This is Our Harmony (oneshot)
Title: This is Our Harmony
Pairing: SuMin (Suhoon/Hyunmin)
Genre: AU, romance
Word Count: 4579
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: A little language, a little making out, some underage drinking
Summary: Set in jaybomb's school AU, for her fic, click here. Everyone expects Hyunmin to be chosen as the soloist in their school's annual concert, but when he isn't, he discovers that true talent lies in working together with someone else.
There is a swagger in Hyunmin's step when he walks into their vocal class, Suhoon notices, and he and the rest of the class know why. The school's yearly concert is in three weeks, and today their teacher plans to announce who will be performing. There is no doubt in anyone's mind who will be getting the most coveted part, the solo, and that is obvious as the classroom breaks into bitter grumbling when Hyunmin takes his seat between Injoon and Suhoon.
“What's all the commotion about?” he asks, that smug grin on his face and Suhoon rolls his eyes because he knows Hyunmin is well aware of the answer. “Is there something... exciting happening today?” Hyunmin pushes, elbowing Suhoon in the side when he doesn't answer.
“Just shut up, Hyunmin,” he mutters, though his frown falters a bit when the younger boy pouts at him. Hyunmin turns to Injoon and he's grateful for his friend's short attention span, because there's no way he can resist that pout for long.
“The teacher's announcing who gets what part in the concert,” Injoon answers quickly when Hyunmin turns on him. Hyunmin's face bursts into the perfect expression of fake surprise and Suhoon has to cross his arms to keep from slapping him.
“Really, that's today?” And this time, Suhoon does slap him, but gently and on the arm as opposed to across the face likes he so wants to do. Hyunmin yelps and starts to say something, but the teacher enters the classroom before he can get a word out.
“Good morning,” the teacher says, looking out sternly on the group of teens. “We all know what's happening today, so we'll get this over with.” The room lets out a collective sigh of relief which is quickly replaced by tense silence as the he pulls out a sheet of paper. “This year our department was lucky enough to be given three different timeslots for performances. I've decided that we'll have one class performance, a duet and, of course, a solo.” Next to Suhoon, Hyunmin's hands clench into fists where they rest on his legs and he leans forward slightly. “I know you all are very anxious to hear who shall be performing the solo, but I would just like to say before I announce it, that all of the performances are equally important and my selection does not necessarily reflect who is best, worst, or anything of the sort. This is not a contest.”
“Teacher, please just tell us before Hyunmin explodes,” someone calls out from the back and the room breaks into quiet chuckles, only to be silenced by a sweeping, heated glare from the boy in question.
“Anyway,” their teacher continues, trying his best to hide his own smile. “The person I have selected to perform the solo is the student I feel has shown the greatest progress and is the hardest worker. I also have deemed him the most appropriate to be singing a solo when comparing him to the other candidates.” He clears his throat. “This person is... Lee Injoon.”
On their way out of class, Injoon pats Hyunmin on the shoulder. “He said himself he didn't decide based on ability...” Hyunmin shoots him a quick glare.
“Easy for you to say,” he grumbles, but throws an arm around Injoon's shoulders. “Congrats, really.” Suhoon smiles behind them.
“That didn't sound very sincere,” he chides the younger boy and Hyunmin shrugs, throwing a quick grin over his shoulder at him.
“That's about as sincere as I can get.”
“You still got the duet, Hyunmin,” Injoon adds helpfully. “You and Suhoon will do great, you both sing way better than me.”
“Stop lying,” Suhoon laughs, pushing him from behind. “And besides, the duet is going to be a disaster.”
“Why?” Injoon asks, his innocent eyes wide.
“Hyunmin doesn't work well with others.” Hyunmin laughs at this, but doesn't disagree.
Gwangchul appears out of a classroom, followed by Jihwan. He wraps his arms around Injoon's waist as they walk down the hall, and Hyunmin releases his shoulders and backs up to stand behind Suhoon, giving the new couple some space. Injoon says something to Gwangchul that Suhoon can't hear, and then Gwangchul is leaping in the air, cheering, before grabbing his boyfriend by the arm and dragging him away. Suhoon raises and eyebrow at Jihwan, who had been standing closer to the pair.
“Injoon told him about getting the solo and Gwangchul said something about celebrating... in their room.” The youngest's cheeks turn a bright pink and Hyunmin pats him on the head.
“Damn, I thought we'd go out drinking,” he sighs. “Couples suck.” Suhoon laughs quietly.
“We can still go drinking without them.” Hyunmin turns, eyebrows raised in surprise.
“You're serious, you actually want to go out?” Suhoon shrugs.
“I just feel like it today.” And Hyunmin gives him a huge grin that makes his stomach do a flip.
They're at their usual drinking place, Suhoon draped over Hyunmin and wishing he didn't have to pretend to be drunk to be this close to the younger boy. Jihwan is already out, his head resting on his arms on the table. Hyunmin downs another shot, his hand ruffling Suhoon's hair.
“We'd better get Jihwan back soon.” But he doesn't move, only leans back from the table slightly.
“Yeah,” Suhoon says, mumbling on purpose and letting his head fall on Hyunmin's shoulder. The other boy only chuckles.
“Hey,” the younger says quietly after a few silent minutes. “Do you think we'll do okay with the duet? I mean, I know you don't like me much.” Suhoon almost jerks back from surprise, but he has to force himself to remember his supposedly inebriated state.
“I don't... not like you,” he replies quietly. If he was going to go through with this act, he might as well be honest and let Hyunmin blame it on the alcohol. He turns his head up to peer into Hyunmin's face, which is fixed across the room. “I like you, Hyunmin.” The younger boy turns and looks back at him, studying Suhoon's face and Suhoon worries his face doesn't look dazed enough. But he can't just look away when they're finally, finally this close. Their faces mere inches apart. Hyunmin only smiles.
