[Fic] Black Satin - 6/14
Title: Black Satin
Author: Coley Merrin
Rating: R
Pairing: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun
Genre: AU, Romance
Warning: crossdressing
Summary: Out of work, Kyuhyun's last ditch effort lands him a curious roommate - and a job he never expected.
Chapter One * Chapter Two * Chapter Three * Chapter Four * Chapter Five * Chapter Six * Chapter Seven
***
It was his nose that he noticed first. That sort of tickle and reaching up to swipe at it, which, frankly, was a big waste of resources, game-wise. He needed those hands. But he didn’t think much about it. Just grabbed some tissues. At least until he sneezed. And it wasn’t one of those polite little kitten noises, it was an all out aural assault as he tried to make sure his brain was still where it should be. His eyes were swimming in post-sneeze tears as he grimaced. The only way Zhou Mi would not have heard that was if he was on the other side of the Himalayas, and considering he was in the other room doing very interesting, sweaty things with his hand weights, he figured he was out of luck there.
“Are you okay, Kui Xian?” Zhou Mi asked, coming out all, yes, sweaty, dressed in shorts and a tank top.
“I don’t know,” he said, his voice sounding like someone had taken sandpaper to his vocal cords.
Zhou Mi’s hand was like some kind of homing beacon, sneaking up under Kyuhyun’s hair to feel his forehead. “You don’t feel too warm. I’ll make you some tea, okay?”
He sipped the hot liquid gratefully, a wad of tissues in one hand. Whatever Zhou Mi had put in there, and it kind of tasted gingery and herb-y, sort of stung his throat. Which was good, he thought. It did sort of hurt to swallow. Which was a whole can of nasty he didn’t want to indulge in. He’d shooed Zhou Mi off to shower, because it wasn’t like he was going to explode like some kind of time bomb. He’d caught some kind of stupid cold, not pneumonia.
He had half passed out on the kitchen table by the time Zhou Mi emerged, smelling like a soap commercial.
“Kui Xian, you should shower. The steam will help you, I think, if you’re congested?”
“Great,” he croaked. What was it about being sick that made him feel about five years old and in need of his mom? The water was hot and the side of the shower was cool as he leaned against it. He just wanted to breathe right. And swallow right. And if the pain he was feeling now was any indication, he was going to wake up and feel like he swallowed knives. Just super.
Zhou Mi was sitting at the table when he got out, just close enough that he could’ve heard if Kyuhyun needed anything. He did feel every so slightly better. If only because he was clean and his hair was dry again.
“I’ll get a blanket and sleep out here,” he said. There wasn’t any sense sleeping in Zhou Mi’s bed and getting him sick, too.
“No, you need to be comfortable and warm. Get to bed early and get a good night’s sleep. I hardly ever get sick. Come on. I’ll get you some water to keep beside you.”
He stared at the lumpy, broken couch and turned with a grunt to their room. Like he was going to argue, really. He had that kind of icky feeling that made him just want to pass out.
Zhou Mi followed behind with the water, setting on the table beside him. “Can I get you anything, Kui Xian?”
“No. Thanks.”
He kind of shivered in the cold sheets a moment before his body heat began to warm them, face stuffed into the pillow.
He shot upright. “Tissues!”
“I’ll get a box,” Zhou Mi said, since he had been fussing with something at his dresser. “Just stay there.”
“Thanks,” he mumbled, and thought he sounded rather pitiable.
“Just feel better,” Zhou Mi ordered, giving him a smile as he set down the box. Kyuhyun balled up a couple tissues in his hand, sticking a couple of others under the pillow and sort of sighed. Yes, he’d sleep forever, and hopefully wake up feeling 100%. Hopefully.
***
He had woken several times during the night, wrangling a tissue or swallowing with his increasingly painful throat. But he had slept. And when he had woke, the clock improbably told him that it was at least two hours later than he usually got up. Which meant that Zhou Mi had been up and going for a while, too. He grimaced as he swallowed. Great, not so much with the feeling better. But the mattress dipped behind him.
“Kui Xian? Are you awake?”
He kind of grunted.
“I have some tea brewing for you. I’ll be right back.”
It was the same herb/ginger mixture that Zhou Mi had given him the night before and though he felt like his nose was being attacked by monsters and his throat was in rebellion, it made him feel more human. And then he realized his bladder wasn’t having one more second laying down.
“Bathroom,” he half whispered, toddling out of bed reluctantly.
Zhou Mi had a sweater ready for him when he got back, and he shrugged into it with gratitude. He did feel chilly, and grateful as he pulled the covers back over himself. Zhou Mi felt as his forehead as he got the tea cup back in his hands.
“I think you are a little warm,” Zhou Mi said. “Do you want something to eat? Soup?”
