew the answer quite well.
“Oh, yes. She... She seems to do better when I’m around. I hope anyway. It was hard when I couldn’t see her...”
“You are her reason to keep fighting,” Siwon said, reaching up to gently stroke Han Geng’s cheek. “And she knew you were fighting for her even when you weren’t there.”
Han Geng lifted his head from Siwon’s shoulder, looking at him with such incredible eyes. He kissed Han Geng softly, feeling an arm come up around his shoulders as they hugged, leaning a bit awkwardly against each other.
“It drives me crazy sometimes that you know what to say,” Han Geng mumbled against his neck.
He could have happily stayed for an hour like that, Han Geng warm in his arms, but the clock was telling him a different story. Morning came early, for both of them.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Siwon said, kissing Han Geng once more as he reached for the door handle.
Han Geng’s hand covered his. “Thanks for coming by.”
It was nothing but warmth that he felt as he smiled. “Thanks for having me. And feeding me.”
“Any time.”
He wondered if he could hold Han Geng to that...
***
In the manager’s room at the cafe was a soft bench. And on it, Siwon occasionally took what he referred to as a power nap. If the heat was bothering him more than usual, or he had slept poorly, and the heat that week was something horrendous, he would stretch out and sleep with Han Geng’s blessing. It was not used much during the day anyway. And it did get Siwon out of Han Geng’s sight out front...
He smiled at Han Geng’s soft hands caressing his face. It was so infrequent that Han Geng reached for him that the touch elated him. He was half out of sleep when he felt lips press gently to his. His hand rose, prepared to cup Han Geng’s head, to press closer, when his fingers sank into long hair, long and heavy between his fingers. Han Geng’s hair was thick and soft, but long?
He sat up with a gasp, pushing away the person kissing him with a forearm. It was one of the waitresses from the store, her eyes as wide as China and her horrified fellow waitress behind her. And in the doorway behind them, Han Geng.
***