Where Are the Treats? (Chapter 2)

[just2wings]

Pairing: idol!Key / student!Jonghyun
Rating: PG (for now)
Genre: General, Romance
Word count: 6262
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: Key's Know How is seriously such a great source of inspiration for this fic. Thank you to the lovely Nathalia for encouraging me with this fic, I really appreciate it darling <3 And thank you to Emma once more for the amazing banner! I hope you enjoy this chapter?
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Chapter 1



Key takes to leaving little notes for Jonghyun in the mornings; most only serve to remind him that there is plenty of food in his fridge and that Jonghyun should help himself, but others offer little anecdotes about the dogs or attempt to warn him if one of the pups has been especially mischievous lately. They are all signed in Key’s elaborate signature, the kind that has Jonghyun wondering every time whether he should keep it as an autograph.

Jonghyun sometimes writes back; he keeps his replies short, only scrawling a few words down on how the dogs have been doing or thanking Key for the food. He still feels like an intruder and the last thing he wants is to bother Key.

He has just finished wrestling the pups into their harnesses and is about to clip on their leashes for another walking lesson when his phone suddenly vibrates in his pocket, startling Garçons who lets out a little yip and scrambles off of his lap. Jonghyun doesn’t check the screen before answering considering the only people who ever call him are his mom and his sister, although he wishes he had when Key’s deep voice greets him.

“Hello, Jonghyun-ssi?”

“Y-yes?” Jonghyun answers, confused as to why the idol himself could possibly be calling him in the middle of the day. Isn’t he awfully busy?

“Do you have a moment?” he asks, and Jonghyun sort of wants to reply with Do you?

Instead, he politely says, “Yes-yes of course.”

“I was wondering if-I mean, I have a photoshoot in two days and I was wondering if you could bring the dogs? I want them to be a part of the shoot, but they’ll need someone there to look after them.”

Jonghyun takes a second to process the request, but he can’t get past one little fact. “You want to do a professional photoshoot with puppies? Hyperactive, not-even-trained-yet puppies?” he blurts out before he can think better of it.

“Well, I’d like to try,” Key says simply. “That’s why I think it would be best if you were also there to help with them.”

Jonghyun is a bit befuddled, to say the least. “I… I’ve never been to a photoshoot before.”

Key chuckles on the other end of the line but it doesn’t sound condescending, more amused than anything. “It’s real boring, you’ll see. Really long and tiring, too, but trying on outfits is fun.”

“Sounds great,” Jonghyun lets slip out, sarcasm getting the better of him. “Ideal for puppies, too.”

Key laughs again, louder this time, and for a second Jonghyun is caught marvelling at how much easier it is to speak to him through a phone. “That’s why you’ll be there,” Key reminds him.

“But if they, like, pee on your designer clothes or if the photographer loses patience and has a fit, I don’t want to be held accountable,” Jonghyun rambles on. He’s just looking out for himself, really. And he wants to make sure Key understands just what he’s asking.

“I can promise you that you won’t,” Key assures him in a light tone, like he’s just humouring Jonghyun and playing along. “So is that a yes?”

Jonghyun can’t believe he’s actually agreeing to this, yet here he is. “I guess so.”

“Great!” Key exclaims, sounding rather excited. “I’ll text you the details later. Gyeongshik-ssi will probably drive you there and all so don’t worry about that.”

“Okay.”

“Thank you, Jonghyun-ssi! See you later.” And with those words, Key hangs up.

Jonghyun sits there dumbly for a while, staring at the “call ended” screen on his phone, contemplating the current state of his life. He knows his job is a rather unconventional one, he knew that from the moment he signed up for it, but he never expected to go to an actual schedule.

He looks over to his side, where Comme Des is still rolling over and squirming, desperately trying to get out of his harness while Garçons simply watches him calmly. I guess this is my life, now, Jonghyun thinks. He doesn’t really know what to make of it yet, and he doubts he’ll ever get used to the world of entertainment, but he’s willing to stick around and do his best for the pups.

