Where Are the Treats? (Chapter 5)
Pairing: idol!Key / student!Jonghyun
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Genre: General, Romance
Word count: 6405
Summary: Jonghyun’s job is rather unusual; dog sitting 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: Fast update! :) This part is rather obviously inspired by these two episodes of Key's Know How (here and here). It also features this very special performance //ahem. Enjoy hehe <3
Thank you to Emma, as usual, for the lovely banner! (Ps. Happy birthday darling ^^)
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Chapter 1 🐾 Chapter 2 🐾 Chapter 3 🐾 Chapter 4
Kibum leaves for Japan on a Tuesday. Jonghyun is in class when Kibum texts him from the airport, wishing him a good week and thanking him for taking care of his dogs, always. Jonghyun had agreed to stay over at his apartment for a few nights; he packed extra clothes into his bag that morning, ready to spend the rest of the week in the idol’s apartment. He felt bad for leaving Jinki alone in their small dorm room while he got to stay over at a spacious apartment in an upscale part of town, but it would be better for the dogs that way. Jinki had his reservations about Jonghyun staying over, but he understood it was for the dogs’ sake in the end.
Jonghyun hasn’t told Jinki of his latest conversations with Kibum, nor of how his feelings for the idol have morphed from strong attraction to genuine affection. Jinki hadn’t exactly been supportive of the idea the last time Jonghyun had mentioned it, and with good reason. Deep down Jonghyun knows Jinki is right, that he’s only looking out for him, but that doesn’t mean he wants to hear it again. For the first time in what seems like too long, he is surprisingly content with where things are at and doesn’t see the point of burdening himself with what ifs.
Jonghyun types in a reply to Kibum’s texts, wishing him a safe flight and a fun time shopping after he lands. Kibum answers him almost immediately, sending an array of happy-faced emoticons along with a heart at the end. Jonghyun chuckles at his antics and tries not to think too much about that innocent-looking, lonely red heart as he heads to his next class.
The dogs seem restless that day, almost as if they can sense that their master isn’t coming back that night. They usually sit by Jonghyun’s feet when he settles at Kibum’s kitchen table to do school work, but this time they stay in the living room, always keeping an eye on the front door. They perk up at every noise, and Jonghyun would have found it cute just how coordinated they are if it weren’t also heartbreaking.
He ends up channel surfing on Kibum’s large flat screen later that night. After much coddling and petting, he manages to get the dogs to forget the door and stay on the couch by his side. He loses track of time, switching between a music program and an old romance movie as the dogs finally settle down, dozing off, when his phone vibrates. He hisses and fumbles in his pocket for it, hoping the noise won’t wake the dogs. Thankfully, only Comme Des stirs a little, watching Jonghyun with tired eyes before snuggling back into his side.
Jonghyun opens his phone to see a text from Kibum; there’s a picture attached, along with a caption. It’s a picture of Kibum, only he looks dishevelled and perhaps slightly tipsy. He’s also sporting jet black hair, and Jonghyun stares blatantly for a moment, taking it all in. The first few buttons of his collared shirt are undone, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He’s leaning over a table with a drink in front of him and is biting down on the straw, looking into his phone’s camera with a ridiculous, comically raised eyebrow. He looks good, too good; blond suited him well, but his dark hair makes him look older, sultrier, and Jonghyun wonders what it looks like in person. He sort of can’t wait to find out.
It takes a while before Jonghyun finally tears his eyes away from the picture to read the caption.
I met up with some friends.
Acting on impulse, he hits the reply button. I’m glad you’re having fun, he types back. He quickly snaps a picture of Garçons sleeping next to his thigh and sends it as well.
He tries to focus his attention back to the television screen, but he can’t get that picture of Kibum out of his mind. He jumps for his phone when it buzzes again a few minutes later, unlocking it to reveal another picture from Kibum.
Kibum is leaning back in the booth this time, looking tipsier than ever with how his head tilts to one side, his eyes looking a bit glassy. There’s a light sheen of sweat covering his neck, pooling in the dip of his clavicle. Jonghyun can glimpse someone’s shoulder next to him, and Jonghyun feels a few tendrils of envy curl in his gut. He secretly wishes Key weren’t so far away.