“Looks like we need to get you home, too,” he mumbles, mostly to himself. Suhoon manages to keep from crying all the way home, as he and Hyunmin half-carry Jihwan back to school.
The next day in class, the teacher splits the students up into three groups- Injoon and the teacher, Suhoon and Hyunmin, and everyone else. Sporting dark shadows under his eyes and an even darker hickey on his neck which he fails to hide with his shirt collar, Injoon follows the teacher to the room's single piano. Suhoon follows Hyunmin's eyes as they follow Injoon and the teacher.
“Hey,” he says, trying to keep his voice as gentle as possible while still sounding annoyed. “Let's get to work.” Hyunmin glances at him, nodding, before heading toward one of the small practice rooms. Suhoon follows, however reluctantly, closing the door behind him. Hyunmin sits in one of the chairs, crossing his arms and staring at the wall next to him.
“We should start by choosing a song,” Suhoon offers, only to get a quick nod in return, not even in his direction. “I was thinking maybe something in English?” Another nod. “Though it could be in Korean, I guess.” Another nod. “Or, for fun, we could sing in a mix of Thai and Chinese and surprise everyone!” Another nod, still staring at the wall and Suhoon promptly storms out of the practice room, leaving Hyunmin to realize it only when he hears the door to the classroom slam.
A week goes by, and Suhoon hasn't said a word to Hyunmin, though he doesn't blame himself seeing as the younger boy hasn't even tried to talk to him, either. At lunch, they sit at opposite ends on the table, interacting normally with the rest of the group. Suhoon doesn't bother going drinking with them that weekend. During their vocal classes, they sit in silence in the practice room- both with their arms crossed, both staring at opposing walls.
It doesn't take their teacher long to notice that they're the only act not making any progress. That Friday, he calls Suhoon out of the practice room to his office. He sits in the chair across from the teacher's desk nervously, not meeting his elder's eyes when he hears the question he's been waiting for.
“What seems to be the hold-up?” And Suhoon sighs.
“We just don't work well together.” Is all he can think to say. The teacher pauses, considering Suhoon's face carefully before going on.
“Do you know why I chose you two to sing the duet?” he asks. This time, he looks up at the teacher when he speaks.
“I honestly have no clue,” he replies, his voice more accusing than would be appropriate if he didn't already know this teacher wouldn't get mad. “Hyunmin was crushed about not being chosen for the solo. Everyone in class is wondering why you didn't choose him.” The teacher's chuckle surprises him.
“That wasn't what I asked, Suhoon,” he says, voice scolding him. “Hyunmin has one of the most unique voices I've ever heard and he is incredibly talented, I admit that. But what I'm asking is, why do you think I chose him for the duet, and not the solo?”
“I don't know.” And now the teacher smiles, mischief in his eyes.
“Because I think what you two are capable of producing together could make anything he chooses to sing by himself absolutely forgettable in comparison.” Suhoon's eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Just think about what it means to sing a duet. To harmonize. If you two can learn how to do that, then I think even you'll be surprised by the result.”
Suhoon leaves the office feeling even worse off than he did upon entering, and his mood doesn't get any better when he finds the practice room already empty even though there are still twenty minutes left of class.
That evening at dinner, Gwangchul is the one to bring up going drinking. Hyunmin agrees immediately and Injoon follows suit after some persuading from Gwangchul. Jihwan and Hyunchul decline, claiming to still have headaches from the night before- strange, Suhoon hadn't even been invited last night and he assumes it must have been organized by Hyunmin. A strange feeling twisting around in his stomach, he decides to speak up as Jisang reluctantly agrees to join them.
“I'm in.” His voice catches the group off guard and Hyunmin's gaze meets his, almost in a challenge. He stares back, unyielding, before smiling at the younger boy. “What? It sounds like fun after the bullshit I've had to endure this week.” Hyunmin bristles, looking away and muttering something. Suhoon takes that as his first ever victory over Woo Hyunmin, and for once looks forward to getting truly smashed.
He doesn't get as drunk as he expected to, but Suhoon is a bit tipsy when he decides to claim Jisang as his victim for the night. The older boy just smiles and shakes his head as Suhoon clings to his arm, bitching about Hyunmin for hours. Even better, he can feel Hyunmin staring at him the entire time and the burning anger he senses in that stare is just delicious.
It's not even midnight when he feels a sharp tug on his arm and turns to find Hyunmin standing there, eyes narrowed. Another sharp yank is followed by, “Let's go.”
“Why?” Suhoon sneers, trying to pull his arm out of the younger boy's grasp but failing miserably. The look in Hyunmin's eyes as he replies sends a shiver down his spine.
“We need to talk.” Suhoon can feel his heart pounding in his ears, but covers with a light laugh.
“What, you breaking up with me?” He rolls his eyes. “We can talk on Monday, during the time we don't spend practicing for the concert.” A stronger yank on his arm pulls him to his feet, surprising him and he stumbles a bit into Hyunmin. The younger boy keeps hold on his arm, dragging him out of the restaurant. Suhoon manages to break free once they're a ways down the street. Hyunmin only looks back at him, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“We need to talk,” he says again.
“Why?” Suhoon growls, exasperated. He runs a hand through his hair, trying to keep himself from punching his friend.
“Because I want to know why you hate me so much.” The answer is barely audible, even in the absolute quiet of the late night. Another tired, tired sigh.
“I'd like to ask you the same thing,” Suhoon replies and Hyunmin's face is unreadable.
“I don't hate you.” Suhoon closes the space between them, grabbing the collar of the other boy's shirt and shaking him slightly.
