[Fic] More Than This - 15/16
Title: More Than This
Author: Coley Merrin
Pairings: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun, Tablo/Eunhyuk
Other: various
Rating: R
Genre: AU, crime, romance
Warnings: violence, death (not of main characters), sexual situations
Summary: Zhou Mi’s focus is Heartstrings, a dating company where love is more than just a guarantee - it's in Zhou Mi’s blood. A matchmaking gift he’s used with gladness, until a series of murders has it shaping his nightmares.
Eunhyuk, his business partner, can’t let go of his tumultuous past. But finding a man he’s been looking for over half his life has repercussions not only for him, but for Zhou Mi and their future.
Chapter One * Chapter Two * Chapter Three * Chapter Four * Chapter Five * Chapter Six * Chapter Seven * Chapter Eight * Chapter Nine * Chapter Ten * Chapter Eleven * Chapter Twelve * Chapter Thirteen * Chapter Fourteen * Chapter Fifteen * Chapter Sixteen
***
Tablo had the picture tucked into his front pocket. One shoe tapping against Eunhyuk’s in the back of the taxi that was taking them toward their destination. The orphanage. It wasn’t that he felt like he needed to go for closure. He’d been before, at least a couple of times. Curiosity, something that kept pulling him back. But he’d never gone with someone, and certainly not someone who had been there with him. Eunhyuk hadn’t been against the idea, which was something. Tablo didn’t have family for them to visit, some benevolent person to give an okay to their relationship. He had buddies, sure, and one day he’d feel less greedy and actually introduce Eunhyuk. Meeting with Kyuhyun and Zhou Mi was different. It was effortless, almost, especially on Eunhyuk’s part. But he wanted Eunhyuk to himself a little longer.
The taxi driver pulled over at the address Tablo had given him. And he found he had to regulate his breathing, as he asked the driver to wait, as they would only be a few minutes.
They were there to see, not to wallow.
The building was the same as it had been, more or less. The same entry. It had been made into a couple of businesses sharing the same building. One that had once held children in need of homes.
“I came here once in high school,” Eunhyuk said, nearly leaning into him. “Got a taxi in secret. But it had already been turned into some kind of store, so there was no one left who could answer my questions.”
Tablo put his hand on Eunhyuk’s shoulder, and squeezed. All those unanswered questions that they finally had resolved.
“My dad parked there,” Eunhyuk said, pointing to his right. “I remember that so clearly. That old, ugly gray car.”
“They kept be in the back so I couldn’t watch you leave. I was kind of glad for that. I would’ve just… I would’ve been looking for that car, if I’d have known. But we get to leave together this time.”
“In a taxi?” Eunhyuk asked, grinning.
“Close enough.”
Though the taxi was waiting, probably not patiently. He didn’t want to stay much longer. It gave him strange feelings even with Eunhyuk’s calm face. What he was thinking, or feeling. Tablo wasn’t sure.
“Should we go?”
“Wait,” Eunhyuk said, and took out his phone. “Let’s get a picture.”
A new one. They posed for several, to make sure they got one worth keeping. An he made a stupid face in one, so Eunhyuk would laugh when he saw it. Just liking the feel of their cheeks together as they posed and smiled, until Eunhyuk was satisfied.
He didn’t think he mistook the wet in Eunhyuk’s eyes, and wasn’t sure of why it was there. But he stayed silent, at least until the taxi was underway back toward his apartment.
“Sad or happy?” Tablo asked.
Or rather, if he should be regretting suggesting making the trip or not.
“Happy. Happy we can go. Happy that even if it hurts, that it hurts less. Or hurts in a way I understand. And then, see we have a new picture now.”
Tablo’s phone buzzed, and the image that Eunhyuk had sent was of them smiling. He thought he looked a bit besotted, which wasn’t an expression he was really used to seeing on himself. And Eunhyuk just looked happy. The building could be seen plainly behind them. And he pulled out the picture, holding it out so they could compare. In one, they were kids and Eunhyuk clung to him. In the other, grown men.
He knew which he preferred. Full circle.
“Ah, and I got you a gift when we get back,” Tablo said, watching as Eunhyuk’s eyebrows rose. “I thought about jewelry, or…”
Eunhyuk’s grin had him stopping, to shove at Eunhyuk’s knee. It wasn’t like he was going home with big bouquets of flowers. He had some restraint. Plus he could think of a lot of other things he’d like to get Eunhyuk more, that they could share.
“I got some duet books, for the guitar. Thought it might be nice if we fooled around together with them a little more.”
And that was absolutely something they could share. That love of music. Feeling the vibration of the strings through his fingers, and watching Eunhyuk’s face as he felt the music. A face not unlike the one he made when Tablo’s fingers traced over his skin. Maybe touch was the way to his heart, or maybe music was as well. But the emotions came out in both.
***
Zhou Mi managed to get Sooyoung scheduled for an after-date meeting, without even having to resort to subtle threats, which wasn’t his usual route. It had been her first truly successful date, and Zhou Mi was seeing why. The other men were too dull, even if they matched completely. And knowing he hadn’t quite been convinced of each, he tried for both of them. But the last one, a man named Changmin, he’d gotten that little chirrup in his stomach, and had been almost entirely convinced that he was finally on the right path. Magic was in those kind of matches. Even if it was only in his own head.
But of course Sooyoung looked beautiful when she came in, Eunhyuk letting Zhou Mi know that she was there. And Zhou Mi carefully closed the door behind her, rolling his chair over so he could sit close, so they could talk like friends.
He already knew it had gone well. He wanted to hear all about it.
“It was a really fantastic date,” she said, when he went after that information almost without preamble. “He picked me up, took me to this really wonderful restaurant. “The Sea?” Yes. After, we went to this little pastry shop and just sat and talked for a couple of hours.”
“And what was he like?” Zhou Mi asked.
“Funny. Smart. Tall. Hardworking. I was laughing too hard to eat, sometimes. He had a cute side, but a sense of humor. And he was a gentleman, but not too much.”
Something that couldn’t be counted too highly, Zhou Mi thought as she spoke.
“And? Did you set up plans?”
She nodded. “We’ll be going out this weekend. He’s been texting me today.”
And their facade of cool broke entirely and they pushed against each other’s hands just grinning.
“I’m so happy,” Zhou Mi said. “I knew when I saw his profile.”
“It’s only been a day, but I’m excited to see him again. He’s so good looking. And he kisses nice, too.”
He just beamed at her in glee, as she looked all satisfied with herself even as he wondered if she was blushing. The thought of being happier couldn’t have happened if he tried.
“I want to hear all about the next date as well,” he told her, squeezing her hand.
“Absolutely. But what about you? You were all happy the last time I saw you, but wouldn’t say anything.”
“You know Kyuhyun?” He bit his lip, and waited until she agreed. “We’re dating.”
“Kyuhyun. The Kyuhyun who works here? And now you’re poaching on employees! That’s adorable,” she said, still shocked but getting used to the idea. “What does Eunhyuk think?”
“You’ll have to ask him, but I think he’s happy for us.”
“I will ask him on the way out. He needs to fill me in on what’s happening with his man, too. Everyone’s pairing off. Siwon’s so happy he just about doesn’t touch the ground. My parents think miracles have occurred. If you end up setting up my little brother when he’s old enough to date seriously, they may end up canonizing you.”
“Do they believe in that?” Zhou Mi asked, blinking.
“No, but they might start,” Sooyoung laughed.
“Keep in touch,” he told her as she left, and felt pleased with both the meeting and the news it brought him. And he smiled as he got back to work, hearing Sooyoung and Eunhyuk bickering and trading stories. The things that made it all worth it.
***
Sooyoung’s visit hadn’t exactly caused his sudden burst of inspiration, but it might have given him a little bump into it. He’d taken a small look at the profile of the man Kyuhyun had been out with a couple of times. Kyuhyun had seemed to like the guy a lot. Lee Donghae. It wasn’t as though he was trying to minimize the competition, but perhaps he was. In a way. That was maybe a large percentage of his reasoning.
Matchmaking was not an offensive skill. He wasn’t out on the attack, though it was mostly in his head. Kyuhyun had stopped seeing Donghae because of his interest in Zhou Mi, and they had talked about that amidst all the confessions. So it was less worry than it was instinct that had him looking at Donghae’s profile, and putting together a little message. All highly private and impersonal, just a little nudge in the right direction. Keeping his mind open as he browsed through existing customers, and those who were just using the free trial. Marking profiles. But it seemed like he kept going back to the exact same one. And it was wrong, all around. The profile said he was looking for women, something Donghae clearly was not. They were not equal in terms of jobs, or really almost anything. But it was that feeling that had him adding that name and that picture, to the list. It pleased him, very much, when he hit send.