Which is why he almost gasps out loud when he reads the caption this time.
I miss you. Wish you were here.
Jonghyun spends a long time just staring at his phone in disbelief, reading the words over and over. They come as a surprise; a most pleasant one. Despite Jinki’s doubts, Jonghyun was being honest when he told him all those weeks ago that he didn’t think he ever held a chance with Kibum. Now, Jonghyun is starting to wonder if Jinki had been right all along, like he had somehow caught onto something Jonghyun had desperately been blind to.
He tentatively types in a reply, thumbs hovering over the touchscreen before he decides to be brave and send it.
I miss you, too
Kibum doesn’t reply immediately, and after a few minutes Jonghyun loses hope that he will. He sets his phone to the side of the couch, far away from the sleeping puppies, and even manages to forget about it for a while. It’s only when he finally shuts off the TV, pulling himself off the couch that it vibrates, indicating a new text. There is no picture this time, but the smiley Kibum sends him is enough to have Jonghyun smiling until the moment he falls asleep, nestled in Kibum’s sheets with a dog on either side of him.
Jonghyun is rather disoriented when he wakes up the next morning to the sound of his alarm in an unfamiliar bed, with a mound of fur on his forehead and another on his stomach. It takes him a few seconds before remembering he’s actually in Key’s bed, and that is when the reality of it all sets in. There’s still the lingering feeling of being in way over his head, but he also feels a slight thrill at the thought rather than the usual unsettling feeling that accompanies it. He spends a moment simply lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling while the dogs shift, startled by the noise and prodding him with tiny paws and muzzles.
Jonghyun carefully rolls over, dislodging the pups as he gets out of bed. The dogs jump down and follow him to the kitchen with wagging tails; at least this part is familiar, and Jonghyun loses himself in the routine of feeding them before heading back to Kibum’s bedroom to gather his change of clothes and stepping into the bathroom. There are at least a dozen small candles lining the edge of the tub that weren’t there the last time Jonghyun set foot inside the room, and Jonghyun leans closer to read a few of the labels. Jonghyun always has a scented candle by his bedside, and if his dorm didn’t have communal baths his own bathroom would probably also look something like this. He shakes his head at the sight, partly in disbelief and partly out of fondness, feeling a little closer to Kibum for it.
That night, he picks up a few groceries from the store down the street while on his way back from class. He greets the security guard in the lobby, with whom he is now on a first-name basis considering how often he comes and goes. The dogs are happy to see him once he sets foot inside the apartment, excitedly circling his feet when Jonghyun tells them they’re heading out for a walk. Jonghyun brings them to the park Kibum had showed him, loosening their leashes and playing fetch with them until the all but fall from exhaustion. Jonghyun actually carries them for most of the way back, and the dogs seem content to snuggle in his arms.
He snaps a few pictures of the sleeping pups once they curl up on the couch to rest. He sends them to Kibum even though he doesn’t expect an answer, considering he must be getting ready to go up on stage at this time.
He’s buried in Kibum’s sheets, on the verge of sleep when his phone finally vibrates next to him, bringing him back to wakefulness. It’s another picture, showing Kibum in his concert t-shirt, drenched in sweat but smiling brightly into the camera. He looks exhausted but proud, and Jonghyun returns the feelings. The caption reads, It’s common courtesy to reply to selcas with selcas too, you know.
Jonghyun thumbs distractedly at his phone, smiling dumbly at the screen for a moment. He decides not to reply, not right now at least, and tucks his phone away before he can do something stupid like take a selca from Kibum’s very own bed while he’s lying back, shirtless.
The second morning he wakes up in Kibum’s apartment, Jonghyun finds himself already getting used to his new routine and surroundings. It isn’t as foreign as he thought it would be, but then again he has been spending time in Kibum’s apartment practically every day for close to two months now.
