Where Are the Treats? (Chapter 1)

[just2wings]

Pairing: idol!Key / student!Jonghyun
Rating: PG (for now)
Genre: General, Romance
Word count: 6907
Summary: Jonghyun’s job is rather unusual; dogsitting for an idol isn’t something most students pick up on the side. Only, what he expected to be a stroll in the park with two lovable dogs turns out to be much more than he bargained for.


A/N: I had the idea for this fic right after Key's My Little Television aired. I just wanted to write something that included his dogs and it somehow morphed into this long monster of a fic? This is obviously very much inspired by My Little Television as well as Key's Know How, because watching Kibum on those shows ruined my life in the best way possible.
I'm rather unsure of how this fic is turning out, but I wanted to get the first part posted to see what's what. Oh how I regret having started this in present tense... I'm sorry, please excuse derpy tenses OTL. I'm not done writing this fic as it's turning out to be much longer than I expected, but I will try my best to keep working on it as fast as I humanly can! I hope you enjoy this first part?
Emma (aka kibum-san, aka timemachineride), being the total sweetheart she is, edited the lovely banner below. Thank you so much darling for your kindness and your work <3
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It’s the “I know someone who knows someone who knows someone” kind of deal. Jonghyun isn’t sure how exactly he managed to land this job, but it’s easy money and his college tuition isn’t going to pay itself. All he knows is that his sister who is currently interning at KBS had heard that none other than the Almighty Key was looking for a dogsitter for his two new pups. Cue a long list of business connections as well as his sister talking him up and voilà, Jonghyun had an interview.

Jonghyun doesn’t know much about the self-proclaimed Almighty Key, although he does see him around on television and on billboards once in a while, ever since his debut a few years ago. He has a bit of a reputation for having a larger-than-life personality and an uninhibited wild side, but Jonghyun tries not to pay attention to tabloids and their rumour mills. The man has two dogs and needs someone to look after them because of his packed schedule: that is all Jonghyun needs and all he wants to know.

The interview had gone without a hitch; Jonghyun managed to impress Key’s manager with his doggie know-how as well as assure him that he wasn’t a crazy stalker fan who only wanted into his bedroom drawers. In fact, the manager had seemed rather impressed when Jonghyun couldn’t name any of Key’s recent collaborations or singles. That, more than anything, is probably what got him hired.

Key hadn’t been present for the interview, not that Jonghyun expected him to be, but then again if it were his dogs at stake Jonghyun would have probably wanted a say in who got to take care of them. He tries not to judge-he is aware of idols’ gruelling schedules, but a part of him can’t shake off his concern.

He had ended up signing a confidentiality agreement (with some pretty hefty penalties that almost had him reconsidering everything) and was given a brand new cellphone that required a ridiculously complicated password to unlock. He was told to keep it on him at all times, as either Key or his manager would contact him weekly to let him know when his services were needed.

Needless to say Jonghyun is already beginning to feel like he is in over his head with all this idol business when comes the time to visit Key’s personal apartment and meet the dogs who have started all of this.

Key lives on the top floor of an impressive, sleek high-rise and Jonghyun’s first impression of it is how impractical that must be for a dog owner. The building seems new, spotless and expensive with its tinted glass windows and 24-hour security. Then again, Key probably needs it.

Jonghyun has to show the ID card Key’s manager had issued him before being let into the elevator. He begins to fidget on the way up, feeling more and more out of place as he takes in the gold-rimmed mirrors that line the elevator’s walls. There are only two apartments on the top floor, and Jonghyun takes a deep breath before knocking on the door to the right.

A few sharp barks erupt from the other side and Jonghyun smiles at the sound. What can he say? He really does has a soft spot for dogs and he looks forward to meeting the little mongrels.

A young woman opens the door and ushers him in after a quick bow while holding back the excited, curious pups with her foot. The first thing Jonghyun does after slipping off his shoes is to crouch down to their level to give them the greeting they deserve. He is instantly showered with licks and prodded by inquisitive muzzles, tiny paws stepping all over his thighs as the dogs try to lick his face. Jonghyun takes his time petting and scratching the little quivering bundles of energy, one black and the other a reddish brown, all the while trying to remain professional and not aw-ing out loud because these dogs? They’re cute as hell.

He should probably stop and formally introduce himself to the woman who opened the door, but he can’t bring himself to leave the pups alone so he picks them up, their short tails still wagging like crazy, and bows as best as he can with his armful of puppies.