“Then why the hell have you been avoiding me?”
“Because you hate me.” Suhoon can feel his hands shaking, and he almost wants to laugh at how little sense this is all making. His head droops, staring at the ground while still gripping Hyunmin's shirt.
“I already told you,” he says quietly, defeated. “I don't dislike you, and I definitely don't hate you.” He feels Hyunmin tense and back up just slightly as if trying to see Suhoon's face.
“I... thought you were drunk?” And there's a lift in his voice, and Suhoon swears it's hope. He looks up and still can't read his expression, though it doesn't look angry.
“I'm a pretty good actor,” he says, and he smiles, and Hyunmin smiles back.
There's an uneasy truce between them on Monday as they sit with their friends at their usual table during lunch. They sit next to each other, which is enough to get the others whispering amongst themselves. Suhoon barely makes out Jisang telling them what happened last night and avoids eye contact with the others. Luckily, Hyunmin takes that opportunity to get his attention.
“Hey, I think I know what song we should do,” he says, mouth full of food. Suhoon almost chokes on his lunch, managing to raise an eyebrow in response. Hyunmin rolls his eyes. “Believe it or not I have done some thinking about this. I'll show it to you in class, okay?” He nods, and they return to their silent eating.
“It's called, 'Sarang,'” he says as he hands Suhoon that sheet music.
“Oh, that song by Born Again?” This time Hyunmin is the surprised one.
“Yeah, I didn't know you knew them.” Suhoon smiles.
“I love them.” And now Hyunmin smiles, too.
They spend all of class deciding who will sing what, what they'll be singing together and other minor details. They finish with five minutes left of class, which they spend staring awkwardly while asking back and forth if they want to start practicing.
Suhoon skips out on dinner that night, deciding instead to go over the music and practice by himself. He pulls out his Born Again CD and plays it over and over, wondering how the hell Hyunmin expects them to pull off this song. Stretched out on his bed, he closes his eyes and tries to imagine his voice singing the song and shudders. He hums along- it is a beautiful song, after all. His mind wanders and he begins replacing the singers' voices with Hyunmin's instead.
After a few minutes he shuts off the music and takes a cold shower, and begins to seriously worry about how he is going to get through their practice tomorrow.
“So... I guess today we should try singing,” Hyunmin says, his quiet voice echoing off the soundproof walls of the practice room.
“I guess,” Suhoon agrees, eyes focused on the sheet music in his hands.
“You first.” “You first.” Their eyes meet and they laugh. Hyunmin relaxes in his chair, leaning back to balance on two of its legs.
“You know, I've been thinking. This whole duet thing, it's weird.” Suhoon rolls his eyes.
“Of course it is. We don't normally do duets in class.” The younger boy brings his chair back down, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. He looks intently at Suhoon, which makes Suhoon look away.
“That's just it,” he continues. “We sing together every single day. You hear me, I hear you, no big deal. But there are always other people, other voices.” He rubs his hands together absentmindedly. “A duet is more... intimate.” At this, Suhoon feels his face heat up. If Hyunmin notices, he doesn't give any indication because he still goes on. “I just... I'm glad I'm singing with you, Suhoon, and not someone else.”
Suhoon wants to run, wants to hide his face, wants to do anything but what he ends up doing, which is say back: “Me too.” But Hyunmin smiles and doesn't respond, which Suhoon thinks he's grateful for. That's when they notice their classmates moving around in the classroom through the small window in the door of the practice room.
“Looks like we managed to avoid singing again,” Hyunmin laughs, getting to his feet. “But we really do need to start practicing. Do you mind if I come over to your room tonight, around seven?”
Suhoon feels his heart pounding in his ears and can only manage a quick nod before following the other boy out of the practice room.
Suhoon paces in his room, every now and then glancing at the alarm clock on his nightstand: 6:15, 6:25, 6:30, 6:45, 6:51. He has his CD player set up, the Born Again CD still inside from when he listened to it the night before. His hands grip the sheet music a bit too hard, so he sets the slightly crumpled pieces of paper on the bed. Then he blushes furiously before moving them to his desk. He wonders wear he should sit, then remembers he'll need to open the door anyway, so sitting is pointless. He wishes he could get rid of the churning feeling in his stomach. And then there's a knock at the door.
Walking to the door, he pauses with his hand on the knob, wondering if he'd feel better if he had a roommate. Probably not and he shakes his head before opening the door. Hyunmin almost looks shy when he walks in, taking a quick look around.
“You know, I don't think I've ever been in your room,” he says, tossing his backpack onto Suhoon's bed. “Well, not alone at least.” Suhoon feels his face grow warm again, but Hyunmin walks over to his CD player instead of turning around, making him sigh in relief. “This is really old. I would've thought you'd be the type with an iPod and fancy dock or something.”
“CDs feel more permanent to me,” he replies, not quite sure why he's sharing this information. “I like the feeling of holding a CD and a CD player.” Hyunmin grins at him from across the room.
“I can kind of understand that.” He sits down on Suhoon's bed, to the older boy's further embarrassment. He presses the play button and the first few notes of “Sarang” fill the room. “Ah, so you have been practicing. That makes one of us.” He looks over at Suhoon. “You going to stand there all night? Come here and let's start.”
Suhoon sits on the end of the bed, a good four feet from where Hyunmin sits near the nightstand, fiddling with the CD player. The younger singer rolls his eyes at Suhoon but doesn't comment. He pulls his copy of the music out of his backpack, smoothing it out on his leg. “Does this CD have a karaoke version of the song on it?” Suhoon shakes his head. “Then we'll just turn it down.” He eyes meet Suhoon's a moment before turning to the player. “We decided you'll sing first, right?”