And he did not try to keep it secret.
“Are you still in contact with Donghae?” he texted Kyuhyun a few minutes after, knowing Kyuhyun was still at Tablo’s office.
“Occasionally, why?”
Another thing they hadn’t kept secret. Kyuhyun had been upfront with him, that he thought that Donghae made a good friend. And that Donghae didn’t really compare. So it pinged a few uneasy notes in him, but it made him happy in another way as well. Kyuhyun had friends, and a life outside of him. It was like Kyuhyun getting jealous of Eunhyuk. Though, he hadn’t dated or kissed Eunhyuk either. Still, it didn’t qualify. Worrying about Kyuhyun joking with someone else wasn’t nearly as important as focusing on their relationship.
“I just sent him a few profiles to look at. :)” And then Zhou Mi thought a moment, before grinning and sending another text. “So he can find someone as awesome as you did.”
“RIP, Kyuhyun. Died choking on a laugh. You’re weird. Cute but weird.”
But Zhou Mi was going to get a kiss out of that, he knew it. Giving Kyuhyun waggly eyebrows as he came in from lunch, and getting a judging look in return. But when Kyuhyun brought in his mail, he held it out before jerking it back.
“Mail or kiss?” Kyuhyun asked.
“Do I just get one?”
“You do if you’re setting up everyone I used to go out with.”
“Not everyone,” Zhou Mi corrected. “Just Donghae. He sounded like a good guy. One who deserved a chance at love, since I snatched you away from him.”
“Ah, is that all?” Kyuhyun asked.
“Mostly all,” Zhou Mi admitted.
“I guess you can have your mail, then,” Kyuhyun said, putting it on the desk. “But…”
Kyuhyun stepped between Zhou Mi’s knees, and he really did try to keep his face from tilting into smug, but that was hard to do when Kyuhyun was right there playing with his collar, and tilting Zhou Mi’s chin up.
“This is how much you have to be worried,” Kyuhyun told him, and saw far beyond what Zhou Mi was telling him.
And Zhou Mi was glad he was sitting, because his knees trembled as he was. Kyuhyun didn’t dive in, trying to show his dominance. The kiss was soft, barely there. Before Kyuhyun kissed his bottom lip, and top. Pausing as though to wet his mouth, but catching Zhou Mi as well. A tease, as his hands on Zhou Mi’s shoulders kept him from pressing up. From trying to stand, and meet more of Kyuhyun’s mouth. His hands circled Kyuhyun’s wrists, and his lips parted as Kyuhyun pressed against him. Pleasure, not a tease, as Kyuhyun met him then. The tease of wet, taste of the spices from Kyuhyun’s lunch. The shiver that rocked him as Kyuhyun’s teeth caught the tip of his tongue, and the silent laugh as Kyuhyun let him go. Give and take. Acceptance, reward. Arousal.
Need, assurance.
The soft “oh” as Kyuhyun pressed wet kisses across his cheek. Catching the edge of his ear and jaw, and finding the place right behind that made him shudder.
He was pretty sure his eyes promised retribution when he saw Kyuhyun’s smile. It wasn’t fair that one man could turn him into a pile of putty. Kyuhyun would just have to wait until they were alone, when Zhou Mi could show him a thing or two. But he got the feeling Kyuhyun wasn’t very concerned.
“Wow,” Zhou Mi said, grinning up at him.
Kyuhyun chuckled, almost an embarrassed sound that was infinitely adorable. “Yeah. What were we talking about?”
“I have no idea.”
And they laughed into another kiss.
***
Zhou Mi had dreams about him, in bed with him. Lying beside him. It wasn’t exactly a subtle thing, and Kyuhyun had taken a little while to figure out if he was weirded out or not. It was the way that Zhou Mi had told him, the way they had hugged. The way Zhou Mi looked him. The belief that they were more than just trying things out between them. Spending almost half the weekend with Zhou Mi had been pretty amazing. Spending the other half of his weekend attached to his computer had been pretty amazing, too.
But his computer couldn’t tease him with kisses, as nice as that might be, and thinking about Zhou Mi having nice dreams about him had fallen on the best side of weird.
But when Zhou Mi came in from lunch, he thought that Zhou Mi was dressing to kill him. Tight, light washed jeans. Distressed in really, truly interesting places as he stared at the button fly, and then up at how the almost lavender top skimmed Zhou Mi’s side. Low in the front, short sleeves, it had Kyuhyun wanting to sit back in his chair and stare. Which he didn’t have much time to do as Zhou Mi snatched up his phone and said hi with a cute little wave, before disappearing into his office.
And that was how life went when his boyfriend was his boss, Kyuhyun thought, grinning and continuing with his own work. But after that kiss when he brought the mail, and another look at that incredibly tempting outfit, he wasn’t sure his mind was totally on work. Zhou Mi was ridiculously nice, and also kind of stuck on him, and proving it. The thought made him grin.
Listening to make sure Zhou Mi wasn’t on the phone, he shot off a quick text.
To Zhou Mi, “You look good today.”
And to Ryeowook he wrote, “My boyfriend is hot.”
He didn’t expect a reply from Ryeowook, who probably had rolled his eyes with some amount of affection.
“Thank you! Do I not look good every day?” was the reply from Zhou Mi.
It had Kyuhyun laughing into his fist. He waited five minutes so Eunhyuk didn’t think he was totally slacking, before he replied back.
“Sent mass text about how hot you are.”
“Don’t believe you,” Zhou Mi shot back instantly.
“Prove it to you later.”
And then he tucked away his phone and concentrated for the rest of the time.
He was glad Eunhyuk couldn’t see the thoughts in his head as the day wore on, and doubly glad as Eunhyuk said goodnight to first Zhou Mi, and then Kyuhyun. The closing of the outer door had him turning in his chair and considering it. Looking at Zhou Mi’s open door. They could get something to eat. Go back to one of their apartments. Finish the conversation they’d had through text, where he was certain he could detail to Zhou Mi’s satisfaction in just how many ways he found Zhou Mi hot.
Or…
He had just barely flipped the larger lock on the outer door before Zhou Mi wandered out, rolling his head around.
“Oh, I was going to see if you were hungry,” Zhou Mi said. And he spied Kyuhyun’s phone. “So you really sent a mass text?”
“To Ryeowook,” Kyuhyun said with a smirk, which had Zhou Mi laughing.
“Of course. I’m glad you’re showing me off.”
“Anyone would when you walk in like that. You trying to attract me, or all the people in Seoul?”
“Just you,” Zhou Mi assured him, and stepped close enough to touch behind Kyuhyun’s ear. “Why’d you lock the door?”
He’d thought it was rather obvious, and the way Zhou Mi’s lips curved told him he knew just exactly why.
"What's your favorite thing about coming to the office?" Zhou Mi asked, like he was expecting to hear his own name.
Kyuhyun thought a moment. "The fish tank."
But Kyuhyun got his arms around Zhou Mi’s ribs and drew him in. What Zhou Mi was wearing had become second priority to getting Zhou Mi closer. The way they fit against each other, Zhou Mi somehow both slender and sturdy. Drawing him close with warmth, in a way that felt so natural and right. Comfortable, and yet that wasn’t all. Because he was aware of every bit of Zhou Mi’s body. His arms, his knees. The close brush of their faces. The smile in Zhou Mi’s eyes.
“Just the fish tank?” Zhou Mi asked, and Kyuhyun felt part of the question against his mouth.
He could show Zhou Mi that. As the vine around them grew tighter, drawing them together. And the kiss had him shuddering, the warm width of Zhou Mi’s lips making his pulse tick higher. And it wasn’t just the kisses, or Zhou Mi’s back under his hands. But a hundred other kisses, the tease in the kitchen, sleeping beside Zhou Mi at night. The constant ebb and flow of arousal, and the awareness that came every time that they were pressed together. There was only so many times he could picture pinning Zhou Mi down and kissing him until he couldn’t breathe, until he needed every bit as much as Kyuhyun did. But the thing was - he knew Zhou Mi wanted already.
They staggered together, as Zhou Mi leaned into him a little too far. He grabbed the back of Zhou Mi’s belt, and steadied them. Zhou Mi laughing into his neck, as they settled from almost certain disaster. It allowed him time breathe. To brush his cheek against Zhou Mi’s, and with Zhou Mi’s belt to steady him, to nestle their hips against each other. And for each rotation his cheek took against Zhou Mi’s, his body followed after.