“Kim Jonghyun, nice to meet you,” he says, looking up to see her give him a curt smile.

“Woo Sunkyong, Key-ssi’s coordinator,” she answers quickly. “Come on, I’ll show you where everything is. The brown one is Comme Des and the black one is Garçons, by the way.”

“C-comme… what?” Jonghyun stutters.

“Comme Des Garçons. It’s French.”

Of course it is, Jonghyun thinks to himself. “I’m sorry you have such weird names,” he whispers to the dogs in his arms as he follows her to the kitchen. He peeks around the spacious apartment with curiosity, noticing how tidy it is, the furniture rather modern and sparse. Must all be new, then, he muses.

The kitchen is spotless, like the rest of the building, begging Jonghyun to wonder just how often it’s actually used. Then again Key probably has most, if not all, of his meals prepared or fetched for him.

Sunkyong opens a cupboard above one of the counters and goes on to list what and when the dogs are usually fed. She then moves to another closet at the speed of light, revealing an extensive assortment of dog boots and clothes for every occasion and more. Lastly comes the bathroom tour, where all matters of brushes, wet wipes, shampoos and training pads fill up an entire cupboard of their own. It’s a lot of information to take in and Sunkyong seems in a rush to get through it all. Jonghyun would have appreciated a little more consideration.

“You might also have to bring them to the vet or the groomer once in a while, I’ll send you the addresses. Any questions?”

Jonghyun glances around the huge, yet empty apartment once more. “Key-ssi isn’t here?” he asks.

She gives him an incredulous look, the kind that makes Jonghyun feel smaller than he already is. “No. He has a very busy schedule, you know,” she adds, stressing the last words in a slightly condescending tone-as if Jonghyun needs to be reminded that he doesn’t belong here, that this is out of his league. He’s been acutely made aware of that from the moment he interviewed for this job and signed that damn contract. “Anything else?” she asks in an overly sweet tone.

“Are there any rooms that are off-limits for the dogs?”

“No, they’re free to go wherever,” she says, pursing her lips. “But you should stay out of Key-ssi’s bedroom. And he doesn’t like people touching his things, either.”

Jonghyun tries his best to remain impassive, when really this woman is beginning to irk him. “Duly noted.”

“Will that be all?”

Jonghyun has about a million more questions, but judging from Sunkyong’s impatient stance and her sour expression, he figures it isn’t the right time for them. “Yes, thank you.”

“I’m already late so I have to run. Key-ssi’s manager should be back around noon to check up on you.” Without further ado, she rushes out the door, leaving Jonghyun standing alone in the middle of the living room, still holding onto the two pups.

“Well then,” he tells the dogs, setting them down onto the floor, “isn’t she just lovely?”

The brown one gives a high-pitched yip, sprinting back and forth in front of him before stopping with its butt in the air, playful as ever, and Jonghyun can’t help but chuckle. The black one is a little shyer, he notices, as it stretches its neck to sniff at Jonghyun’s toes.

“Now forgive me but I didn’t catch your names,” Jonghyun goes on, “so you shall be known as ‘puppy’ for now.”

Brown puppy doesn’t seem to care as he scoots forward with another yip, sprinting back when Jonghyun pretends to chase him. Soon Jonghyun is running back and forth across the apartment, both puppies on his heels. They tire out fast, and before Jonghyun knows it he’s stretched out on the floor next to them, the two little sleepy bundles curled into his side. Maybe this job won’t be so bad after all, Jonghyun ponders. He eyes the couch to the side of the room but, truth be told, he’s a bit scared of dirtying the pristine, white cushions so he stays on the floor, cuddling the pups.

That is precisely how Key’s manager, Gyeongshik, finds them when he enters the apartment around noon.

“It’s nice to know we’re also paying you to wipe the floor,” is all he says, and Jonghyun is grateful the man seems to at least have a sense of humour.

“I tired them out,” Jonghyun explains, quickly sitting upright. The pups barely stir beside him, still fast asleep.

“How is everything?” the manager asks.

“It was a lot to take in,” Jonghyun admits, deciding to be honest. Gyeongshik seems more open than Key’s coordinator, almost like someone he could trust. Although, Jonghyun is a bit wary of trusting anyone in the entertainment business; it certainly doesn’t have a reputation of being the most welcoming or the most trusting.