“Yes,” he replies and his voice cracks. Hyunmin chuckles.
“That's not a good way to start.”
“Shut up,” Suhoon growls, but feels the tension in the room ease a bit. He grabs his music off his desk before returning to the bed. “I sing until here, and then you start.” He leans across, pointing out the bars of music to Hyunmin who glares at him.
“This would be way easier if you didn't sit all the way across the room,” the younger boy mutters.
“I'm not across the room,” is Suhoon's weak reply, but he reluctantly scoots down the bed.
“Much better,” Hyunmin says approvingly, throwing an arm around Suhoon's shoulders and not noticing the panicked look that flashes through the other's eyes for half a second. “Now, sing.” And he hits the play button. Suhoon feels himself start to lock up, but Hyunmin squeezes him slightly and he relaxes, easing into the song as he starts to sing. He closes his eyes, focusing only on his voice as he sings his lines, and manages to keep from freezing when Hyunmin's voice joins for his line before Suhoon begins the first chorus.
It's then when Suhoon realizes that Hyunmin isn't singing. He opens his eyes and the other boy is staring at him, a slightly dazed look on his face. Suhoon hits the pause button which is enough to snap the younger singer out of his daze. “You missed your cue. Should we start over?” Hyunmin gives him a small, sheepish smile- Hyunmin being sheepish? Now Suhoon really had seen everything- and his arm drops from around the older boy.
“Sorry, I must be more tired than I thought,” he mumbles, looking back at the CD player.
“Don't think you're going to get out of practice with that lame excuse,” Suhoon grumbles, shoving his arm. “The teacher is going to kill us if we don't do this well.”
“I'm sorry.” And Suhoon frowns, because Hyunmin never apologizes, and he just did. Twice.
“Hey, are you sick or something?” He reaches out to feel Hyunmin's forehead but gets his hand slapped away instead. He feels an ache in his chest and his face must have given something away, because Hyunmin is all apologies again.
“Damnit, sorry, sorry!” he says quickly, taking Suhoon's hand before dropping it as if it burned him. “I'm just off tonight, I'm sorry. Let's try again.” He hastily starts the music up again and refuses to meet Suhoon's eyes, so the older boy starts to sing again.
This time he's interrupted by a tickling sensation on his ear and neck, and he peeks his eyes open to find Hyunmin's face inches away, that same dazed, dark look in eyes eyes from earlier. Suhoon feels his heart pounding in his chest, but forces his eyes closed and continues singing. A second later he swears his feels lips on his cheek but he knows he must be imagining it and keeps going. Then the feeling moves to his neck and its' Hyunmin's turn to sing, but nothing happens. The song continues to play and Suhoon opens his eyes only to be shoved back onto the bed, Hyunmin's lips on his. Suhoon's mind can't comprehend what's happening but there's lips and teeth and tongue and he hopes it doesn't stop, but it does stop. And Hyunmin pulls away faster than Suhoon's mind can process the action and he's apologizing again, which is really starting to annoy the older boy.
“I'm sorry, I just-” But Suhoon silences him with his mouth on his, smiling against Hyunmin's lips.
“You missed your cue again,” he mumbles, kissing the corner of the younger boy's mouth. He reaches around, hitting the back button and the song restarts. “Try again.” And Suhoon begins to sing, his lips against Hyunmin's ear and a hand running along his chest before sneaking up his shirt, tracing the lean muscles underneath. Hyunmin's breath hitches and he shivers when Suhoon bites his earlobe as his verse comes to a close. Hyunmin's part is quickly approaching and Suhoon wonders if the other boy can even hear the music when he's flipped over on his back, Hyunmin pinning him with his arms on either side of his head.
A quick kiss on the lips and Hyunmin's mouth is back on his neck, his warm mouth leaving a wet trail along his skin. For a moment Suhoon forgets the music, and then he feels a vibration against his neck that makes him lean his head back to allow the younger boy better access. A soft, rough sound floats up to his ears, barely audible over the blood rushing in them, and Suhoon realizes Hyunmin is singing, his mouth still against Suhoon's skin as he hums along with the song. Suhoon moans, resting his hands against Hyunmin's chest to feel the rich vibrations, sliding back up the cotton shirt to feel them resonating underneath Hyunmin's smooth skin. Hyunmin's voice is all he can hear, humming nonsensical things along with the melody, and Suhoon is pretty sure he's supposed to be singing at this point and doesn't care.
The song ends and the next begins, and neither of them notice as they remove clothes layer by layer, getting lost in the skin-to-skin contact and their voices melding together to the beat of the quiet music.
The next day their teacher is angry at both of them when he discovers both of their voices are hoarse. He doesn't listen when Suhoon tries to explain it's from practicing, and they end up in their practice room, told to sit and think about the value of their voices and the importance of the upcoming concert and their responsibilities as part of the class. They spend the hour casting side-long glances at one another and holding hands between their chairs where the teacher and everyone else can't see.
The concert goes off without a hitch. Injoon's solo is beautiful, the class performance equally as good and Hyunmin and Suhoon's duet leaves their female classmates and several older women with tears in their eyes. Their friends don't question them when they run off to celebrate by themselves, now accustomed to their hand-holding, kissing and frequent poorly-hidden hickies.
They stumble into Suhoon's room and onto the bed, Hyunmin's hands already making quick work of the buttons on Suhoon's shirt and Suhoon's hands snaking through Hyunmin's brown hair. The younger leans over to hit play on the CD player, and a soft melody fills the room. Suhoon moans as Hyunmin hums with the music against his bare chest, their voices blending together even more smoothly than they had at the concert. And then there's nothing but the two and a CD player and their perfect harmony.