“Oh-oh,” Zhou Mi stuttered, his voice almost clutching.
He licked his lips, tasted Zhou Mi, and asked the question without every saying a word.
“Ah. That’s why the door was locked,” Zhou Mi said. And without ceremony, he drew Kyuhyun down to the floor, so they could sit against each other. Wrapping his arm around Zhou Mi’s neck, and giving to Zhou Mi’s demand. The kiss that gentled, soft and sensual. Playing with a tease of lips and tongue. As Zhou Mi’s hands on his hips urged his thighs wider, so they could rock together. Building the nudge of erection to erection, as Kyuhyun pulled away to breathe.
“Guess we should take care of that before we eat,” Kyuhyun muttered, and nibbled at Zhou Mi’s jaw.
“Eat what?” Zhou Mi asked. His voice faint and it made Kyuhyun want to laugh. It came out more like a moan. Finally. Zhou Mi was his, and finally. No pulling away. No putting it off. No interruptions.
“Kyuhyun. Oh.”
The sound was strangled in Kyuhyun’s throat. Zhou Mi even sounded like everything he’d ever wanted.
His eyes were on Zhou Mi’s, when he fumbled at Zhou Mi’s fly. Asking. The answer was not long in coming, the subtle tilt of Zhou Mi’s hips, and the curve of his mouth. Invitation. But as fascinating as Zhou Mi’s face was with the sighs and blurring eyes, the skin he was baring was even more so. Zhou Mi’s stomach. His hips as they both lifted. And proof that they both wanted, in addition to Zhou Mi’s deep inhales.
Skin to skin, he needed that. Tearing at his belt and struggling with his zipper as Zhou Mi steadied him, teasing with fingertips just as each to touch as he had been.
“Zhou Mi,” he gasped, finally working down his pants. “Want you.”
“I know,” Zhou Mi said, and curled closer, his breath nearly in Kyuhyun’s collar. “I know.”
They both nearly keened as Kyuhyun wriggled closer. Getting his hand around Zhou Mi for the first time, and moments later, rubbing against him. Skin to skin. Just as he’d wanted. Zhou Mi. Not his boss. The man who had dreams about him, and whose laugh made Kyuhyun want to die of cute. The man he wanted to protect, and with whom making out killed all chance at reason. He knew it was true in reverse, because they were huffing every bit as hard into each other’s necks as Kyuhyun stroked them. And he was finding it hard to breathe, as Zhou Mi rhythmically squeezed his butt with every stroke.
He whimpered as Zhou Mi sloppily kissed his chin, almost daring him to suck on that lower lip by biting it. And he complied, nearly bowling them over backward, as Zhou Mi fought back. Kyuhyun’s hand stilled, so he could think long enough to speak. There was just one thing that was missing.
“Can you spit?”
Zhou Mi met his eyes in confusion, from where he’d been staring at Kyuhyun’s mouth. “Spit? Yes? But…why?”
The giggles almost gripped him at the look of horror on Zhou Mi’s face, like Kyuhyun was confessing a fetish or something really gross he wanted Zhou Mi to do for him.
“It’s just dry. I don’t…What were you thinking?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know! I’d never-“
“You can’t tell me you never done that,” Kyuhyun scolded him, and tried not to snort as Zhou Mi broke out into helpless laughter.
“Of course. Of course, I have, but I’ve never had anyone ask me like that. I’ll buy something to keep here, for next time. Oh. Kyuhyun.”
“Will it forever be the bottle of spit? What is lube?”
It was a good thing Zhou Mi had an arm around him, as hard as he was shaking, gulping in air at the look on Zhou Mi’s face, and trying not to just lose it entirely. And he didn’t even know if the mood was lost. At least, until Zhou Mi took another snuffling chuckle into the crook of his neck, and it sent a bolt of interest down his body. No problem with coming back up to speed, he thought, and pressed kisses to Zhou Mi’s neck and jaw. And maybe there were a few last laughs as Zhou Mi met his mouth.
But they soon enough turned into moans.
***
They hadn’t stayed upright for long. Zhou Mi’s body curving back against the floor, and Kyuhyun’s draping over him. No more laughing, just breathing as they rested against each other.
“Should’ve gotten an office with a shower,” Zhou Mi said.
“Yeah,” Kyuhyun mostly grunted. He pondered staying where he was, before realizing his knees hurt and would keep on hurting. He patted Zhou Mi’s chest as he sat up, and it was a twofold accomplishment. Touching, and wiping his fingers of lingering residue. Something Zhou Mi seemed aware of as he wrinkled his nose at Kyuhyun. “I can bring a bit of the shower to you.”
Zhou Mi’s eyebrow rose. “Oh really? While I recline like a prince?”
What went up, had to go down. And Zhou Mi was under him, so he’d gotten the brunt of it.
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Kyuhyun offered. He supposed he could’ve offered a hand as he stood up - groaning - and dragged Zhou Mi into the bathroom with him. That might’ve been the logical thing, but his brain was still set to blissed, and Zhou Mi looked really pretty with his mouth all red and intrigued by the idea of Kyuhyun doting on him. Not something he should get used to, Kyuhyun thought as he wet paper towels under warm water. Though the appreciation was nice.
Kyuhyun’s steps carried him halfway across the room, before his eyes registered what he was seeing. Zhou Mi, with feet still planted on the ground, knees still waggling in the air, like Kyuhyun’s hips were between them. Soft, stomach wet, with his shirt still bunched up at the bottom of his ribs. Zhou Mi’s right arm flung out in relaxation, his left hand playing with his bangs.
Kyuhyun coming to a rather clopping stop drew Zhou Mi’s attention. Not surprising since Kyuhyun was standing and staring without any subtlety at all. The smile that moved Zhou Mi’s face was a little bit embarrassed, a little bit pleased. The way his head moved, smiling up at Kyuhyun with a facade of shyness.
“Magazine worthy?” Zhou Mi asked. Kind of half mocking himself for his dishevelment, and probably half fishing for a compliment.
It was more than attraction. It was affection, as he got onto his knees beside Zhou Mi’s side. Almost as though he wanted to say something, how nice it was to see Zhou Mi waiting there, waiting for him. That he was more than magazine worthy, because they’d gotten Zhou Mi that way together.
“I’d hang that picture on my wall,” he said, smirking, and thinking that didn’t say too much. Not too much, as Zhou Mi’s eyes closed and he met Kyuhyun’s kiss as he leaned over Zhou Mi’s body. Fingertips tracing up the back of Kyuhyun’s neck and making him shiver into the kisses. The warmth of Zhou Mi’s mouth, and the comfort of it. Familiar. Close. He half wished he had a camera better than his cell phone. He’d have gotten it, if Zhou Mi would’ve stayed there and smiled for him just like that.
“What was that for?” Zhou Mi asked, hand on Kyuhyun’s shoulder as he rocked back.
“Looked like you were waiting for it,” Kyuhyun told him.
Zhou Mi’s eyes twinkled. “How did you know?”
“Intuition of my own,” Kyuhyun said. And then he remembered what he was there for, to clean Zhou Mi up.
He still clearly wasn’t thinking, as the cold edges of the paper towel in Kyuhyun’s hand met Zhou Mi’s exposed stomach.
Zhou Mi squeaked, loudly, stomach sucked in so fast it was almost supersonic.
“Kyuhyun!” Zhou Mi gasped, grasping at the wet paper.
“Sorry. Sorry! It was warm when I came out,” Kyuhyun said, laughing as Zhou Mi swatted at his knee with his other hand. But somehow they got the mess cleaned up at least so Zhou Mi could get home and shower. A pity, as Zhou Mi’s shirt came down, and his pants wiggled up.
“I’d offer to take you out to eat,” Zhou Mi said, tugging the pants up his legs. “But as nice as that “shower” was, I really need a real one.”
“Yeah, whew,” Kyuhyun teased. He could go home and shower, game. Relax. It had a lot of appeal.
“But we could get something to eat delivered, shower at my place,” Zhou Mi offered. “Or at yours. Or if you wanted to stay with me, we could pick up your laptop.”
“I have my laptop today,” Kyuhyun said. No clothes, but he could swing by his place in the morning. Not like he’d need anything special to sprawl in Zhou Mi’s bed with.
