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Prompt #: 68

Title: take a shot for you
Word Count: 16.5k
Rating: PG
Warning(s): profanities, a lot of pining, sehun (yes he is a warning)
Summary: Jongin has always been a pawn, a constant. He is never the chosen one.

Author's Note: alright so i want to send a huge thanks to the mods for being absolutely patient and tolerant~ also to my op, this is not the crack!fic you wanted because i kind of suck at that... so this is an 180 degree turn but i hope you like it nonetheless! and to readers of this fic fest, enjoy and give ur love to the rest of the fics too! :~)

Windswept hair, the breeze peeking in from the smallest gap of the window, the reminiscent scent of spring in the air hitting the both of them all at once.

It is a bittersweet scent, but Jongin can't stop inhaling it in, drinking it all in.

This could easily be a road trip with the love of his life, a trip to discover all the secrets of the universe together.

But this is Jongin's life and this love is heavily unrequited, disastrous, self-inflicting and doomed from the beginning.

This is how it starts.

“You can never say no when it comes to him,” Sehun casually comments offhandedly, a hiccup edged at the end of his sentence.

Ha, Jongin wants to laugh at that. He ignores Sehun, circling two fingers around a glass. There's a sheen of sweat on Jongin's temple but he's too busy downing another shot to wipe it off and also, he really doesn't care. This is just Oh Sehun, his best friend. He has seen Jongin at his worst; puking his guts out at three in the morning.

And it's about to make a part two in about ten minutes as Jongin dashes into the washroom, heaving over a toilet bowl.

He hears the soft sound of Sehun's footsteps padding after him, a fist banging against the door. “Stop calling me out to babysit you. I have an actual job, y'know?”

“Sucking dicks doesn't count as a job,” Jongin manages to say before he feels it rising in his throat, threatening to hit the bowl again.

He can imagine Sehun scrunching his nose in disgust at him. He feels the kick at his ass as Sehun's voice wades through his ears, “Shut the fuck up. I'll be waiting outside.”

Sehun leaves Jongin alone, his head spinning and dizzying with the alcohol sloshing in his system. His chin hits the edge of the toilet bowl and he wonders just how he ends up at a bar every weekend, drinking all the misery away.

Jongin thinks of the wedding in a month and the bile rises in his throat again, adding to the pile in the bowl.

Jongin officially hates Byun Baekhyun.

Alright, not really because Jongin suddenly remembers how the older boy helped him get through history lectures in college and patted his back helpfully through the times he got sick from splurges of alcohol flowing through his body (in comparison to Oh Sehun, he's an angel).

But that doesn't change the fact that Jongin still mildly detests Byun Baekhyun at this very second.

He stares at the note in his hand, light seeping through the windows of the apartment, brightening the room like a heavy paradox against the words on the paper. Jongin clenches his fist, crushing half of the note and feeling uneasiness settle in his heart like a rock. There is a ring on the table, where it sits as a paper weight on the note. The ring is too familiar for Jongin to not know where it's from. He had seen Chanyeol obsess over it for a while.

Jongin,

I assume you'd be the first to read this since we are due to meet in the morning. If this isn't you, then, hello whoever you are. Tell Chanyeol I'm sorry.
My life has been a question mark ever since I've been with Chanyeol and I cannot live like this; uncertain of my feelings and future marriage.
Thus, this wedding cannot happen.

Best wishes,
Baekhyun

The words swirl around in front of his vision, Jongin can feel a headache coming on strongly. It prickles at the corners of his mind. Jongin closes his eyes, wishing for the words on the paper to disappear, but it's written in ink. Dark blue ink, impossible to erase. While Jongin understands that Baekhyun was a theatre major, there is no need for him to pull such dramatic antics.

This is ridiculous.

And stupid.

Jongin dials a number on his phone, bottom lip caught underneath his teeth in nervousness. He listens to the dial tone, tapping his fingers against his thigh and pacing around the empty living room.

“It's ten in the morning,” a sleepy voice wafts into his ear, and Jongin stops. “This better be good, Jongin.”

“Something happened,” is all Jongin could say. He is still gnawing at the flesh of his bottom lip. He can't think of anyone else to call, thus, Junmyeon is on the other end of the line, probably awakened by the panic in Jongin's voice.

A pause, he hears rustling on the other end. Junmyeon asks, impatient, “What?”

“Baekhyun ran away,” Jongin blurts out, his voice echoes in the empty apartment. Saying it out loud makes it seem even more realistic, cementing it even further.

Jongin's throat closes up and he feels himself choking on air.

“What?!” This time, Junmyeon mid shouts into his ear. He stutters on his words, “Wh- wha- how? Huh?”

“I don't know. Junmyeon, listen– ”

“Go check his bedroom, check if all of his stuff are there. Go.”

Jongin's feet move on instinct at the sound of Junmyeon's command. He heads towards Baekhyun's room, turning the knob of the door. He is faced with the emptiness of the room except for the bed and remaining furniture, but other than that, it looks awfully uninhabited. Jongin's grip almost slips on the phone he's holding when he spots two boxes labelled 'Chanyeol's' by the bed.

Fuck. Jongin closes his eyes momentarily.

“Hey, did you find anything?”

Jongin sighs out into the receiver, “Everything's gone except for Chanyeol's things.” His eyes open and the room remains the same; empty. “What do I do?”

The same, resigned sigh is echoed by Junmyeon before he answers, “I don't know, kid.”

Jongin's head spins, his knuckles are whitened when he tightens his grip on the door knob. Jongin skims through his memories of being in the presence of Baekhyun and Chanyeol, tries to find anything amiss with this engaged couple. If anything, he could remember the amount of times he wanted to run to the toilet bowl and puke out his unrequited love and unreasonable envy so that he could properly move on and live through life without looking at Chanyeol like some kind of lovesick idiot.

There's almost no sign of Baekhyun expressing unhappiness with Chanyeol and almost no complaints of being with the elf-eared giant.

How is he going to tell Chanyeol this? Jongin strongly detests Baekhyun for dropping this responsibility on him. He hates Baekhyun, forget all past deeds of being a reliable friend during times of alcoholic outbursts and struggles in history class.

“I'm coming over,” Junmyeon says on the other end, surprising Jongin out of his thoughts. He hums in response, as Junmyeon continues, “Just sit still. Order some takeout. We'll figure something out.”

The call drops and Jongin pulls the phone away from his ear. He lets the door slam behind him with a light thud as he pads towards the living room, shoulders sagged from the stress and exhaustion. A long string of profanities fills his mind when he plops himself down on the couch, head lolling to the side.

His stomach grumbles out of nowhere. Jongin rolls his eyes and swallows the scream he has been wanting to let out.

Jongin picks up his phone again, he hesitates before pressing the numbers. His stomach grumbles loudly in the room but his salivary glands are dry, Jongin thinks of the idea of food filling his stomach and almost gags on reflex.

Maybe not, he puts down his phone and lets out a sigh.

And to wait... until the inevitable happens.

That is telling Chanyeol that his precious groom-to-be ran the fuck away and dropped this unexpected bomb on everyone.

The migraine that comes after is kind of inevitable as well.

“Oh,” is what Junmyeon first says when he sees the empty apartment. “For a second, I thought this could be a prank pulled by you and Baek.”

Jongin turns sharply to the elder, slapping the back of his hand at Junmyeon's arm. He doesn't feel an ounce of regret when Junmyeon winces. Jongin seethes, “I'd come up with a better prank than this.”

Junmyeon walks around the living room, just like how Jongin paced the floors earlier in distress. His hands are on his hips, lips pursed in frustration. There's a ringing in Jongin's ears and he keeps trying to imagine the expression on Chanyeol's face when he tells him.

Heartbroken, he'd be so heartbroken, Jongin's shoulders drop in heavy realisation of the severity of the situation.

“Have you tried calling Baekhyun?” Junmyeon asks.

A sigh, “Like ten times. Not even counting those in the morning when I try to wake him up.”

“His brother?”

“I don't have his number.”

“His parents?”

“I don't have their numbers either.”

“Luhan?”

Jongin's eyebrows furrow deeply, confusion waving over his features. “Wait, why Luhan?”

Junmyeon shrugs, “I don't know, he's the wedding planner.” He brakes to a stop in front of the television and laments out in frustration with a stomp in his feet, “God, why is Baekhyun so darn dramatic? Must he pull such shitty antics?”

“Tell me about it,” Jongin sympathises and hits his head back on the cushion. It doesn't hurt as much as he wanted it to. Maybe... he should fall and hit his head on concrete. Jongin considers the temptation over in his head, trying to mask the anxiety and stop it from breaking out into beads of sweat on his temples again.

“What are we going to do?” Jongin feels the panic rising again in his throat, it's not helping him calm down. “Do we try to find him first? Tell Chanyeol? Call the cops? Kill ourselves?”

