Paper&Clips
Title: Paper&Clips
author: suju_shinki
Genre: fluffish, romance~
Pairing: Yoosu,
Rating: pg-13
Length: Oneshot
Summery: Working with your ex doesn’t have to be all that bad.
An: Requested by Krissylove. I hope this is kind of what you had in mind
“Paper&Clips, this is Junsu.”
“I'm bored. Throw something at Changmin.”
Junsu smirked, and picked a stapler. The person on the other line laughed. “Not that, you idiot. We don't want to kill the guy.”
Junsu put the stapler back down. “Speak for yourself.” Instead he picked up and eraser.
“That'll work. Throw it.”
Junsu flung the eraser at the person hunched over his desk just a couple of feet away from him and hit him right in the head. Loud laughter could be heard from the other side of the office and Yoochun and Junsu locked eyes, grinning.
“He's coming towards you.”
Junsu looked up and saw a furious Changmin hovering over him. “What is the meaning of this?” he hissed and slammed the eraser down on Junsu's desk.
“That's an eraser, Changmin. I'd think someone who's had a call by Mensa would know that,” Junsu snorted and he could hear Yoochun laugh through the phone.
Changmin was still standing there and Junsu chose to ignore him until he grabbed Junsu's stapler, hissed “You're not getting this back!” and stomped off.
“Seems I owe you a stapler,” Yoochun said.
“Seems that way,” Junsu hummed. “But you can get me coffee instead.”
Don't do this to yourself. You've been down this road before.
The next morning Yoochun came in late, as usual.
“Here you go,” he said placing down a steaming cup of coffee right next to Junsu's hand before leaning over his desk on his elbows and taking a sip out of his own paper cup. “Fresh from the cafe down the street. The coffee in the cafeteria is crap anyway.”
Junsu looked up for a whole second before turning his gaze back to his computer screen. “Thanks.”
“Hey, Junsu.”
“What?”
“Next time I buy you coffee, you should come with me.”
Junsu looked up again just to see Yoochun’s retreating figure. He picked up his coffee and though working with your ex could be worse. It had been a complete shock to find out that Yoochun was transferring to their department six months after they had broken up. Junsu’s had his life back. He was done with and over Park Yoochun.
Looking back, there was one thing he regretted about their whole relationship and that was telling the bastard he loved him. He could still remember the surprised expression on his face and Junsu immediately knew there was no way he was going to say it back. That was fine. Great even. Junsu would have taken no answer ten times instead of what Yoochun said after that.
“That’s really nice, Junsu…but honestly…I didn’t think we were exclusive. Did you?”
It was a kick to the gut, that’s what it was. At first Junsu thought he was kidding. They had been going out for over 4 months, how could he have missed that? But the look on Yoochun’s face wasn’t a joking one at all. In the end Junsu plastered a smile on his face and kissed him. They didn’t talk about it after that.
Junsu had always thought of himself as a smart guy. He knew what he wanted and he also knew how to get it. More importantly, he knew when something was out of reach and when it was time to move on. Park Yoochun was out of reach. Still, he clung onto him like his life depended on it. He tried acting like nothing had changed between them. Keyword being acting, because every time they’d meet up Junsu half expected him to show up smelling different, like one of his other boyfriends. But Yoochun was still Yoochun and Junsu was to addicted to that to ever think of breaking up with him.
And then it happened. It was scary how well Junsu remembered that night. He could still drum up every detail. What he himself was wearing, what Yoochun was wearing, what that guy he was with was wearing, the ice cold evening air, the Christmas lights in the store windows, the shocked expression on Yoochun’s face when he saw him, the dull ache in Junsu’s heart when he saw them. Knowing the guy you’re in love with is seeing other people doesn’t hurt half as much as seeing him walking down the street with someone, kissing them, looking so in love.
I’m sorry, but I can’t do this. -Junsu.