So that was the way it was, he thought, Zhou Mi’s smile big enough to break his face. And one last kiss before they locked the office behind them.
***
Some developments were meant to be shared. He’d shared meeting his ex, because he kept no secrets like that from Eunhyuk. And what he had to share that day was so much better. Leaning into Eunhyuk’s desk and smiling the smile of a well-satisfied man. Eunhyuk’s eyebrows raised, and it had Zhou Mi laughing.
“Let me guess, Kyuhyun stayed over again last night,” Eunhyuk said.
“Yep,” Zhou Mi said.
“Better than the one night stands?”
That didn’t even begin to describe it. Kyuhyun taking the initiative, showing his want. Not being afraid to let Zhou Mi know it. Wanting Kyuhyun was like breathing. Knowing he could please Kyuhyun as well was satisfaction. But the kiss Kyuhyun had shared with him after, soft and sweet. Still full of want, even after. But care in it. Care, like the way that Kyuhyun let Zhou Mi wrap around him in bed, laying his head on Zhou Mi’s arm and smiling. Like the world was just the two of them. Like the hammock had been. Of course, he was going to see that patch of carpet near Kyuhyun’s desk and remember just what they’d done there. Not that there was any lingering marks, but there were the memories. Kyuhyun’s skin, and Kyuhyun’s mouth.
Zhou Mi sighed, and smiled at Eunhyuk. “So much better. He is just- Since I met him, I’ve been having dreams that seemed so real.”
“Not dirty ones?”
The look Zhou Mi sent wasn’t even heated. It was sincere.
“They were all of a man lying next to me. He’d turn, every dream, but I couldn’t see his face. We were having a lovely moment, and I hugged him. And standing there, I saw that dream as a vision. And he turned fully. Kyuhyun. It was Kyuhyun.”
“And you’re sure that’s not because that’s what you wanted to see?”
Zhou Mi shook his head. “I wondered that, too. I don’t know what to tell you other than it felt real. I’ve never felt that before. That knowing I always wanted for myself.”
Eunhyuk made sympathetic noises, since he’d been there firsthand to see how much Zhou Mi had wanted to be sure in the past. How that lack of insight had nearly cause Zhou Mi to reject the thought of a relationship with Kyuhyun One that he had become more and more certain was meant, in the way that that made Zhou Mi’s heart ache with feeling.
“I always knew you were the best friend I had,” Eunhyuk mused. “But I didn’t know we were so connected that we’d be falling in love at the same time.”
“As it was meant, I guess,” Zhou Mi said.
And Eunhyuk nodded. “Maybe so.”
***
Though later Eunhyuk stared at the pile of mail Zhou Mi had Kyuhyun preparing, as Zhou Mi carried more letters to Kyuhyun’s desk.
“Isn’t this what we have computers and email for? What is…all of this?”
“Sometimes it has to be done by mail,” Zhou Mi said, swerving to avoid Eunhyuk. “These are some personal invitations from referrals. Look, I even signed my own name.”
“You’re going to dry up all of Kyuhyun’s spit, sealing all of these. Though I guess it’s a good idea.”
Spit. He almost managed to avoid Kyuhyun’s eye. The night before was fresh in their heads, the joke, where they’d be sitting together just feet away. Spit. Kyuhyun cracked first, almost hiccuping a laugh, and Zhou Mi coughed trying to conceal his and failing.
Eunhyuk’s eyes narrowed. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing,” Kyuhyun said quickly, almost choking on a laugh as they glanced off each other’s eyes again.
“Really nothing,” Zhou Mi assured Eunhyuk. “Just a joke. You don’t want to know.”
The expression on Eunhyuk’s face, if anything, was a bit pained. “I bet I don’t. Just… Don’t have sex on my desk, okay? Please?”
“I promise,” Zhou Mi told him solemnly. “We wouldn’t even dream of it.”
Some things were sacred.
Some things, like after they were alone, pressing a kiss to Kyuhyun’s neck.
“Did you realize what this week was?” Zhou Mi asked.
Kyuhyun turned back to him, staring at him out of the corners of his eyes. “Week? No?”
“It’s the week I would’ve been going out to find a man. A few days ago, actually. But how lucky, because I already found one. And I don’t think he’s going to share.”
Kyuhyun’s chair turned fully so they could look at each other. “Definitely not sharing. Why did you mention that?”
“Because. I wanted you to know how amazing you are. And that I’m happy. And that you don’t ever have to wonder about that. Maybe we haven’t been together that long, but I’m with you and no one else.”
He pressed a kiss to Kyuhyun’s palm, and helped, as Kyuhyun stood. “Same here. So. Does that mean you’re going to feed me?”
“Wherever you want to go,” Zhou Mi promised. But after the kiss that Kyuhyun pulled him into. He could let Kyuhyun belief he had Zhou Mi all wrapped up tight around his wants. A lot of it was true. But he knew he had Kyuhyun as well. And there were promises there that Zhou Mi wrote into his heart.
***
It was lovely walking around the office when Kyuhyun was there. The little glances and smiles. Eunhyuk pretended to roll his eyes, but Zhou Mi knew that Eunhyuk found them cute, if not a little insufferable at times. Not that they did it so overtly and often that they were creating a workplace that would be uninhabitable by them all.
“Did you have a good evening?” Zhou Mi asked, glancing up at Kyuhyun as he put a CD on Eunhyuk’s desk, so his full concentration was on Kyuhyun.
“I did. Relaxing. You?”
“As relaxing as he lets it be,” Eunhyuk snidely put in.
Zhou Mi ignored him, letting the pursing of his mouth speak for itself as he considered Kyuhyun. “Yes, my evening was very relaxing.
Eunhyuk tsked at them, and it got a laugh. It had Zhou Mi in a light mood as he went back into his office. Smiling as he sat and began to organize his thoughts, and his tasks. Smiling as a client emailed him with such profuse thanks, attaching a picture of himself with his new girlfriend. How much his parents loved her. Those were the moments he was so glad to be sitting there. To be where he was.
And his head snapped up, having dropped halfway to his chest. He wasn’t tired, he argued with himself. He had gone home after eating with Kyuhyun. Running over stolen kisses, and smiles, and promises they were beginning to braid into their relationship. It had sent him into sleep, those dreams.
But he could not fight the darkness.
The dream was unlike the others. He stood in an apartment, fragrant with cooking, and the scent of home. The apartment. The burbling baby. The pictures on the wall. Happy family. A woman’s face, beside Kyuhyun’s. A woman who looked like him. His sister, Zhou Mi mused. Lovely, as Kyuhyun was.
The baby squealed again from his playpen and she turned to him. Soojong. Preparing his little carrier so they could go out. Grocery list in hand.
“Time to go out, big boy,” she nearly sang at him.
Time to go out. Out onto the street. Out where there were people.
Out where there were people who killed.
The shudder woke Zhou Mi from the dream, scrabbling at the arms of his office chair as he tried not to feel like he was falling. Trying to organize his thoughts. Kyuhyun’s sister. Kyuhyun’s sister was going out. There was no reason to have seen that except-
He fought the gag, forcing himself onto his feet and all but throwing himself out of his office.
“Kyuhyun get up. Get up. Your sister. Where’s your phone? We have to go!”
“What?” Kyuhyun asked, staring at him like he’d lost his mind but he had his phone in hand by the time Zhou Mi got to him. “My sister?”
“They have a painting of a lake, birds flying across it. Family pictures around it. Her husband and Soojong. One of you and her and your parents. The couch is green. Soojong’s hair is cut short.”
The words tumbled out as he grabbed Kyuhyun’s arm.
“How do you…know that?”
“I dreamed it,” Zhou Mi told him, dragging him toward the door. “Call her. Let’s go there. Eunhyuk, we’re leaving.”
“That kind of dream?” Kyuhyun asked, dialing already as Zhou Mi bypassed the elevator and started thundering down the stairs instead.
“She wasn’t dead,” Zhou Mi said. “But I don’t like it. She was getting ready to go out. She can’t go out.”
“Noona, are you there?” he heard Kyuhyun say urgently into his phone. “Noona, stay inside, okay? Call me back. I’m coming over.”
The two of them bursting onto the street nearly caused a pileup of pedestrians. But Zhou Mi had only one goal in mind, flagging the first taxi that approached. Nearly dancing in place as he waited for the car to stop in front of them. Kyuhyun leaped the short barrier after him, climbing into the taxi first. And he listened with twisting stomach as Kyuhyun’s voice grew more strained, pleading into his cell phone.