Junmyeon plops down on the sofa next to Jongin, his weight settling in on the cushion. Jongin shifts away as Junmyeon sighs loudly, a gust of air, “Maybe we should try to find Baekhyun first.”

Jongin tries not to breathe in the heavy scent of Junmyeon's cologne but it's poking at his nostrils, stinging his senses. He heaves a deep breath of clean air on the other side, “Sure but once we find Baekhyun, I'm beating him up. Chanyeol would probably be widowed before the wedding.”

Junmyeon's elbow digs into Jongin's ribs all too sharply, knocking the breath out of his lungs. Jongin levels a glare at Junmyeon which goes ignored as the elder stares straight ahead. His lips are still pursed, this time it's in concentration. Jongin runs around with this useless information on the quirks of his friends.

The most useless being Park Chanyeol.

“And if we don't...” Junmyeon trails off, his teeth nibbling on his bottom lip. Jongin copies the action, the nerves being the actor of most of his movements. “We have to...”

Jongin cuts him off, “I know.”

Suddenly, Junmyeon stands up, his fist clenched by his side in determination with a heavy intensity in his gaze. Jongin watches him as he speaks up, “I'll try to contact Baekhyun's parents and brother.” He turns to Jongin with a pointed forefinger nudging at his nose, Jongin scrunches his nose in retaliation. “And you try to ask around for any clues and signs of Baekhyun's whereabouts.”

“Since when did this turn into a detective show?”

“Got it?” Junmyeon raises an eyebrow expectantly.

Jongin holds in the sigh he was going to let out and nods grudgingly, “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” Junmyeon gives a nod of finality and stalks off, grabbing his coat. He stares at Jongin one last time to assess his expression and when Jongin shouts out a “I'll do it, Junmyeon. God, just leave!”, Junmyeon gives a small smile of satisfaction. His hand outstretches to pat at Jongin's hair before leaving him in Baekhyun's empty apartment, muttering about some kind of office work he has to get to.

He pauses before the door, hand hovering over the knob. There is hesitation along the lines around his mouth. “Don't avoid Chanyeol,” Junmyeon advises gently. “Try to stay strong for him.”

Jongin blinks and nods, unable to find any voice in him to reply. The door shuts behind Junmyeon's back and Jongin listens to the ghosts of the apartment, uncertain of his plans for the rest of the day.

He momentarily considers alcohol in the morning.

This is not good.

Winter was ruthlessly cold.

It was even colder to Jongin, merciless winds whipping against the safety of his abode. Jongin had been used to wearing his outerwear indoors, his trusty black jacket worn at all times with his scarf tightly woven around his neck. He wasn't fond of leaving the house during winter but even now, he couldn't live in the apartment. Stepping into his apartment felt like living in an igloo.

Jongin had overused the Junmyeon card too much and his girlfriend, Joohyun, while she's sweet, Jongin couldn't bear to test her patience.

He stared at the heater now, eyes narrowed in frustration. “Work, Goddamnit!” Jongin cursd while kicking his foot against it, wincing when the metal rattled against the heel of his foot.

When Sehun gets back, Jongin seethed through his teeth as he jumps into his bed, he was going to make Sehun pay for every single little penny of the repair for the heater. It was bad enough that he had to work for the holidays, now he had to live in an actual igloo with no source of heat.

Jongin was going to freeze to death and Sehun was going to come back to a dead corpse rotting the whole apartment. Even then, Sehun would blame Jongin for infecting the place with such a horrendous smell.

It was a knock on the door that roused Jongin up from his makeshift fort of blankets and moroseness. He crawled out of the quilted blankets piled on top of each other and shivered when his socked feet hit the marble floor. Practically slugging towards the front door, Jongin barely pulled it open to be hit with more chilly air from outside.

Jongin gritted his teeth and focused his vision on the interrupter of his depressing hour.

“I brought chicken!” the man on the other side of the door grinned, all teeth on show. There was a plastic bag in hand, most likely holding the boxes of chicken. His voice jolted Jongin awake even further and his vision blurred everything else out.

“Chanyeol!” Jongin exclaimed in shock. His lips hurt to move, freezing. “What are you doing here? Didn't you have work?”

“Yixing came back,” Chanyeol explained. He pushed past Jongin, shoulders brushing as he entered the apartment. “I'm off for the weekend and- woah, is it cold in here?” Chanyeol turned around, an arm out of the sleeve of his coat, eyebrow raised, “Turn your heater up a bit, will you?”

Jongin closed the door behind him and sighed bitterly, “Don't bother taking off your coat, 'Yeol. The heater is dead.” He slouched and continued dramatically, “I'm freezing to death. You are invited to the funeral in two days.”

Chanyeol punched at Jongin's arm playfully, chuckling softly, “I'll get it fixed, if you want.”

“You'd do that?”

“Sure,” Jongin could practically hear the shrug in his voice. “Why not?”

Jongin halted in the middle of rustling through the plastic bag of chicken. The smell of seasoned chicken wafted into his nostrils and while on any other day, Jongin would be more distracted by the chicken but today, Park Chanyeol had his entire attention in the palm of his hand.

There was sincerity in Chanyeol's irises and Jongin held his breath, telling himself over and over again that this wasn't new, this was so like Chanyeol to offer to pay for his best friend's heater repairs. Jongin isn't special.

His heart liked to believe otherwise.

“Thank you,” was all Jongin can muster and Chanyeol grinned widely at him, the corners of his lips perked up like a Cheshire cat. Jongin tore his eyes away before he fell even deeper.

“Do you have something warm for me to wear?” Chanyeol tugged on his coat, frowning. “It's too big.”

It was indeed too big and Jongin chuckled at the way it manages to swallow Chanyeol up when he was such a giant on his own. He nodded before diving into his bedroom to ruffle through his (messy) closet and search for a particular jacket. With his eyes set on a black, woollen jacket he got from his aunt for Christmas last year, Jongin emerged from his bedroom with the jacket in hand.

Jongin braked to a stop when he sees Chanyeol lounging on his sofa in a simple white tee and fitted acid washed jeans. He was more familiar with the hoodie-wearing Chanyeol, a hat to cover up the messy, auburn strands of hair, but this Chanyeol? The one dressed with decent wardrobe choices, his auburn bangs swept back continuously by his fingers?

A breath was caught in Jongin's throat as his eyes raked over the length of Chanyeol's body before quietly passing the jacket over to Chanyeol.

“You still have the Star Wars dvd collection, right?” Chanyeol inquired once he has the jacket on. It was the perfect fit on him unlike how baggy it is on Jongin.

Jongin quirked an eyebrow, “Is that what you came over for? Star Wars?”

Chanyeol's face contorted into a frown, whiny. “Sehun has the entire collection. And I bought you chicken to compensate.”

Rolling his eyes, Jongin swivelled around again to duck into Sehun's bedroom. Ignoring the banner of 'No intruders allowed!' crossed against the door, he trespassed into Sehun's room, striding straight for the dvd cabinet which is Sehun's one and only pride. Gathering all of the Star Wars dvds in his arms, Jongin carefully padded out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him with a click.

Chanyeol was already opening the boxes of chicken. He had somehow stolen the cola from the fridge and there were two glasses filled on the table. Jongin placed the dvds, leaving Chanyeol to sort through and watch whatever he wants. In the circle, Jongin isn't quite the Star Wars geek (unlike Chanyeol, Sehun and Junmyeon). He merely enjoys a guilty pleasure of anime which he shares with Kyungsoo but that's it.

It doesn't mean that Jongin's ignorant to the sci-fi series.

He has probably watched the series enough times to last him until his afterlife, reincarnation even. With Sehun around all the time, Jongin cannot escape the Star Wars theme starting up in the background almost every single time Sehun's free from whatever endeavour he has outside. Once Jongin tried to hide the dvds behind the washing machine and Sehun almost castrated his cock off.

Jongin brought out the blankets from his room because the cold was kicking into his bones. He wrapped a quilted one from his mother around his shoulders and sat cross-legged with his back against the sofa. His eyes were much more focused on the chicken wings than the screen, the sauce sticking to his fingers.

With Star Wars as the background noise (well noise to Jongin anyways), silence fell upon them comfortably. Jongin chewed away the bits of chicken, cleaning the bones effortlessly. Instead of watching the movie, Jongin found himself sneaking a few peeks at Chanyeol, chuckling softly at how invested he was in the movie no matter how many times he had watched it.

“You said Yix-”

“I've been th-”

Both of them turned around, sheepishly smiling when their sentences ran into each other unexpectedly. Chanyeol chuckled, the small dimple deepening, “You go first.”

“Well...” Chanyeol changed his focus to Jongin, the film in the background all forgotten. “I was just going to ask if Yixing's back permanently?”

Chanyeol made an 'o' shape with his mouth and laughed, “Yeah, kind of. I'm back to being his back-up teacher but the elementary is offering me science class with the kids.”

Jongin almost spat out a piece of chicken meat. He blinked in surprise, exclaiming, “That's great, 'Yeol!” He trailed off with the excitement simmering, “Right...?”