He nodded, giving as much a smile as his throat allowed, and mouthed “thank you” as Zhou Mi turned to go.
Okay, so he probably was going to owe Zhou Mi dinner after this. If he had been alone, he would have been sequestered with a box of crackers, water, and pain reliever. And he was being made soup. Zhou Mi had been reading in bed beside him, just to make sure he was okay when he woke, since the book he’d been reading had been discarded as Zhou Mi got up to help him. Had kept tea hot for him. It some way, it was better than having his mom. Because Zhou Mi didn’t have to help him. He could’ve just said, sorry, but I’m going out shopping, feel better! So he drank the hot soup, mostly broth, and after that, some pureed fruit. And another dose of the not too-bad tasting tea. Went through about six more tissues in the process. And he hadn’t much set the tea cup down, and cuddled into the warmth of the covers, before he had passed out again. He sipped water every time he woke, and dozed for the next several hours.
It was late afternoon when he finally looked at the clock.
“Work,” he croaked at Zhou Mi, who was dressing.
“I called in and let them know you wouldn’t be in tonight,” Zhou Mi said. “I brought your cell phone in here, so if you need anything you can call me. I’m going to go ahead and go in, if you think you can manage.”
That made him laugh despite the soreness in his throat. The smile felt good, even if the laugh didn’t.
“I think I’ll be okay.”
Zhou Mi studied him. “Are you hungry?”
“A little?”
“I’ll warm you up some more soup, then.”
Like a general and his marching orders. Kyuhyun made it to the bathroom, washing his face a little, while Zhou Mi did that.
More fruit in a little container, a thermos of hot tea, and water, and Zhou Mi felt secure enough to go. Like he’d sneeze himself to death or die of starvation in a matter of hours. Still he traced the edge of the little container that held orange slices with his fingertip. He wondered if there was something that Zhou Mi did that would make him not want to be around him, or not wonder what it would be like to date him. Being attracted to him was one thing, but this feeling was a little different. Maybe he kicked animals, or knocked over young children. Or something.
But no. All he was was the guy who came in to say hello, and tell him that everyone had sent well wishes to him. And that the club had been busy, but not too busy. And had gotten him fresh tea, and a washcloth, and more water. And it was the same man who had showered and crawled in the bed, and slept beside him so quietly. And he had to be grateful for that.
Just as grateful that the next morning, he woke up able to swallow almost without wanting to smack himself in the forehead. Being on the road to recovery was a great thing. But he wasn’t sure what road that he and Zhou Mi were on.
***
It wasn’t like he was under some impression that Zhou Mi had never dated before. The man was, from all angles Kyuhyun had been granted with, tall and amazing. He was cheerful, smart, articulate. Not qualities all people looked for, but he didn’t think they were exactly flaws either. So what if he dressed like a woman as his job? And even then, he obviously hadn’t been doing that forever.
And it wasn’t unusual for Zhou Mi to have a phone planted on his ear, chatting at whoever in Korean and Chinese. It didn’t bother him. Sometimes. He just kept doing what he was doing, putting in earphones if he really needed concentration. The rest of the time he just leaned back against the broken couch and let Zhou Mi’s chatter be his background noise.
At least until that call. The one that had Zhou Mi sounding surprised, and then somewhat quiet, and defensive.
“No, I can’t… No, I’m not busy. We did have fun, yes, but that’s not-”
Kyuhyun sort of subtly paused his game on the pretense of checking his email. This he wanted to hear more of. If Zhou Mi really didn’t want him to hear it, he’d go into the other room.
“No, I really can’t. I’m really sorry. I’m… No. I’m sorry, but I’m dating someone else!”
Kyuhyun barely, just barely, kept himself from swiveling his head around and mouthing “Who?” at Zhou Mi. And when? Were they micro dates or something? He figured Zhou Mi to be the type to be calling and chit chatting and hanging out with a boyfriend.
“I am not lying,” Zhou Mi protested, a little hotly for all the fact that Kyuhyun was pretty sure he was. “No, he’s sitting right here. He’ll tell you I’m telling the truth.”
A hand grasped Kyuhyun’s shoulder, and their heads nearly collided as Zhou Mi wildly gesticulated. Apparently Zhou Mi was wise to him listening in. Oops. He rolled his eyes and pressed his ear to the phone, trying to use his most manly, trustworthy voice and caught the end of a man’s protest. “He’s telling the truth.”
Zhou Mi yanked back the phone. “I wouldn’t… Yeah, I’m really sorry. It’s really for the best. Photo albums? Oh! The ones for class. Yeah. Could you send them?”