He’s halfway through feeding the dogs when he remembers Kibum’s text the previous night. He takes out his phone and calls out their names, snapping a few pictures when they both turn their heads at the same time, tilting them to the side. The pictures are adorable, and Jonghyun takes a moment to marvel at how many pictures he has of these dogs on his phone before sending the best one to Kibum. You get what you get, he types, hoping Kibum will take the joke lightly. He doesn’t mean to tease, but Jonghyun can’t bring himself to send him a picture of himself yet. It seems personal in a way that’s crossing some invisible line, like if he does so he will be Kibum’s equal, his friend; no longer just the student who dog-sits for him.
Later that night, when Jonghyun is channel surfing on Kibum’s couch with the dogs, he catches an entertainment news report covering the SMTown concerts in Japan. They broadcast a few clips of the show and Jonghyun watches through a few of them, recognizing most of the artists. He’s about to switch channels again when Key is suddenly shown on stage, dancing and singing along to his latest song. The clip is only a minute long, but it’s enough to have Jonghyun hooked to the screen, thumb frozen over the remote. The next clip then shows him performing with his seniors, dancing in a black, fitted suit. He isn’t wearing a shirt underneath, and his black hair is slicked back elegantly. Jonghyun’s breath catches in his throat; he looks more than amazing like that, and he executes the choreography with such power and sensuality that it has Jonghyun swallowing dryly, eyes riveted to his form. He feels a warm thrum of arousal pool low in his gut, and he bites back a groan of disappointment when the clip changes again, now showing another group. He watches the rest out of curiosity, but none of the other artists quite manage to hold his attention like Key does whenever he performs.
Still, it’s slightly strange to see him on television, and Jonghyun wonders when Kibum went from being the idol he works for to being the boy who sends him silly texts in the middle of the night, who falls asleep on his shoulder during a late night TV marathon, who trusted him enough to admit that he was gay. The boy he inevitably fell for along the way.
Quickly, without thinking, he snatches up Garçons from the couch beside him and holds him up next to his face, cuddling the pup while he holds his phone out with the other hand to take a picture. It’s a bit blurry and Jonghyun’s aim is a bit off, but he sends it to Kibum anyway along with the caption, You’ve earned your selca.
Kibum replies a few minutes later. There is no picture attached this time, but his text still has Jonghyun doing a double take. He wonders if this counts as flirting, and he wonders if things will be different once Kibum gets back from Japan. Deep down, under all his apprehension and doubt, Jonghyun dares to hope they will be.
You both look very cute ♥
***
When Jonghyun heads back to his dorm room in between classes to fetch a book he had forgotten, he finds Jinki sitting at his desk, working on his laptop.
“Hey,” Jinki greets him, “how are things at the apartment?”
“Good,” Jonghyun says casually. Jinki doesn’t need to know the details of it, after all. “Kibum should be coming back sometime today so I’ll be sleeping here again.”
Jinki nods absent-mindedly before pausing and shooting Jonghyun an incredulous look. “Kibum?” he questions. “Since when do you call him Kibum?”
“Oh,” Jonghyun prattles, “well, a while ago he just… asked me to start calling him by his real name.”
Jinki hums, but he still looks concerned. He opens his mouth to speak, but Jonghyun cuts him off.
“I know what you’re going to say,” Jonghyun tells him, “but I really do like him. As a person.”
“So you aren’t denying it,” Jinki speaks softly, leveling Jonghyun with a serious gaze. It’s a bit intimidating coming from Jinki, whose disposition is usually on the softer side.
“Denying what?”
“That there’s something between you two.”
“Well,” Jonghyun says wistfully, sighing, “I kind of hope there is.”
Jinki is silent for a moment, and Jonghyun regrets letting the words slip from his mouth until his roommate utters a simple but resolute, “Okay.” Jonghyun has never appreciate how considerate Jinki can be more than he does now.
“Thanks, Jinki,” Jonghyun tells him sincerely. Jinki’s concern towards him means a lot to Jonghyun, but his trust on the matter means even more.
“So should I be worried if you don’t come home tonight or..?” he asks innocently, but the teasing curl to his lips gives him away.
Jonghyun groans loudly, burying his face into his hands. “I’m not…” he tries to say, unsure how to word the precarious situation he seems to be in, “we haven’t… I just hope tonight goes well, if I see him at all,” he finishes lamely, leaving it at that.