Gyeongshik simply nods before adding, “Key-ssi has prepared a list for you, I’ll ask him where he left it and have it sent to you. Speaking of which, here’s his schedule for the next week, and I’ve highlighted when you’re free to come.”

The manager hands over a sheet of paper, and Jonghyun almost feels his eyes bulge out of his head as he takes it in. It is absolutely filled with events and schedules of all kinds, leaving Jonghyun to wonder if Key even has time to nap, let alone come home to his apartment. He has always known that idols lead busy lives, but it’s another thing entirely to see it all crammed onto a single sheet of paper.

“As you know, he’s in the middle of promoting his new single right now so things are a bit hectic. You don’t start classes for another three weeks, correct?”

Jonghyun nods; he is in between semesters at the moment and in dire need of extra cash to help pay for the next.

“Perfect,” Gyeongshik says, “because you’ll probably be here a lot until then.”

Somehow, Jonghyun has no trouble believing that.

“You were given the passcode to the dorm?”

“Yes.”

“Do I need to stress again just how confidential that information is and how no one, absolutely no one, is allowed access to it from you or you’ll be fired and sued faster than you’ll know?”

Jonghyun swallows thickly. How could he possibly forget that terrifying contract and its never-ending, strict clauses? “No, sir.”

“Good.” Gyeongshik grants him a wide smile that is completely at odds with his previous sombre tone. “Then everything will be fine. I guess you’ll pretty much be living here some days, and Key-ssi is fine with it as long as you clean up after yourself. Contact me if there’s an emergency.”

“Okay, I will,” Jonghyun answers dutifully.

Gyeongshik turns towards the door but pauses for a second, glancing down at the pups near Jonghyun’s feet. “I see they like you already, keep it up.” He says it simply, but Jonghyun appreciates the little encouragement, especially after the whirlwind that was Key’s coordinator and her brisk manner that morning.

The door closes behind him and Jonghyun is once more left alone in the middle of an idol’s apartment. Absent-mindedly, he ponders all the things he could do, namely take pictures or snoop through Key’s room, and he feels a bit high off the power. Only, he feels a bit too high, like he suddenly has vertigo, and the feeling of being misplaced, of not belonging is back in full force. He is only a college student after all, a regular guy who isn’t even particularly popular at that and who spends most of his nights alone, staying up way too late-what the hell is he doing in an idol’s living room?

The black puppy suddenly stretches at his feet, mouth opening in a huge yawn that shows off its tiny white teeth. Oh, Jonghyun thinks, a small smile stretching his lips. This crazy, celebrity lifestyle? He doesn’t think he could ever get used to it. But dogs? That, he certainly can do.

“I forgot to ask about your names again,” Jonghyun mumbles, crouching down to scratch the black pup behind its ears, smiling wider when it flops lazily onto its back.

The first time Jonghyun tries to bring them outside later that day is an interesting experience. The dogs seem wary of the elevator; it takes him a few long minutes to coax them inside and once it jerks into motion, they downright start shaking. Jonghyun has to pick them up and hold them close to his chest, whispering soft words into curly fur to quell their whines.

Jonghyun brings them to the building’s back garden; it isn’t too big, but it’s plenty of room for the pups to frolic in. He lets them explore to their little hearts’ content before ensuring that they finish their business and brings them back inside. He has a moment of hesitation as he faces the elevator and the staircase by its side. On the one hand, the pups are terrified of the elevator, but on the other hand, Key lives on the 22nd floor.

With a sigh, he picks them up to tuck them into the nooks of his elbows and heads for the stairs.

Sweat pools at his brow by the time he makes it to the 15th floor and his thighs are cramping by the time he drags himself to the 20th. To top it all off, the pups are becoming restless in his arms, squirming and demanding to be put on the floor. He is panting as hard as them when he finally faces Key’s apartment door, entering in the passcode. The dogs scamper off inside as soon as he cracks the door open and Jonghyun has half a mind to take a nap right then and there.

But he doesn’t, because regardless of who his employer is, he is growing fonder and fonder of his two little furry clients. He wants to pride himself in doing right by them in hopes of making up for their absent owner.

***

He shows up bright and early the next morning, expecting the apartment to be empty once again because, according to the schedule he was given, the Almighty Key should be about halfway through a rehearsal at the moment. Only it isn’t empty, and after letting the excited puppies lick and slobber all over him in the doorway, he comes face to face with a middle-aged woman carrying a laundry basket.