That preceded five minutes of negotiation which Zhou Mi was clearly on the losing end of despite his wheedling. No amount of cajoling was making the man more willing to ship these precious photo albums, wanting Zhou Mi instead to come pick them up himself. Kyuhyun could see all over that ploy. Get Zhou Mi to his apartment, coax him inside, maybe get a little post break-up nookie. It made sense to him. And it clearly wasn’t going to happen. He held out a hand expectantly for the phone, which Zhou Mi, with some surprise, handed over.
“Pick a restaurant near you, and we’ll come get them. No, we. Just pick one. Uh-huh. In 45 minutes. Okay. Yeah. Bye.”
He disconnected the call and turned back to his computer.
“How did you do that, Kui Xian?” Zhou Mi asked, sliding down onto the floor beside him.
“It’s called not backing down. You should try it.”
“You’ll really go with me?”
“Yeah, whatever. He sounds like some kind of molester anyway. Thinks he’s all slick and can lure you back by making himself sound all appealing again. What was so appealing if you broke up in the first place? You can buy me lunch or something. Those books better be made of gold.”
“I’ll show you,” Zhou Mi promised.
“So when did we get together? I just want to make sure cause you'd probably be angry if I missed our hundred day anniversary.”
Zhou Mi stared at him for a long moment, and he wondered if he’d made the wrong kind of joke, until the smile formed. “Don’t worry, Kui Xian. I won’t get mad. Should we get going?”
They did. But he still wondered about the look Zhou Mi had given him. As though he had been contemplating what a hundred days with Kyuhyun would be like, if it were real. Or maybe even wishing…? No, that went too far even for him.
***
He lasted a whole two stations before he brought up something about dating, so blatantly fishing for information on the guy they were going to see. But it wasn’t like he had to be very obvious about it, because Zhou Mi started spilling the second he even brought up the trials of dating.
“It was weird, because he pursued me?” Zhou Mi said, letting his head rest back against the metal. “I’m used to being the one who wants and wants, and never gets. It was… It’s hard to explain. We were together for a few months, and he had a chance to get back with his ex, so…”
Using Zhou Mi like some kind of in-between? The bastard. And then..
“So I take it things with his ex didn’t work out so well? So now he just wants to hook back up with you? What an idiot.”
“Right? I must not have made him very happy the first time, so I don’t know why he thinks it’d be better the second time around.”
“It’s not you,” he insisted. “It’s him. Sounds like he thinks the grass is always greener where he isn’t. You weren’t the one waiting for a chance to hook up with someone else. Did… Were you happy?”
“It wasn’t bad. Not really. I don’t think it was ever very serious. I think, even then, I knew he wasn’t invested, even if I couldn’t have said it out loud. I was kind of stupid, though, because I…”
He raised an eyebrow. “Because?”
Zhou Mi got really close to him, not looking at him, but still aiming the words toward him. “He always wanted me to bring clothes from the club home. Which is not really something…”
“Let me guess, his ex was a girl?”
Zhou Mi nodded. “Yeah.”
Well, that was good. Kyuhyun was glad they still had another five or six stops to go so he could work out some of the part of him that was raging about this idiot using Zhou Mi, that Zhou Mi had dressed up for him. Zhou Mi was so earnest. He couldn’t accuse the guy with faking attraction, but it was clear that Zhou Mi had gotten the impression that it was the clothes, not him, that was a turn-on. What’d happen if Zhou Mi found someone to date? Well, he’d have to find a new place to sleep for one thing. And they wouldn’t have as much time to just hang out. Like the other night, Zhou Mi’s knee had been there, so he just used it as a prop for his head while he gamed. At least until he realized he was just about drooling on it. Had he ever been that comfortable with someone as an adult? He hesitated to tell himself that he was so comfortable because he was just deluding himself about the fact that he might be starting to like Zhou Mi as more than a friend. But it was more Zhou Mi’s presence than it was anything inside of Kyuhyun.
He made sure that he was directly beside Zhou Mi as they walked into the restaurant. The man who stood when he saw them was not some spectacular vision of manhood, though he was tall, at least as tall as Kyuhyun if not a little more. Good looking enough, Kyuhyun thought grudgingly. Even if he wanted the guy to be ugly as sin, that would’ve been definitely been questioning Zhou Mi’s taste level.
“These were taking up room,” the guy said, shoving a couple of books into Zhou Mi’s hands. Zhou Mi, face cool, placed the books carefully in his bag.
“Thank you.”
“This is the guy you're dating?” Kyuhyun could almost feel the man’s eyes raking him as he was assessed, before he looked back to Zhou Mi. “This is why you don’t want to go out with me? Does he know what you do?”
Oh, was that all? He let himself become one with the smirk and got an arm up around Zhou Mi’s shoulder. “You think I wouldn’t? He’s the only guy I know who looks better than me in a skirt.”