Chanyeol nodded, his Adam apple bobbing in nervousness, “I'm just a bit anxious about it. Science?” Shaking his head, he sighed.

Jongin nudged Chanyeol with his elbow, cracking a grin to lift the tension off his shoulders. “You'll do fine.” Jongin assured the giant. “I'll come by to visit and check that you're not setting off any fires.”

Chanyeol lodged a punch on Jongin's arm but he missed it by an inch when Jongin foresaw it. Doubling over in laughter, Chanyeol eased into a slow smile, “Thanks.”

Putting down the chicken, Jongin leaned back into the sofa cushions and sucked on his forefinger, the sauce sticking to his lips. “So what did you want to talk about?”

If Jongin paid attention, he would have seen the way Chanyeol's back straightened at the question, the way his eyebrows are forming a crease in the middle, the way his lips part and close, trying to piece the words together.

But all of this went unseen as Jongin languidly propped his arms on the sofa and paid attention to his sticky fingers.

In the middle of licking a strip of sauce on Jongin's finger, Chanyeol interrupted his thoughts, a knife cutting into the silence, “I've been thinking about marriage. With Baekhyun.”

A pin dropped in the distance.

Jongin made a startled noise, accidentally biting too hard on his finger. He winced out too loudly, the red mark marring his skin, screaming crimson at his stupidity. Jongin didn't turn around, keeping his head low whilst cradling his finger with the throbbing pain shooting straight to his head. From the bite mark or Chanyeol's words, Jongin wan't quite certain.

“That's...” Jongin's voice cracked on the last syllable and he clears his throat, attempting a smile to send Chanyeol's way. His heart almost sunk at the look of concern covering Chanyeol's features. It was too delicate. “That's great.”

And it was great, Jongin forced himself to believe it. Baekhyun has been with Chanyeol for four years now, it's about time too.

It's about time that Jongin accepts it too.

“Do you think so?” Chanyeol asked, quiet. He's only quiet when he's serious and there's a look of worry on his face. He's overthinking it too much like always, because that's Park Chanyeol. He thinks too much about every single thing that matters to him and holds his breath for far too long before jumping in.

Jongin smiled wider, it dug into his cheekbones unpleasantly, “Go for it, 'Yeol.”

Chanyeol's fingers rimmed the droplets on his glass of cola, “You don't think he's going to say no?”

“He'd be a fool to do so.”

A moment of silence passed as Chanyeol took his reply in stride. Jongin wondered if he was the first person Chanyeol told this to. He could easily see how nervous Chanyeol was, with how his nails were picking with the threads of his jeans (a habit he has never get rid of since young) and how his eyes were downcast. It was not a far fetched visual of the two at the altar and for a second, Jongin thought the imagery does look sweet.

Jongin could learn to be happy for Chanyeol. And he will be.

“But...” Chanyeol looked up, finally catching his gaze ever since he dropped the bomb. “You'd be my best man, right?”

Jongin blinked.

He wanted to say no for his sanity (he didn't really want to be involved in the wedding that much if it happens) but with one look at Chanyeol's expression, Jongin knew he can't really say it. This was also a habit he can't get rid of since young and it seems that it only applies to Park Chanyeol. There was so much hope on Chanyeol's face and it broke Jongin to say either yes or no.

So Jongin did Chanyeol a favor and only broke one heart today.

“That's what best friends are for,” Jongin assured him. It was his own heart he threw into the ravaging ocean. And also for heartbreaks was what Jongin added in his thoughts.

As the sun set in the brightest grin presented by Chanyeol, Jongin somehow felt better because this was what he had to do. This is the kind of shit he signed up for as a best friend; watching your best friend fall in love, staying supportive throughout, being present at your best friend's wedding, possibly being the godfather of your best friend's offspring. While Jongin doesn't really want to do these things, he can't really say no to Park Chanyeol.

Because it's his fatal flaw.

Because he wants Chanyeol happy no matter what, even though his heart is in danger.

Thus, Jongin raised his glass of cola to knock lightly against Chanyeol's with a forced smile (but he hopes Chanyeol can't tell even after years of knowing him), “Here's to your future with Baekhyun!”

“And to you as my groomsman if this works out,” Chanyeol's smile was softening at the edges and his eyes held a glint.

Baekhyun said yes a week and a half later.

It was all too predictable; Junmyeon passed a twenty dollar bill to Sehun and he cursed at Baekhyun for saying yes. (He made a bet that Chanyeol would have to try two more times to get Baekhyun's approval).

The ring was simple; a silver band with a single white gem in the middle for both of them. Jongin had helped Chanyeol pick it out.

Jongin cheered for them as enthusiastically as he could and Baekhyun kissed his cheek in thanks for him being supportive whilst Chanyeol crushed both of them in a hug.

This was the story that Jongin foresaw to end in flames (only on his part).

Jongin spins in his armchair, scratching absently at the work desk, trying to ignore the reality of the moment.

“Did you call Baekhyun's parents?”

“I did,” Jongin heaves an exasperated sigh. And he really did call Baekhyun's parents. Before leaving his apartment the other day, Jongin had the thought of searching throughout the place for any clues and he struck gold when he found a small notepad where Baekhyun jotted down numbers; a habit that reminded Jongin of his late grandmother. Then, he told Junmyeon that he'd do the task of calling Baekhyun's parents.

Calling Baekhyun's parents at first was a decision he procrastinated for hours.

It wasn't easy at first; Jongin spent those hours at the dance academy, pretending to be immersed in a few routines for his students, but somehow Junmyeon's words kept haunting him until he went back home. Facing Sehun wasn't easy either; he had to keep the secret of Baekhyun's absence all to himself until Junmyeon and him figure it out.

So that was how Jongin snuck out of the apartment with an excuse of visiting the convenience store for a pack of cigarettes and his phone clutched in his hand.

Baekhyun's mother, as Jongin always remembered her from high school days of staying late at Baekhyun's house with examinations pushing their noses deep into their books, was sweet and elated at Jongin's surprise call. He felt bad then, for merely calling about Baekhyun, and promptly saved her as a contact in his phone to call more often. After all, he wasn't a stranger to any of his friends' parents and he should learn to take initiative often.

It took him about three minutes to summarise his life and relay it to Baekhyun's mother but right after, when he asked about Baekhyun, she was nothing but confused (“Isn't he preparing for the wedding with Chanyeol? He called a few days ago and told me that he was doing fine. Is something wrong, Jonginnie?”).

Junmyeon's humming brings Jongin back from the recent memory and he wonders aloud, “Does that mean Baekhyun will return?”

“You read the note. I'm sure he's not,” Jongin reminds the elder. “I just don't get it... Lying to his mother?”

“He probably has his own plan.”

Jongin shakes his head but then, he remembers that it's a phone call. “I don't think so. Baekhyun is naturally impulsive.”

But he's not unreasonable, a voice reminds him. It's the reason why Jongin feels utterly uneasy about Baekhyun's sudden departing letter. Baekhyun never does anything without reason, he may dive in headfirst and get hurt but he's rarely obstructive.

“We've tried every outlet, Junmyeon,” Jongin continues. “What now?”

The answer that comes after a hesitant pause is almost expectant and even though Jongin saw it coming, he still doesn't want to deal with it.

“You have to tell Chanyeol.”

Jongin can almost hear the cracks of Chanyeol's heart when he tells him, the cut gushing out blood from the knife. He has to prepare a first aid kit to patch Chanyeol back together, to piece his heart like a puzzle settling into place. This is the job he has been entailed to.

He holds in his breath. It has to happen sooner or later, there's no way they can keep it from Chanyeol any longer. Jongin hears Junmyeon's breathing on the other end and he bites onto his lip, closing his eyes, feeling the burden of the job weigh on his wide set of shoulders. He slouches inwardly and carries the burden in his heart, keeps his own words locked away.

“I know,” Jongin repeats.

“Make sure you're th-”

“There for Chanyeol, I get it.” Jongin interrupts Junmyeon's expecting words. He lets go of his bottom lip. “I am always there for him.”

He listens to how Junmyeon heave a soft sigh, almost sympathetically. “I know,” Junmyeon echoes Jongin's words back at him. “But he needs you more than ever.”

Jongin swallows thickly, feeling the words he wants to say get choked up in his throat. This is ridiculous and it's all Baekhyun's fault.

“Just get back to Joohyun,” Jongin pokes at Junmyeon's weakness and almost lets out a chuckle at the way Junmyeon sputters on the other end. “I'll handle this.”

“Call me if anything goes wrong,” Junmyeon says quietly. “Call me still afterwards, no matter what.”

Jongin smiles despite the conflicting feelings he keeps deep within whirling like a storm anew. That's Junmyeon, always a step further, always looking out for him. Jongin assures the elder two more times and the call drops, the dial tone beeping in his ear like a reminder of what he has to do.