“Hello?” he speaks formally, complete with a deep bow.

“Hello dear, you must be Jonghyun,” she greets him simply. She has a warm, motherly aura about her that Jonghyun instantly takes a liking too. Her smile is genuine, and Jonghyun feels himself relax a little.

“I am, and you are?”

“You can call me Aunt Lee. I come here twice a week to clean and cook.” Jonghyun can only nod along as she then chatters away, “It’s so nice that they finally found someone to take care of those dogs, poor Kibumi barely has time for them as it is, he really needs the help.”

“Kibumi?” Jonghyun asks, frowning.

“Yes, of course, Kibum-Key.”

Jonghyun feels a wave of embarrassment wash over him; how could he not have known Key’s real name? Key is clearly a stage name, but then again it had never really occurred to him to look for his full name. Especially when everyone always refers to him as Key, except for his housemaid apparently.

“This comeback is really hard on him, but the poor boy’s been talking about getting a dog for months now. I’m glad he did, really, it’s just that the timing of it isn’t great. Thankfully you’re here,” she tells him, sending him another warm smile.

It doesn’t take long for Jonghyun to figure out that Mrs. Lee is quite the talker as she goes through her list of household chores. She keeps a mostly one-way conversation going throughout the morning while Jonghyun feeds and plays with the pups nearby. In those few hours Jonghyun learns all there is to know about Mrs. Lee’s two sons and her soon-to-be-born granddaughter. He can’t help but notice how she doesn’t talk about Key much, apart from a few passing comments here and there. It doesn’t exactly strike him as odd, but it does have him wondering.

“Does Key come home often?”

“Oh, dear, his home isn’t here,” she speaks with a sigh that Jonghyun doesn’t quite understand. “He’s very busy, he barely has time to eat, poor boy. He usually comes by for a few hours to sleep but it isn’t uncommon for him to miss a few nights, especially during his comebacks.”

“Must be hard,” Jonghyun offers. He doesn’t usually sleep much either, but his days aren’t packed with schedules or documented on camera, so he can only imagine the struggle.

“It is,” she agrees, nodding vigorously. “Kibumi works so hard.”

“I keep hearing so much about him, it would be nice to finally meet him.” Jonghyun can admit to being curious about the man behind it all.

“You haven’t yet?” she asks, surprised when Jonghyun shakes his head. “Oh, then I’m sure he’ll drop by soon enough. He’s such a nice young man, a little messy but you should see my youngest son’s room, it’s like a tornado goes through it no matter how many times I pick up after him.”

Jonghyun chuckles at that. “Messy? But the apartment looks spotless.”

“That’s because you haven’t been to his bedroom or seen the inside of his closet. The next time your mother tells you to clean your room, listen to her,” she says, waving a finger at him teasingly.

“I actually live in a dorm, but my roommate keeps it tidy enough for the both of us.”

“Then keep him, you’re lucky to have him.”

Jonghyun has to agree; his friend Jinki is actually a very good roommate, except when he gets very drunk and initiates spontaneous wrestling matches all over the dorm. But Mrs. Lee doesn’t need to know about those.

Jonghyun feels a tug on his sock and looks down to find the black pup chewing on the end of it. The brown one is still napping, stretched out on a cushion. He wiggles his toes free when a thought occurs to him. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Ask away, dear,” Mrs. Lee says kindly from where she’s making a stew over the stove.

“What are the dogs’ names?”

Mrs. Lee bursts into laughter, and the small tears at the corners of her eyes aren’t from the onions she’s just finished chopping. “I told him to name them something simpler, but that boy wouldn’t listen. He can be really stubborn when he wants to, you know. He wanted to name them after this French-Japanese brand.”

So it really is French; Key’s coordinator hadn’t been teasing him.

“The brown one is Comme Des, or ‘kkomde’,” she helpfully spells out for him. “And the black one is Garçons. It means boy, I think. Together they make up a clothing brand.”

“That’s… original,” Jonghyun concedes. He looks down at the black pup, now chewing on one of his rubber toys. “Garçons!” he calls, and surely enough the puppy lifts its small head to peer up at him. “Nice to finally meet you,” he whispers, crouching down to scratch him behind the ears.

The brown one, Comme Des, suddenly stirs and almost rolls off his cushion with all the clumsiness of a young, sleepy pup. He shakes his head before giving a huge yawn and trods up to Jonghyun for his share of ear scratches.