That text message was what ended everything. Yoochun had called him up three times after that. The first two times he had let it ring, the third time he left a message.
“Junsu…I’m really sorry if I hurt you. I know where you’re coming from. I’m sorry I couldn’t be who you wanted me to be. Bye.”
Bye.
“Hey Junsu?”
Junsu knew who it was. Of course he knew. That voice had been running through his head like the soundtrack of his life for months.
“What?” he didn’t turn around and fiddled with the coffee machine in the cafeteria. He had downed two already that day and was up for a third. He never drank coffee before he met Yoochun. Fucker.
“That sounded hostile,” Yoochun said and went to stand on Junsu’s other side trying to catch his eyes, it didn’t work. “Why?”
“Caffeine,” Junsu muttered before finally pressing the button for a cappuccino. For a second the only sound came from the machine and then Yoochun sighed.
“You know, looking at me once in a while wouldn’t hurt.”
Yes, it would, Junsu wanted to answer. “Hm.” His coffee was done and he passed Yoochun, not sparing him a glance. Easier this way.
“Bye.”
“Paper&Clips, this is Junsu.”
“How come you only want to talk to me through the phone?”
“I think you’re imagining stuff.”
“I’m serious. You’re making it hard for me to ask you out properly…You seem surprised.”
“I can’t go out with you.”
“Why not?”
“You know why.”
“I’m not seeing anyone else if that’s what you’re thinking. I don’t do that anymore. I want you. Just you.”
“You’re kind of late with that don’t you think?”
“It’s never too late for love.”
“Yes it is. It’s too late now.”
“You don’t believe that.”
“I have to go.”
“One date?”
“…I’ll think about it. Bye.”
“And don’t ignore-“
Beep, beep, beep.
Yoochun came late again the next day, holding two cups of coffee.
The smell already made Junsu’s mouth water but to his great surprise, he passed Junsu’s desk with a simple “Good morning” and stopped in front of Changmin’s.
“Thought you’d need it after last night,” Yoochun said putting down the cup next to Changmin’s keyboard. Junsu could barely hear it, but he did and he had no idea what the hell he was supposed to make of what he had heard.
“Thanks,” Changmin said. “But can we please not talk about that at work? We’ll meet up later tonight okay?”
Yoochun grinned and ruffled up Changmin’s neatly groomed hair before going to his own desk. Junsu went back to his and watched Yoochun put down his bag, take of his coat and his scarf before sitting down and picking up his phone. Junsu’s phone rang.
“Paper&clips, this is Junsu.” He said it out of formality. He knew very well it wasn’t a customer.
“You have no idea what happened last night.”
“If this is going to be dirty, I’m hanging up.”
“I met Changmin’s boyfriend last night. And he’s hot. Smoking hot. Like-“
“Hot. I get it. I didn’t know Changmin was gay.”
“Me neither. And he drinks. Shim Changmin was actually drunk and I was there to witness it. I wish you were there.”
“Why?”
“Because everything is more fun when you’re there.”
“That’s true.”
“Sucker. So have you thought about it?”
“Haven’t had the time yet.” That was a lie. He couldn’t think about anything else.
“Then think about it fast. I want to cuddle up to you again, like old times.”
“Do you honestly think you deserve my cuddles?”
“No, but I think you’re going to give them to me anyway.”
“…And why’s that?”
“Because we fit together like paper&clips.”
“You’re a fucker.”
“A good one.”
Junsu’s knuckles turned white from holding the phone so tight. He wasn’t going to give in. No way.
“Fine. One date.” Shit.
He hung up.
“Paper&Clips this is Junsu.”
“You sound cheerful today.”
“Do I?”
“Did something special happen last night?”
“Shut up.”
“I’m serious. Tell me what you thought about last night.”
“This isn’t the time or the place to discuss that.”
“Then what time what place?”
“Tonight. My place.”
“Is this a second date?”
“Stop being such a fucker.”
“Why? You liked it last night-“