He was absolutely going to dial back on the gloating in a little bit. But hopefully they’d be out of there before he had to. What he didn’t like was the thoughtful look they were getting, like Kyuhyun knowing Zhou Mi dressed up, knowing Kyuhyun dressed up, was some kind of offer. Like they were easy because of it or something. The man cocked his head a little, looking between the two of them, considering.
“So maybe you two’d be up for…”
“I don’t think so,” Kyuhyun said. He knew where that was going. Maybe a little threesome with the ex. Not even if the guy had been some kind of vision of irresistible manhood. Aside from the part where, obviously, he and Zhou Mi weren’t having sex. But if they were, he’d sooner pluck his leg hairs one by one than let this guy feel him up in a skirt in Zhou Mi’s presence.
“But Zhou Mi, come on…”
Kyuhyun wasn’t aware he could move as fast as he did, getting his hip in front of Zhou Mi’s and intercepting the man’s hand. He didn’t say anything, because anything he could’ve said right at that moment would’ve gotten him punched. But he thought his stance said more than anything, Zhou Mi’s hand settling at his waist.
“Thank you for calling about the photo albums. We’ll get going now.”
You gave this up, Kyuhyun wanted to telegraph with his eyes. Now suck on it.
Zhou Mi collapsed on the train like a man whose bones had liquified. “I wish I had had copies of these books so I didn’t have to do that. I’m sorry you had to go with me, Kui Xian. But thank you.”
“Tell me he can’t get into Satin,” Kyuhyun said.
“No, he can’t get in. He tried a couple times. But they’re good about making sure people we’d rather not come in, don’t. There’s enough business as it is.”
“Good. He’d be squeaking for a long time if he got in.”
And it didn’t really matter if he tried to approach him or Zhou Mi.
“Did he know you worked there when you got together?”
“No,” Zhou Mi said. “I think that’s why I’m so hesitant to tell…anyone.”
Of course, even if the guy hadn’t known Zhou Mi cross-dressed as a job, there was still the man-bag and the perfectly fitted jeans, and impeccable shirts. Zhou Mi shouted style right down to the roots of his hair. Not that Kyuhyun noticed. Much. It was just sort of hard to miss. And the way Zhou Mi kind of looked at someone, all sort of subtle anticipation written all over him as though he were waiting for something wonderful, just to hear a response. And to imagine that look fading to hurt and disbelief when that idiot had broken up with Zhou Mi just angered him beyond what words could describe. Of course the coward had probably broken up with him by text or something, he thought bitterly.
Zhou Mi was just going to obsess about it in the hours they had before work, that much he knew.
As the train shuddered and swayed as it pulled into a station a few stops from theirs, he tugged on Zhou Mi’s arm, urging him to stand.
“Let’s get off here,” he said.
Zhou Mi almost looked like he wanted to protest, but he followed Kyuhyun. He led the way out of the station, finding a corner in a quiet cafe, ordering coffee and some kind of waffle dessert while Zhou Mi looked lustily over the chocolate offerings, settling on a sundae.
“So what are these pictures you were all hot to get?” he asked.
A book of college memories, it seemed. They whittled away half the time before work just looking through the albums they retrieved, Zhou Mi punching him in the side when he laughed a little too hard at one of Zhou Mi’s self-cams. Others had Zhou Mi with nameless people, some taken by others, and the ones that were obviously self taken. They flipped through field trips and class projects, as Zhou Mi leaned against him and told him stories. There were a few that had the guy they had just gotten the books from in them, but there weren’t any where he and Zhou Mi were cuddled or anything. Which was good, because he didn’t want to think of what his blood pressure would do.
They didn’t talk about the fact that Kyuhyun had just basically posed as his boyfriend, or about his ex boyfriend, or the events that had just happened at all. Was Zhou Mi in the market for a boyfriend? He didn’t even know. Maybe he was recovering from what that idiot had done to him, or maybe he just needed a friend. Whatever it was, Kyuhyun was there, at least until he figured out what he wanted to do about it. Pretend date number one, he thought wryly.
It wasn’t until they got back to the apartment, dropping off their things, using the time to get ready for the night’s work, that Zhou Mi really made mention of what had happened at all. Or rather, demonstrated about it first.
And Kyuhyun fought to breathe as he was engulfed in a Zhou Mi-shaped cloud.
“Thank you, Kui Xian.”
He patted Zhou Mi awkwardly on the back. Did it matter what the thanks were for? Whether it was for going with him to get the books, or for distracting him after, it was all the same in Kyuhyun’s mind.
“Yeah, sure,” he said. “You’re not going to make me wear a mini-skirt tonight, are you?”
“Pants,” Zhou Mi promised, and grinned.
That right there, that was all he needed. At least until he figured out why a hug could do all those things to him.
