[FIC] Never Again part 7
Title: Never Again
Parts: 7/?
Rating: PG-13, AU
Pairing: Jaechun (friendship), Hints of Yoosu, Eventual Jaeho.
Disclaimers and warnings: I don’t own TVXQ. Character death.
Chapter: 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06.
Yunho spread peanut butter across the slice of bread and licked the excess from the sides off his palm and fingers. Standing beside him, a young Changmin struggled with the jar of raspberry jam.
“Yah, Changminah, need help?” He grinned knowingly.
Changmin’s eyebrows drew together and then he pursed his lips in a natural pout. His hand was barely able to cover the lid and the jar was held between his chest and a tiny arm to keep it in place. “Nah, I can do it Yunho-hyung.”
Yunho hid an amused smile and tippy-toed to reach the counter for Changmin’s slice. He covered the spongy surface with peanut butter while he watched the other boy struggle some more with the jar.
“Here, come on, let me try.” He put the slice away and held out his free hands.
“Fine,” Changmin surrendered reluctantly.
Yunho grinned with confidence as he took hold of the jar, and showed off imaginary muscles, but moments later he too frowned down at the stubborn lid.
“Haha, Yunho-hyung can’t do it too!” Changmin teased and grabbed the jar from him. “I know!” He turned toward the direction of the living room, “Dad, can you open--”
And the jar fell crashing to the floor.
Changmin grimaced as he looked down at the mess, glass and jam smeared all over the tiled floors and his shoes.
“Changminah! Are you okay? Don’t move!” Yunho looked from the broom at the corner and then to Changmin standing still. He looked to and fro and then decisively hopped across the mess to envelope Changmin into a fierce hug.
“I forgot.” Changmin whispered into Yunho’s chest.
Yunho held him close and rested his chin onto the soft head of hair. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He held on stronger.
At that time, Changmin realized that his parents will not only be gone for just a week.
Yunho sighed and held Jaejoong closer, because just like Changmin then, by now, Jaejoong must have realized that his world had changed.
The swell of Sunday morning filtered through wooden blinds and washed over cooled tea. Yunho raked fingers through his hair while his sleepy eyes assessed his surroundings. He often didn’t like the sight of the office in the morning, because that much amount of light reminded him how much dusting he had to do. He looked down at the pot of tea on the table and then at the pair of cups beside it and immediately recalled the night before.
He stayed with Jaejoong as the party carried onto the night. At some point, Changmin had slipped inside Jaejoong’s apartment and offered them cake. As well as a promise to Jaejoong that he would be there if he needed him. And then once the party began to die down, Jaejoong and Yunho helped with the clean-up. Afterwards, the three of them just talked in the office.
Jaejoong had stories. Stories that made them laugh, and then feel that slight tightness in their throat, and he had stories that made them wish they had known Park Yoochun.
Yunho turned to the empty space beside him on the couch. He smiled at the folded blanket (when he touched it, it was already cool) and then at the blanket tucked around him. Outside, a few tenants were disassembling tables and folding chairs. It must have been a good party. He’ll apologize to Grandma Shim later for missing it.
A knock interrupted his thoughts. He opened the door and found Jaejoong showered and already packed.
He looked down at the duffle bag and then at the running car a few spaces away in the parking lot.
Jaejoong combed through the hair at the nape of his neck and smiled kindly. “I should make arrangements for the apartment--”
“Have you had breakfast yet?” Yunho asked cheerily. Was he stalling?
“What?”
“Breakfast, have you eaten yet?”
Jaejoong began to shake his head and that was all Yunho needed. He grabbed Jaejoong’s wrist and dragged him inside.
“But--”
“Oh yeah, your car. Well you can turn it off. Have breakfast with me first. We’ll deal with the other things later.” Yunho took the bag from Jaejoong and placed it on the couch.
Jaejoong stared at him and then back outside where his car was warming up. Yunho smiled, hoping it was enough to convince him. Jaejoong laughed and his shoulders dropped defeated.
“Alright.”
This time, he made sure Jaejoong stayed where he was. Yunho could handle breakfast; he wasn’t that hopeless, he promised. He pondered how complicated he could make breakfast, as opposed to something quick and simple. He looked for that box of pancake batter.
“Pancakes?”
“Yeah! Pancakes.” Yunho nodded as he broke eggs into a bowl. “I have some fruits too if you like fruits with them.”
Jaejoong covered his mouth and averted his gaze. He looked like he was trying to stifle a laugh.
“What? Something wrong with pancakes?” He inquired as he mixed the ingredients.
Jaejoong shook his head, and bit his bottom lip. “No, it’s just, Yoochun used to say, you have pancakes after a night of great sex.”