“I’m almost done with the stew,” Mrs. Lee shares, “do you want a taste, Jonghyun-ah?”

Jonghyun grants her a smile, nodding along earnestly. This?-definitely can’t be too bad after all.

***

It’s already his fifth day on the job when he walks into Key’s apartment to find a stack of papers conspicuously placed on the kitchen counter. There’s a bright green sticky note stuck to the top, covered in rather blocky handwriting.

I’m sorry this took so long! This week has been a bit crazy. Everything you need to know should be in here, if there’s anything else you can always contact me. Thank you for taking care of my babies.

The rather elaborate signature at the bottom reads “Key”, and a small part of Jonghyun spends a moment wondering if this counts as an autograph. He leafs through the stack of pages, which seem to cover everything from bath time to daily grooming to meal plans for the dogs. It seems a bit overbearing, considering this isn’t Jonghyun’s first time around a dog, but if anything he’s glad for the guidance these written pages provide.

He finds Mrs. Lee in the laundry room, folding towels.

“Have you seen Key this morning?” he asks her, waving around the stack of pages in his hand.

“No, dear,” she tells him absent-mindedly, “he had an early recording this morning. He must have been in and out because he barely touched the food I’d made him. Oh, but Sunkyong was here and she said something about maybe bringing the dogs to the groomer soon, since Key likes their fur shorter.”

Jonghyun can’t quite fight off a twinge of annoyance at the news. Sure, Key has all the expensive treats, the top quality canned food, the tear-less shampoo and more toys than any dog could wish for, but dogs aren’t accessories. They are beings, and no amount of expenses and gadgets or salon haircuts can replace a good snuggle and a thorough belly rub.

That night, when Jinki is already fast asleep on the other side of their dorm room, Jonghyun huddles up in his bed with his laptop over his thighs, opening a few tabs with the intention of learning a little more about his employer. Jonghyun has spent the better part of five days in the man’s apartment and is no closer to meeting him it seems. Curiosity has gotten the better of him.

His search first brings him to a few fan forums, which are filled with pictures and fanaccounts from die-hard fans and the occasional rather disparaging comment from an anti. Judging from their replies, Key’s fans seem fiercely protective of him. Jonghyun spends a few long minutes reading both sides of the argument, but the negative comments strike him as meaningless spite; hateful just for the sake of being hateful. Some of it is pretty nasty, attacking not only Key’s looks but his performance and personality as well and while Jonghyun knows this is all part of living in the public eye, he finds himself hoping Key hasn’t seen this stuff.

He then spends some time scrolling through fansite pictures, pausing when he reaches a collection of airport photos put together by a fan. Key isn’t in his stage clothes, for once, but his style is still undeniably unique. One day he’ll be wearing black leather and the next, knee-high socks and pastels, not to mention how his hairstyle seems to change almost daily. It’s a bit dizzying to scroll through at first, but Jonghyun then stops on a picture that catches his eye. It isn’t particularly special-Key is wearing a simple hoodie of all things, but it’s a close-up shot of his face and he’s smiling to the camera. What has Jonghyun pausing is how genuine his smile is; perhaps the most genuine Jonghyun has ever seen from him so far. Jonghyun lets his eyes run over his features, how his eyes seem to be smiling too, how the slight dimple in his cheek makes his cheekbone stand out even more, and Jonghyun stares at the picture for longer than he probably should. He is attractive-that much is a given-but in a rather unique, almost captivating way.

He then finds a playlist of Key’s various live performances and sinks back into his pillow to watch the first one. Key looks young, fresh-faced, and is wearing a jersey and loose-fitting shorts. It looks like a debut performance and Jonghyun watches it through until the end. The song is bubbly, catchy, and Key’s choreography is impeccable. Jonghyun sits through a few more videos-different songs, concert footage, fancams-and becomes steadily more and more impressed by Key’s performance. He consistently and unfailingly gives his all, whether it be for a broadcast or a simple festival appearance. He moves with such fluidity and precision, the marks of a great dancer, and even through video it’s easy to tell how his presence fills up the entire stage. Jonghyun closes his laptop much later that night with a better understanding of his employer’s appeal and maybe, just maybe, thinking he has a pretty gorgeous smile when he means it.

Jonghyun wakes to the sound of Jinki puttering around the dorm the next morning. Jinki usually wakes up very early to help out at his parents’ restaurant whenever he can, and today is no exception. Jonghyun rolls out of bed with a groan to join him for breakfast.