Pairing: SuMin (Suhoon/Hyunmin)
Genre: AU, romance
Word Count: 4579
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: A little language, a little making out, some underage drinking
Summary: Set in jaybomb's school AU, for her fic, click here. Everyone expects Hyunmin to be chosen as the soloist in their school's annual concert, but when he isn't, he discovers that true talent lies in working together with someone else.
There is a swagger in Hyunmin's step when he walks into their vocal class, Suhoon notices, and he and the rest of the class know why. The school's yearly concert is in three weeks, and today their teacher plans to announce who will be performing. There is no doubt in anyone's mind who will be getting the most coveted part, the solo, and that is obvious as the classroom breaks into bitter grumbling when Hyunmin takes his seat between Injoon and Suhoon.
“What's all the commotion about?” he asks, that smug grin on his face and Suhoon rolls his eyes because he knows Hyunmin is well aware of the answer. “Is there something... exciting happening today?” Hyunmin pushes, elbowing Suhoon in the side when he doesn't answer.
“Just shut up, Hyunmin,” he mutters, though his frown falters a bit when the younger boy pouts at him. Hyunmin turns to Injoon and he's grateful for his friend's short attention span, because there's no way he can resist that pout for long.
“The teacher's announcing who gets what part in the concert,” Injoon answers quickly when Hyunmin turns on him. Hyunmin's face bursts into the perfect expression of fake surprise and Suhoon has to cross his arms to keep from slapping him.
“Really, that's today?” And this time, Suhoon does slap him, but gently and on the arm as opposed to across the face likes he so wants to do. Hyunmin yelps and starts to say something, but the teacher enters the classroom before he can get a word out.
“Good morning,” the teacher says, looking out sternly on the group of teens. “We all know what's happening today, so we'll get this over with.” The room lets out a collective sigh of relief which is quickly replaced by tense silence as the he pulls out a sheet of paper. “This year our department was lucky enough to be given three different timeslots for performances. I've decided that we'll have one class performance, a duet and, of course, a solo.” Next to Suhoon, Hyunmin's hands clench into fists where they rest on his legs and he leans forward slightly. “I know you all are very anxious to hear who shall be performing the solo, but I would just like to say before I announce it, that all of the performances are equally important and my selection does not necessarily reflect who is best, worst, or anything of the sort. This is not a contest.”
“Teacher, please just tell us before Hyunmin explodes,” someone calls out from the back and the room breaks into quiet chuckles, only to be silenced by a sweeping, heated glare from the boy in question.
“Anyway,” their teacher continues, trying his best to hide his own smile. “The person I have selected to perform the solo is the student I feel has shown the greatest progress and is the hardest worker. I also have deemed him the most appropriate to be singing a solo when comparing him to the other candidates.” He clears his throat. “This person is... Lee Injoon.”
On their way out of class, Injoon pats Hyunmin on the shoulder. “He said himself he didn't decide based on ability...” Hyunmin shoots him a quick glare.
“Easy for you to say,” he grumbles, but throws an arm around Injoon's shoulders. “Congrats, really.” Suhoon smiles behind them.
“That didn't sound very sincere,” he chides the younger boy and Hyunmin shrugs, throwing a quick grin over his shoulder at him.
“That's about as sincere as I can get.”
“You still got the duet, Hyunmin,” Injoon adds helpfully. “You and Suhoon will do great, you both sing way better than me.”
“Stop lying,” Suhoon laughs, pushing him from behind. “And besides, the duet is going to be a disaster.”
“Why?” Injoon asks, his innocent eyes wide.
“Hyunmin doesn't work well with others.” Hyunmin laughs at this, but doesn't disagree.
Gwangchul appears out of a classroom, followed by Jihwan. He wraps his arms around Injoon's waist as they walk down the hall, and Hyunmin releases his shoulders and backs up to stand behind Suhoon, giving the new couple some space. Injoon says something to Gwangchul that Suhoon can't hear, and then Gwangchul is leaping in the air, cheering, before grabbing his boyfriend by the arm and dragging him away. Suhoon raises and eyebrow at Jihwan, who had been standing closer to the pair.
“Injoon told him about getting the solo and Gwangchul said something about celebrating... in their room.” The youngest's cheeks turn a bright pink and Hyunmin pats him on the head.
“Damn, I thought we'd go out drinking,” he sighs. “Couples suck.” Suhoon laughs quietly.
“We can still go drinking without them.” Hyunmin turns, eyebrows raised in surprise.
“You're serious, you actually want to go out?” Suhoon shrugs.
“I just feel like it today.” And Hyunmin gives him a huge grin that makes his stomach do a flip.
They're at their usual drinking place, Suhoon draped over Hyunmin and wishing he didn't have to pretend to be drunk to be this close to the younger boy. Jihwan is already out, his head resting on his arms on the table. Hyunmin downs another shot, his hand ruffling Suhoon's hair.
“We'd better get Jihwan back soon.” But he doesn't move, only leans back from the table slightly.
“Yeah,” Suhoon says, mumbling on purpose and letting his head fall on Hyunmin's shoulder. The other boy only chuckles.
“Hey,” the younger says quietly after a few silent minutes. “Do you think we'll do okay with the duet? I mean, I know you don't like me much.” Suhoon almost jerks back from surprise, but he has to force himself to remember his supposedly inebriated state.
“I don't... not like you,” he replies quietly. If he was going to go through with this act, he might as well be honest and let Hyunmin blame it on the alcohol. He turns his head up to peer into Hyunmin's face, which is fixed across the room. “I like you, Hyunmin.” The younger boy turns and looks back at him, studying Suhoon's face and Suhoon worries his face doesn't look dazed enough. But he can't just look away when they're finally, finally this close. Their faces mere inches apart. Hyunmin only smiles.