Yunho gawked dumbfounded and Changmin laughed to pieces by the door.
“Ahahahahaha, oh man, I should walk into your conversations more often.” He collapsed and practically crawled across the floor toward them and then struggled up a chair. He snickered some more and then paused.
He placed chin to propped hand looking very interested. “Oh, really?”
Jaejoong controlled his laughter. “Apparently.” He winked.
Yunho shook his head and wondered if he should continue. “I’ll never look at pancakes the same way again.” He muttered.
“Wait, why pancakes, why not eggs and bacon, or waffles…Well I guess waffles would fall into the same category as pancakes, right?” Now Changmin’s over-analyzing.
“Something about the process of making the pancakes” Jaejoong smiled, eyes sparkling. “…And then”
“Ahhhh,” Changmin grinned. “and then not finishing making them at all because,”
“The apron.” Yunho concluded.
Of course. And laughter filled the kitchen.
Yunho grinned and watched the pair from his place at the island counter. He wished there will be more days like this.
“So, you’re going back?” Changmin asked the only way he knew how, directly and honestly. Yunho wondered if Changmin also liked these days filled with laughter.
Jaejoong nodded slowly, “Yeah, yeah, I am. They’re waiting for me.”
Changmin placed a hand on Jaejoong’s shoulder, “Good. That’s good.”
Changmin didn’t say he would miss him; Changmin missed every one that left.
Yunho began to cook the first slabs of pancake and Jaejoong and Changmin were instantly by his side. Anything that cooked didn’t survive a minute on a plate. They were torn to pieces and were snacked on by hasty mouths. Jaejoong ran a piece across some syrup and fed it to Yunho, fingers touching Yunho’s lips briefly. Yunho smiled his thanks and tried to ignore Jaejoong licking those same fingers right after.
“You make awesome pancakes, hyung.”
Jaejoong agreed by nodding, tearing another piece from the one Changmin was holding.
“Really awesome,” Jaejoong echoed.
Jaejoong decided to keep the apartment. He paid for the entirety of the lease and said, “besides, I wouldn’t know where to put that mattress,” like an afterthought.
Three of them stood by Jaejoong’s waiting car. Changmin had ran inside the apartment he shared with his grandmother and emerged later with a bag filled with snacks. Jaejoong accepted them happily.
He extended his hand toward Changmin and looked taken by surprise when Changmin embraced him instead. It was rare for Changmin to be generous with embraces; he must have grown attached to Jaejoong.
Pulling away from Changmin’s hug, Jaejoong took one step closer to Yunho. This time, Jaejoong skipped the handshake and pulled him into a hug. Lips against his shoulder, “Thank you, for everything.” Jaejoong whispered.
Yunho’s arms slowly surrounded Jaejoong. “You’re welcome.” He tightened his hold.
He saw Changmin turn away, a smile etched on his lips.
“Umm,” What could he say, “Call us when you get there.”
Jaejoong nodded, got in his car and moments later, he was driving to the gate. Yunho stood by Changmin to watch him leave.
Don’t turn back, don’t turn back, don’t turn back, he thought.
Jaejoong stopped just before the gate and looked back at them.
Yunho raised his hand half-way and let it fall, gripping empty air.
The next couple of days passed by uneventful. Managing the building kept him busy, but not busy enough that once in a while he found himself missing Jaejoong’s presence, wondering how he was. Especially when he had to water the plants and when the office was quiet late at night. He had stood in front of Jaejoong’s apartment door one night. He had the key, but he didn’t enter. It still belonged to Jaejoong. He had wanted to knock, but that was silly, because obviously, there was no one in there to answer it.
Yunho entered the office, looking through the pile of mail in his hands. The answering machine’s light blinked for his attention, and he hit the replay button on his way to the kitchen.
“Yunho,” his mother, “Your father and I will be there next week.” He peered back into the room. “We’ve run out of things to do.” And then a long beep.
Yunho laughed. He had seen this coming. Their phone calls had become more frequent lately. He poured himself a cup of tea and waited for the next message.
“Hey,”
“Ah!” He spilled some tea and put his finger to his mouth to cool it.
“It’s Jaejoong. Guess you’re not in at the moment. Um,” Yunho stood very still and listened to the voice filling the room. “Well, I’m here. Just called to tell you, because you said to…I’ll call again later, maybe catch you when you’re around.”
Silence and then, “…bye.”
Yunho walked into the room and placed two cups of tea down on the table. He laughed and shook his head as he ran a finger against the second cup’s rim.
Maybe Changmin wasn’t the only one that had grown attached.
