The Flat Country, 3/?
The Flat Country 3/?; mixed pairings, 1885 words, future nc-17
a/n: unbeta'd. comments much appreciated.
Summary: Onew and Key move to the city to start new friendships and a new life.
Part 1
Part 2
Key was sitting at the kitchen table, fingers flying over keys, tapping something out on his laptop when he heard the front door open and close a little harder than it usually did. Onew wouldn’t slam it, even if he were really mad, but when it took him ages to take off his shoes and hanging up his coat instead of bustling in with good news, Key could tell that the interview hadn’t gone well. Nevertheless, he looked up from the screen to ask the requisite question like he didn’t already know what the answer would be.
“How did it go?”
Onew set the expensive briefcase he’d bought specifically to look more professional for this interview on the counter and hung his head.
“Not well.” The disappointment in his voice was nearly tangible, and his shoulders hung low with defeat. “I didn’t get the job. They were looking for someone who… how did she put it? Was more driven, or business-minded, or something.”
“I’m sorry. Did you trip on the way in?” asked Key knowingly, a half smile playing on his lips. It may not help Onew with getting a job, but his clumsiness was endearing.
“Yeah! There was a rug right in front of the desk, and I tripped over it and almost flipped over the chair. I guess it wasn’t a very good start,” Onew replied with a look of consternation. Key could tell after years of practice that he was trying hard not to let it get him down.
“Don’t worry about it too much, I don’t think you would’ve been happy in that office-type situation anyway. It’s too normal for you.” Key snickered-if he didn’t treat it seriously, then it wasn’t a serious problem. Onew ignored the laugh. “I’m sure you’ll find something soon.” The line between sympathy and unconcern was a thin one to walk.
“I hope so. If I don’t get a job soon I’m not going to be able to pay for next month’s rent. And then what do I do? I have to take care of you.”
Key looked up from the screen again, the tapping of keys pausing. Onew wondered for a moment if he was chatting with someone instead of working on homework or whatever he was supposed to be doing.
“I’ll look for a job too, I’m not a child and it isn’t your job to support me. We’ll make it.”
“Not a child, huh?”
Key wrinkled his nose at Onew, who was searching in the fridge for some consolation ice cream. He hoped they still had some of the mint chocolate chip, but he might have finished it last night…
“So, how was your day?” He seemed to have pushed past his failed interview for now. Again the tapping of keys paused.
“It was great.” Key had this shit-eating grin slapped on his face tried to hide it under a mask of indifference, then turned back to the screen. It didn’t seem like he was going to continue with the story.
“Oh no you don’t. What was so great about it? I need something to cheer me up.” Onew leaned back against the counter, ice cream container in hand. He waved the spoon emphatically at Key.
Key smiled and sighed and hummed a little bit, propping his chin on one hand and staring off into space dreamily. It was a little creepy and completely unlike his usual self.
“Well, I went out with Jonghyun to that shopping plaza that recently opened. It’s so pretty, and almost all the stores I like are there. They even have a Sanrio! Jonghyun bought me these jeans, they make my ass look so good, and we went to this adorable café. The espresso was amazing.”
Onew wasn’t exactly excited to hear how happy Key was with Jonghyun. They had been spending a lot of time together recently, and half the time Jonghyun came over for dinner. Onew didn’t dislike Jonghyun, it was just… Key had never talked about someone like this before, it just wasn’t normal. It made him uncomfortable.
To Key, Onew’s silence meant he wanted to hear more.
“Jonghyun is so cute. We went to get his hair cut the other day and I was kind of wondering if he could choose the right kind of place but the stylist was amazing. I think I’m going to get my hair dyed there, I’ve been wanting to try blond.”
“Is he coming over tonight too?”
“Uh, yeah. Actually, tonight, you know. I don’t know, I think something might happen.” Key let a pregnant pause hang in the air. “If you know what I mean.” Another space of silence, and the distance seemed to stretch between them, tight enough to pluck. “It’s really important to me.”
Onew had had a difficult day. He’d been woken up an hour early by a car alarm right outside their apartment; he’d fallen asleep on the couch right before he had to go to class, was late, and today he had an exam; he was fairly certain that he’d barely passed, if that; then the botched job interview. All of those things had been his fault, and he knew that in general, things would just go better if he tried a little harder, was a little more focused. But this was too much. He must have had some sort of claim on Key, who he’d grown up with, who was his best friend, who he knew better than anyone else. Who he’d been in love with for most of his life. He just hadn’t said anything because it was the wrong time, because he wasn’t ready, or Key wasn’t ready, but they would always be there for each other for the right time whenever it did come. Or so he’d thought. Onew let out a loaded sigh and paced from one end of the kitchen counter to the other.