Key texts him the details of the shoot later that night-exceptionally late, around 4 am which has Jonghyun wondering whether he’s just finished or is starting his day, because both could be true. Jonghyun can admit to being nervous and fidgety the day of the shoot, so much so that Jinki even comments on his strange behaviour over breakfast.

“Are you alright?” he asks through a mouthful of rice. “Because if you don’t eat the omelette I graciously and selflessly made, I will. You’ve only taken two bites so far.”

“The photoshoot is today,” Jonghyun simply reminds him with a sigh, pushing his barely touched plate towards Jinki.

“I don’t understand why you’re so troubled about it,” he tells him again, the same thing he had told Jonghyun a few days ago. “It’s not like you’ll have to model half-naked or anything. You’ll just get to hang out behind the scenes and take care of the dogs.”

While Jinki may be right, that isn’t what has been bothering Jonghyun. “I just don’t feel like I belong there, Jinki,” Jonghyun reasons, resting his head in his hands over the table. He hadn’t gotten much sleep the previous night and it was catching up to him already. “I’m just the dogsitter, and a college student at that. It’s just too weird,” Jonghyun mumbles.

“There are always loads of random people on sets,” Jinki argues in an attempt to reassure him. “If anything, you’ll be even more important as the puppies’ babysitter.”

“Please don’t call me a puppy babysitter,” Jonghyun deadpans.

“Hey, you’re the one with the weird job,” Jinki teases, a fact Jonghyun is all too aware of.

“Says the butcher’s son.” And yet it’s still the truth.

The dogs are even more hyper that morning when he enters the apartment, and Jonghyun tries not to think of it as foreboding. He rushes through their morning routine, gets them fed and brushed and even takes them to the garden for a bit, before Key’s manager arrives to pick him up.

The pups don’t seem to mind the car ride, long as it is, and it comes as a small relief to Jonghyun. Comme Des even falls asleep for most of it, with Garçons laid out by his side. They get to the studio in time despite the morning traffic and Jonghyun ushers the dogs into their carrier before following Key’s manager into the rather large building. The inside is a veritable maze and Jonghyun doesn’t even try to figure out where they are going, simply following Gyeongshik around endless corners and staircases before finally arriving to a large studio that is crawling with people. For a moment, Jonghyun simply stands there taking it in, amazed at how all these people have congregated here for the sole purpose of taking pictures of one man. It’s incredible in its own way when he thinks hard about it. If he were in Key’s place, he isn’t sure he would appreciate all the attention and the pressure. The people milling around all seem to be in a rush and Jonghyun quickly loses himself in their comings and goings before a small yip from the cage he’s carrying snaps him out of it.

He follows Gyeongshik away from the set and into the makeshift dressing room, finding Key seated in front of a large, brightly lit mirror. At least three people appear to be fussing over either his hair or his makeup, with another few perusing the rack of clothing off to one side of the room with items draped over their arms or shoulders. Despite the frantic scurrying around him Key seems poised as ever, apparently unbothered by the people bustling about.

He doesn’t notice Jonghyun at first, which is understandable considering the commotion, but the dogs notice their master and their sharp barks eventually catch his attention. He looks over with a smile before getting out of his chair despite his stylists’ protests.

He crouches down in front of the pups’ cage and lets them lick his fingers, speaking to them in that same low, calm murmur Jonghyun had overheard the day they met. From up close, Jonghyun can tell that Key’s makeup is layered on thickly and that his black eyeshadow is kind of grainy. His pink lips are glossed, making them appear fuller, especially when Key purses them slightly to speak. Jonghyun gets caught up studying their motions for a moment; it takes him a few seconds too long to realize Key has addressed him.

“Sorry?”

“I said thank you for bringing them over,” Key repeats, looking up at Jonghyun. His eyes are bright and lively despite their heavy makeup, and for a moment Jonghyun is glad he agreed to this.

“Key-ssi! Your hair isn’t finished!” a woman calls. Key scratches his dogs one last time through the carrier’s door before standing up again, but he looks reluctant.