Even when his phone is lowered from his ear, the tone rings through his eardrums, unable to shake it off.

when you're done with work, let me know. gotta talk to u bout smth

Numbness seeps in and Jongin pretends to not pay attention to his phone as he spins around the kitchen, cooking his meal of the day; nothing else but ramen.

The phone rings an answer and Jongin ignores for the time being.

okaaay i'm done at 5 so come over if u want ^__^

Shivers are constantly wrecking Jongin from the tail of his spine to the nape, clenching around his bones in its cold grip. It's spring but yet somehow, Jongin finds himself face to face with the chilly air surrounding him. He stands before the door to Chanyeol's apartment unit and a few recognisable neighbours have passed by, waving at him with a smile if they do remember him, giving a stink eye if they don't.

It almost feels a bit nostalgic of the time Jongin stood before this door five years ago, thinking he stood a chance after pondering over every single memory in mind. It was stupid, he wish he could have told his younger self then to turn around and head straight home before his hopes get drenched by cold, merciless reality. He even had the entire speech planned out, the entire ordeal in his head to play out, but when the actors came together, it went a little off course.

Jongin left with a bigger crack in his heart that he usually nurses and the apologetic smile on Baekhyun's face haunting his week after.

Baekhyun and Chanyeol were practically inseparable before dating, but once it became official, they became even more insufferable. To quote Oh Sehun's words of wisdom: it was like watching a sitcom every time you're in their presence, with the sickening display of affection and typically dramatic, tear-jerking arguments. Jongin couldn't argue with that, he was (and is) at fault for distancing himself away from Chanyeol.

Jongin's had enough cracks in his heart to last him till reincarnation, there's no need to deepen the zig-zagged lines by witnessing Chanyeol with Baekhyun stuck at the hip (like they used to be).

He takes a deep breath now, his ribcage constricting tighter than earlier, the flood of feelings locked behind a barely sturdy gate. Jongin presses on the doorbell, hearing the echo of it through the apartment faintly. He only wastes one more minute before the door parts to reveal Chanyeol with his mussed up, wet hair from the shower he has clearly taken.

There's a droplet running down the length of Chanyeol's neck and Jongin catches it with his gaze but he looks away, his throat closing up again. “Hi,” he barely gets out, hoarse and unused. “You took a shower.”

“Hey,” Chanyeol smiles at him and this is more difficult than ever. “Come in.” He steps aside, waiting for the younger to slide into the apartment.

Jongin's shoulder brushes against Chanyeol's chest and it's this; these tiny details that Jongin would pore over later like a lovesick idiot and Sehun would cackle at him over it with their alcohol-dipped breaths and late night noise blocking their ears.

“You wanted to talk to me about something?” Chanyeol lifts an eyebrow questioningly. Why won't Jongin's throat open up? Why is the air so dusty in here? “Is it about the wedding? Do we need to practice how to handle the rings?”

If Jongin wasn't so drowned in utter fear, he would be smacking the back of his hand against Chanyeol's arm for making fun of his clumsy tendencies.

The door closes behind Chanyeol with a click and this is it, the end of the end. Jongin's eyes drift from the concern in Chanyeol's irises to the painting of a windmill he bought on impulse from the streets.

Junmyeon was wrong; this isn't right, this is the most difficult thing Jongin will ever have to do and it's saying a lot after he has gone through an immense amount of heartbreaks, a successful proposal and an upcoming wedding he had to be the best man for.

Jongin can't say it like this when Chanyeol's looking so hopeful.

“Have y-you...” Jongin clears his throat when he stutters. He clenches his fists and unclenches. “Have you heard anything from Baekhyun lately?”

Chanyeol rubs his cleanly shaven stubble, “Not really. Luhan did contact me in the morning, asking me to pass the message to Baekhyun to confirm his guest list but I haven't had the time.”

Jongin nods, his gaze is still fixated on the painting.

“I'm just assuming he's busy with work,” Chanyeol shrugs. “Producing a play takes up time, I suppose.”

Then, the worry begins to slip through, “Why... is there something wrong?”

Yes there is, Jongin almost says through heavy breathing. There's two weeks to your wedding and the groom-to-be is missing in action.

When Jongin remains mute, the crease between Chanyeol's eyebrows deepens further, the lines rippling through his forehead. He takes a step closer to Jongin whom automatically steps back, his ass hitting the sofa's arm rest. The concern is even more embedded in Chanyeol's features. Jongin feels like exploding when he pokes at Jongin's cheeks gently, asking more questions.

“Baekhyun's gone,” Jongin finds himself blurting out suddenly. Chanyeol's finger stutters at Jongin's cheek, digging into his skin. “He has been gone for two days. He left a note and I...”

Chanyeol's nail scratches against Jongin's cheek and Jongin finds that the pain doesn't hurt as much as the silence. He's too afraid to look up from his feet, the wooden floor has never looked more appealing to hit his head against. The weight in his chest tugs his heart even lower than before, the air isn't clearer to breathe like he thought, nothing is as he thought.

Once again, for the millionth time, Jongin finds himself shifting his hatred to Baekhyun for his dramatic antics.

“A note?” Chanyeol's voice is so painfully quiet. If the apartment wasn't already quiet, Jongin wouldn't have heard him (or maybe he still would have because he pays attention to every single detail).

Jongin digs into his jacket pocket, pulling out the folded note, crumpled once by his act of frustration. He passes it to Chanyeol silently and he can't bear to watch the emotions splatter against Chanyeol's face upon reading the note. His face is clear as day, the canvas has no idea of hiding its emotions.

Yet, he still sneaks a peek stubbornly, and he causes even more heartbreak for himself.

Jongin could possibly recite the note in his sleep, it's not one of his favourable talents but it haunts him every single hour of the day, a burden he has to carry. Passing it along to Chanyeol isn't something Jongin's proud of, witnessing how the stages of heartbreak splash against his face.

Chanyeol's eyes. Jongin can hear the cracks practically echoing throughout the apartment. His eyes are misty, threatening to fall if he blinks hard. He's biting onto his bottom lip too harshly, Jongin can see the way the flesh is caught between his teeth and the dry skin will peel off, blood will spill and it's not close to the pain he feels deep inside.

The note is clenched at the corners by Chanyeol's hands and he's trembling all over. Jongin stands, unmoving. His hand jerks, almost to stretch itself to comfort Chanyeol but he moves an inch away, and then another inch and away from Jongin. He's shaking his head too almost in disbelief, Jongin's fingers curl inwards.

A tear falls.

“I'm sorry,” Chanyeol says to Jongin but it feels empty, devoid of any emotion. The note is further crumpled in his hands and he spins around in his heel, moving albeit too fast to his bedroom. The slam of the door is deafening in Jongin's ears but nothing is close to the sinking sensation in his chest at the sight of Chanyeol's tears.

No, Jongin wanted to say but his tongue is caught between his teeth. I'm sorry.

Days blur together and time loses its hold on Jongin's consciousness.

But Jongin is not the only one.

Jongin frankly doesn't know how long has it been since Chanyeol locked himself in his bedroom. His guess is three days, could be four days because he's getting missed calls from Sehun and he would only notice his absence on a weekend.

The only signs of life within the bedroom is when Jongin hears the water running in the adjoined bathroom, the rustling of socked footsteps on the wooden floor, a bit of sobbing if Jongin strains his ears. Thankfully, Chanyeol has clean clothes hung up in the kitchen which Jongin leeches off for the time being. He tries to cook simple things; scrambled eggs, toast, ramen, porridge, etc for Chanyeol to eat. Then, he leaves the apartment for a few hours to take a smoke outside the building.

The cigarette pack is running out and so is time.

Junmyeon left a missed call today, Jongin realises when he checks his phone. There are a million text messages that Jongin doesn't bother to open. He scrolls idly through emails instead, barely interested in any of the subscriptions flooding his inbox. There's an email from his fellow colleague, Taemin, and Jongin doesn't bat an eyelash at it.

Jongin rakes through his mind, wondering and worrying like the past few days. Miraculously, Jongin hasn't had a breakdown. He has to stay headstrong after all, it's his best friend breaking down behind locked doors, it's his job to patch him back together if needed.

But it's definitely not easy. At all. Jongin is human, after all.

A tear slips when he blinks and he quickly wipes it away, fixating his gaze intensely on the road traffic before he could choke up in sobs.

Jongin drags out one last puff before stubbing it into the trash bin and heading back into the apartment building. He digs his pockets out for the keys and unlocks his way back into Chanyeol's unit. The lights are strangely switched on, which Jongin would have sworn that he switched off before heading out. The food on the table is actually gone and Jongin notices the dishes at the kitchen sink.

The door to Chanyeol's bedroom opens.

“Chanyeol?” Jongin whispers softly, approaching the latter quietly.

Redness line his eyes in angry, harsh gashes. There's splotches of dried tears on his cheeks. that Jongin wants to rub over, scrubbing all remnants of sadness away if he could. Amidst the bright warning signs, the biggest is the huge grin plastered on his face, resembling the sunny day outside, even though nothing is okay at the moment.