Jinki already has a bowl of left-over noodles ready for him and Jonghyun tries to smile in thanks but ends up yawning widely instead.

“Did you get any sleep last night?” Jinki asks, already shovelling food into his mouth.

“A bit,” Jonghyun confesses. Jinki is no stranger to his sleeping habits, after all.

“I woke up in the middle of night and you were still on your laptop,” Jinki tells him, not without a note of concern.

“Yeah,” Jonghyun speaks with a sigh, “I was curious about Key. I ended up watching a few of his performances and all.”

“Almighty Key? The idol whose dogs you’re watching?” Jonghyun nods. “How was he?”

“He’s good,” Jonghyun says honestly, “his songs are very pop-y, but he raps too. And he has very dedicated fans.”

“You might not want to tell him you stalked him online when comes time to meet him,” Jinki supplies helpfully, teasing.

“If I ever meet him,” Jonghyun corrects. “I mean, he’s so busy I wonder why he even got dogs in the first place.”

“Because he can afford a dogsitter?” Jinki offers, tongue-in-cheek, but it doesn’t sound so funny to Jonghyun.

“I guess” is all Jonghyun wants to say to that.

Key’s apartment is empty when Jonghyun opens the door that morning, save for the two dogs that come running up to him only to stumble all over his feet while he tries to take his shoes off.

“I missed you too,” he tells the pups with a chuckle. Comme Des gives a little bark at the sound of his voice before running off to the kitchen, already used to the morning routine by now.

Jonghyun goes through the process of feeding them their first meal of the day, with Comme Des gulping down his food at the speed of light while Garçons takes his time, carefully chewing on the larger chunks. Jonghyun gives them both a pat on the head when they finish, their small tails wagging away again.

His plans for the day are to teach the pups how to walk on a leash and, depending on how fast they take to it, maybe take them out for their first walk down the street. He goes to the closet near the front door to look for their leashes, lost amongst the countless shoes and clothes and accessories all crammed into it. He pauses in his search for a moment when he recognizes one of the coats from a picture of Key at the airport he had seen the night before and, not for the first time, it hits him just where he is, what he’s doing. Somehow, looking through Key’s closet feels too personal, like Jonghyun is invading his space.

He shakes off the feeling as best as he can, grabbing two leashes and harnesses. Keeping the pups still long enough to fasten their harnesses is a bit of a struggle. The dogs keep trying to turn and roll around to bite at it, so Jonghyun does his best to distract them with toys so that they can get used to them. It takes a while, more so for Comme Des who keeps squirming long after Garçons has stopped, but eventually the pups manage to forget their gear. Getting them to walk alongside him on leashes is another story, though. Jonghyun loses count of how many times he has to untangle their leashes, so he figures he won’t be able to bring them out for a walk just yet. Still, he lets them out in the back garden to run around for a bit and even manages to have them ride the elevator on the way up without too much of a fuss.

The pups are sleepy, curling up on their pillows in the living room so Jonghyun settles at the kitchen table, opening one of the books he had brought to pass the time. He manages to read through half of it before the dogs begin to stir, and a few minutes later they are already wide awake and crowding at his feet, demanding their usual scratches. He then goes through the now familiar evening routine of feeding the dogs, brushing them and playing with them a little more. Jonghyun has been trying to teach them to fetch, but they don’t seem too keen on letting go of their toys once they chew down on them. He’s in the middle of a game of tug-of-war with Garçons, growls and all, when the sound of the door suddenly opening has the dogs perking up at once.

“Daddy is home!” a voice calls out. The reaction is instantaneous: as soon as the words are uttered, both pups are running down the hall towards the door and barking excitedly before Jonghyun can grab either of them.

The dogs keep releasing these short, happy barks, so Jonghyun figures he might as well get up and see what all the fuss is about. He peeks around the corner and there he is, Key, bent in half in the entrance while excited little bundles of fur try to climb his legs and shuffle around his feet. Key laughs at their little show and takes his time petting each one of them, murmuring words to them as he does so.

It takes two entire minutes before he even looks up, two entire minutes during which Jonghyun is left to ponder just how different Key looks than he did in those performances Jonghyun watched. He seems downright exhausted and his bright blond hair is pinned back, looking a little frayed at the tips. Still, the way he smiles at the two dogs curling around his feet somehow manages to light up his entire face. Jonghyun can’t deny just how good-looking the man is in person, no matter how tired he might be.