“You can go wait over there,” Key tells him, pointing towards a leather couch in a corner of the room. It isn’t exactly the ideal place to get the pups to relax and focus but Jonghyun doubts he’ll find better. He places the cage on the ground and carefully lets the pups out, clipping on their leashes before they can dart off. Their tails are wagging at the speed of light, noses pointing in every direction and ears twitching constantly. It's definitely a lot to take in, especially for young puppies who are used to a nice, rather quiet apartment.

Comme Des tries to go further, pulling on his leash, while Garçons seems a bit overwhelmed by it all as he starts whining. Jonghyun takes a seat on the couch and picks them both up, cuddling them close to his chest in an attempt to calm them down. Comme Des wiggles out of his grip immediately but Garçons keeps whining softly so Jonghyun keeps holding him close. He pets the shivering ball of black fur, muttering nonsense in what he hopes is a soothing tone and drops a kiss to the top of his head when he suddenly notices Key watching him through the mirror. He quickly diverts his gaze, a bit embarrassed at being caught coddling the pup. It takes a while but Garçons eventually stops trembling and follows Comme Des across the couch. Jonghyun gives them some leeway so that they can move around and explore, and once they seem calmer he decides to head out and show them the set.

Jonghyun gets stopped by a man with round glasses, probably one of the shoot’s directors, who promptly bends down to scoop up Comme Des and examine him. Jonghyun doesn’t particularly like how rough the man is in handling him, so Jonghyun carefully takes the dog back and holds onto him.

“Could you brush them a bit to puff up their fur?” the man asks, still eyeing the dogs with a critical eye.

Jonghyun simply nods and stays quiet. He has the fleeting impression that these animals are mere dolls to this man, accessories, and that doesn’t sit quite right with him. Then again, he thinks as he enters the dressing room again and sees Key seated in front of a mirror, bathing in a cloud of hairspray, the models are sort of treated as such, too.

He brushes the dogs half-heartedly, deeming them done after only a few strokes. When Key finally heads out to the first set, Jonghyun joins the crowd and follows him out with a dog in each arm.

The first set is dressed simply, with only a leather chair in front of a brick wall. Key spends a few moments discussing with the director, nodding along to whatever the older man is saying before taking a seat in the chair and posing. It goes on forever; first he’s sitting, then crouching in the chair, then leaning back before standing up and pausing in every position imaginable. Sometimes Key looks a bit stifled, posing rather awkwardly or looking uncomfortable, but he keeps moving from one pose to the next without missing a single beat or a “click” of the camera. It’s almost hypnotizing to watch, and Jonghyun suddenly understands why Key said photoshoots were long and tiring.

Jonghyun snaps out of his daze when the dogs are finally called on set. He brings them up to Key, carefully handing them over onto his lap before removing their harnesses. Comme Des is rather agitated, tail wagging away, looking like he wants to jump down. Jonghyun stays just out of the frame in case he decides to try, ready to intercept any runaway puppies.

He catches Comme Des twice and Garçons once throughout the shoot; he doubts the photographer managed to get any good pictures considering how restless they both were, but the man doesn’t seem too irritated with them.

When Key heads back to the dressing room for a change of clothes and to have his makeup touched up, the photographer attempts to snatch pictures of the pups alone. They don’t stay still very long and pretty soon they even lose interest in the treat Jonghyun has been waving around in an attempt to hold their attention.

Key repeats the same routine on the second, the third and then the fourth set. It’s impressive in its own right; Key’s never-ending energy and his professionalism are obvious, like he’s all too used to this circus.

By the end of it, both dogs are exhausted, stretched out and fast asleep at Jonghyun’s feet. They barely stir when Jonghyun places them back into their carrier before following Key’s manager out and climbing into the van. Key suddenly climbs in after him, sharing the back seat.

“So?” Key asks expectantly. His face is still caked in makeup, but he’s wearing more casual clothing-“casual” being tight jeans and a bright, colourful jacket. He is also wearing bright blue coloured lenses; it’s a bit startling, and Jonghyun finds himself missing the usual deep brown shade of his eyes every time he looks over. “How was it for a first time?”