“Jongin, there you are!” Chanyeol shouts excitedly, hugging Jongin tightly. The scent of sleep wafts into Jongin's nostrils, he notices the dryness of Chanyeol's lips. “I have a great idea.”

Jongin furrows his eyebrows. This is...so unlike Chanyeol. Did he somehow experience amnesia whilst he was in there?

The Chanyeol he knows would have been slouching out of the bedroom, curling inwards on the sofa, playing a marathon of whatever movie series he has on demand, drinking through an entire pack of beer without properly thinking. Jongin was prepared to nurse both a hangover and a heartbreak...not this.

“Let's go on a road trip!”

Chanyeol has lost his mind definitely.

There's no other explanation, Jongin thinks, for this kind of craziness. There is a deranged look in Chanyeol's irises and it scares Jongin a bit of how wide his grin is, all his canines on show.

“Chanyeol, are you okay?” Jongin presses the back of his hand against Chanyeol's forehead. Odd. No fever. “Baekhyun's gone. We have no time for a road trip whatsoever.”

The spark in Chanyeol's eyes brighten even further, scaring Jongin more. “Exactly!” he squeezes Jongin's shoulders, the warmth seizing Jongin all at once. “We're going to find him!”

Jongin steps backward but he finds that he can't, due to Chanyeol's tight grip on him. He cocks his head at Chanyeol, assessing his features thoroughly. There are tears at the corners of his eyes, though Jongin isn't sure if it's from recent events or sleep deprivation. Excitement is purely written on the planes of Chanyeol's face, like the day he was planning the wedding date with Baekhyun.

It's so wayward, odd and Jongin is concerned.

He narrows his eyes, “Are...you sure? How about the wedding?”

Chanyeol waves it off, chirping happily, “I called Luhan! We postponed it to the 5th and he's taking in charge of rewriting guest invitations, everything.” He then sighs in a blissful tone. “What a great lad.”

“Chanyeol,” Jongin begins carefully. He measures the weight of his words on the tip of his tongue. “Did you not read the note properly? Baekhyun doesn't want the wedding anymore.”

“But we can find him and I'll change his mind!” Chanyeol's lips turn downwards in a tiny frown. “I can do that.”

Jongin's mind goes blank. Chanyeol looks so dead set on this idea of a road trip that Jongin can't possibly knock some sense into his head, especially when his hope is intertwined with it. Chanyeol looks so hopeful, that it wrenches Jongin's heart to try to remind him of the reality they are in.

He's not that certain if Baekhyun would change his mind after such a sudden departure.

But Jongin can't do anything else.

“So will you be coming along?” Chanyeol smiles at Jongin, all too hopeful again that it breaks him to say no. “Please?”

He even threw in the puppy dog eyes to throw Jongin off his path. Damn it.

“You can never say no to him,” Sehun laughed, adding salt to his wounds even more. “It's one of your fatal flaws.”

Jongin smiles, unease slipping into the uplifted corners. Throwing himself bare onto the train tracks, he swallows anxiously, “Sure, 'Yeol. Anything for you and Baek.”

The smile that Chanyeol is brighter than ever and Jongin mildly forgets what he's getting himself into once again.

“You said what?” Sehun exclaims in shock, before doubling over in loud guffaws. It eerily sounds like the 'I told you so' Jongin had been expecting from the latter and he jumps in before Sehun could even utter those annoying words to inflict more pain on his fresh wounds.

“Shut the hell up, Sehun,” Jongin spits. The migraine is wrecking his head over and the white noise of the traffic isn't sustaining it either. He groans out, “What the fuck do I do?”

“Maybe you can change his mind during the road trip by fucking him?” Sehun jests, Jongin's fist aches to punch the younger. “That'd be fruitful.”

“I'm not like you.”

“Why are you not tired of this?” Sehun recovers from his laughter. Jongin thinks he's not referring to his weak attempts of making backhanded comments at Sehun's life. “Do you find some sadistic joy in all of this?”

Jongin is about five seconds away from throwing his phone into the oncoming traffic but it wouldn't feel as satisfactory as throwing Sehun out of the window.

He rubs at his temples, “I'm not a sadist. I just... I can't sa–”

“You can't say no,” Sehun finishes it for Jongin. “I know that all too well, Jongin. If I recall, I'm the one who said that.”

Jongin kicks at a pebble on the pavement idly. Everything feels so frustrating and ridiculous to Jongin, he doesn't get why he's smack dab in the middle of this. It's not even his fault yet Baekhyun has to make him a part of this somehow. He didn't know what to do after he agreed to joining Chanyeol on the road trip. The taller boy practically shoved Jongin out of his apartment, claiming that he'd come by his apartment in the morning to pick him up.

“You have to pack your stuff and all!” Chanyeol pushes at Jongin's shoulders. “It'll be fun and we'll find Baekhyun, I'm sure!”

Jongin did the next thing he could think of; calling Sehun to cry his woes out to, before actually heading back to the apartment. He doesn't feel like heading back so early, he feels like drinking. Jongin chuckles to himself, this must be him tailing Sehun out for drinks again.

“Why are you being so mighty over this? You should be comforting me!”

“Oh, you know that's not why you called me,” Sehun rubs his knowing tone into Jongin's wounds, it stings far too much. “If that's what you wanted, you'd call Junmyeon or Jongdae.”

“They have lives, unlike you.”

Sehun ignores that remark, “You called me because you wanted to hear my wise and honest advice.” Jongin snorts at that but he strangely can't deny it either.

“If that's what you think... what's your advice, o' wise one?” Jongin asks, finding his lips curl upwards naturally for the first time in days.

There's a pause on the other end and then, Sehun's voice comes through, all too serious and devoid of the playfulness before. “Stop doing this to yourself, Jongin.”

“Stop beating yourself up over Chanyeol. He's not as worth it as you think.”

A heavy lump sits in Jongin's throat whilst hearing these words. It's not quite the first time he hears it; there are times when he's drunk and Sehun's gentle words waft through the pounding noise of their surroundings, hitting him all at once through his drunkenness.

Jongin stays quiet on his end, there's nothing he could say to that and Sehun knows that all too well because he sighs at the lack of response. With a sigh, Sehun merely says, “Come home. There's a box of donuts, you can eat your worries away.”

“Not spiked with anything?”

Sehun snorts, “That prank is so last year.”

Jongin laughs, loud and clear in the evening air and he is smiling softly when he says, “Thanks.”

“For what?”

The pebble skips over a few times before Jongin steps forward, journeying through the bodies rushing to get home. He's shifting through the crowd, the sun dawns on them and Jongin mildly forgets the nightmare waiting for him.

“For being an asshole like always.”

“I was thinking of visiting his parents first. Maybe he's sleeping there or they know something...”

It's ten in the morning.

Jongin usually wakes up at noon or after and on his work days, it'd be a miracle for him to be on time at nine in the morning. His students were never fazed by it, Jongin has guided them enough to keep them occupied and independent if there's ever an obstacle for classes. But here he is, in Chanyeol's car somehow, on a road trip to get Baekhyun back.

Chanyeol showed up at the apartment earlier than expected and Jongin didn't even realise it until he walked out of his bedroom, shirtless and only clad in pyjama bottoms, meeting his gaze across the living room.

Sehun was sitting on the couch, sifting through a fashion magazine with the television switched on as white noise, as Chanyeol awkwardly sits on the other end while scrolling through his phone.

“Jongin, your ride is here,” Sehun had greeted Jongin casually without lifting his eyes off the pages of the magazine. “Get dressed and get out before Chanyeol's cologne chokes me till my last breath.”

Jongin mused, watching how Chanyeol sputtered in surprise at Sehun's sudden jab and turning around on his heel to take a quick shower. He told Chanyeol to just stay in the car and he would seek him out after he was done getting ready.

Chanyeol never looked more relieved.

It wasn't until Jongin was buckled up in the passenger seat, hair still wet from the shower, that Chanyeol announced that he had done the liberty of calling the dance academy to get Jongin off work for a few days.

“I could have done that myself,” Jongin muttered as Chanyeol put the car into drive, accelerating.

“Yeah but knowing you, you would have forgotten,” and as Jongin turned to face Chanyeol with a glare, it slipped away at the soft, fond smile on Chanyeol's face with his eyes looking straight ahead at the road.

Jongin shut up after that.

It's things like this that Jongin can't keep Chanyeol out of his mind, constantly running over every important thing in his head with his clumsiness and tall physique, taking up the capacity of his mind relentlessly. Like his younger self, Jongin can't kick out of his habit of pondering over every little thing Chanyeol says.

It's a tiring habit to keep.

“I've called his mother, 'Yeol.” Jongin says to Chanyeol now when he's turning the car into the highway, already on the way to Bucheon. “I don't think Baekhyun's parents know where he is or what he has done.”

“Still worth a try.”