“Key, I just. How could you?” The restrained pain in his voice surprised even him.
“What?” Onew thought Key sounded defensive. Key closed his laptop, but didn’t turn to face Onew. There was a certain fear he wouldn’t be able to erase whatever expression he had on his face if he saw it even for a second.
“I just, I thought. What about us?”
“What about us? We’re roommates, childhood friends. We’re not together.”
“Well, yeah, but.” Onew halted, swallowed a ball of nervousness and hurt which rose in his throat. He tipped his head back so the tears wouldn’t come out. “I thought we had something.”
“But we don’t. We’re friends.” Key shifted uncomfortably. His voice was wavering.
“Okay, maybe we are just friends.” The words were bitter on Onew’s tongue. But he wasn’t about to let Key to slip away from him, because Key was the most important person in his life. He always had been. “I don’t want you doing anything with Jonghyun, not like that. You aren’t dating him either.”
“So? I can do what I want with him. I know my friendship with him won’t be affected. And, I want him.” If Key had been standing, he would have stamped his foot stubbornly.
“Why him? Key, why not me? Why not me?! I like you! You knew that!” This was the closest Onew had come to yelling. Key didn’t hold back.
“Why didn’t you ever say anything? You never told me!” Key slammed a palm on the table. It stung. “Fuck, I didn’t know that. How do you expect me to know if you never-”
Onew’s voice was low and dangerous.
“Bullshit. Don’t tell me you didn’t know. It’s been years.”
That took Key by surprise. It was only recently he’d thought that maybe, just maybe Onew felt something more for him than just friendship. He’d only noticed when Onew got so obviously jealous about Jonghyun.
“No, Onew. I didn’t know that.” Obstinate.
“Bullshit. He isn’t the one for you. I don’t want you to do this.”
“It isn’t your choice.” Key pushed back in his chair so that the legs scraped across the floor gratingly. “I wish you’d told me that years ago. Things would be different now.” He stomped off to his room and slammed the door behind him.
Behind the closed door and in the dark, Key curled up in his bed and cried. Onew had been his first friend, his first crush, the person he relied on and trusted more than anyone. And he’d gotten over that romance. It took a long time and private pain, but he’d gotten over that and accepted Onew as the best and closest friend he’d ever have, the person that would be there with him forever, and he was happy with it. And now that there was someone else in his life who he was so natural with-he and Jonghyun went together-Onew decided to tell him he liked him. It was a crushing disappointment. Just the thought that Onew cared about him like that made him shake and cry harder. He buried his face in the cool pillow to muffle the sobs, and hugged it to himself to gain, futilely, some semblance of control over himself.
Hours later he woke up with orange streetlight flickering through the blinds. The red numbers of the alarm clock read 2:28am. He swore quietly to himself and laid back down on the pillow, which was damp, and then remembered the fight with Onew. A wave of sadness swept over him, and tears slipped down dried patterns on his cheek. And then resentment: who was Onew to tell him after all this time something like that. Now, when Key had something good going for him. He had ended that time in his life, when he felt that way about Onew, a long time ago, and he wasn’t going to go through it again. It wouldn’t work between the two of them. They were boats passing in the night.
But Jonghyun. They worked together well.
Key dragged himself out of bed and changed into his pajamas and rubbed at his face to make it look like he hadn’t cried himself to sleep. He knew it didn’t really work, but stepped out of his room anyway, hoping Onew wasn’t still awake. But there he was, on the couch, the twinkle of the white Christmas lights that stayed up year-round giving his face a pasty glow. Onew was the first to speak. His voice was tired and broken, a new type of pain for Key.
“Jonghyun stopped by. I told him you weren’t feeling well and were already asleep. He wants you to call him as soon as you woke up. So.”
“Oh. Okay.” Key shuffled awkwardly. “Thanks.” He stood there for a moment longer, trying not to notice how Onew wasn’t really reading the textbook he had open on his lap, or how puffy his eyes were. “I’m just going to go downstairs and knock, I guess.” Onew didn’t answer, so Key pulled awkwardly on his pajamas, trying to straighten them and not look so frumpy, and walked out of their apartment. He thought he might have seen Onew turn to look at him as he was closing the door, but a few moments later when he was knocking on Jonghyun’s door downstairs, he decided not to think about it.