Slightly red-faced, he grabs his book and heads back out, only to stop in the doorway when Jinki calls out, “Hey, Jjong?”
“Yeah?” he answers tentatively.
“Be careful, alright?”
Jonghyun nods curtly; he can’t promise anything, not yet, and not out loud anyway.
When Jonghyun makes his way to Kibum’s apartment after his last class, he feels unexpectedly nervous. He doesn’t know what to expect from him, not after those few texts they had shared. It had seemed like flirting at the time, but now Jonghyun isn’t so sure.
The dogs greet him at the door with wagging tails and prodding muzzles. Jonghyun takes a moment to pet and scratch them, properly subduing them before deciding to take them out for a walk. They listen to him well now; they follow commands easily and walk alongside him without too many distractions. Their leashes still get tangled up but the way the pups twirl around each other, trotting together side by side more than makes up for the inconvenience. Still, no amount of commanding can deter the dogs from the muddy puddle near the park and Jonghyun soon finds himself with two soaked, dirty pups. He brings them back to the apartment, carrying them in his arms and ruining his jacket in the process to avoid traipsing mud all over Kibum’s floors. He carefully places them in the bathtub and shuts the bathroom door behind himself to keep them from running away and leaving muddy paw prints all over the apartment. Jonghyun doesn’t think Kibum would be very grateful for the surprise upon his return. The bathroom floor is already a lost cause, though, considering how Comme Des jumps out of the tub as soon as Jonghyun starts the water. Garçons follows after him and knocks over a few of the candles Kibum has lining his tub.
Jonghyun chases after them, running around in circles because the dogs apparently think this is a game. Kibum’s bathroom floor tiles are steadily becoming more brown than white and Jonghyun has just managed to snatch Garçons when the door suddenly swings open. Comme Des makes a dash for it, slipping right past a bewildered-looking Kibum in the doorway.
“Comme Des! No!” Jonghyun calls after him.
Kibum lets out a high-pitched screech that would have had Jonghyun laughing if Comme Des weren’t probably on his way to ruin his perfectly white couch. Both he and Kibum stumble into the living room and Jonghyun watches in horror as Comme Des skids across the floor, leaping towards the couch. Thankfully Kibum grabs him at the last second, holding the muddy pup up and away from his shirt.
“What the hell happened here?” he asks, examining Comme Des in his hands. It’s almost cute how clueless the pup looks with his four paws held straight in front of him and his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
“I took them out for a walk,” Jonghyun admits sheepishly. “They liked the puddles a little too much.”
“Daddy didn’t raise you to be this messy,” Kibum chides Comme Des, turning him around as best as he can to look him in the eye without ruining his shirt. Jonghyun has given up on his own clothes already, especially since Garçons started squirming in his arms, excited at the sight of his master. “You should’ve listened to Jonghyunie and been a good dog,” Kibum lectures in the same tone. Comme Des merely tilts his head to the side at the words, oblivious to the scolding.
Kibum carefully hands Comme Des off to Jonghyun, mindful of his (most likely designer) clothes. “Get them back in the tub,” he tells Jonghyun, “let me go change and I’ll be right back.”
Jonghyun nods, now with a dog in each arm. As Kibum turns away, he pauses for a second to look at Jonghyun, head to toe. There’s a slight, almost teasing-or is that playful?-smile on his face. Jonghyun figures he must be quite the sight like this, covered in mud and holding two equally soggy pups.
Kibum shakes his head before heading to his bedroom, leaving Jonghyun to wrestle the two dogs back into the bathtub. He keeps a hand on both of them to hold them in place until Kibum returns a minute later, now dressed in a loose, black tank top and rather short shorts. He looks surprisingly normal this way, especially with his black hair falling messily across his forehead. He kneels beside Jonghyun, pulling Comme Des towards his end of the tub, and Jonghyun is grateful for the help.
Kibum pointedly looks at Jonghyun’s own tank top, now caked with drying mud, and offers, “You can change into some of my clothes if you want.”
“Maybe after their bath,” Jonghyun concedes. He knows how rowdy the pups can get during bath time.