Jongin swivels around in his seat, the seatbelt digging into his shoulder blades. His throat is becoming dry, it must be the slight heat in the air but deep inside, as he looks at Chanyeol, he knows that that's not the case.

“Do you really think Baekhyun would come back with you?” Jongin didn't want to ask this but he had to. They are already speeding down the highway, too late to turn back of course but not too late to think over it properly.

“He will,” Chanyeol promptly answers. His jaw is set. He hasn't looked at Jongin since they were in his driveway. “He has to,” is what Chanyeol whispers under his breath but it's loud in Jongin's ears.

Jongin notices Chanyeol's knuckles whitening around the steering wheel and he drops his gaze, looking away. His heart feels like it's constricting, sharp edges digging into the flesh. It's not an unfamiliar feeling, but so unwelcoming that Jongin curls inwardly in his seat and sets his head by the leather of the seat.

He clicks on the button, creating a gap in the window to let the wind in. The background noise of vehicles driving by, along with the chirping of the birds, sounds of nature filling his ears and soothing his pounding heart. Jongin momentarily loses himself in nothing and everything at once. The wind rustles his hair, the scent of spring is faintly greeting him.

Jongin has yet to call Junmyeon to explain things, his messages clogging up Jongin's phone with (light) threats. Jongin simply texted, “going on a road trip with cy to find baek. talk to u later”, so he doesn't blame Junmyeon for being so inquisitive and demanding.

If Jongin closes his eyes and slips into the veil of dreams, he could almost pretend that this is a spontaneous trip with the love of his life. Eloping across the country, barely informing anyone else, with only a few nights worth of clothes and necessities in their bags. Drinking in the spring air, spending nights together under the same sky, breathing in each other's heavy gazes.

Jongin can only pretend.

His phone pings with another text message from Junmyeon. Jongin pretends once again, to not see it and closes his eyes. Sleep always comes easy to him (thankfully) and even when there is sweat sticking to his nape, Jongin is dragged under sleepiness and drifts off immediately.

It's rocky, but Jongin is used to it.

He doesn't know how much time has passed by but he is soon aroused from sleep by a hand on his shoulder, gently shaking him. Jongin can barely register the words being spoken to him, let alone his surroundings. He forgets for a second and when Chanyeol's face comes into focus, clearer than day, Jongin remembers all too painfully.

“We're here, Jongin,” Chanyeol declares as his gaze shifts towards the window and Jongin follows his line of vision groggily.

Rubbing at his cheek while yawning, Jongin's eyes adjust to the sunlight streaming into the car, hot on the leather seat. Baekhyun's parents' house stands before them, exactly just like how he remembered. Jongin finds himself unbuckling his seatbelt and pushing the car door open to look at the house properly.

It all feels so nostalgic and Jongin is transported to the memories of his adolescent years where he used to run down the pavement of Baekhyun's house, away from the incoming snowballs, and slip on the too smooth surface. Jongin had made a mess of the pots lining on the sides and Baekhyun had to attend to the disaster whilst Chanyeol pressed a bag of ice to Jongin's stained knees.

It felt like falling all over again in the moment.

And the bruises stayed, permanent till this day.

Jongin stumbles forward, teeth gnawing on his bottom lip. Thinking of Baekhyun's mother, the thought of witnessing heartbreak on a face again, he stays rooted to the ground. He senses Chanyeol stepping closer to him and if he turns, Jongin's sure to see the concern written in the lines of his mouth when he should be directing it to himself.

“I can't go in,” Jongin says. He feels Chanyeol still next to him. “I'll wait in the car, search for a nearby motel.”

A hand closes in on Jongin's shoulder and he braces himself for the look on Chanyeol's face but he's surprised by a smile.

“You don't have to.. accompany me,” Chanyeol assures Jongin but he feels like the wound on his heart is worsening. “I can do it by myself, y'know. After all, it is my fiancée who's missing.”

Saying no, Jongin realises, doesn't feel as good as he thinks it does.

But he stays in the car anyway, does what he promised to (there are lot of guesthouses in the area) and hums a song to keep his mind off reality for a while. Jongin finds it's fruitless when his mind keeps playing flashbacks of the times he spent in Baekhyun's house.

Chanyeol stands before the car for a bit too long, his gaze is too lingering on Jongin and it burns too much. Don't do this, Jongin warns weakly, you are messing with my head again. His lips pull upwards into a reassuring smile, looking upon Jongin's worry and Chanyeol walks away, hands in pockets and his head lower than intended. He presses on the doorbell and Jongin looks away.

Jongin hides, locks the smile away into a box in his mind.

This is not his mess to fix after all.

Baekhyun's mother pulls Chanyeol into a crushing hug, Jongin notices the tears on her face, jabbing him straight in the chest. Baekhyun's father pats Chanyeol on his back and nods at him.

Chanyeol turns on his heel, walking down the pavement, waving back at the couple.

Jongin ducks his head and pretends to sleep.

It is right outside of Bucheon.

Simple and unexpectedly homey, Jongin adapts to the motel quickly. It's an old married couple handling the business and the elderly man chatters with Chanyeol the whole time through the transaction. Their warm smiles welcome them nicely and Jongin's smile is tight when they comment on Chanyeol and Jongin being cute together.

Chanyeol never said anything.

Jongin closes the door behind him and hears Chanyeol plops onto the bed, his entire weight pulling the mattress down. It's cooler in the evening, and Jongin lets Chanyeol tackle the showers first (he has been driving all day, it's only fair). He fiddles with his phone, frowning at the low battery mark and the mountain of messages from Junmyeon.

Jongin's too exhausted to talk to anyone.

So he tries to settle in, lays out his night clothes and drinks a bottle of water from the mini fridge. Chanyeol finally emerges from the bathroom a good fifteen minutes later and Jongin quickly ducks in, clothes in hand, without looking at him in the eye. He pushes the visual of Chanyeol with only a towel wrapped around his waist out of his head, but it's so hard. Jongin bangs his head on the tiled wall and bathes in the warmth, soaking himself in the heat, untying the knots in his bones. He does a quick fix when he can and Jongin sighs out, the tension leaving his hands and cock. The steam clogs up the mirror but Jongin doesn't mind.

“I ordered drinks and some fish and chips,” Chanyeol greets Jongin from his bed. “If you don't want the fish and chips, I can ask to change.”

“Uh, that's fine,” Jongin replies, manually drying his hair on his towel. “But drinks?”

Chanyeol nods slowly, “Yeah... beer.”

Jongin lowers his towel, furrowing his eyebrows, “We're getting... drunk tonight?”

“Hopefully,” is what Chanyeol answers, looking away, dropping his gaze to his phone.

His eyebrows clench even further and Jongin drops his towel, padding towards Chanyeol's bed. Without asking for permission, Jongin settles next to Chanyeol in bed, cross-legged. Chanyeol looks up, the exhaustion is written all over his features. Without even thinking, Jongin's hand is lifted, thumb smoothing out the lines around Chanyeol's mouth tenderly.

Jongin is so focused on the plumpness of Chanyeol's lips, the bitten marks scarring the bottom lip. He almost didn't hear Chanyeol's whisper. Jongin's hand cups Chanyeol's cheeks absent-mindedly and he shifts his focus to the look in Chanyeol's irises, breathless from the intensity. Jongin can almost see himself in Chanyeol's dark brown irises, falling into the ocean, grasping at the corners to revive.

“I'm okay,” Chanyeol whispers again. His mouth moves against Jongin's thumb. “You can't stop worrying about me, can you?”

A chuckle slips and Jongin is so endeared by the sound but then panic settles into his heart and he pulls his hands away, alarmed. His eyes fall to his lap, fiddling with his thumbs. The touch of Chanyeol's lips linger on his skin. Jongin sneaks a peek and he finds that Chanyeol's gaze is unwavering like before.

It burns too much and Jongin wants to be set on fire.

“Room service!” Jongin jumps away from Chanyeol at the sudden booming voice outside of their room. Chanyeol finally moves his gaze towards the door and gets up to attend to it. Jongin finally lets out the breath he has been holding in.

Jongin bites the inside of his cheek, the words Chanyeol said ringing in his ears. Chanyeol's lips. Chanyeol's heavy gaze.

Something, Jongin doesn't understand, can't decipher the lingering gazes, the words slipping, the smiles.

His hands are trembling and when Chanyeol calls his name, he shakes his head. Jongin is reaching for a pack of cigarettes in his bag and he tucks it into his pockets. Brushing past Chanyeol's shoulder, ignoring the jolt in his stomach, Jongin mumbles around an excuse, “Just going out for air, leave the food on the table.”

Jongin steps out and breathes in properly.

Fumbling around in the hallways, Jongin finds a fire escape and hangs around in there. His hands poise over the railing, eyes taking in the splendid view of the busy streets and nebula blue sky. It's refreshing, Jongin takes a swig of his cigarette. The smoke gathers in his lungs and he calmly lets out a puff. It's almost relaxing to be doing a routine he has done for years, a habit that is so hard to break out of when his anxiety levels hit an all high. Jongin can't say he hasn't tried though, but somehow, he keeps returning to the sticks once a month.