“Looks like we need to get you home, too,” he mumbles, mostly to himself. Suhoon manages to keep from crying all the way home, as he and Hyunmin half-carry Jihwan back to school.
The next day in class, the teacher splits the students up into three groups- Injoon and the teacher, Suhoon and Hyunmin, and everyone else. Sporting dark shadows under his eyes and an even darker hickey on his neck which he fails to hide with his shirt collar, Injoon follows the teacher to the room's single piano. Suhoon follows Hyunmin's eyes as they follow Injoon and the teacher.
“Hey,” he says, trying to keep his voice as gentle as possible while still sounding annoyed. “Let's get to work.” Hyunmin glances at him, nodding, before heading toward one of the small practice rooms. Suhoon follows, however reluctantly, closing the door behind him. Hyunmin sits in one of the chairs, crossing his arms and staring at the wall next to him.
“We should start by choosing a song,” Suhoon offers, only to get a quick nod in return, not even in his direction. “I was thinking maybe something in English?” Another nod. “Though it could be in Korean, I guess.” Another nod. “Or, for fun, we could sing in a mix of Thai and Chinese and surprise everyone!” Another nod, still staring at the wall and Suhoon promptly storms out of the practice room, leaving Hyunmin to realize it only when he hears the door to the classroom slam.
A week goes by, and Suhoon hasn't said a word to Hyunmin, though he doesn't blame himself seeing as the younger boy hasn't even tried to talk to him, either. At lunch, they sit at opposite ends on the table, interacting normally with the rest of the group. Suhoon doesn't bother going drinking with them that weekend. During their vocal classes, they sit in silence in the practice room- both with their arms crossed, both staring at opposing walls.
It doesn't take their teacher long to notice that they're the only act not making any progress. That Friday, he calls Suhoon out of the practice room to his office. He sits in the chair across from the teacher's desk nervously, not meeting his elder's eyes when he hears the question he's been waiting for.
“What seems to be the hold-up?” And Suhoon sighs.
“We just don't work well together.” Is all he can think to say. The teacher pauses, considering Suhoon's face carefully before going on.
“Do you know why I chose you two to sing the duet?” he asks. This time, he looks up at the teacher when he speaks.
“I honestly have no clue,” he replies, his voice more accusing than would be appropriate if he didn't already know this teacher wouldn't get mad. “Hyunmin was crushed about not being chosen for the solo. Everyone in class is wondering why you didn't choose him.” The teacher's chuckle surprises him.
“That wasn't what I asked, Suhoon,” he says, voice scolding him. “Hyunmin has one of the most unique voices I've ever heard and he is incredibly talented, I admit that. But what I'm asking is, why do you think I chose him for the duet, and not the solo?”
“I don't know.” And now the teacher smiles, mischief in his eyes.
“Because I think what you two are capable of producing together could make anything he chooses to sing by himself absolutely forgettable in comparison.” Suhoon's eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Just think about what it means to sing a duet. To harmonize. If you two can learn how to do that, then I think even you'll be surprised by the result.”
Suhoon leaves the office feeling even worse off than he did upon entering, and his mood doesn't get any better when he finds the practice room already empty even though there are still twenty minutes left of class.
That evening at dinner, Gwangchul is the one to bring up going drinking. Hyunmin agrees immediately and Injoon follows suit after some persuading from Gwangchul. Jihwan and Hyunchul decline, claiming to still have headaches from the night before- strange, Suhoon hadn't even been invited last night and he assumes it must have been organized by Hyunmin. A strange feeling twisting around in his stomach, he decides to speak up as Jisang reluctantly agrees to join them.
“I'm in.” His voice catches the group off guard and Hyunmin's gaze meets his, almost in a challenge. He stares back, unyielding, before smiling at the younger boy. “What? It sounds like fun after the bullshit I've had to endure this week.” Hyunmin bristles, looking away and muttering something. Suhoon takes that as his first ever victory over Woo Hyunmin, and for once looks forward to getting truly smashed.
He doesn't get as drunk as he expected to, but Suhoon is a bit tipsy when he decides to claim Jisang as his victim for the night. The older boy just smiles and shakes his head as Suhoon clings to his arm, bitching about Hyunmin for hours. Even better, he can feel Hyunmin staring at him the entire time and the burning anger he senses in that stare is just delicious.
It's not even midnight when he feels a sharp tug on his arm and turns to find Hyunmin standing there, eyes narrowed. Another sharp yank is followed by, “Let's go.”
“Why?” Suhoon sneers, trying to pull his arm out of the younger boy's grasp but failing miserably. The look in Hyunmin's eyes as he replies sends a shiver down his spine.
“We need to talk.” Suhoon can feel his heart pounding in his ears, but covers with a light laugh.
“What, you breaking up with me?” He rolls his eyes. “We can talk on Monday, during the time we don't spend practicing for the concert.” A stronger yank on his arm pulls him to his feet, surprising him and he stumbles a bit into Hyunmin. The younger boy keeps hold on his arm, dragging him out of the restaurant. Suhoon manages to break free once they're a ways down the street. Hyunmin only looks back at him, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“We need to talk,” he says again.
“Why?” Suhoon growls, exasperated. He runs a hand through his hair, trying to keep himself from punching his friend.
“Because I want to know why you hate me so much.” The answer is barely audible, even in the absolute quiet of the late night. Another tired, tired sigh.
“I'd like to ask you the same thing,” Suhoon replies and Hyunmin's face is unreadable.
“I don't hate you.” Suhoon closes the space between them, grabbing the collar of the other boy's shirt and shaking him slightly.