Today is no exception. Garçons stands relatively still while Jonghyun soaps him up thoroughly, but Comme Des sometimes growls, showing his teeth while Kibum scrubs him clean. It isn’t very intimidating, especially when Comme Des looks more like a drowned rat than a dog. Kibum even chuckles at him, murmuring “Why are you like this?” in that soft tone he usually reserves for his dogs.
“Sorry,” Jonghyun apologizes, elbows deep in brown bath water and suds, “I’ll try to avoid puddles next time.”
Kibum gives another chuckle, softer this time. “It’s okay, they were due for a bath anyway. Besides,” he adds, turning his head to the side to look at Jonghyun with a small, almost teasing smile, “it looks like they had a lot of fun.”
“That they did,” Jonghyun says with a sigh. He rubs over Garçons’ ears before tilting the pup’s face up towards him and bumping noses with him. “Why do you only listen to me when you want to?” he laments. Garçons suddenly tries to lick his nose and catches Jonghyun’s top lip in the process. Jonghyun splutters and wipes his mouth on his shoulder, but he can’t deny the warm feeling spreading in his chest at the sound of Kibum’s laughter beside him.
When he glances to his side, he finds Kibum watching him intently with a peculiar expression. It isn’t an expression Jonghyun has seen on him before; he looks deep in thought but there’s a softness to his features that wasn’t there before. It’s different from those piercing, calculating gazes he sometimes levels him with, but Jonghyun feels just as bare and defenseless under this one. Maybe even more so, because this is Kibum, in his own clothes and light makeup, with suds up to his elbows as he sits on the floor next to Jonghyun, bumping shoulders and knees with him.
Kibum keeps watching him, unashamedly staring back, eyes roaming over Jonghyun’s face, sometimes dipping slightly lower. Jonghyun doesn’t think he imagines the way his eyes linger on his lips, but then again this moment feels all too surreal. He even forgets about the dogs in the tub for a moment, hyperaware of how close Kibum suddenly is and how dark his eyes actually are.
When a few long seconds tick by and Kibum still refuses to look away, Jonghyun stutters out a tentative, “W-what is it?” His voice is breathier than he wants it to be, giving away just how affected he is by all of this, but Kibum doesn’t seem to pay mind to it.
“I’ve been thinking…” he finally utters, tilting his head to the side, almost as if he is assessing him. A small, unexpected smile suddenly stretches his lips, and Jonghyun can’t look away either. “I’m thinking I’ve wanted to kiss you for a while now, and if I keep waiting for you to make it happen I’m going to be waiting forever.”
Jonghyun’s eyes go round as he goes still, heart thudding in his chest.
“Are you honestly surprised?” Kibum asks softly, gaze dipping lower once more. He’s leaning forward slightly, just a breath away, and Jonghyun thinks nothing in the world could have prepared him for kissing Kim Kibum.
Jonghyun is the one who bridges the distance between them, tilting his head to catch Kibum’s lips with his own. Kibum kisses back instantly, lips soft but sure beneath his as he leans forward even more. Jonghyun lets go of Garçons completely, long forgotten in the tub, to instead fist his wet hands into Kibum’s tank top.
Kibum kisses him hard, unapologetically, like he’s been waiting for this, and Jonghyun practically melts under his touch. It feels like his stomach suddenly drops when Kibum raises a dripping hand to his jaw, aligning them to deepen their kiss, tongue flicking out for a taste. Jonghyun moans at the sensation and opens his mouth at once to return it.
He loses himself completely to the kiss; Kibum tastes like stale coffee and smells faintly of dog shampoo and sweet vanilla. It’s perfect in ways he never expected because it’s undeniably real, and Jonghyun tightens his hands in Kibum’s shirt, drawing him closer.
He is just about to run his tongue along Kibum’s when one of the dogs suddenly shakes himself, sending water and suds flying all over them. Kibum pulls back with a gasp, only to dissolve into laughter once he sees Jonghyun’s equally stricken expression. Soon, Jonghyun is laughing too; a small part of him can’t believe this just happened, that he really kissed Kibum while sitting in his bathroom, midway through bathing his dogs, but the lingering taste of him on his lips assures him it did.