***
Author: Coley Merrin
Rating: R
Pairing: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun
Genre: AU, Romance
Warning: crossdressing
Summary: Out of work, Kyuhyun's last ditch effort lands him a curious roommate - and a job he never expected.
Chapter One * Chapter Two * Chapter Three * Chapter Four * Chapter Five * Chapter Six * Chapter Seven
***
It was his nose that he noticed first. That sort of tickle and reaching up to swipe at it, which, frankly, was a big waste of resources, game-wise. He needed those hands. But he didn’t think much about it. Just grabbed some tissues. At least until he sneezed. And it wasn’t one of those polite little kitten noises, it was an all out aural assault as he tried to make sure his brain was still where it should be. His eyes were swimming in post-sneeze tears as he grimaced. The only way Zhou Mi would not have heard that was if he was on the other side of the Himalayas, and considering he was in the other room doing very interesting, sweaty things with his hand weights, he figured he was out of luck there.
“Are you okay, Kui Xian?” Zhou Mi asked, coming out all, yes, sweaty, dressed in shorts and a tank top.
“I don’t know,” he said, his voice sounding like someone had taken sandpaper to his vocal cords.
Zhou Mi’s hand was like some kind of homing beacon, sneaking up under Kyuhyun’s hair to feel his forehead. “You don’t feel too warm. I’ll make you some tea, okay?”
He sipped the hot liquid gratefully, a wad of tissues in one hand. Whatever Zhou Mi had put in there, and it kind of tasted gingery and herb-y, sort of stung his throat. Which was good, he thought. It did sort of hurt to swallow. Which was a whole can of nasty he didn’t want to indulge in. He’d shooed Zhou Mi off to shower, because it wasn’t like he was going to explode like some kind of time bomb. He’d caught some kind of stupid cold, not pneumonia.
He had half passed out on the kitchen table by the time Zhou Mi emerged, smelling like a soap commercial.
“Kui Xian, you should shower. The steam will help you, I think, if you’re congested?”
“Great,” he croaked. What was it about being sick that made him feel about five years old and in need of his mom? The water was hot and the side of the shower was cool as he leaned against it. He just wanted to breathe right. And swallow right. And if the pain he was feeling now was any indication, he was going to wake up and feel like he swallowed knives. Just super.
Zhou Mi was sitting at the table when he got out, just close enough that he could’ve heard if Kyuhyun needed anything. He did feel every so slightly better. If only because he was clean and his hair was dry again.
“I’ll get a blanket and sleep out here,” he said. There wasn’t any sense sleeping in Zhou Mi’s bed and getting him sick, too.
“No, you need to be comfortable and warm. Get to bed early and get a good night’s sleep. I hardly ever get sick. Come on. I’ll get you some water to keep beside you.”
He stared at the lumpy, broken couch and turned with a grunt to their room. Like he was going to argue, really. He had that kind of icky feeling that made him just want to pass out.
Zhou Mi followed behind with the water, setting on the table beside him. “Can I get you anything, Kui Xian?”
“No. Thanks.”
He kind of shivered in the cold sheets a moment before his body heat began to warm them, face stuffed into the pillow.
He shot upright. “Tissues!”
“I’ll get a box,” Zhou Mi said, since he had been fussing with something at his dresser. “Just stay there.”
“Thanks,” he mumbled, and thought he sounded rather pitiable.
“Just feel better,” Zhou Mi ordered, giving him a smile as he set down the box. Kyuhyun balled up a couple tissues in his hand, sticking a couple of others under the pillow and sort of sighed. Yes, he’d sleep forever, and hopefully wake up feeling 100%. Hopefully.
***
He had woken several times during the night, wrangling a tissue or swallowing with his increasingly painful throat. But he had slept. And when he had woke, the clock improbably told him that it was at least two hours later than he usually got up. Which meant that Zhou Mi had been up and going for a while, too. He grimaced as he swallowed. Great, not so much with the feeling better. But the mattress dipped behind him.
“Kui Xian? Are you awake?”
He kind of grunted.
“I have some tea brewing for you. I’ll be right back.”
It was the same herb/ginger mixture that Zhou Mi had given him the night before and though he felt like his nose was being attacked by monsters and his throat was in rebellion, it made him feel more human. And then he realized his bladder wasn’t having one more second laying down.
“Bathroom,” he half whispered, toddling out of bed reluctantly.
Zhou Mi had a sweater ready for him when he got back, and he shrugged into it with gratitude. He did feel chilly, and grateful as he pulled the covers back over himself. Zhou Mi felt as his forehead as he got the tea cup back in his hands.
“I think you are a little warm,” Zhou Mi said. “Do you want something to eat? Soup?”