“Noona, pick up. Pick up.”
***
Author: Coley Merrin
Pairings: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun, Tablo/Eunhyuk
Other: various
Rating: R
Genre: AU, crime, romance
Warnings: violence, death (not of main characters), sexual situations
Summary: Zhou Mi’s focus is Heartstrings, a dating company where love is more than just a guarantee - it's in Zhou Mi’s blood. A matchmaking gift he’s used with gladness, until a series of murders has it shaping his nightmares.
Eunhyuk, his business partner, can’t let go of his tumultuous past. But finding a man he’s been looking for over half his life has repercussions not only for him, but for Zhou Mi and their future.
Chapter One * Chapter Two * Chapter Three * Chapter Four * Chapter Five * Chapter Six * Chapter Seven * Chapter Eight * Chapter Nine * Chapter Ten * Chapter Eleven * Chapter Twelve * Chapter Thirteen * Chapter Fourteen * Chapter Fifteen * Chapter Sixteen
***
Tablo had the picture tucked into his front pocket. One shoe tapping against Eunhyuk’s in the back of the taxi that was taking them toward their destination. The orphanage. It wasn’t that he felt like he needed to go for closure. He’d been before, at least a couple of times. Curiosity, something that kept pulling him back. But he’d never gone with someone, and certainly not someone who had been there with him. Eunhyuk hadn’t been against the idea, which was something. Tablo didn’t have family for them to visit, some benevolent person to give an okay to their relationship. He had buddies, sure, and one day he’d feel less greedy and actually introduce Eunhyuk. Meeting with Kyuhyun and Zhou Mi was different. It was effortless, almost, especially on Eunhyuk’s part. But he wanted Eunhyuk to himself a little longer.
The taxi driver pulled over at the address Tablo had given him. And he found he had to regulate his breathing, as he asked the driver to wait, as they would only be a few minutes.
They were there to see, not to wallow.
The building was the same as it had been, more or less. The same entry. It had been made into a couple of businesses sharing the same building. One that had once held children in need of homes.
“I came here once in high school,” Eunhyuk said, nearly leaning into him. “Got a taxi in secret. But it had already been turned into some kind of store, so there was no one left who could answer my questions.”
Tablo put his hand on Eunhyuk’s shoulder, and squeezed. All those unanswered questions that they finally had resolved.
“My dad parked there,” Eunhyuk said, pointing to his right. “I remember that so clearly. That old, ugly gray car.”
“They kept be in the back so I couldn’t watch you leave. I was kind of glad for that. I would’ve just… I would’ve been looking for that car, if I’d have known. But we get to leave together this time.”
“In a taxi?” Eunhyuk asked, grinning.
“Close enough.”
Though the taxi was waiting, probably not patiently. He didn’t want to stay much longer. It gave him strange feelings even with Eunhyuk’s calm face. What he was thinking, or feeling. Tablo wasn’t sure.
“Should we go?”
“Wait,” Eunhyuk said, and took out his phone. “Let’s get a picture.”
A new one. They posed for several, to make sure they got one worth keeping. An he made a stupid face in one, so Eunhyuk would laugh when he saw it. Just liking the feel of their cheeks together as they posed and smiled, until Eunhyuk was satisfied.
He didn’t think he mistook the wet in Eunhyuk’s eyes, and wasn’t sure of why it was there. But he stayed silent, at least until the taxi was underway back toward his apartment.
“Sad or happy?” Tablo asked.
Or rather, if he should be regretting suggesting making the trip or not.
“Happy. Happy we can go. Happy that even if it hurts, that it hurts less. Or hurts in a way I understand. And then, see we have a new picture now.”
Tablo’s phone buzzed, and the image that Eunhyuk had sent was of them smiling. He thought he looked a bit besotted, which wasn’t an expression he was really used to seeing on himself. And Eunhyuk just looked happy. The building could be seen plainly behind them. And he pulled out the picture, holding it out so they could compare. In one, they were kids and Eunhyuk clung to him. In the other, grown men.
He knew which he preferred. Full circle.
“Ah, and I got you a gift when we get back,” Tablo said, watching as Eunhyuk’s eyebrows rose. “I thought about jewelry, or…”
Eunhyuk’s grin had him stopping, to shove at Eunhyuk’s knee. It wasn’t like he was going home with big bouquets of flowers. He had some restraint. Plus he could think of a lot of other things he’d like to get Eunhyuk more, that they could share.
“I got some duet books, for the guitar. Thought it might be nice if we fooled around together with them a little more.”
And that was absolutely something they could share. That love of music. Feeling the vibration of the strings through his fingers, and watching Eunhyuk’s face as he felt the music. A face not unlike the one he made when Tablo’s fingers traced over his skin. Maybe touch was the way to his heart, or maybe music was as well. But the emotions came out in both.
***
Zhou Mi managed to get Sooyoung scheduled for an after-date meeting, without even having to resort to subtle threats, which wasn’t his usual route. It had been her first truly successful date, and Zhou Mi was seeing why. The other men were too dull, even if they matched completely. And knowing he hadn’t quite been convinced of each, he tried for both of them. But the last one, a man named Changmin, he’d gotten that little chirrup in his stomach, and had been almost entirely convinced that he was finally on the right path. Magic was in those kind of matches. Even if it was only in his own head.
But of course Sooyoung looked beautiful when she came in, Eunhyuk letting Zhou Mi know that she was there. And Zhou Mi carefully closed the door behind her, rolling his chair over so he could sit close, so they could talk like friends.
He already knew it had gone well. He wanted to hear all about it.
“It was a really fantastic date,” she said, when he went after that information almost without preamble. “He picked me up, took me to this really wonderful restaurant. “The Sea?” Yes. After, we went to this little pastry shop and just sat and talked for a couple of hours.”
“And what was he like?” Zhou Mi asked.
“Funny. Smart. Tall. Hardworking. I was laughing too hard to eat, sometimes. He had a cute side, but a sense of humor. And he was a gentleman, but not too much.”
Something that couldn’t be counted too highly, Zhou Mi thought as she spoke.
“And? Did you set up plans?”
She nodded. “We’ll be going out this weekend. He’s been texting me today.”
And their facade of cool broke entirely and they pushed against each other’s hands just grinning.
“I’m so happy,” Zhou Mi said. “I knew when I saw his profile.”
“It’s only been a day, but I’m excited to see him again. He’s so good looking. And he kisses nice, too.”
He just beamed at her in glee, as she looked all satisfied with herself even as he wondered if she was blushing. The thought of being happier couldn’t have happened if he tried.
“I want to hear all about the next date as well,” he told her, squeezing her hand.
“Absolutely. But what about you? You were all happy the last time I saw you, but wouldn’t say anything.”
“You know Kyuhyun?” He bit his lip, and waited until she agreed. “We’re dating.”
“Kyuhyun. The Kyuhyun who works here? And now you’re poaching on employees! That’s adorable,” she said, still shocked but getting used to the idea. “What does Eunhyuk think?”
“You’ll have to ask him, but I think he’s happy for us.”
“I will ask him on the way out. He needs to fill me in on what’s happening with his man, too. Everyone’s pairing off. Siwon’s so happy he just about doesn’t touch the ground. My parents think miracles have occurred. If you end up setting up my little brother when he’s old enough to date seriously, they may end up canonizing you.”
“Do they believe in that?” Zhou Mi asked, blinking.
“No, but they might start,” Sooyoung laughed.
“Keep in touch,” he told her as she left, and felt pleased with both the meeting and the news it brought him. And he smiled as he got back to work, hearing Sooyoung and Eunhyuk bickering and trading stories. The things that made it all worth it.
***
Sooyoung’s visit hadn’t exactly caused his sudden burst of inspiration, but it might have given him a little bump into it. He’d taken a small look at the profile of the man Kyuhyun had been out with a couple of times. Kyuhyun had seemed to like the guy a lot. Lee Donghae. It wasn’t as though he was trying to minimize the competition, but perhaps he was. In a way. That was maybe a large percentage of his reasoning.
Matchmaking was not an offensive skill. He wasn’t out on the attack, though it was mostly in his head. Kyuhyun had stopped seeing Donghae because of his interest in Zhou Mi, and they had talked about that amidst all the confessions. So it was less worry than it was instinct that had him looking at Donghae’s profile, and putting together a little message. All highly private and impersonal, just a little nudge in the right direction. Keeping his mind open as he browsed through existing customers, and those who were just using the free trial. Marking profiles. But it seemed like he kept going back to the exact same one. And it was wrong, all around. The profile said he was looking for women, something Donghae clearly was not. They were not equal in terms of jobs, or really almost anything. But it was that feeling that had him adding that name and that picture, to the list. It pleased him, very much, when he hit send.