“Then why the hell have you been avoiding me?”
“Because you hate me.” Suhoon can feel his hands shaking, and he almost wants to laugh at how little sense this is all making. His head droops, staring at the ground while still gripping Hyunmin's shirt.
“I already told you,” he says quietly, defeated. “I don't dislike you, and I definitely don't hate you.” He feels Hyunmin tense and back up just slightly as if trying to see Suhoon's face.
“I... thought you were drunk?” And there's a lift in his voice, and Suhoon swears it's hope. He looks up and still can't read his expression, though it doesn't look angry.
“I'm a pretty good actor,” he says, and he smiles, and Hyunmin smiles back.
There's an uneasy truce between them on Monday as they sit with their friends at their usual table during lunch. They sit next to each other, which is enough to get the others whispering amongst themselves. Suhoon barely makes out Jisang telling them what happened last night and avoids eye contact with the others. Luckily, Hyunmin takes that opportunity to get his attention.
“Hey, I think I know what song we should do,” he says, mouth full of food. Suhoon almost chokes on his lunch, managing to raise an eyebrow in response. Hyunmin rolls his eyes. “Believe it or not I have done some thinking about this. I'll show it to you in class, okay?” He nods, and they return to their silent eating.
“It's called, 'Sarang,'” he says as he hands Suhoon that sheet music.
“Oh, that song by Born Again?” This time Hyunmin is the surprised one.
“Yeah, I didn't know you knew them.” Suhoon smiles.
“I love them.” And now Hyunmin smiles, too.
They spend all of class deciding who will sing what, what they'll be singing together and other minor details. They finish with five minutes left of class, which they spend staring awkwardly while asking back and forth if they want to start practicing.
Suhoon skips out on dinner that night, deciding instead to go over the music and practice by himself. He pulls out his Born Again CD and plays it over and over, wondering how the hell Hyunmin expects them to pull off this song. Stretched out on his bed, he closes his eyes and tries to imagine his voice singing the song and shudders. He hums along- it is a beautiful song, after all. His mind wanders and he begins replacing the singers' voices with Hyunmin's instead.
After a few minutes he shuts off the music and takes a cold shower, and begins to seriously worry about how he is going to get through their practice tomorrow.
“So... I guess today we should try singing,” Hyunmin says, his quiet voice echoing off the soundproof walls of the practice room.
“I guess,” Suhoon agrees, eyes focused on the sheet music in his hands.
“You first.” “You first.” Their eyes meet and they laugh. Hyunmin relaxes in his chair, leaning back to balance on two of its legs.
“You know, I've been thinking. This whole duet thing, it's weird.” Suhoon rolls his eyes.
“Of course it is. We don't normally do duets in class.” The younger boy brings his chair back down, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. He looks intently at Suhoon, which makes Suhoon look away.
“That's just it,” he continues. “We sing together every single day. You hear me, I hear you, no big deal. But there are always other people, other voices.” He rubs his hands together absentmindedly. “A duet is more... intimate.” At this, Suhoon feels his face heat up. If Hyunmin notices, he doesn't give any indication because he still goes on. “I just... I'm glad I'm singing with you, Suhoon, and not someone else.”
Suhoon wants to run, wants to hide his face, wants to do anything but what he ends up doing, which is say back: “Me too.” But Hyunmin smiles and doesn't respond, which Suhoon thinks he's grateful for. That's when they notice their classmates moving around in the classroom through the small window in the door of the practice room.
“Looks like we managed to avoid singing again,” Hyunmin laughs, getting to his feet. “But we really do need to start practicing. Do you mind if I come over to your room tonight, around seven?”
Suhoon feels his heart pounding in his ears and can only manage a quick nod before following the other boy out of the practice room.
Suhoon paces in his room, every now and then glancing at the alarm clock on his nightstand: 6:15, 6:25, 6:30, 6:45, 6:51. He has his CD player set up, the Born Again CD still inside from when he listened to it the night before. His hands grip the sheet music a bit too hard, so he sets the slightly crumpled pieces of paper on the bed. Then he blushes furiously before moving them to his desk. He wonders wear he should sit, then remembers he'll need to open the door anyway, so sitting is pointless. He wishes he could get rid of the churning feeling in his stomach. And then there's a knock at the door.
Walking to the door, he pauses with his hand on the knob, wondering if he'd feel better if he had a roommate. Probably not and he shakes his head before opening the door. Hyunmin almost looks shy when he walks in, taking a quick look around.
“You know, I don't think I've ever been in your room,” he says, tossing his backpack onto Suhoon's bed. “Well, not alone at least.” Suhoon feels his face grow warm again, but Hyunmin walks over to his CD player instead of turning around, making him sigh in relief. “This is really old. I would've thought you'd be the type with an iPod and fancy dock or something.”
“CDs feel more permanent to me,” he replies, not quite sure why he's sharing this information. “I like the feeling of holding a CD and a CD player.” Hyunmin grins at him from across the room.
“I can kind of understand that.” He sits down on Suhoon's bed, to the older boy's further embarrassment. He presses the play button and the first few notes of “Sarang” fill the room. “Ah, so you have been practicing. That makes one of us.” He looks over at Suhoon. “You going to stand there all night? Come here and let's start.”
Suhoon sits on the end of the bed, a good four feet from where Hyunmin sits near the nightstand, fiddling with the CD player. The younger singer rolls his eyes at Suhoon but doesn't comment. He pulls his copy of the music out of his backpack, smoothing it out on his leg. “Does this CD have a karaoke version of the song on it?” Suhoon shakes his head. “Then we'll just turn it down.” He eyes meet Suhoon's a moment before turning to the player. “We decided you'll sing first, right?”