He nodded, giving as much a smile as his throat allowed, and mouthed “thank you” as Zhou Mi turned to go.
Okay, so he probably was going to owe Zhou Mi dinner after this. If he had been alone, he would have been sequestered with a box of crackers, water, and pain reliever. And he was being made soup. Zhou Mi had been reading in bed beside him, just to make sure he was okay when he woke, since the book he’d been reading had been discarded as Zhou Mi got up to help him. Had kept tea hot for him. It some way, it was better than having his mom. Because Zhou Mi didn’t have to help him. He could’ve just said, sorry, but I’m going out shopping, feel better! So he drank the hot soup, mostly broth, and after that, some pureed fruit. And another dose of the not too-bad tasting tea. Went through about six more tissues in the process. And he hadn’t much set the tea cup down, and cuddled into the warmth of the covers, before he had passed out again. He sipped water every time he woke, and dozed for the next several hours.
It was late afternoon when he finally looked at the clock.
“Work,” he croaked at Zhou Mi, who was dressing.
“I called in and let them know you wouldn’t be in tonight,” Zhou Mi said. “I brought your cell phone in here, so if you need anything you can call me. I’m going to go ahead and go in, if you think you can manage.”
That made him laugh despite the soreness in his throat. The smile felt good, even if the laugh didn’t.
“I think I’ll be okay.”
Zhou Mi studied him. “Are you hungry?”
“A little?”
“I’ll warm you up some more soup, then.”
Like a general and his marching orders. Kyuhyun made it to the bathroom, washing his face a little, while Zhou Mi did that.
More fruit in a little container, a thermos of hot tea, and water, and Zhou Mi felt secure enough to go. Like he’d sneeze himself to death or die of starvation in a matter of hours. Still he traced the edge of the little container that held orange slices with his fingertip. He wondered if there was something that Zhou Mi did that would make him not want to be around him, or not wonder what it would be like to date him. Being attracted to him was one thing, but this feeling was a little different. Maybe he kicked animals, or knocked over young children. Or something.
But no. All he was was the guy who came in to say hello, and tell him that everyone had sent well wishes to him. And that the club had been busy, but not too busy. And had gotten him fresh tea, and a washcloth, and more water. And it was the same man who had showered and crawled in the bed, and slept beside him so quietly. And he had to be grateful for that.
Just as grateful that the next morning, he woke up able to swallow almost without wanting to smack himself in the forehead. Being on the road to recovery was a great thing. But he wasn’t sure what road that he and Zhou Mi were on.
***
It wasn’t like he was under some impression that Zhou Mi had never dated before. The man was, from all angles Kyuhyun had been granted with, tall and amazing. He was cheerful, smart, articulate. Not qualities all people looked for, but he didn’t think they were exactly flaws either. So what if he dressed like a woman as his job? And even then, he obviously hadn’t been doing that forever.
And it wasn’t unusual for Zhou Mi to have a phone planted on his ear, chatting at whoever in Korean and Chinese. It didn’t bother him. Sometimes. He just kept doing what he was doing, putting in earphones if he really needed concentration. The rest of the time he just leaned back against the broken couch and let Zhou Mi’s chatter be his background noise.
At least until that call. The one that had Zhou Mi sounding surprised, and then somewhat quiet, and defensive.
“No, I can’t… No, I’m not busy. We did have fun, yes, but that’s not-”
Kyuhyun sort of subtly paused his game on the pretense of checking his email. This he wanted to hear more of. If Zhou Mi really didn’t want him to hear it, he’d go into the other room.
“No, I really can’t. I’m really sorry. I’m… No. I’m sorry, but I’m dating someone else!”
Kyuhyun barely, just barely, kept himself from swiveling his head around and mouthing “Who?” at Zhou Mi. And when? Were they micro dates or something? He figured Zhou Mi to be the type to be calling and chit chatting and hanging out with a boyfriend.
“I am not lying,” Zhou Mi protested, a little hotly for all the fact that Kyuhyun was pretty sure he was. “No, he’s sitting right here. He’ll tell you I’m telling the truth.”
A hand grasped Kyuhyun’s shoulder, and their heads nearly collided as Zhou Mi wildly gesticulated. Apparently Zhou Mi was wise to him listening in. Oops. He rolled his eyes and pressed his ear to the phone, trying to use his most manly, trustworthy voice and caught the end of a man’s protest. “He’s telling the truth.”
Zhou Mi yanked back the phone. “I wouldn’t… Yeah, I’m really sorry. It’s really for the best. Photo albums? Oh! The ones for class. Yeah. Could you send them?”