And he did not try to keep it secret.
“Are you still in contact with Donghae?” he texted Kyuhyun a few minutes after, knowing Kyuhyun was still at Tablo’s office.
“Occasionally, why?”
Another thing they hadn’t kept secret. Kyuhyun had been upfront with him, that he thought that Donghae made a good friend. And that Donghae didn’t really compare. So it pinged a few uneasy notes in him, but it made him happy in another way as well. Kyuhyun had friends, and a life outside of him. It was like Kyuhyun getting jealous of Eunhyuk. Though, he hadn’t dated or kissed Eunhyuk either. Still, it didn’t qualify. Worrying about Kyuhyun joking with someone else wasn’t nearly as important as focusing on their relationship.
“I just sent him a few profiles to look at. :)” And then Zhou Mi thought a moment, before grinning and sending another text. “So he can find someone as awesome as you did.”
“RIP, Kyuhyun. Died choking on a laugh. You’re weird. Cute but weird.”
But Zhou Mi was going to get a kiss out of that, he knew it. Giving Kyuhyun waggly eyebrows as he came in from lunch, and getting a judging look in return. But when Kyuhyun brought in his mail, he held it out before jerking it back.
“Mail or kiss?” Kyuhyun asked.
“Do I just get one?”
“You do if you’re setting up everyone I used to go out with.”
“Not everyone,” Zhou Mi corrected. “Just Donghae. He sounded like a good guy. One who deserved a chance at love, since I snatched you away from him.”
“Ah, is that all?” Kyuhyun asked.
“Mostly all,” Zhou Mi admitted.
“I guess you can have your mail, then,” Kyuhyun said, putting it on the desk. “But…”
Kyuhyun stepped between Zhou Mi’s knees, and he really did try to keep his face from tilting into smug, but that was hard to do when Kyuhyun was right there playing with his collar, and tilting Zhou Mi’s chin up.
“This is how much you have to be worried,” Kyuhyun told him, and saw far beyond what Zhou Mi was telling him.
And Zhou Mi was glad he was sitting, because his knees trembled as he was. Kyuhyun didn’t dive in, trying to show his dominance. The kiss was soft, barely there. Before Kyuhyun kissed his bottom lip, and top. Pausing as though to wet his mouth, but catching Zhou Mi as well. A tease, as his hands on Zhou Mi’s shoulders kept him from pressing up. From trying to stand, and meet more of Kyuhyun’s mouth. His hands circled Kyuhyun’s wrists, and his lips parted as Kyuhyun pressed against him. Pleasure, not a tease, as Kyuhyun met him then. The tease of wet, taste of the spices from Kyuhyun’s lunch. The shiver that rocked him as Kyuhyun’s teeth caught the tip of his tongue, and the silent laugh as Kyuhyun let him go. Give and take. Acceptance, reward. Arousal.
Need, assurance.
The soft “oh” as Kyuhyun pressed wet kisses across his cheek. Catching the edge of his ear and jaw, and finding the place right behind that made him shudder.
He was pretty sure his eyes promised retribution when he saw Kyuhyun’s smile. It wasn’t fair that one man could turn him into a pile of putty. Kyuhyun would just have to wait until they were alone, when Zhou Mi could show him a thing or two. But he got the feeling Kyuhyun wasn’t very concerned.
“Wow,” Zhou Mi said, grinning up at him.
Kyuhyun chuckled, almost an embarrassed sound that was infinitely adorable. “Yeah. What were we talking about?”
“I have no idea.”
And they laughed into another kiss.
***
Zhou Mi had dreams about him, in bed with him. Lying beside him. It wasn’t exactly a subtle thing, and Kyuhyun had taken a little while to figure out if he was weirded out or not. It was the way that Zhou Mi had told him, the way they had hugged. The way Zhou Mi looked him. The belief that they were more than just trying things out between them. Spending almost half the weekend with Zhou Mi had been pretty amazing. Spending the other half of his weekend attached to his computer had been pretty amazing, too.
But his computer couldn’t tease him with kisses, as nice as that might be, and thinking about Zhou Mi having nice dreams about him had fallen on the best side of weird.
But when Zhou Mi came in from lunch, he thought that Zhou Mi was dressing to kill him. Tight, light washed jeans. Distressed in really, truly interesting places as he stared at the button fly, and then up at how the almost lavender top skimmed Zhou Mi’s side. Low in the front, short sleeves, it had Kyuhyun wanting to sit back in his chair and stare. Which he didn’t have much time to do as Zhou Mi snatched up his phone and said hi with a cute little wave, before disappearing into his office.
And that was how life went when his boyfriend was his boss, Kyuhyun thought, grinning and continuing with his own work. But after that kiss when he brought the mail, and another look at that incredibly tempting outfit, he wasn’t sure his mind was totally on work. Zhou Mi was ridiculously nice, and also kind of stuck on him, and proving it. The thought made him grin.
Listening to make sure Zhou Mi wasn’t on the phone, he shot off a quick text.
To Zhou Mi, “You look good today.”
And to Ryeowook he wrote, “My boyfriend is hot.”
He didn’t expect a reply from Ryeowook, who probably had rolled his eyes with some amount of affection.
“Thank you! Do I not look good every day?” was the reply from Zhou Mi.
It had Kyuhyun laughing into his fist. He waited five minutes so Eunhyuk didn’t think he was totally slacking, before he replied back.
“Sent mass text about how hot you are.”
“Don’t believe you,” Zhou Mi shot back instantly.
“Prove it to you later.”
And then he tucked away his phone and concentrated for the rest of the time.
He was glad Eunhyuk couldn’t see the thoughts in his head as the day wore on, and doubly glad as Eunhyuk said goodnight to first Zhou Mi, and then Kyuhyun. The closing of the outer door had him turning in his chair and considering it. Looking at Zhou Mi’s open door. They could get something to eat. Go back to one of their apartments. Finish the conversation they’d had through text, where he was certain he could detail to Zhou Mi’s satisfaction in just how many ways he found Zhou Mi hot.
Or…
He had just barely flipped the larger lock on the outer door before Zhou Mi wandered out, rolling his head around.
“Oh, I was going to see if you were hungry,” Zhou Mi said. And he spied Kyuhyun’s phone. “So you really sent a mass text?”
“To Ryeowook,” Kyuhyun said with a smirk, which had Zhou Mi laughing.
“Of course. I’m glad you’re showing me off.”
“Anyone would when you walk in like that. You trying to attract me, or all the people in Seoul?”
“Just you,” Zhou Mi assured him, and stepped close enough to touch behind Kyuhyun’s ear. “Why’d you lock the door?”
He’d thought it was rather obvious, and the way Zhou Mi’s lips curved told him he knew just exactly why.
"What's your favorite thing about coming to the office?" Zhou Mi asked, like he was expecting to hear his own name.
Kyuhyun thought a moment. "The fish tank."
But Kyuhyun got his arms around Zhou Mi’s ribs and drew him in. What Zhou Mi was wearing had become second priority to getting Zhou Mi closer. The way they fit against each other, Zhou Mi somehow both slender and sturdy. Drawing him close with warmth, in a way that felt so natural and right. Comfortable, and yet that wasn’t all. Because he was aware of every bit of Zhou Mi’s body. His arms, his knees. The close brush of their faces. The smile in Zhou Mi’s eyes.
“Just the fish tank?” Zhou Mi asked, and Kyuhyun felt part of the question against his mouth.
He could show Zhou Mi that. As the vine around them grew tighter, drawing them together. And the kiss had him shuddering, the warm width of Zhou Mi’s lips making his pulse tick higher. And it wasn’t just the kisses, or Zhou Mi’s back under his hands. But a hundred other kisses, the tease in the kitchen, sleeping beside Zhou Mi at night. The constant ebb and flow of arousal, and the awareness that came every time that they were pressed together. There was only so many times he could picture pinning Zhou Mi down and kissing him until he couldn’t breathe, until he needed every bit as much as Kyuhyun did. But the thing was - he knew Zhou Mi wanted already.
They staggered together, as Zhou Mi leaned into him a little too far. He grabbed the back of Zhou Mi’s belt, and steadied them. Zhou Mi laughing into his neck, as they settled from almost certain disaster. It allowed him time breathe. To brush his cheek against Zhou Mi’s, and with Zhou Mi’s belt to steady him, to nestle their hips against each other. And for each rotation his cheek took against Zhou Mi’s, his body followed after.