Key kicks off his shoes, carefully as he tries to avoid tripping over the dogs, and promptly sits down on the floor, the pups immediately trying to crawl into his lap. Jonghyun can only stand there and stare from a few meters away, still reeling from it all because this is really Key. In the flesh.

When Key finally looks up, he seems surprised to find Jonghyun there, but quickly schools his features into a small smile.

“Jonghyun-ssi, right?” Jonghyun can only nod, unable to find his voice for a moment. “Nice to meet you.”

“N-nice to meet you, too,” he ends up muttering.

Key simply stares at him for a moment and Jonghyun fights the urge to squirm, rather unnerved by his sharp, intense gaze. It’s almost like Key is studying him, taking him in, and Jonghyun realizes at once just how unprepared he was for this encounter to happen. Key opens his mouth, about to say something, when the front door opens again to let Sunkyong in.

“Ah, Jonghyun-ssi, you’re still here,” she says as soon as she spots him. She bypasses Key and the dogs in the hallway, coming up to him while digging through her bag. “I have next week’s schedule ready for you.”

She hands him another sheet of paper much like the first, and Jonghyun isn’t all that surprised to find that Key has just as many activities planned as he did for the past week. She then turns to Key to address him.

“Gyeongshik-ssi will be here to pick you up at four tomorrow morning, so be ready by then. We’ll do your hair and makeup over at the broadcast station. There’s food in the fridge for you and your stylist already picked up your stage clothes for tomorrow. If there’s anything else, let me know.” She’s out the door after a short goodbye and the silence she leaves behind is of the heavy, awkward kind. Jonghyun still doesn’t know how he should act around Key, nor what Key expects of him. And Jonghyun sort of can’t stop staring at him because he’s real.

“You know,” Key suddenly speaks up, casually breaking the silence, “I can’t decide whether to be more flattered or annoyed by how she thinks she has to babysit me.” And yet his tone leaves nothing to the imagination, making it pretty clear how he feels about his coordinator. Jonghyun has to stifle a chuckle at the comment; it’s good to know he isn’t the only one who dislikes her brisk manner. “She’s not always like that, though,” Key quickly adds. “Comebacks are just a busy time for everyone.”

Jonghyun isn’t sure how to respond to that. Actually, he isn’t quite sure how to respond to Key at all. He’s never met a celebrity before, never mind met one while standing in the middle of their apartment.

“You don’t talk much, do you?”

The question has Jonghyun doing a double take; he had heard that the Almighty Key is known for being blunt, but it’s another thing entirely to experience it firsthand. And he still has no idea what to say.

“I’m sorry,” he apologizes, dropping his head into a small bow, “I’m just a little…”

“Surprised?” Key finishes for him, standing up and brushing off the seat of his pants.

Jonghyun hesitates for a second, before half-heartedly admitting, “Yeah.”

Key spends a moment studying him again, and Jonghyun lets his eyes wander to the floor; there’s something about Key’s gaze that’s too piercing-calculating, almost-and it quickly makes Jonghyun restless.

Key then waves a hand around, as though to shake off Jonghyun’s shyness. Jonghyun has only been in his presence for a few minutes now and he can already tell just how expressive Key really is.

“Have Comme Des and Garçons been giving you any trouble?”

Jonghyun clears his throat, vowing to keep up the conversation this time. “Not at all, they’re great dogs.” Key breaks into a soft smile at the comment, gazing down at his two puppies, and Jonghyun feels a small rush of warmth at the sight. “A little mischievous at times, but they’re good.”

Key chuckles at that, walking past Jonghyun into the living room and Jonghyun is glad to notice the idol is only a few centimeters taller than him. After watching a few of his performances and appearances, he could have sworn Key was much taller.

Key bends down to pick up the toys the dogs have scattered all across the floor, arranging them in a neat pile while the pups keep dancing around his feet, still excited to be with their owner. Key goes through the motions with the ease of someone who has done this multiple times before, always mindful of the excited puppies twirling around his feet, and Jonghyun suddenly feels a slight wave of remorse for ever thinking Key didn’t care for his dogs.

Key then picks Garçons up, nuzzling him before dropping a peck to his shiny, black nose, and heads for the kitchen with Comme Des trailing behind him.

“Have you eaten anything yet?” he asks Jonghyun, opening the fridge with his free hand.