That preceded five minutes of negotiation which Zhou Mi was clearly on the losing end of despite his wheedling. No amount of cajoling was making the man more willing to ship these precious photo albums, wanting Zhou Mi instead to come pick them up himself. Kyuhyun could see all over that ploy. Get Zhou Mi to his apartment, coax him inside, maybe get a little post break-up nookie. It made sense to him. And it clearly wasn’t going to happen. He held out a hand expectantly for the phone, which Zhou Mi, with some surprise, handed over.
“Pick a restaurant near you, and we’ll come get them. No, we. Just pick one. Uh-huh. In 45 minutes. Okay. Yeah. Bye.”
He disconnected the call and turned back to his computer.
“How did you do that, Kui Xian?” Zhou Mi asked, sliding down onto the floor beside him.
“It’s called not backing down. You should try it.”
“You’ll really go with me?”
“Yeah, whatever. He sounds like some kind of molester anyway. Thinks he’s all slick and can lure you back by making himself sound all appealing again. What was so appealing if you broke up in the first place? You can buy me lunch or something. Those books better be made of gold.”
“I’ll show you,” Zhou Mi promised.
“So when did we get together? I just want to make sure cause you'd probably be angry if I missed our hundred day anniversary.”
Zhou Mi stared at him for a long moment, and he wondered if he’d made the wrong kind of joke, until the smile formed. “Don’t worry, Kui Xian. I won’t get mad. Should we get going?”
They did. But he still wondered about the look Zhou Mi had given him. As though he had been contemplating what a hundred days with Kyuhyun would be like, if it were real. Or maybe even wishing…? No, that went too far even for him.
***
He lasted a whole two stations before he brought up something about dating, so blatantly fishing for information on the guy they were going to see. But it wasn’t like he had to be very obvious about it, because Zhou Mi started spilling the second he even brought up the trials of dating.
“It was weird, because he pursued me?” Zhou Mi said, letting his head rest back against the metal. “I’m used to being the one who wants and wants, and never gets. It was… It’s hard to explain. We were together for a few months, and he had a chance to get back with his ex, so…”
Using Zhou Mi like some kind of in-between? The bastard. And then..
“So I take it things with his ex didn’t work out so well? So now he just wants to hook back up with you? What an idiot.”
“Right? I must not have made him very happy the first time, so I don’t know why he thinks it’d be better the second time around.”
“It’s not you,” he insisted. “It’s him. Sounds like he thinks the grass is always greener where he isn’t. You weren’t the one waiting for a chance to hook up with someone else. Did… Were you happy?”
“It wasn’t bad. Not really. I don’t think it was ever very serious. I think, even then, I knew he wasn’t invested, even if I couldn’t have said it out loud. I was kind of stupid, though, because I…”
He raised an eyebrow. “Because?”
Zhou Mi got really close to him, not looking at him, but still aiming the words toward him. “He always wanted me to bring clothes from the club home. Which is not really something…”
“Let me guess, his ex was a girl?”
Zhou Mi nodded. “Yeah.”
Well, that was good. Kyuhyun was glad they still had another five or six stops to go so he could work out some of the part of him that was raging about this idiot using Zhou Mi, that Zhou Mi had dressed up for him. Zhou Mi was so earnest. He couldn’t accuse the guy with faking attraction, but it was clear that Zhou Mi had gotten the impression that it was the clothes, not him, that was a turn-on. What’d happen if Zhou Mi found someone to date? Well, he’d have to find a new place to sleep for one thing. And they wouldn’t have as much time to just hang out. Like the other night, Zhou Mi’s knee had been there, so he just used it as a prop for his head while he gamed. At least until he realized he was just about drooling on it. Had he ever been that comfortable with someone as an adult? He hesitated to tell himself that he was so comfortable because he was just deluding himself about the fact that he might be starting to like Zhou Mi as more than a friend. But it was more Zhou Mi’s presence than it was anything inside of Kyuhyun.
He made sure that he was directly beside Zhou Mi as they walked into the restaurant. The man who stood when he saw them was not some spectacular vision of manhood, though he was tall, at least as tall as Kyuhyun if not a little more. Good looking enough, Kyuhyun thought grudgingly. Even if he wanted the guy to be ugly as sin, that would’ve been definitely been questioning Zhou Mi’s taste level.
“These were taking up room,” the guy said, shoving a couple of books into Zhou Mi’s hands. Zhou Mi, face cool, placed the books carefully in his bag.
“Thank you.”
“This is the guy you're dating?” Kyuhyun could almost feel the man’s eyes raking him as he was assessed, before he looked back to Zhou Mi. “This is why you don’t want to go out with me? Does he know what you do?”
Oh, was that all? He let himself become one with the smirk and got an arm up around Zhou Mi’s shoulder. “You think I wouldn’t? He’s the only guy I know who looks better than me in a skirt.”