~TBC
Thank you for reading.
Parts: 7/?
Rating: PG-13, AU
Pairing: Jaechun (friendship), Hints of Yoosu, Eventual Jaeho.
Disclaimers and warnings: I don’t own TVXQ. Character death.
Chapter: 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06.
Yunho spread peanut butter across the slice of bread and licked the excess from the sides off his palm and fingers. Standing beside him, a young Changmin struggled with the jar of raspberry jam.
“Yah, Changminah, need help?” He grinned knowingly.
Changmin’s eyebrows drew together and then he pursed his lips in a natural pout. His hand was barely able to cover the lid and the jar was held between his chest and a tiny arm to keep it in place. “Nah, I can do it Yunho-hyung.”
Yunho hid an amused smile and tippy-toed to reach the counter for Changmin’s slice. He covered the spongy surface with peanut butter while he watched the other boy struggle some more with the jar.
“Here, come on, let me try.” He put the slice away and held out his free hands.
“Fine,” Changmin surrendered reluctantly.
Yunho grinned with confidence as he took hold of the jar, and showed off imaginary muscles, but moments later he too frowned down at the stubborn lid.
“Haha, Yunho-hyung can’t do it too!” Changmin teased and grabbed the jar from him. “I know!” He turned toward the direction of the living room, “Dad, can you open--”
And the jar fell crashing to the floor.
Changmin grimaced as he looked down at the mess, glass and jam smeared all over the tiled floors and his shoes.
“Changminah! Are you okay? Don’t move!” Yunho looked from the broom at the corner and then to Changmin standing still. He looked to and fro and then decisively hopped across the mess to envelope Changmin into a fierce hug.
“I forgot.” Changmin whispered into Yunho’s chest.
Yunho held him close and rested his chin onto the soft head of hair. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He held on stronger.
At that time, Changmin realized that his parents will not only be gone for just a week.
Yunho sighed and held Jaejoong closer, because just like Changmin then, by now, Jaejoong must have realized that his world had changed.
The swell of Sunday morning filtered through wooden blinds and washed over cooled tea. Yunho raked fingers through his hair while his sleepy eyes assessed his surroundings. He often didn’t like the sight of the office in the morning, because that much amount of light reminded him how much dusting he had to do. He looked down at the pot of tea on the table and then at the pair of cups beside it and immediately recalled the night before.
He stayed with Jaejoong as the party carried onto the night. At some point, Changmin had slipped inside Jaejoong’s apartment and offered them cake. As well as a promise to Jaejoong that he would be there if he needed him. And then once the party began to die down, Jaejoong and Yunho helped with the clean-up. Afterwards, the three of them just talked in the office.
Jaejoong had stories. Stories that made them laugh, and then feel that slight tightness in their throat, and he had stories that made them wish they had known Park Yoochun.
Yunho turned to the empty space beside him on the couch. He smiled at the folded blanket (when he touched it, it was already cool) and then at the blanket tucked around him. Outside, a few tenants were disassembling tables and folding chairs. It must have been a good party. He’ll apologize to Grandma Shim later for missing it.
A knock interrupted his thoughts. He opened the door and found Jaejoong showered and already packed.
He looked down at the duffle bag and then at the running car a few spaces away in the parking lot.
Jaejoong combed through the hair at the nape of his neck and smiled kindly. “I should make arrangements for the apartment--”
“Have you had breakfast yet?” Yunho asked cheerily. Was he stalling?
“What?”
“Breakfast, have you eaten yet?”
Jaejoong began to shake his head and that was all Yunho needed. He grabbed Jaejoong’s wrist and dragged him inside.
“But--”
“Oh yeah, your car. Well you can turn it off. Have breakfast with me first. We’ll deal with the other things later.” Yunho took the bag from Jaejoong and placed it on the couch.
Jaejoong stared at him and then back outside where his car was warming up. Yunho smiled, hoping it was enough to convince him. Jaejoong laughed and his shoulders dropped defeated.
“Alright.”
This time, he made sure Jaejoong stayed where he was. Yunho could handle breakfast; he wasn’t that hopeless, he promised. He pondered how complicated he could make breakfast, as opposed to something quick and simple. He looked for that box of pancake batter.
“Pancakes?”
“Yeah! Pancakes.” Yunho nodded as he broke eggs into a bowl. “I have some fruits too if you like fruits with them.”
Jaejoong covered his mouth and averted his gaze. He looked like he was trying to stifle a laugh.
“What? Something wrong with pancakes?” He inquired as he mixed the ingredients.
Jaejoong shook his head, and bit his bottom lip. “No, it’s just, Yoochun used to say, you have pancakes after a night of great sex.”