Smoke circles around the air in grey puffs, his nose itches from the suffocating scent.

What was he thinking, Jongin's hand clenches around the railing, the metal digs into his palm. Chanyeol has a fiancée, he's chasing after him, Jongin has no place in his life no longer. He is merely 'Best friend Kim Jongin' in Chanyeol's contacts and it'd stay that way until the world caves in on itself and the skies fall upon the ground. Baekhyun is the one, not him.

Not anymore.

The cigarette tastes bitter.

Not as bitter as the sight of drunk Chanyeol.

“You're back finally!” Chanyeol slurs, raising his hands in the air, grinning so wide.

A single lighted lamp shines in the dark, shadows dance along the planes of Chanyeol's face. The yellow hue brings out the cloudiness of his irises, his lips stained with alcohol. When Jongin inches closer, he notices the wetness of Chanyeol's cheeks, evidence of tears spilling out while he was gone. There are beer cans strewn all over the carpeted floor, the room reeks of the cheap beer.

“You're drunk,” Jongin says stupidly. He rubs his palm against Chanyeol's cheek wiping the tears away. Chanyeol merely sits there, watching Jongin with an entranced expression on his face.

Jongin breathes in sharply when Chanyeol leans his cheek against his palm, a hand closing around the circle of his wrist comfortably. Chanyeol's eyelashes flutter, resting against his cheekbones. He looks so serene amidst the chaos going on in both of their lives.

Chanyeol leans closer and closer, Jongin stills. His nose hits Jongin's shoulder, his lips tickling Jongin's collarbone faintly. He feels Chanyeol inhaling deeply, his breath ghosting over his skin, ticklish and hot all at once. Jongin's hand falls, with Chanyeol's fingers still wrapped around his wrist loosely.

“Did you smoke?” Chanyeol inquires, his lips tickle Jongin's collarbone and he's torn between wanting to move away and wanting to stay rooted where he is. Chanyeol sighs against Jongin's shoulder, “I've always hated it.”

Jongin gulps. His voice is so hoarse, throat painfully dry, he isn't sure if it's from the smoke or Park Chanyeol. He tries to not focus on the taller boy leaning on him but he's taking up all of his space again, invading into his boundaries.

“Did you drink too much?” Jongin counters back. “I've always hated it.”

Chanyeol's shaking against him, and Jongin realises that the boy is laughing at him. He hiccups, “I can't help it. I needed my mind off things.”

“Did it help then?” Jongin tries pulling away from Chanyeol to look at him properly but the latter groans loudly in his ears, snuggling closer into him. Chanyeol's other hand wraps around Jongin's waist to keep him there, in his arms. His warmth envelopes Jongin entirely, he inhales the alcohol odour off Chanyeol all too sharply.

Jongin can't move.

Chanyeol hums, it's a lovely sound broken by a few hiccups. Jongin wonders if his eyes are still closed, if he can hear Jongin's heart beating too fast, if he can sense the shivers running down Jongin's arms, spine, everywhere.

“Not really,” a hiccup, a chuckle. “I can never take my mind off you.”

“What do you mean?” Jongin doesn't trust his own voice, it's too soft for the harsh night.

“Baekhyun always thought I was in love with you,” Chanyeol continues, Jongin feels his smile against his neck. He also tastes the smoke on his own tongue, he wants the smoke to cloud his lungs. “Maybe I was.”

Jongin's hand wrenches Chanyeol's shirt, his eyes grow misty. The striped shirt crinkles in Jongin's hold, he can hear the beating of his own heart, it's too loud. Everything is too loud. The sound of Chanyeol humming, the crickets of the night, the rustling of the bed, the choked out breaths from Jongin.

This is why he hates the sight of drunk Chanyeol; he's too honest, too confusing, and it plays with the strings of Jongin's heart, steering him into the direction of hope again when everything is utterly hopeless. His heart is a stupid, fragile thing, stirred by these words.

His eyes drift towards Chanyeol's hand around his wrist, the engagement ring catching the glint of the lamp, albeit shining bright even in the shadows. Reality washes over Jongin in harsh, icy waves, freezing him to his spot.

With a shuddering breath, Jongin pushes Chanyeol away, hands clenching around the front of his shirt. The smile on Chanyeol's lips is sad, his eyes are staring directly into Jongin's. A tear threatens to fall but Jongin keeps it in, keeps his words in, keeps pushing Chanyeol off.

“You're in love with Baekhyun and he's in love with you,” Jongin says, reminding Chanyeol. The older boy falls backwards, head hitting his pillow. Jongin drags his gaze away, biting his tongue. The next words are too muffled for a drunken Chanyeol to hear, “I've accepted it a long time ago.”

The humming begins again and Chanyeol's fingers drum on Jongin's wrist lightly, “Maybe he knows.” Then, Chanyeol starts mumbling something else that Jongin can't hear because everything is ringing in his ears, his vision is blurring too much. Soon enough, the drunken boy falls asleep, snores filling the silence.

Jongin unwraps Chanyeol's fingers from his wrist and pulls the blanket over him. The alcohol on his breath is too reminiscent of older times, memories that Jongin wants to erase but Chanyeol doesn't make it easy.

He almost never does.

Jongin trips before slipping into his bed. He tries to shut his mind off, but his hands are still trembling and coldness seeps into his bones like a familiar friend. His heart is aching too much, his head is spinning, he drinks a glass of water to clear the toxic away.

I can't take my mind off you, either.

It was a farewell party.

To be specific, it was Kyungsoo's farewell party. The boy scored an early orientation at a university way out of the city and Baekhyun wanted a party (everyone else voted in favour, Jongin sat out on it, Kyungsoo just wanted Baekhyun to shut up).

Jongin was seventeen, worrying about college entrance exams too much, pretending to be fine too hard. Baekhyun pulled him out of his house, dragging him to his truck (old but better than Jongin's 'no car' status) and promising him a great night.

Baekhyun was always like that; convincing and charming. Jongin couldn't not fall for his tricks. Even after years of building the friendship between them, days spent in each other's beds and mugging on different exams together, Jongin was and still is immune to Baekhyun's trickery.

.He had a way with his words which explained the crowds around him all the time, the admirers chasing after him but Baekhyun was always indifferent. Jongin could say he looked up to him at some point, was in awe at the way he handled everything. Jongin was one of the admirers, only that Baekhyun took care of him fondly like a little brother. Jongin has older sisters but they never talked to Jongin about anything, they were too immersed in their lives to care for him. He was used to being a solo in the family while his sisters were stuck at the hip.

Baekhyun shattered that when he stepped into Jongin's life.

It was pretty late when Jongin decided to give in, sneaking out of his house at the midnight hour. Thankfully, they were in the summer heat, Jongin was dying out of boredom in the free time he had. Baekhyun was waiting for him outside in his car and Jongin slipped into the passenger seat, frowning.

“Why are you going so late though?” Jongin asked, a question as his way of greeting the elder.

Baekhyun tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, “I will never be early to a party.” He sounded all mighty that Jongin couldn't help but snort, then he remembered what he had agreed to and the frown was back in place.

“It'll be fun!” Baekhyun enthused assuringly, checking the car mirror and fixing his bangs. Jongin stayed quiet, fingers fiddling with the threads of his ripped knee. “Chanyeol will be there so you're not alone after all.”

There was a knowing smile on Baekhyun's lips that Jongin wanted to slap off. He hoped the casting shadows disguised the crimson blush painting his cheeks. It was useless, as Baekhyun chuckled lightly at Jongin before swerving out of his driveway.

When they stepped through the front door, Baekhyun was quickly whisked away by someone Jongin couldn't recognise and Baekhyun threw him an apologetic glance as he spun away, already involved in a conversation. Jongin stood there for a few seconds, letting the loud, pounding music breeze over him with the scent of newly opened beer cans and bottles and socialising.

Baekhyun was right; it was a fun party but Jongin didn't run with that kind of crowd so he advanced towards the porch with a beer can.

He could almost lose himself in the darkness, ignoring the life of the party. Sip after sip, Jongin's beer ran dry and he grabbed a bottle instead to keep him company. It was hot, beads of perspiration tickling his nape and he found refuge in the coldness of the bottle and the passing breeze of the night.

Jongin was taking his phone out, fingers poised to type an SOS message to Chanyeol but speaking of the devil, he slid next to Jongin with a lazy smile, an easy grip on his beer bottle.

“Oh hey,” Jongin jumped at Chanyeol's bass-like voice and relaxed at the sight of him. “I thought you weren't going to come.”

Jongin rolled his eyes, “Like I could ever say no to Baekhyun.”

“We have to fix that, then,” Chanyeol jokes, nudging his shoulder against Jongin's playfully.