Jonghyun fumbles for an answer; he doesn’t want to lie, but he doesn’t want to disappoint either. “It was… eye-opening,” he settles for. “It was tiring to just watch, I don’t know how you do it,” he shares, shaking his head.

Key simply waves off his comment like it’s nothing, like he hasn’t just spent the last three hours standing and holding poses in front of a camera. “At least the clothes were nice,” Key replies. “I hope the pictures of the kids will come out great.”

Key reaches inside the carrier to pet the furry, sleepy bundles with a smile, lingering when Comme Des yawns widely.

“I really wanted to thank you for coming today,” Key tells him, and the sincerity in his tone takes Jonghyun by surprise. He doesn’t look at Jonghyun while he speaks, still focused on the dogs between them. “You really take great care of them and they couldn’t have been in better hands. So-thank you,” he finishes simply. Jonghyun can tell he means it and he is taken aback by it for a moment. He has never seen Key so bashful and as strange as it is, it is also endearing.

Throughout his online searches, Jonghyun had grown used to Key’s well-rehearsed speech and his dynamic manner. It is equal parts refreshing and disconcerting to see him so reserved.

Gyeongshik pulls up to back entrance of a broadcast station and Key gives one last pat to his dogs before slipping out of the van, shooting Jonghyun a “See you soon?” that sounds more like a question than a goodbye. Jonghyun can only nod, watching as Key grants him a small smile before grabbing his bag and disappearing inside the building.

As Gyeongshik drives him back to the apartment, Jonghyun rests his forehead against the window and loses himself to his thoughts. Key seems about his age, maybe a little older, and yet Jonghyun can’t imagine leading a life like his. He’s convinced he would crumble under the pressure and doesn’t understand how Key can go through it all with a smile, forced or not, on his face.

He starts classes again in a week, and Jonghyun wonders when was the last time Key set foot inside a school as a student. He wonders if Key misses it, if he ever intended to go to college, what he would be doing if he weren’t an idol. A part of him wishes he could ask Key these questions, but what would it matter? The answers surely won’t change anything. Key’s life will still be made up of stage lights and designer clothes while Jonghyun’s will be of textbooks and nights spent studying. Except Jonghyun is starting to believe he may have gotten the better deal, after all.

***

Key’s promotions for his new single are coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean he spends any more time in the apartment. He’s busy as ever, yet he still takes the time to leave Jonghyun little notes. One morning, Jonghyun finds a bright pink sticky note stuck to a thick envelope resting on the kitchen counter. The note simply reads “The pictures! Take a look!” in Key’s hand-writing, with a smiley face drawn in the corner. He doesn’t sign his messages anymore, or if he does he simply writes “Key” in block letters without all the embellishments of his official signature.

Jonghyun tips the envelope’s contents onto the table and a slew of pictures from Key’s photoshoot slide out. They all have a huge watermark plastered across them, so Jonghyun figures they must only be samples. He wonders if this means Key gets a say in which pictures are published. Or if it’s his manager who does.

He sorts through the pictures quickly-Key is a great model, his poses don’t look forced at all despite how gruesome the shoot was at times. He looks natural, at ease, and some of the pictures with the dogs are actually pretty decent. One picture in particular shows them sitting curled around each other, so Jonghyun puts it on top of the others as he neatens them back into a pile.

Jonghyun has taken to bringing books along to pass the time; he still doesn’t dare sit on Key’s pristine white couch so he usually sits at the table, hunched over his book. He’s gone through three already since he started this job and is working on his fourth when the front door opens, a familiar voice calling out, “Daddy’s home!”

Jonghyun smiles despite himself at how the pups race down the corridor at the sound, tiny paws slipping everywhere in their excitement. He snaps his book shut and peeks down the hallway.