Part 4
a/n: unbeta'd. comments much appreciated.
Summary: Onew and Key move to the city to start new friendships and a new life.
Part 1
Part 2
Key was sitting at the kitchen table, fingers flying over keys, tapping something out on his laptop when he heard the front door open and close a little harder than it usually did. Onew wouldn’t slam it, even if he were really mad, but when it took him ages to take off his shoes and hanging up his coat instead of bustling in with good news, Key could tell that the interview hadn’t gone well. Nevertheless, he looked up from the screen to ask the requisite question like he didn’t already know what the answer would be.
“How did it go?”
Onew set the expensive briefcase he’d bought specifically to look more professional for this interview on the counter and hung his head.
“Not well.” The disappointment in his voice was nearly tangible, and his shoulders hung low with defeat. “I didn’t get the job. They were looking for someone who… how did she put it? Was more driven, or business-minded, or something.”
“I’m sorry. Did you trip on the way in?” asked Key knowingly, a half smile playing on his lips. It may not help Onew with getting a job, but his clumsiness was endearing.
“Yeah! There was a rug right in front of the desk, and I tripped over it and almost flipped over the chair. I guess it wasn’t a very good start,” Onew replied with a look of consternation. Key could tell after years of practice that he was trying hard not to let it get him down.
“Don’t worry about it too much, I don’t think you would’ve been happy in that office-type situation anyway. It’s too normal for you.” Key snickered-if he didn’t treat it seriously, then it wasn’t a serious problem. Onew ignored the laugh. “I’m sure you’ll find something soon.” The line between sympathy and unconcern was a thin one to walk.
“I hope so. If I don’t get a job soon I’m not going to be able to pay for next month’s rent. And then what do I do? I have to take care of you.”
Key looked up from the screen again, the tapping of keys pausing. Onew wondered for a moment if he was chatting with someone instead of working on homework or whatever he was supposed to be doing.
“I’ll look for a job too, I’m not a child and it isn’t your job to support me. We’ll make it.”
“Not a child, huh?”
Key wrinkled his nose at Onew, who was searching in the fridge for some consolation ice cream. He hoped they still had some of the mint chocolate chip, but he might have finished it last night…
“So, how was your day?” He seemed to have pushed past his failed interview for now. Again the tapping of keys paused.
“It was great.” Key had this shit-eating grin slapped on his face tried to hide it under a mask of indifference, then turned back to the screen. It didn’t seem like he was going to continue with the story.
“Oh no you don’t. What was so great about it? I need something to cheer me up.” Onew leaned back against the counter, ice cream container in hand. He waved the spoon emphatically at Key.
Key smiled and sighed and hummed a little bit, propping his chin on one hand and staring off into space dreamily. It was a little creepy and completely unlike his usual self.
“Well, I went out with Jonghyun to that shopping plaza that recently opened. It’s so pretty, and almost all the stores I like are there. They even have a Sanrio! Jonghyun bought me these jeans, they make my ass look so good, and we went to this adorable café. The espresso was amazing.”
Onew wasn’t exactly excited to hear how happy Key was with Jonghyun. They had been spending a lot of time together recently, and half the time Jonghyun came over for dinner. Onew didn’t dislike Jonghyun, it was just… Key had never talked about someone like this before, it just wasn’t normal. It made him uncomfortable.
To Key, Onew’s silence meant he wanted to hear more.
“Jonghyun is so cute. We went to get his hair cut the other day and I was kind of wondering if he could choose the right kind of place but the stylist was amazing. I think I’m going to get my hair dyed there, I’ve been wanting to try blond.”
“Is he coming over tonight too?”
“Uh, yeah. Actually, tonight, you know. I don’t know, I think something might happen.” Key let a pregnant pause hang in the air. “If you know what I mean.” Another space of silence, and the distance seemed to stretch between them, tight enough to pluck. “It’s really important to me.”
Onew had had a difficult day. He’d been woken up an hour early by a car alarm right outside their apartment; he’d fallen asleep on the couch right before he had to go to class, was late, and today he had an exam; he was fairly certain that he’d barely passed, if that; then the botched job interview. All of those things had been his fault, and he knew that in general, things would just go better if he tried a little harder, was a little more focused. But this was too much. He must have had some sort of claim on Key, who he’d grown up with, who was his best friend, who he knew better than anyone else. Who he’d been in love with for most of his life. He just hadn’t said anything because it was the wrong time, because he wasn’t ready, or Key wasn’t ready, but they would always be there for each other for the right time whenever it did come. Or so he’d thought. Onew let out a loaded sigh and paced from one end of the kitchen counter to the other.