“Yes,” he replies and his voice cracks. Hyunmin chuckles.
“That's not a good way to start.”
“Shut up,” Suhoon growls, but feels the tension in the room ease a bit. He grabs his music off his desk before returning to the bed. “I sing until here, and then you start.” He leans across, pointing out the bars of music to Hyunmin who glares at him.
“This would be way easier if you didn't sit all the way across the room,” the younger boy mutters.
“I'm not across the room,” is Suhoon's weak reply, but he reluctantly scoots down the bed.
“Much better,” Hyunmin says approvingly, throwing an arm around Suhoon's shoulders and not noticing the panicked look that flashes through the other's eyes for half a second. “Now, sing.” And he hits the play button. Suhoon feels himself start to lock up, but Hyunmin squeezes him slightly and he relaxes, easing into the song as he starts to sing. He closes his eyes, focusing only on his voice as he sings his lines, and manages to keep from freezing when Hyunmin's voice joins for his line before Suhoon begins the first chorus.
It's then when Suhoon realizes that Hyunmin isn't singing. He opens his eyes and the other boy is staring at him, a slightly dazed look on his face. Suhoon hits the pause button which is enough to snap the younger singer out of his daze. “You missed your cue. Should we start over?” Hyunmin gives him a small, sheepish smile- Hyunmin being sheepish? Now Suhoon really had seen everything- and his arm drops from around the older boy.
“Sorry, I must be more tired than I thought,” he mumbles, looking back at the CD player.
“Don't think you're going to get out of practice with that lame excuse,” Suhoon grumbles, shoving his arm. “The teacher is going to kill us if we don't do this well.”
“I'm sorry.” And Suhoon frowns, because Hyunmin never apologizes, and he just did. Twice.
“Hey, are you sick or something?” He reaches out to feel Hyunmin's forehead but gets his hand slapped away instead. He feels an ache in his chest and his face must have given something away, because Hyunmin is all apologies again.
“Damnit, sorry, sorry!” he says quickly, taking Suhoon's hand before dropping it as if it burned him. “I'm just off tonight, I'm sorry. Let's try again.” He hastily starts the music up again and refuses to meet Suhoon's eyes, so the older boy starts to sing again.
This time he's interrupted by a tickling sensation on his ear and neck, and he peeks his eyes open to find Hyunmin's face inches away, that same dazed, dark look in eyes eyes from earlier. Suhoon feels his heart pounding in his chest, but forces his eyes closed and continues singing. A second later he swears his feels lips on his cheek but he knows he must be imagining it and keeps going. Then the feeling moves to his neck and its' Hyunmin's turn to sing, but nothing happens. The song continues to play and Suhoon opens his eyes only to be shoved back onto the bed, Hyunmin's lips on his. Suhoon's mind can't comprehend what's happening but there's lips and teeth and tongue and he hopes it doesn't stop, but it does stop. And Hyunmin pulls away faster than Suhoon's mind can process the action and he's apologizing again, which is really starting to annoy the older boy.
“I'm sorry, I just-” But Suhoon silences him with his mouth on his, smiling against Hyunmin's lips.
“You missed your cue again,” he mumbles, kissing the corner of the younger boy's mouth. He reaches around, hitting the back button and the song restarts. “Try again.” And Suhoon begins to sing, his lips against Hyunmin's ear and a hand running along his chest before sneaking up his shirt, tracing the lean muscles underneath. Hyunmin's breath hitches and he shivers when Suhoon bites his earlobe as his verse comes to a close. Hyunmin's part is quickly approaching and Suhoon wonders if the other boy can even hear the music when he's flipped over on his back, Hyunmin pinning him with his arms on either side of his head.
A quick kiss on the lips and Hyunmin's mouth is back on his neck, his warm mouth leaving a wet trail along his skin. For a moment Suhoon forgets the music, and then he feels a vibration against his neck that makes him lean his head back to allow the younger boy better access. A soft, rough sound floats up to his ears, barely audible over the blood rushing in them, and Suhoon realizes Hyunmin is singing, his mouth still against Suhoon's skin as he hums along with the song. Suhoon moans, resting his hands against Hyunmin's chest to feel the rich vibrations, sliding back up the cotton shirt to feel them resonating underneath Hyunmin's smooth skin. Hyunmin's voice is all he can hear, humming nonsensical things along with the melody, and Suhoon is pretty sure he's supposed to be singing at this point and doesn't care.
The song ends and the next begins, and neither of them notice as they remove clothes layer by layer, getting lost in the skin-to-skin contact and their voices melding together to the beat of the quiet music.
The next day their teacher is angry at both of them when he discovers both of their voices are hoarse. He doesn't listen when Suhoon tries to explain it's from practicing, and they end up in their practice room, told to sit and think about the value of their voices and the importance of the upcoming concert and their responsibilities as part of the class. They spend the hour casting side-long glances at one another and holding hands between their chairs where the teacher and everyone else can't see.
The concert goes off without a hitch. Injoon's solo is beautiful, the class performance equally as good and Hyunmin and Suhoon's duet leaves their female classmates and several older women with tears in their eyes. Their friends don't question them when they run off to celebrate by themselves, now accustomed to their hand-holding, kissing and frequent poorly-hidden hickies.
They stumble into Suhoon's room and onto the bed, Hyunmin's hands already making quick work of the buttons on Suhoon's shirt and Suhoon's hands snaking through Hyunmin's brown hair. The younger leans over to hit play on the CD player, and a soft melody fills the room. Suhoon moans as Hyunmin hums with the music against his bare chest, their voices blending together even more smoothly than they had at the concert. And then there's nothing but the two and a CD player and their perfect harmony.