Just like the last time, Key crouches down to give his dogs a warm welcome, only this time Jonghyun watches with a smile. Key looks up and catches him staring, smiling back. He’s wearing a big sweater that falls to the top of his thighs over his skinny jeans; a casual outfit. And judging by how his hair falls slightly into his eyes every time he looks down, like it hasn’t been styled into place with hairspray, it means he hasn’t come straight from a performance.

“Hey,” Key says, still petting Comme Des and Garçons at his feet.

“You finished early today?” Jonghyun asks.

Key nods. “I was supposed to have a practice tonight for a duet performance but my partner got held up.”

“Who’s your partner?”

“Krystal, from f(x),” Key answers, toeing off his shoes before heading to the kitchen, the dogs following him.

“From what?”

Key chuckles, sending Jonghyun a pointed look over his shoulder. “f(x),” he repeats slowly, accentuating the English pronunciation. Jonghyun realizes at once just how natural he makes it sound. “You know, the girl group from my company?”

Jonghyun shakes his head, not quite wanting to admit out loud that he doesn’t know them.

“Do you live under a rock?” Key says, looking a bit stunned, but mostly amused.

Jonghyun shrugs and scratches the back of his head, apologetic. “I don’t listen to the radio all that much,” he finally admits.

“Well, you should start,” Key reproaches, but he still looks more amused than anything.

“Yeah I guess I should,” Jonghyun agrees, if only to keep up with Key’s music, which would probably be a good idea if he’s going to keep dogsitting for the man and meeting him on occasion.

Key opens the fridge to peer inside and, as usual, it’s filled with plastic containers, courtesy of Mrs. Lee. Key purses his lips and leans into the door, pondering for a moment, before throwing Jonghyun a look over his shoulder.

“Have you eaten yet?” he asks. Now that he’s closer, Jonghyun notices that he hasn’t washed off his makeup. His BB cream and foundation make his skin look silky, pore-less, and his eyes are lined lightly with black eyeliner, highlighting their slanted shape. It suits him, Jonghyun thinks. He looks every bit the striking idol he is.

“I usually eat when I get back to my dorm,” Jonghyun shares, before assuring Key, “it’s really okay, but thank you for offering.”

Key shushes him by waving a hand around airily. “I feel like cooking tonight. Do you cook?”

Jonghyun isn’t sure where Key is going with this, so he answers a tentative, “Um, sure?”

Key turns back to peer inside his refrigerator. “We have everything to make cream pasta. Can you cook noodles?” Jonghyun splutters for a moment, unsure how to answer to that. “I’ll make the sauce.”

“Okay?” Jonghyun tries. He doesn’t think that’s an offer he can decline considering how Key is already taking out ingredients and setting them on the counter. Key shoots him a brisk smile before handing him a bag of flat noodles and pointing to a cupboard.

“The pots and pans are in there.”

Without another word, Jonghyun gets to work, mindful of the puppies dancing around their feet as they move around the kitchen.

A month ago, if someone had told Jonghyun that he would be cooking with an idol in their apartment, occasionally pumping elbows and hips as they stand side by side in front of the stove, he would have called them crazy. And would have wondered whether idols even knew how to cook for themselves. Although, as he watches Key add a pinch of salt to his creamy concoction before bringing the tip of his wooden spoon to his lips for a taste, he thinks this must be far from his first time.

The silence between them isn’t heavy; it’s comfortable, in a way, and Jonghyun almost catches himself humming as he watches over his boiling noodles. It’s been a while since he’s taken the time to cook an actual meal for himself.

“How old are you?” Key suddenly asks.

“I’m twenty-three.”

Key simply nods while he stirs his sauce slowly. “Are you in your last year of college?”

“Hopefully, how…” Jonghyun corrects before hesitating; he doesn’t want to pry too much, he definitely wants to give the idol his space, but Key had started the questions after all so he finishes, “how old are you?

“I’m twenty-two, hyung,” Key adds in a teasing tone.

Jonghyun is shocked to hear it. He had really thought Key to be at least his age, if not a bit older.

“Oh,” Jonghyun mutters, a bit dumbly. “You don’t have to… call me anything really. I don’t mind.”