Kibum suddenly reaches out to him, swiping his fingers along his temple and jaw. “You’ve got suds all over you,” he tells him with a chuckle, “sorry.” He doesn’t look sorry in the least, but Jonghyun doesn’t mind.
“You too,” Jonghyun returns. He smooths out Kibum’s hair on one side, wiping the foam out of it. Kibum grants him a warm smile as he does so, one that has Jonghyun’s face heating up and has him ducking down to hide his own goofy, wide grin. He spends a moment like that before he finds the courage to look up again, suddenly feeling bold. “So you really missed me, huh?” he dares to ask.
“I did,” Kibum admits as he goes back to scrubbing Comme Des. “I meant everything I said, even though I may have been a bit, um, tipsy at times.”
“Looked like it,” Jonghyun recalls with a breathy chuckle.
“I was out with friends,” Kibum goes on, “but I just… kept thinking about you. I really wanted you there. I kept hoping that it was, well, mutual.”
“It was,” Jonghyun admits, rushing to add, “it is.”
The smile Kibum gives him at that nearly knocks Jonghyun breathless; it lights up his entire face, showcasing his dimples as his cheeks round up and Jonghyun feels more accomplished than ever for having put the expression on his face. On impulse, he leans in quickly to steal another kiss from those plump, pink lips before Kibum can even realize what is happening.
Kibum looks surprised when he pulls back, eyes going adorably round, mouth slightly agape, and Jonghyun hopes with all of his might that it isn’t the last time he gets to surprise him with a kiss. The next thing he knows Kibum is on him, pressing him against the side of the tub as he forcefully presses their lips together. Jonghyun takes it all in stride, returning the kiss with vigour and letting out a shaky breath when Kibum nibbles on his lower lip. It feels good, too good to have Kibum like this against him, and Jonghyun is just getting into it when a wave of lukewarm water hits him square in the back, a soaked Garçons jumping out of the tub by his side.
Kibum makes a muffled sound against his mouth before drawing back. The tips of his bangs are dripping with water and a part of his shirt is soaked through, too.
“I think I’ll take you up on your offer, now,” Jonghyun says breathily.
“Huh?” Kibum mutters, apparently still reeling from their kiss. He looks gorgeous like this, flushed, dishevelled and confused as he stares down at Jonghyun.
“For a change of clothes,” Jonghyun clarifies.
Kibum smiles at him, and Jonghyun is pretty sure he also has a smile permanently etched onto his face at this point. “Let’s just rinse them off first.”
Jonghyun snatches Garçons again before he can escape any further, placing him back in the tub to finish washing out the shampoo from his fur. Kibum finishes with Comme Des and dries him quickly with a towel before handing it off to Jonghyun so he can do the same. As soon as Kibum releases him, Comme Des jumps out of his hold and flees towards the living room, grabbing one of his toys along the way to shake it wildly. Jonghyun never understood why dogs got so excited after a bath; although, in this instant, he has to admit he feels the same way.
Once he’s done drying Garçons, he releases him as well so that he can join Comme Des for a raucous game of tug-of-war. Kibum takes his wrist and leads him to his walk-in closet. He rummages through a rack of clothing and pulls out what looks like another tank top while Jonghyun fidgets behind him as he waits.
“Here,” he says, handing over the shirt. A playful smirk then takes over his lips as he utters, “Strip.”
Jonghyun jolts at the word; he feels more than self-conscious already, standing plainly in front of Kibum in his soaked, baggy top and faded jeans. He doesn’t usually mind being bare-chested, but he does find himself jittery with nerves when the object of his affection-a boy who also happens to be an idol and an experienced model at that-is watching him intently.
Still, he grips the hem of his shirt and lifts it over his head. Kibum takes the soiled shirt from him and throws it in the hamper while Jonghyun rushes to slip on the tank top he had picked out, determined not to make a show out of it. It’s too big on him, drooping so low on the sides that Jonghyun wonders for a second why Kibum bothered giving him a shirt at all. He takes it back, though, when Kibum tells him, “I knew it would look good on you.”