He was absolutely going to dial back on the gloating in a little bit. But hopefully they’d be out of there before he had to. What he didn’t like was the thoughtful look they were getting, like Kyuhyun knowing Zhou Mi dressed up, knowing Kyuhyun dressed up, was some kind of offer. Like they were easy because of it or something. The man cocked his head a little, looking between the two of them, considering.
“So maybe you two’d be up for…”
“I don’t think so,” Kyuhyun said. He knew where that was going. Maybe a little threesome with the ex. Not even if the guy had been some kind of vision of irresistible manhood. Aside from the part where, obviously, he and Zhou Mi weren’t having sex. But if they were, he’d sooner pluck his leg hairs one by one than let this guy feel him up in a skirt in Zhou Mi’s presence.
“But Zhou Mi, come on…”
Kyuhyun wasn’t aware he could move as fast as he did, getting his hip in front of Zhou Mi’s and intercepting the man’s hand. He didn’t say anything, because anything he could’ve said right at that moment would’ve gotten him punched. But he thought his stance said more than anything, Zhou Mi’s hand settling at his waist.
“Thank you for calling about the photo albums. We’ll get going now.”
You gave this up, Kyuhyun wanted to telegraph with his eyes. Now suck on it.
Zhou Mi collapsed on the train like a man whose bones had liquified. “I wish I had had copies of these books so I didn’t have to do that. I’m sorry you had to go with me, Kui Xian. But thank you.”
“Tell me he can’t get into Satin,” Kyuhyun said.
“No, he can’t get in. He tried a couple times. But they’re good about making sure people we’d rather not come in, don’t. There’s enough business as it is.”
“Good. He’d be squeaking for a long time if he got in.”
And it didn’t really matter if he tried to approach him or Zhou Mi.
“Did he know you worked there when you got together?”
“No,” Zhou Mi said. “I think that’s why I’m so hesitant to tell…anyone.”
Of course, even if the guy hadn’t known Zhou Mi cross-dressed as a job, there was still the man-bag and the perfectly fitted jeans, and impeccable shirts. Zhou Mi shouted style right down to the roots of his hair. Not that Kyuhyun noticed. Much. It was just sort of hard to miss. And the way Zhou Mi kind of looked at someone, all sort of subtle anticipation written all over him as though he were waiting for something wonderful, just to hear a response. And to imagine that look fading to hurt and disbelief when that idiot had broken up with Zhou Mi just angered him beyond what words could describe. Of course the coward had probably broken up with him by text or something, he thought bitterly.
Zhou Mi was just going to obsess about it in the hours they had before work, that much he knew.
As the train shuddered and swayed as it pulled into a station a few stops from theirs, he tugged on Zhou Mi’s arm, urging him to stand.
“Let’s get off here,” he said.
Zhou Mi almost looked like he wanted to protest, but he followed Kyuhyun. He led the way out of the station, finding a corner in a quiet cafe, ordering coffee and some kind of waffle dessert while Zhou Mi looked lustily over the chocolate offerings, settling on a sundae.
“So what are these pictures you were all hot to get?” he asked.
A book of college memories, it seemed. They whittled away half the time before work just looking through the albums they retrieved, Zhou Mi punching him in the side when he laughed a little too hard at one of Zhou Mi’s self-cams. Others had Zhou Mi with nameless people, some taken by others, and the ones that were obviously self taken. They flipped through field trips and class projects, as Zhou Mi leaned against him and told him stories. There were a few that had the guy they had just gotten the books from in them, but there weren’t any where he and Zhou Mi were cuddled or anything. Which was good, because he didn’t want to think of what his blood pressure would do.
They didn’t talk about the fact that Kyuhyun had just basically posed as his boyfriend, or about his ex boyfriend, or the events that had just happened at all. Was Zhou Mi in the market for a boyfriend? He didn’t even know. Maybe he was recovering from what that idiot had done to him, or maybe he just needed a friend. Whatever it was, Kyuhyun was there, at least until he figured out what he wanted to do about it. Pretend date number one, he thought wryly.
It wasn’t until they got back to the apartment, dropping off their things, using the time to get ready for the night’s work, that Zhou Mi really made mention of what had happened at all. Or rather, demonstrated about it first.
And Kyuhyun fought to breathe as he was engulfed in a Zhou Mi-shaped cloud.
“Thank you, Kui Xian.”
He patted Zhou Mi awkwardly on the back. Did it matter what the thanks were for? Whether it was for going with him to get the books, or for distracting him after, it was all the same in Kyuhyun’s mind.
“Yeah, sure,” he said. “You’re not going to make me wear a mini-skirt tonight, are you?”
“Pants,” Zhou Mi promised, and grinned.
That right there, that was all he needed. At least until he figured out why a hug could do all those things to him.
***