Key laughs at his answer, a sharp kind of laugh that reminds Jonghyun a bit of his dogs, who perk up at the sound. “I wasn’t planning on it. And you can stop calling me Key-ssi. In private, anyway.”

Jonghyun simply nods, still a bit stunned by the turn of the conversation and how personal it’s getting.

“So what are you studying?”

“Education. And I’m taking a few writing classes.”

Key hums, casting him a sideways glance. “Was that your first choice?”

Jonghyun flinches at the question. He doesn’t particularly want to answer, especially not to someone he knows so little, but Key doesn’t know that so Jonghyun tries to be as truthful as he’s willing to let himself be.

“No,” he says plainly, hesitating for a second before carrying on. “In high school I was really into music but it never really worked out. I’ve always liked writing, though.”

“I’m sorry,” Key offers, and it sounds sincere enough. Jonghyun shrugs and he can feel Key’s eyes on him but he doesn’t turn to acknowledge him. He’s gotten over it, and he surely doesn’t expect nor want pity. Thankfully Key seems to sense this and drops the topic.

“Are the noodles almost done?”

Jonghyun pinches one of the noodles with his chopsticks, blowing on it before biting off the end and deeming them done. Without warning, Key leans in to take a bite himself, leaving Jonghyun wide-eyed at the sudden proximity. There’s something rather domestic about this moment, and Jonghyun wonders just how many people Key has had in his kitchen, standing next to him like this. The thought warms Jonghyun, and he finds himself enjoying the feeling. Like maybe he’s just a little special. Appreciated.

Key gives him a thumbs up, handing him a strainer and Jonghyun rinses the noodles thoroughly before dumping them into Key’s frying pan. The sauce looks surprisingly delicious, and Jonghyun is rather impressed at how Key managed to cook this up without even looking at a recipe.

“Where did you learn to cook like this?” he lets slip.

Key chuckles but keeps his eyes on his dish, swiftly folding in the pasta. “My grandmother sends me recipes sometimes. And I was on a cooking show, once. Most useful variety show I’ve ever been on,” he shares with another chuckle.

“Really?”

“Well, kind of,” Key amends. “Though I like shows where I get to be myself more.”

“Do you?” Jonghyun blurts out, and Key sends him a perplexed look, his perfectly lined eyebrows drawn together. “Ever get to really be yourself, I mean.”

Key goes quiet for a second, and Jonghyun bites his lips; perhaps that had been too bold. “You really know which questions to ask, huh?” Key comments, more to himself, before adding a short, almost too quiet, “I try.”

His entire demeanor seems to have dimmed a little, and Jonghyun feels guilty for ruining the mood. He guesses he should have known better than to let his tongue run and pry in the wrong places.

“I’m sorry,” he apologizes, “that was uncalled for.”

It’s Key’s turn to shrug vaguely, and Jonghyun is eager to let it go. Key then turns off the stove and plates the steaming pasta along with the spinach he cooked on the side.

“There,” he says, handing one of the plates to Jonghyun, “careful, it’s hot. It’s not much but at least it’s homemade.”

“Are you kidding?” Jonghyun’s mouth is already watering from the smell alone. “This looks delicious.”

“Well, you helped,” is Key’s answer, and his humility takes Jonghyun by surprise.

“By boiling water in a pot,” Jonghyun reminds him with a nervous chuckle. He feels anxious suddenly when Key’s gaze turns to him, because they have nothing between them to distract themselves with this time.

Key heads to the living room to sit on his (perfectly, pristine white) couch, Comme Des following him and trying to climb up on his feet while Garçons stays by Jonghyun’s side.

“Do you watch One Piece?” Key asks him out of the blue, precariously balancing his plate on his thighs while he fumbles for the television’s remote.

Jonghyun blinks; conversations with Key are definitely proving interesting, although he doubts he’ll ever be able to keep up with Key’s train of thought. “I used to, why?”

“Because I was wondering if you’d like to watch it,” Key says plainly. “It’s good practice for my Japanese,” he explains.

“You speak Japanese?”