“Oh-oh,” Zhou Mi stuttered, his voice almost clutching.
He licked his lips, tasted Zhou Mi, and asked the question without every saying a word.
“Ah. That’s why the door was locked,” Zhou Mi said. And without ceremony, he drew Kyuhyun down to the floor, so they could sit against each other. Wrapping his arm around Zhou Mi’s neck, and giving to Zhou Mi’s demand. The kiss that gentled, soft and sensual. Playing with a tease of lips and tongue. As Zhou Mi’s hands on his hips urged his thighs wider, so they could rock together. Building the nudge of erection to erection, as Kyuhyun pulled away to breathe.
“Guess we should take care of that before we eat,” Kyuhyun muttered, and nibbled at Zhou Mi’s jaw.
“Eat what?” Zhou Mi asked. His voice faint and it made Kyuhyun want to laugh. It came out more like a moan. Finally. Zhou Mi was his, and finally. No pulling away. No putting it off. No interruptions.
“Kyuhyun. Oh.”
The sound was strangled in Kyuhyun’s throat. Zhou Mi even sounded like everything he’d ever wanted.
His eyes were on Zhou Mi’s, when he fumbled at Zhou Mi’s fly. Asking. The answer was not long in coming, the subtle tilt of Zhou Mi’s hips, and the curve of his mouth. Invitation. But as fascinating as Zhou Mi’s face was with the sighs and blurring eyes, the skin he was baring was even more so. Zhou Mi’s stomach. His hips as they both lifted. And proof that they both wanted, in addition to Zhou Mi’s deep inhales.
Skin to skin, he needed that. Tearing at his belt and struggling with his zipper as Zhou Mi steadied him, teasing with fingertips just as each to touch as he had been.
“Zhou Mi,” he gasped, finally working down his pants. “Want you.”
“I know,” Zhou Mi said, and curled closer, his breath nearly in Kyuhyun’s collar. “I know.”
They both nearly keened as Kyuhyun wriggled closer. Getting his hand around Zhou Mi for the first time, and moments later, rubbing against him. Skin to skin. Just as he’d wanted. Zhou Mi. Not his boss. The man who had dreams about him, and whose laugh made Kyuhyun want to die of cute. The man he wanted to protect, and with whom making out killed all chance at reason. He knew it was true in reverse, because they were huffing every bit as hard into each other’s necks as Kyuhyun stroked them. And he was finding it hard to breathe, as Zhou Mi rhythmically squeezed his butt with every stroke.
He whimpered as Zhou Mi sloppily kissed his chin, almost daring him to suck on that lower lip by biting it. And he complied, nearly bowling them over backward, as Zhou Mi fought back. Kyuhyun’s hand stilled, so he could think long enough to speak. There was just one thing that was missing.
“Can you spit?”
Zhou Mi met his eyes in confusion, from where he’d been staring at Kyuhyun’s mouth. “Spit? Yes? But…why?”
The giggles almost gripped him at the look of horror on Zhou Mi’s face, like Kyuhyun was confessing a fetish or something really gross he wanted Zhou Mi to do for him.
“It’s just dry. I don’t…What were you thinking?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know! I’d never-“
“You can’t tell me you never done that,” Kyuhyun scolded him, and tried not to snort as Zhou Mi broke out into helpless laughter.
“Of course. Of course, I have, but I’ve never had anyone ask me like that. I’ll buy something to keep here, for next time. Oh. Kyuhyun.”
“Will it forever be the bottle of spit? What is lube?”
It was a good thing Zhou Mi had an arm around him, as hard as he was shaking, gulping in air at the look on Zhou Mi’s face, and trying not to just lose it entirely. And he didn’t even know if the mood was lost. At least, until Zhou Mi took another snuffling chuckle into the crook of his neck, and it sent a bolt of interest down his body. No problem with coming back up to speed, he thought, and pressed kisses to Zhou Mi’s neck and jaw. And maybe there were a few last laughs as Zhou Mi met his mouth.
But they soon enough turned into moans.
***
They hadn’t stayed upright for long. Zhou Mi’s body curving back against the floor, and Kyuhyun’s draping over him. No more laughing, just breathing as they rested against each other.
“Should’ve gotten an office with a shower,” Zhou Mi said.
“Yeah,” Kyuhyun mostly grunted. He pondered staying where he was, before realizing his knees hurt and would keep on hurting. He patted Zhou Mi’s chest as he sat up, and it was a twofold accomplishment. Touching, and wiping his fingers of lingering residue. Something Zhou Mi seemed aware of as he wrinkled his nose at Kyuhyun. “I can bring a bit of the shower to you.”
Zhou Mi’s eyebrow rose. “Oh really? While I recline like a prince?”
What went up, had to go down. And Zhou Mi was under him, so he’d gotten the brunt of it.
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Kyuhyun offered. He supposed he could’ve offered a hand as he stood up - groaning - and dragged Zhou Mi into the bathroom with him. That might’ve been the logical thing, but his brain was still set to blissed, and Zhou Mi looked really pretty with his mouth all red and intrigued by the idea of Kyuhyun doting on him. Not something he should get used to, Kyuhyun thought as he wet paper towels under warm water. Though the appreciation was nice.
Kyuhyun’s steps carried him halfway across the room, before his eyes registered what he was seeing. Zhou Mi, with feet still planted on the ground, knees still waggling in the air, like Kyuhyun’s hips were between them. Soft, stomach wet, with his shirt still bunched up at the bottom of his ribs. Zhou Mi’s right arm flung out in relaxation, his left hand playing with his bangs.
Kyuhyun coming to a rather clopping stop drew Zhou Mi’s attention. Not surprising since Kyuhyun was standing and staring without any subtlety at all. The smile that moved Zhou Mi’s face was a little bit embarrassed, a little bit pleased. The way his head moved, smiling up at Kyuhyun with a facade of shyness.
“Magazine worthy?” Zhou Mi asked. Kind of half mocking himself for his dishevelment, and probably half fishing for a compliment.
It was more than attraction. It was affection, as he got onto his knees beside Zhou Mi’s side. Almost as though he wanted to say something, how nice it was to see Zhou Mi waiting there, waiting for him. That he was more than magazine worthy, because they’d gotten Zhou Mi that way together.
“I’d hang that picture on my wall,” he said, smirking, and thinking that didn’t say too much. Not too much, as Zhou Mi’s eyes closed and he met Kyuhyun’s kiss as he leaned over Zhou Mi’s body. Fingertips tracing up the back of Kyuhyun’s neck and making him shiver into the kisses. The warmth of Zhou Mi’s mouth, and the comfort of it. Familiar. Close. He half wished he had a camera better than his cell phone. He’d have gotten it, if Zhou Mi would’ve stayed there and smiled for him just like that.
“What was that for?” Zhou Mi asked, hand on Kyuhyun’s shoulder as he rocked back.
“Looked like you were waiting for it,” Kyuhyun told him.
Zhou Mi’s eyes twinkled. “How did you know?”
“Intuition of my own,” Kyuhyun said. And then he remembered what he was there for, to clean Zhou Mi up.
He still clearly wasn’t thinking, as the cold edges of the paper towel in Kyuhyun’s hand met Zhou Mi’s exposed stomach.
Zhou Mi squeaked, loudly, stomach sucked in so fast it was almost supersonic.
“Kyuhyun!” Zhou Mi gasped, grasping at the wet paper.
“Sorry. Sorry! It was warm when I came out,” Kyuhyun said, laughing as Zhou Mi swatted at his knee with his other hand. But somehow they got the mess cleaned up at least so Zhou Mi could get home and shower. A pity, as Zhou Mi’s shirt came down, and his pants wiggled up.
“I’d offer to take you out to eat,” Zhou Mi said, tugging the pants up his legs. “But as nice as that “shower” was, I really need a real one.”
“Yeah, whew,” Kyuhyun teased. He could go home and shower, game. Relax. It had a lot of appeal.
“But we could get something to eat delivered, shower at my place,” Zhou Mi offered. “Or at yours. Or if you wanted to stay with me, we could pick up your laptop.”
“I have my laptop today,” Kyuhyun said. No clothes, but he could swing by his place in the morning. Not like he’d need anything special to sprawl in Zhou Mi’s bed with.
So that was the way it was, he thought, Zhou Mi’s smile big enough to break his face. And one last kiss before they locked the office behind them.