Jonghyun feels his cheeks warm at the comment; it means a lot coming from Kibum. “Thanks. You look great, too.” Kibum’s features soften at once, and Jonghyun feels compelled to add, “Do you believe me, this time?”
“I’m starting to.” He returns Jonghyun’s smile for a short, quiet moment before asking, “Are you hungry?”
“Are you going to cook?” Jonghyun replies instantly, tongue-in-cheek.
Kibum grumbles to himself, making a face as he pretends to be aggravated for a second, but Jonghyun sees through the act. He’s beginning to really enjoy seeing this side of Kibum; the playful, almost silly side that’s all over-the-top expressions and good-natured teasing. Jonghyun is glad that Kibum is able to let loose around him, because it’s endearing to witness. It’s also a stark contrast to the careful-mannered, professional idol image Key usually puts forth on stage.
“Just for that, I won’t make you anything fancy.”
Jonghyun is of little help in the kitchen that evening, mostly because it takes Kibum less than fifteen minutes to whip up a meal and because the sight of him puttering about his kitchen in shorts that barely cover his thighs has Jonghyun staring. He doesn’t try very hard to conceal his shameless appreciation of the view; Kibum sends him these little conspiratorial glances every few minutes, like he knows just what he’s doing, and, well, those are definitely a first.
Jonghyun is beginning to think Kibum and he have very different definitions of the word “fancy”, because the meal Kibum presents him with looks amazing.
“Chicken on spinach with green curry sauce, straight from Japan,” Kibum says with a small flourish as he hands over a plate.
“I thought you said nothing fancy?” Jonghyun reminds him playfully. “It looks delicious.”
“Come on, I can’t wait to taste it,” Kibum urges him, grabbing a fork and settling at his kitchen table, motioning for Jonghyun to do the same.
Jonghyun watches as Kibum shovels an impressive amount of food into his mouth. He makes these small, delighted sounds as he hums around his mouthful, looking very pleased. After taking a bite of his own, Jonghyun has to agree; Kibum’s food is always great.
“Wow,” Jonghyun mutters, “I’m starting to get why you cook for yourself so often, now.”
“Are you busy tomorrow night?” Kibum suddenly asks in his usual, no nonsense manner.
“I might have some readings to do but, um, no I guess not. Why?”
“I was wondering if you wanted to eat somewhere else, for a change,” Kibum suggests.
Before Jonghyun lets his hopes rise any further at the turn of the conversation, he wants to make sure Kibum and he are on the same page. “You mean… as in a date?”
Kibum diverts his gaze to the table as he nods once, seeming shy in a way that’s all too endearing. “If you want to?” is his answer. It feels like Kibum isn’t just asking about going on a simple date, but like he’s asking if Jonghyun wants more-whatever more is.
Jonghyun merely keeps quiet, waiting until Kibum’s gaze flickers up to meet his before speaking.
“I’d like that.”
“I know I don’t have any schedules tomorrow evening but will you still come by the apartment? I could drive us from here.”
Jonghyun’s eyebrows rise at the revelation. “I didn’t think you drove, for some reason,” he confesses. “I figured you didn’t need to considering you have people to drive you around.” There’s something about Kibum, especially when he’s like this, in his own, baggy clothes and nothing to hide behind that brings out the unguarded honesty in Jonghyun.
“No, I have my own car,” Kibum tells him, and Jonghyun is relieved to see an amused tilt to his smile. “I don’t think Gyeongshik would appreciate being called during his time off just to drive me to a bar or a date.”
Jonghyun chuckles at the thought-Key’s manager doesn’t seem like the strict type, but he must have his moments.
“Do they mind?” Jonghyun suddenly asks.
“Mind what? Who?”
“Your manager, your company. Do they mind that you...” Jonghyun fumbles with his wording before settling for, “favour men.”
Kibum’s answer both does and doesn’t surprise him.
“Of course they mind.” Kibum says it so bluntly, so naturally that Jonghyun can’t help but flinch. “How could they not? But at least they accept it for the most part, as long as I keep quiet about it.”
Jonghyun’s heart aches for Kibum, and all of sudden he’s reminded of what it was like to be fourteen and terrified, living in denial.