“A bit, it comes in handy. Mostly it makes me look great in interviews,” he shares with a cheeky grin that makes Jonghyun question whether he’s just teasing or not. “Come on, sit.” He gestures to the cushion next to him, but Jonghyun fidgets for a while before complying. The couch is just so white, and Jonghyun stares in awe when Key lets the dogs up between them. Key then slurps on his noodles messily, and Jonghyun has to say something.

“Aren’t you afraid for your couch?”

Key arches an eyebrow at him, his cheeks comically round and full as he chews. “It’s not my couch,” he answers offhandedly. “The apartment was already furnished when I got it.” Well, that surely explains a lot.

Jonghyun watches the episode absent-mindedly. Key’s food is absolutely delicious, the sauce thick and creamy and seasoned perfectly, and Jonghyun takes back every thought he ever had about the idol not making use of his kitchen.

Once the episode comes to an end, Key sets their empty plates on the floor and starts the next, with Garçons stretched lazily across his thighs. Comme Des is nestled up next to Jonghyun’s hip, and he nuzzles even closer when Jonghyun begins petting him.

A part of Jonghyun keeps thinking this should be awkward-they barely know each other, after all-but it isn’t. Sharing Key’s couch with a pleasantly full stomach and watching countless episodes of an anime as they pet the sleepy dogs between them feels… nice. Very nice, and Jonghyun certainly wouldn’t mind doing it all again.

A few episodes in, Key speaks up, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled over them. He asks about where Jonghyun lives, and once he learns he has a roommate he starts asking questions about him, too. Jonghyun spends the rest of the evening and part of the night playing twenty questions with Key, the television on as background noise. He doesn’t dare ask too many questions back, not after his previous mishap, but he listens carefully to Key’s answers whenever he does. Key seems more tired than he did before, but also more relaxed. It looks like his big sweater is swallowing him up with how he’s sitting, huddled up into a corner of the couch. In that moment, Jonghyun has no trouble believing Key is actually younger than him. He looks deceptively innocent like this, maybe even a bit naïve, especially when he talks about his parents and how doubtful they were of his career choices.

Jonghyun learns that Key is originally from Daegu and that he moved to Seoul at the ripe, young age of fourteen. Jonghyun can’t imagine what it must have been like for him to be alone in such a big city, and he can tell by Key’s shadowed expression that it mustn’t have been easy. It’s mindboggling, honestly, to think of everything he must have been through since then.

Logically, he knows that Key’s story isn’t all that different from that of other idols who have also been recruited as mere teenagers. At the back of his mind, he already knew that Key had probably auditioned very young before proceeding to train until he finally got selected to debut. He knew the work must have been draining in all senses of the word, yet seeing how Key’s demeanor seems to close off, to deflate at the mention of his trainee days brings him closer to the harsh reality of it than ever before.

“Well,” Jonghyun speaks lowly, hoping to break Key out of his sombre mood, “I’m glad you made it.” It’s only after speaking the words that he realizes he isn’t even lying, not in the least bit. He never expected to care for Key, never expected to care for the boy who seems to have it all and who has the luxury of hiring a dogsitter for his two adorable dogs, but he does. It’s almost too easy to care when Key is like this, more open and honest than Jonghyun has ever seen him whether it be in person or through the lens of a camera.

Key grants him a smile that’s rather flimsy around the edges, but it’s a start.

It is past midnight when Jonghyun begins dozing off, head falling back against the couch. They haven’t spoken in little over an hour, yet every time Jonghyun cracks open an eye, he finds Key still wide-awake, staring intently at the screen.

The next time Jonghyun wakes up it’s because Key is shaking him gently with a hand to his shoulder.

“Hey,” he says in a hushed voice. Jonghyun blinks a few times until his face comes into focus, hovering right above him. “You were almost snoring,” he adds with a small smirk, “it’s pretty late, too.”

Jonghyun glances at his watch: it’s almost two.

“I guess I’ll go,” he tries to say, but it comes out more as a groan.