***
Some developments were meant to be shared. He’d shared meeting his ex, because he kept no secrets like that from Eunhyuk. And what he had to share that day was so much better. Leaning into Eunhyuk’s desk and smiling the smile of a well-satisfied man. Eunhyuk’s eyebrows raised, and it had Zhou Mi laughing.
“Let me guess, Kyuhyun stayed over again last night,” Eunhyuk said.
“Yep,” Zhou Mi said.
“Better than the one night stands?”
That didn’t even begin to describe it. Kyuhyun taking the initiative, showing his want. Not being afraid to let Zhou Mi know it. Wanting Kyuhyun was like breathing. Knowing he could please Kyuhyun as well was satisfaction. But the kiss Kyuhyun had shared with him after, soft and sweet. Still full of want, even after. But care in it. Care, like the way that Kyuhyun let Zhou Mi wrap around him in bed, laying his head on Zhou Mi’s arm and smiling. Like the world was just the two of them. Like the hammock had been. Of course, he was going to see that patch of carpet near Kyuhyun’s desk and remember just what they’d done there. Not that there was any lingering marks, but there were the memories. Kyuhyun’s skin, and Kyuhyun’s mouth.
Zhou Mi sighed, and smiled at Eunhyuk. “So much better. He is just- Since I met him, I’ve been having dreams that seemed so real.”
“Not dirty ones?”
The look Zhou Mi sent wasn’t even heated. It was sincere.
“They were all of a man lying next to me. He’d turn, every dream, but I couldn’t see his face. We were having a lovely moment, and I hugged him. And standing there, I saw that dream as a vision. And he turned fully. Kyuhyun. It was Kyuhyun.”
“And you’re sure that’s not because that’s what you wanted to see?”
Zhou Mi shook his head. “I wondered that, too. I don’t know what to tell you other than it felt real. I’ve never felt that before. That knowing I always wanted for myself.”
Eunhyuk made sympathetic noises, since he’d been there firsthand to see how much Zhou Mi had wanted to be sure in the past. How that lack of insight had nearly cause Zhou Mi to reject the thought of a relationship with Kyuhyun One that he had become more and more certain was meant, in the way that that made Zhou Mi’s heart ache with feeling.
“I always knew you were the best friend I had,” Eunhyuk mused. “But I didn’t know we were so connected that we’d be falling in love at the same time.”
“As it was meant, I guess,” Zhou Mi said.
And Eunhyuk nodded. “Maybe so.”
***
Though later Eunhyuk stared at the pile of mail Zhou Mi had Kyuhyun preparing, as Zhou Mi carried more letters to Kyuhyun’s desk.
“Isn’t this what we have computers and email for? What is…all of this?”
“Sometimes it has to be done by mail,” Zhou Mi said, swerving to avoid Eunhyuk. “These are some personal invitations from referrals. Look, I even signed my own name.”
“You’re going to dry up all of Kyuhyun’s spit, sealing all of these. Though I guess it’s a good idea.”
Spit. He almost managed to avoid Kyuhyun’s eye. The night before was fresh in their heads, the joke, where they’d be sitting together just feet away. Spit. Kyuhyun cracked first, almost hiccuping a laugh, and Zhou Mi coughed trying to conceal his and failing.
Eunhyuk’s eyes narrowed. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing,” Kyuhyun said quickly, almost choking on a laugh as they glanced off each other’s eyes again.
“Really nothing,” Zhou Mi assured Eunhyuk. “Just a joke. You don’t want to know.”
The expression on Eunhyuk’s face, if anything, was a bit pained. “I bet I don’t. Just… Don’t have sex on my desk, okay? Please?”
“I promise,” Zhou Mi told him solemnly. “We wouldn’t even dream of it.”
Some things were sacred.
Some things, like after they were alone, pressing a kiss to Kyuhyun’s neck.
“Did you realize what this week was?” Zhou Mi asked.
Kyuhyun turned back to him, staring at him out of the corners of his eyes. “Week? No?”
“It’s the week I would’ve been going out to find a man. A few days ago, actually. But how lucky, because I already found one. And I don’t think he’s going to share.”
Kyuhyun’s chair turned fully so they could look at each other. “Definitely not sharing. Why did you mention that?”
“Because. I wanted you to know how amazing you are. And that I’m happy. And that you don’t ever have to wonder about that. Maybe we haven’t been together that long, but I’m with you and no one else.”
He pressed a kiss to Kyuhyun’s palm, and helped, as Kyuhyun stood. “Same here. So. Does that mean you’re going to feed me?”
“Wherever you want to go,” Zhou Mi promised. But after the kiss that Kyuhyun pulled him into. He could let Kyuhyun belief he had Zhou Mi all wrapped up tight around his wants. A lot of it was true. But he knew he had Kyuhyun as well. And there were promises there that Zhou Mi wrote into his heart.
***
It was lovely walking around the office when Kyuhyun was there. The little glances and smiles. Eunhyuk pretended to roll his eyes, but Zhou Mi knew that Eunhyuk found them cute, if not a little insufferable at times. Not that they did it so overtly and often that they were creating a workplace that would be uninhabitable by them all.
“Did you have a good evening?” Zhou Mi asked, glancing up at Kyuhyun as he put a CD on Eunhyuk’s desk, so his full concentration was on Kyuhyun.
“I did. Relaxing. You?”
“As relaxing as he lets it be,” Eunhyuk snidely put in.
Zhou Mi ignored him, letting the pursing of his mouth speak for itself as he considered Kyuhyun. “Yes, my evening was very relaxing.
Eunhyuk tsked at them, and it got a laugh. It had Zhou Mi in a light mood as he went back into his office. Smiling as he sat and began to organize his thoughts, and his tasks. Smiling as a client emailed him with such profuse thanks, attaching a picture of himself with his new girlfriend. How much his parents loved her. Those were the moments he was so glad to be sitting there. To be where he was.
And his head snapped up, having dropped halfway to his chest. He wasn’t tired, he argued with himself. He had gone home after eating with Kyuhyun. Running over stolen kisses, and smiles, and promises they were beginning to braid into their relationship. It had sent him into sleep, those dreams.
But he could not fight the darkness.
The dream was unlike the others. He stood in an apartment, fragrant with cooking, and the scent of home. The apartment. The burbling baby. The pictures on the wall. Happy family. A woman’s face, beside Kyuhyun’s. A woman who looked like him. His sister, Zhou Mi mused. Lovely, as Kyuhyun was.
The baby squealed again from his playpen and she turned to him. Soojong. Preparing his little carrier so they could go out. Grocery list in hand.
“Time to go out, big boy,” she nearly sang at him.
Time to go out. Out onto the street. Out where there were people.
Out where there were people who killed.
The shudder woke Zhou Mi from the dream, scrabbling at the arms of his office chair as he tried not to feel like he was falling. Trying to organize his thoughts. Kyuhyun’s sister. Kyuhyun’s sister was going out. There was no reason to have seen that except-
He fought the gag, forcing himself onto his feet and all but throwing himself out of his office.
“Kyuhyun get up. Get up. Your sister. Where’s your phone? We have to go!”
“What?” Kyuhyun asked, staring at him like he’d lost his mind but he had his phone in hand by the time Zhou Mi got to him. “My sister?”
“They have a painting of a lake, birds flying across it. Family pictures around it. Her husband and Soojong. One of you and her and your parents. The couch is green. Soojong’s hair is cut short.”
The words tumbled out as he grabbed Kyuhyun’s arm.
“How do you…know that?”
“I dreamed it,” Zhou Mi told him, dragging him toward the door. “Call her. Let’s go there. Eunhyuk, we’re leaving.”
“That kind of dream?” Kyuhyun asked, dialing already as Zhou Mi bypassed the elevator and started thundering down the stairs instead.
“She wasn’t dead,” Zhou Mi said. “But I don’t like it. She was getting ready to go out. She can’t go out.”
“Noona, are you there?” he heard Kyuhyun say urgently into his phone. “Noona, stay inside, okay? Call me back. I’m coming over.”
The two of them bursting onto the street nearly caused a pileup of pedestrians. But Zhou Mi had only one goal in mind, flagging the first taxi that approached. Nearly dancing in place as he waited for the car to stop in front of them. Kyuhyun leaped the short barrier after him, climbing into the taxi first. And he listened with twisting stomach as Kyuhyun’s voice grew more strained, pleading into his cell phone.
“Noona, pick up. Pick up.”
***