Yunho gawked dumbfounded and Changmin laughed to pieces by the door.
“Ahahahahaha, oh man, I should walk into your conversations more often.” He collapsed and practically crawled across the floor toward them and then struggled up a chair. He snickered some more and then paused.
He placed chin to propped hand looking very interested. “Oh, really?”
Jaejoong controlled his laughter. “Apparently.” He winked.
Yunho shook his head and wondered if he should continue. “I’ll never look at pancakes the same way again.” He muttered.
“Wait, why pancakes, why not eggs and bacon, or waffles…Well I guess waffles would fall into the same category as pancakes, right?” Now Changmin’s over-analyzing.
“Something about the process of making the pancakes” Jaejoong smiled, eyes sparkling. “…And then”
“Ahhhh,” Changmin grinned. “and then not finishing making them at all because,”
“The apron.” Yunho concluded.
Of course. And laughter filled the kitchen.
Yunho grinned and watched the pair from his place at the island counter. He wished there will be more days like this.
“So, you’re going back?” Changmin asked the only way he knew how, directly and honestly. Yunho wondered if Changmin also liked these days filled with laughter.
Jaejoong nodded slowly, “Yeah, yeah, I am. They’re waiting for me.”
Changmin placed a hand on Jaejoong’s shoulder, “Good. That’s good.”
Changmin didn’t say he would miss him; Changmin missed every one that left.
Yunho began to cook the first slabs of pancake and Jaejoong and Changmin were instantly by his side. Anything that cooked didn’t survive a minute on a plate. They were torn to pieces and were snacked on by hasty mouths. Jaejoong ran a piece across some syrup and fed it to Yunho, fingers touching Yunho’s lips briefly. Yunho smiled his thanks and tried to ignore Jaejoong licking those same fingers right after.
“You make awesome pancakes, hyung.”
Jaejoong agreed by nodding, tearing another piece from the one Changmin was holding.
“Really awesome,” Jaejoong echoed.
Jaejoong decided to keep the apartment. He paid for the entirety of the lease and said, “besides, I wouldn’t know where to put that mattress,” like an afterthought.
Three of them stood by Jaejoong’s waiting car. Changmin had ran inside the apartment he shared with his grandmother and emerged later with a bag filled with snacks. Jaejoong accepted them happily.
He extended his hand toward Changmin and looked taken by surprise when Changmin embraced him instead. It was rare for Changmin to be generous with embraces; he must have grown attached to Jaejoong.
Pulling away from Changmin’s hug, Jaejoong took one step closer to Yunho. This time, Jaejoong skipped the handshake and pulled him into a hug. Lips against his shoulder, “Thank you, for everything.” Jaejoong whispered.
Yunho’s arms slowly surrounded Jaejoong. “You’re welcome.” He tightened his hold.
He saw Changmin turn away, a smile etched on his lips.
“Umm,” What could he say, “Call us when you get there.”
Jaejoong nodded, got in his car and moments later, he was driving to the gate. Yunho stood by Changmin to watch him leave.
Don’t turn back, don’t turn back, don’t turn back, he thought.
Jaejoong stopped just before the gate and looked back at them.
Yunho raised his hand half-way and let it fall, gripping empty air.
The next couple of days passed by uneventful. Managing the building kept him busy, but not busy enough that once in a while he found himself missing Jaejoong’s presence, wondering how he was. Especially when he had to water the plants and when the office was quiet late at night. He had stood in front of Jaejoong’s apartment door one night. He had the key, but he didn’t enter. It still belonged to Jaejoong. He had wanted to knock, but that was silly, because obviously, there was no one in there to answer it.
Yunho entered the office, looking through the pile of mail in his hands. The answering machine’s light blinked for his attention, and he hit the replay button on his way to the kitchen.
“Yunho,” his mother, “Your father and I will be there next week.” He peered back into the room. “We’ve run out of things to do.” And then a long beep.
Yunho laughed. He had seen this coming. Their phone calls had become more frequent lately. He poured himself a cup of tea and waited for the next message.
“Hey,”
“Ah!” He spilled some tea and put his finger to his mouth to cool it.
“It’s Jaejoong. Guess you’re not in at the moment. Um,” Yunho stood very still and listened to the voice filling the room. “Well, I’m here. Just called to tell you, because you said to…I’ll call again later, maybe catch you when you’re around.”
Silence and then, “…bye.”
Yunho walked into the room and placed two cups of tea down on the table. He laughed and shook his head as he ran a finger against the second cup’s rim.
Maybe Changmin wasn’t the only one that had grown attached.
~TBC
Thank you for reading.