Key chuckles as he hefts himself off the couch, disrupting Garçons from his sleep. The dog yawns before rolling onto its paws when it realizes Key and Jonghyun are both leaving the couch. He paces the edge of the cushion and lets out a small yip that wakes Comme Des up, demanding to be put down on the floor. Key picks them both up and follows a slightly stumbling Jonghyun to his front door, with only the light from the television screen to guide him in the otherwise dark hallway.

Jonghyun is busy slipping blindly into his shoes, hoping he doesn’t mistakenly grab one of Key’s, when Key speaks up.

“I’m hosting a housewarming party this weekend,” he says quietly. Jonghyun can’t really see his face in this lighting, and it takes him a few seconds before catching on to what Key probably means by telling him that.

“Oh, right,” he answers with a hand on the doorknob, ready to leave, “just tell me when it is and I’ll be out of your way, no problem.”

“No,” Key calls out rather loudly, halting Jonghyun. He really wishes he could see Key’s face better. “No,” Key repeats, back to his previous quiet tone, “I meant-I wanted to invite you.”

For a split second, Jonghyun feels as though his nervous system has short-circuited. He can only blink up at Key’s back-lit form, trying to process the information but it isn’t quite registering.

“M-me?” Jonghyun stutters. He can barely make out Key’s answering nod, which leaves him stuttering for something else to say. “Um, okay?”

Key nods again and Jonghyun thinks he sees the hint of a smile on his lips. “Great, I guess I’ll see you soon, then.”

“Yeah,” Jonghyun answers mindlessly, still reeling from what he just agreed to. “See you, Key.”

The next morning, Jinki looms over his bed and nearly gives Jonghyun a heart attack when he wakes him up. He keeps staring at Jonghyun, only now he’s frowning, too, looking suspicious as he states, “You didn’t come home last night.”

“I did,” Jonghyun corrects him. He pulls his sheet up higher to cover his bare chest. “Just very late.”

Jinki’s suspicious look doesn’t let up. “What were you doing so late?”

Jonghyun feels inexplicably nervous under the scrutiny, even though he has no reason to be. “We ate and watched One Piece and then I kind of dozed off for a while. Key woke me up and sent me home.”

Jinki’s frown deepens for a moment, his eyes sliding over his neck and exposed chest. Was he seriously looking for-?

“Jinki!” Jonghyun screeches, scooting down in his bed until only his head was showing above the sheet. “How can you even think something happened!”

“Well what else am I supposed to think?” Jinki replies, looking genuinely clueless and Jonghyun sort of wants to hit him.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Jonghyun swears. “I’m more likely to get abducted by aliens than do whatever it is you were thinking happened!”

Jinki visibly deflates at the comment, backing away to sit down on his own bed and Jonghyun feels a pang of guilt for being so crude. “I’m just trying to look out for you,” Jinki tells him, sincere.

Jonghyun sighs, rolling onto his side to face him. “I know. Thank you.”

“So are you friends now?”

“We’ve only met three times, Jinki,” Jonghyun reminds him. And yet. Jonghyun’s gaze suddenly drops and he fiddles with the sheet, remembering how they had parted. “He did, um, invite me to a party, though.”

Jinki’s eyes widen as he gapes at Jonghyun. “A party?” Jonghyun nods shyly. “Woah.”

“He says he’s having a housewarming party this weekend.”

“Are you going to go?” Jinki asks, still round-eyed.

Jonghyun shrugs noncommittally, even though he knows the answer already. “I figure it would be rude not to.”

“Right,” Jinki answers, before repeating airily, “wow.”

“Um, Jinki?” Jonghyun tries, growing more and more uncomfortable the longer his friend keeps gaping at him. “I’m kind of nervous already and you’re not really helping here.”

Jinki shakes his head and shifts on his bed, sitting up straighter. “Sorry,” he apologizes. But then he gets a far-off look to his eyes again, and asks, “Who else do you think will be there?”

Jonghyun groans and rolls into his pillow. He wishes he could burrow under his sheets and shut the world out just a little longer.

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