“What about you? Do your friends know?” Kibum asks in turn, looking genuinely curious.
“I don’t really advertise it,” Jonghyun admits. He considers himself a rather private person, after all, but he doesn’t go out of his way to hide things, either. “But yeah, they do know. I’m guessing your friends must know, too.”
“Some of them,” Kibum agrees vaguely. “Most idols are very good at keeping secrets, and not just their own.”
It takes a moment for what Kibum said to sink in, and once again Jonghyun is hit by all that it implies; everything idols feel the need to hide, parts of themselves they can’t always be honest about. The thought brings Jonghyun back to when he first met Kibum and all he could see was the idol, Key. He wonders how many people miss out on seeing the person beneath it all and he thinks it’s a shame.
“I have to admit I came into this with a lot of preconceived notions about idols. About you,” Jonghyun speaks seriously. His change of tone has Kibum looking up at him with a slight frown. “Turns out I was wrong.”
Kibum’s frown drops and he seems intrigued all of sudden, tilting his head to the side in a way that reminds Jonghyun of Comme Des whenever he calls the pup by his name. “How so?”
Jonghyun shrugs. It isn’t something he is proud of, but it feels good to get it off his chest. A part of him also thinks Kibum needs to hear it from him. “I thought you’d be, I don’t know, fake? A bit pampered? I certainly didn’t think you’d cook for yourself,” Jonghyun explains, gesturing to the plate in front of him. “I expected you to work hard, but not through such insane schedules. I was really impressed by your work ethic and how casual you always were with me.”
Kibum gives him a small smile, this one soft and private. “I try,” he speaks quietly.
“And you’re so humble,” Jonghyun adds quickly, spurred on. “And talented. And you do try so hard, I see that now. It’s admirable, really.”
Kibum doesn’t seem to know what to do with the unexpected praise; he ducks his head slightly, casting Jonghyun a fleeting glance to convey his gratitude, but Jonghyun doesn’t stop there.
“And you’re so passionate about the things you love. I admire that, too.”
It’s incredibly heart-warming to see Kibum like this, with his hands raised to his cheeks as he hides behind them, rendered mute with compliments. Compliments he probably doesn’t hear enough of, except from his fans, Jonghyun muses.
“Jonghyun…” Kibum murmurs softly, and hearing his name spoken like that sends a shiver down Jonghyun’s spine. Kibum just sounds so sincere and touched, raw with emotion.
“You’re amazing, Kibum.”
Moisture gathers at the edge of Kibum’s eyelids and Jonghyun feels pride and protectiveness bloom deep within his chest, all for the boy in front of him.
Kibum takes a moment to gather himself and replies in a slightly shaky, watery voice. “Damn it, you’re not supposed to see me cry before at least the fifth date,” he jokes-or tries to. He quickly swipes his fingers beneath his eyes, clearing them of any stray tears.
“Oh, you’re bound to see me cry before that,” Jonghyun joins in lightly.
Kibum sends him a brief, grateful look before straightening himself in his seat. “Now stop making me tear up and finish your meal,” he nags playfully, and Jonghyun chuckles at his act, obeying.
They huddle on Kibum’s couch later that night, next to the dogs. Kibum leans into him more and more as the hours tick by, and Jonghyun grows fonder and fonder of the feeling. His hair feels surprisingly soft against his neck, where his head is nestled, and his skin feels sleep-warm and smooth. Jonghyun even rests a hand on his thigh, and Kibum sighs at the touch, sinking further into him.
Kibum is half-asleep when Jonghyun finally gathers the willpower to lift himself off the couch; he has an early class the next day, and sleeping a few hours is probably a good idea at this point. Kibum doesn’t say anything, merely following him sleepily as he drags his feet down the hallway. He looks downright exhausted, his voice low and grumbly when he returns Jonghyun’s goodbye, but then he gets this dark look to his eyes and suddenly Kibum’s lips are pressing against his. He keeps it short and sweet, just long enough to give Jonghyun a taste, before drawing back just as quickly.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he whispers.
“Definitely.”
Jonghyun’s breathy answer earns a chuckle out of him, and Jonghyun doesn’t think the next day can come fast enough.
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