“Key, I just. How could you?” The restrained pain in his voice surprised even him.
“What?” Onew thought Key sounded defensive. Key closed his laptop, but didn’t turn to face Onew. There was a certain fear he wouldn’t be able to erase whatever expression he had on his face if he saw it even for a second.
“I just, I thought. What about us?”
“What about us? We’re roommates, childhood friends. We’re not together.”
“Well, yeah, but.” Onew halted, swallowed a ball of nervousness and hurt which rose in his throat. He tipped his head back so the tears wouldn’t come out. “I thought we had something.”
“But we don’t. We’re friends.” Key shifted uncomfortably. His voice was wavering.
“Okay, maybe we are just friends.” The words were bitter on Onew’s tongue. But he wasn’t about to let Key to slip away from him, because Key was the most important person in his life. He always had been. “I don’t want you doing anything with Jonghyun, not like that. You aren’t dating him either.”
“So? I can do what I want with him. I know my friendship with him won’t be affected. And, I want him.” If Key had been standing, he would have stamped his foot stubbornly.
“Why him? Key, why not me? Why not me?! I like you! You knew that!” This was the closest Onew had come to yelling. Key didn’t hold back.
“Why didn’t you ever say anything? You never told me!” Key slammed a palm on the table. It stung. “Fuck, I didn’t know that. How do you expect me to know if you never-”
Onew’s voice was low and dangerous.
“Bullshit. Don’t tell me you didn’t know. It’s been years.”
That took Key by surprise. It was only recently he’d thought that maybe, just maybe Onew felt something more for him than just friendship. He’d only noticed when Onew got so obviously jealous about Jonghyun.
“No, Onew. I didn’t know that.” Obstinate.
“Bullshit. He isn’t the one for you. I don’t want you to do this.”
“It isn’t your choice.” Key pushed back in his chair so that the legs scraped across the floor gratingly. “I wish you’d told me that years ago. Things would be different now.” He stomped off to his room and slammed the door behind him.
Behind the closed door and in the dark, Key curled up in his bed and cried. Onew had been his first friend, his first crush, the person he relied on and trusted more than anyone. And he’d gotten over that romance. It took a long time and private pain, but he’d gotten over that and accepted Onew as the best and closest friend he’d ever have, the person that would be there with him forever, and he was happy with it. And now that there was someone else in his life who he was so natural with-he and Jonghyun went together-Onew decided to tell him he liked him. It was a crushing disappointment. Just the thought that Onew cared about him like that made him shake and cry harder. He buried his face in the cool pillow to muffle the sobs, and hugged it to himself to gain, futilely, some semblance of control over himself.
Hours later he woke up with orange streetlight flickering through the blinds. The red numbers of the alarm clock read 2:28am. He swore quietly to himself and laid back down on the pillow, which was damp, and then remembered the fight with Onew. A wave of sadness swept over him, and tears slipped down dried patterns on his cheek. And then resentment: who was Onew to tell him after all this time something like that. Now, when Key had something good going for him. He had ended that time in his life, when he felt that way about Onew, a long time ago, and he wasn’t going to go through it again. It wouldn’t work between the two of them. They were boats passing in the night.
But Jonghyun. They worked together well.
Key dragged himself out of bed and changed into his pajamas and rubbed at his face to make it look like he hadn’t cried himself to sleep. He knew it didn’t really work, but stepped out of his room anyway, hoping Onew wasn’t still awake. But there he was, on the couch, the twinkle of the white Christmas lights that stayed up year-round giving his face a pasty glow. Onew was the first to speak. His voice was tired and broken, a new type of pain for Key.
“Jonghyun stopped by. I told him you weren’t feeling well and were already asleep. He wants you to call him as soon as you woke up. So.”
“Oh. Okay.” Key shuffled awkwardly. “Thanks.” He stood there for a moment longer, trying not to notice how Onew wasn’t really reading the textbook he had open on his lap, or how puffy his eyes were. “I’m just going to go downstairs and knock, I guess.” Onew didn’t answer, so Key pulled awkwardly on his pajamas, trying to straighten them and not look so frumpy, and walked out of their apartment. He thought he might have seen Onew turn to look at him as he was closing the door, but a few moments later when he was knocking on Jonghyun’s door downstairs, he decided not to think about it.
Part 4