“No?” Jonghyun answers tentatively.

“You can help yourself, if you want,” Key offers, pointing to the plastic containers that fill up his fridge when Jonghyun comes closer to peek over his shoulder. “I’m not sure what Aunt Lee made this time but her cooking is delicious, I’m just not really hungry right now. She always makes too much, anyway, so feel free.”

“Thank you, but I’m good.”

Key merely shrugs, closing the fridge and opening one of the cupboards instead to fetch a glass. He holds one out to Jonghyun with a raised eyebrow, offering, but Jonghyun shakes his head and denies as politely as he can.

“No, thank you. I should probably head back soon.” He doesn’t want to impose now that Key is home, even though the idol is being nothing but hospitable. And surprisingly casual, Jonghyun notes.

“Suit yourself.”

Jonghyun spends a moment fidgeting in the kitchen while Key fills his glass with water, unsure what to do next.

“So,” he starts, hesitant, “I guess I’ll go now.”

“Alright,” Key replies simply.

Jonghyun makes an aborted bow, feeling awkward as ever, before turning around and heading for the door.

“Oh, Jonghyun-ssi!” Key suddenly calls out, catching up to him. “I don’t think you have my phone number?”

Jonghyun shakes his head and fumbles for his phone when Key stretches a hand out expectantly. Key takes it to program his number and it’s only once he hands it back that the reality of it all starts to sink in. He’ll have an idol’s number on speed-dial, and suddenly the strict confidentiality clause he had to sign before taking this job doesn’t seem so crazy.

“It was nice meeting you,” Key tells him with a small smile. It doesn’t quite reach his eyes or show off his dimples, but it seems genuine enough. “Call me or message me if there’s anything.”

“It was nice meeting you, too, Key-ssi. I’ll be back tomorrow in the morning as usual.” He bends down to ruffle Comme Des’ fur before returning the smile and stepping out. He pauses just outside the door and heaves out a deep breath, one he had been holding in for too long. A part of him is still embarrassed by how stifled he’d been; he didn’t think he would be the type to be star-struck, and yet there is something about the idol that has him feeling self-conscious and a bit tongue-tied.

When he gets back to his dorm that night, the first thing he does is bypass Jinki to face-plant straight onto his bed with a muffled groan. He hears Jinki shuffle towards him before tentatively poking his shoulder, but Jonghyun remains firmly face-down on the mattress.

“I take it you met Key, then,” Jinki speaks solemnly.

Jonghyun gives another groan.

“Oh come on, he couldn’t have been that bad,” Jinki reasons, sitting down on the bed next to him.

Jonghyun finally turns onto his side, looking up at his roommate with a sigh he hopes conveys all of his latent embarrassment.

“He’s not the problem,” he tells him. “I was.”

Jinki gives an aborted chuckle, stopping abruptly when Jonghyun’s anguished expression doesn’t drop. “Why? What did you do?”

“I was so awkward,” Jonghyun laments, rolling onto his stomach once more to hide from the world. “I didn’t know what to say to him, even though he was being perfectly reasonable. And then I just left.”

Jinki chuckles outright this time, patting Jonghyun on the back. “Sounds rough,” he teases, “I can see he was real mean to you. Despicable, really.”

“Shut up,” Jonghyun whines.

“It also sounds like you may have been a little star-struck. Is he even dreamier in person?”

“Please just shut up.” Jinki is one of the few people who know Jonghyun actually fancies men. They’ve only spoken about it a few times when the topic came up; it has never been a big deal to Jinki and Jonghyun is more than grateful for that. He is all too aware of how other roommates may not have been so accepting, but he tries not to linger on that thought. “I never said he was dreamy,” Jonghyun mumbles half-heartedly into his comforter.

Unfortunately, Jinki hears him loud and clear. “Well, is he?”

Jonghyun doesn’t think of himself as easily flustered, yet Jinki’s innocent question is making his cheeks feel warm. “I suppose he is good-looking,” he concedes, risking a peek up at Jinki, whose grin suddenly widens. “But he also looked, I don’t know, kind of normal?”

“So he is human after all,” Jinki jokes, prompting a small smile out of Jonghyun, “good to know idols aren’t all machines.”

“I guess not.”

“Do you think you’ll see him again soon? Get a chance to redeem yourself?”

Jonghyun surprises himself when the first thing that pops into his mind is hopefully. He can’t deny being a little intrigued by the idol, even more so since he met him.

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