There's a bright glint in his eyes, setting fire to Jongin's heart. In the dancing shadows, Chanyeol illuminates with a soft glow, the littlest peek of light skipping over the planes of his face. The alcohol in his system caused Jongin to trip forward, head hitting Chanyeol's shoulder softly. He chuckled, giggled, a hand wrapping around Chanyeol's arm to steady himself.

His tolerance had never been that great, Jongin should have thought twice about drinking through the night.

“I can and will do anything you ask of me, 'Yeol.” Jongin pointed out with an arch of his eyebrow, a corner of his lips tugging upwards. “You know that better than anyone else.”

And it is true; he did and does know that. Chanyeol is Jongin's best friend since childhood in any case, a constant that never strayed far from Jongin. It was almost natural for the tall, elf-eared boy to turn into Jongin's weakness at some point. A weakness that Jongin never liked to admit (except when he's tipsy, it seems).

“Anything,” Chanyeol repeated. He blinked his eyes too slowly or maybe it was just Jongin imagining it because everything was moving too slowly. “You'd really do anything for me?”

Jongin hummed, nodding in answer. He took a swig of his beer, the coldness filling his throat and quenching the thirst momentarily.

“Would you...” for a second, Jongin noticed hesitance in the way Chanyeol bit his lip, the way his eyes fell to the grassy lawn. He watched as Chanyeol inhaled deeply and looked up bravely, a bubble of hope in his irises. “Would you kiss me?”

Jongin tensed.

The words flew over him, the bubble of hope diminishing in Chanyeol's eyes. Jongin could hear the words echoing in his ears and before even realising anything, he was already leaning in, nose nudging against Chanyeol's cupid bow and his chin tilting upwards to meet Chanyeol's lips halfway. Jongin closed his eyes at the first touch, a sigh.

The bottle broke into pieces on the lawn, a loud cry that never mattered to either of them.

Chanyeol's mouth was warm and Jongin inched closer to drink in the bittersweet taste of him. It was intoxicating, everything about Chanyeol was intoxicating; the way he draped his hand around Jongin's waist to pull him closer, the way his thumb rubbed against Jongin's cheek so gently, the way he sunk his teeth onto Jongin's bottom lip, eliciting a moan.

Jongin's hand cupped Chanyeol's jaw whilst the other clutched onto his thigh for stability. He was falling and falling deeper and Chanyeol's lips was too distracting, his tongue moved against Jongin's and he sighed into Chanyeol's mouth blissfully. They kissed and kissed and when they broke for air, Chanyeol continued to kiss Jongin on his skin, pecking on the corner of his lips, the tip of his nose, his cheeks.

Jongin's heart was pounding so so fast and he wasn't sure if it was just him, because with Chanyeol's chest pressed against him, he couldn't tell. Their hearts rocked in tandem, their mouths moved against each other again and they bathed in the warmth of each other.

Soon, Jongin began kissing lazily, sleepily. He pressed one last kiss to Chanyeol's ear fondly and he whispered, “Is that the kiss you wanted, 'Yeol?”

Before he dozed off on Chanyeol's shoulder, he heard the latter breathing out too loudly, “Yeah, it's more than I asked for.”

The morning Jongin awakened, he was in Baekhyun's bedroom. A migraine rippled his head apart but the memories flooded him to the brim, a redness spreading up to his cheeks at the thoughts of Chanyeol. The hangover soon afterwards was the biggest pain he had experienced in his seventeen years of adolescence.

But the universe decided to prove him wrong by throwing him with a much bigger pain.

Heartbreak; in the plainest form of Chanyeol's lips on Baekhyun's with the sunlight illuminating them in the kitchen.

Jongin had never heard a heart crack that easily and painfully.

meet me in the car once you've freshened up. there's aspirin and water on the table for you.

- jongin

The fish and chips was cold in the morning and pretty old, so Jongin only took a french fry and dumped the rest out. He grabbed his bag and phone before heading out of the motel. With Chanyeol's car keys, he unlocked the vehicle and stuffed his bag in the back seat.

It's only past eight in the morning so Jongin takes a walk by the roads, dropping by a convenience store to buy himself a bitter cup of black coffee. It tastes awful, like gasoline and Jongin wonders if it would escalate the fire in his heart. The terrible taste is somehow addicting as he takes sip after sip with his other hand in his pocket.

Jongin takes his phone out and clicks on Baekhyun's name in his list of contacts.

He listens to the dial tone idly, finds some kind of assurance in the sound strangely and when it leads to voicemail, no one is surprised. Jongin leaves a note though, his throat gritty from the awful coffee and early morning so he comes off harsh at first.

Clearing his throat, “Baekhyun.” Jongin pauses, thinking carefully. “I'm sure you're expecting this voicemail right? Well, here it is. I've given in, I'm going to beg you to come back for the wedding.”

Pink hues drift into the horizon with white clouds chasing after, it's all lovely and birds are croaking, singing a morose tune of Jongin's life. It's fitting and he is taken aback by the scenery. He stops at a spot on the pavement, stepping back to let a bicycle pass by. A breeze tickles his chin, rustles through his hair gently.

A sigh, “Come back, now. Wherever you are, Baekhyun, come back and deal with your fiancée.” Jongin feels his voice crack on the last syllable, “Because I can't do it anymore.”

A tone of finality rings through Jongin's ears, signalling the end of his voicemail. Jongin breathes out the last word to the world that doesn't care to listen.

“Please.”

“Is your head feeling better?”

Chanyeol rubs at his cheek absent-mindedly, “Not really.” He slumps forward in obvious exhaustion, “My head is going to tear apart. Why did you let me drink?”

Jongin ignores the last question and ducks into the back seat to grab a bottle of water he had taken in from the mini fridge in the motel room they stayed in. He slams the door and opens the other to the driver seat. Chanyeol surprisingly doesn't protest, merely slides into the passenger seat quietly and buckles himself when Jongin starts the car.

Typing into the GPS of the car system, Jongin answers the question that Chanyeol hasn't voiced out yet, “I figured we should visit Baekhyun's family beach house. Who knows? He could be staying there.”

Jongin sneaks a look at Chanyeol and sees the crease in between his eyebrows. The boy parts his lips, “But I don't think so.”

“Why not?”

“Because...” Chanyeol starts quietly. “It's where I proposed to him.”

Jongin feels the tension rising in the air and he fixates his gaze on the road ahead, gulping the anxiety down forcefully. “Still worth a try,” he repeats Chanyeol's words from before.

Jongin catches Chanyeol mumbling, “Let's see.”

Silence ensues afterwards as Jongin heads towards the destination. He can remember it all too clearly in mind, the proposal taking place at the beach house where he plays a role in aiding Chanyeol with the preparations. He remembers the nervousness breaking out in goosebumps on Chanyeol's skin, Jongin soothing him by assuring him over and over again. He had felt the distance between Chanyeol and him when Baekhyun had said yes, the rippling effect of Jongin's steps backwards.

At the sudden grumble of Chanyeol's stomach, Jongin tells him, “There's some bread in the back if you want.”

Chanyeol throws him a thankful glance, Jongin manages a smile. He initially bought the bread to eat later but Chanyeol is sporting a migraine so he figured. He hears Chanyeol tear the packaging open, chewing on the bread with a sigh of bliss. The smile remains on Jongin's face unexpectedly and he presses his lips together to keep it to himself.

The traffic isn't that terrible at ten in the morning thankfully, so Jongin speeds down the road, passing by places that are vaguely familiar to the memory he has from months ago.

“Take a right turn next,” Chanyeol commands suddenly and Jongin raises his eyebrows in question. “I just want to go to the beach first,” is Chanyeol's reason.

Without further questioning, Jongin takes the right turn and drives straight ahead. They are close by, Jongin notices the shops with surfboards, seafood restaurants and it's sparking the memories in Jongin's mind. They went to celebrate at one of these seafood restaurants, Baekhyun picked up the bill and they left early while the newly engaged couple stayed for a few more glasses of wine.

Jongin drives into the parking lot behind the beach and parks the car in silence. The engine cuts off and Jongin stares at his hands on the steering wheel, unsure of what to do next. Chanyeol makes the next move, opening the door and getting out promptly. Jongin grabs his phone and wallet, pockets them and joins Chanyeol soon after.

The wind hits Jongin immediately and it isn't unpleasant. The smell of the sea lingers in his nostrils, a smell he hasn't breathed in for a long time since. Jongin follows after Chanyeol's back, down the pathway to the beach. Soon, sand slips into his sandals, prickling his skin. He shakes it off but it's useless, more sand fills his sandals and he loses the battle.

The light shade of blue paints the sky, the hues sitting comfortably on the horizon where it meets the darker shade of blue, the waves coursing over the ocean. Waves crash onto the shore, the current isn't too strong for spring, a dip in the sea wouldn't freeze Jongin's bones.

Chanyeol settles down right on the sand, picking up a few stones and throwing them into the ocean carelessly. Jongin watches, eyes following the momentum of the stones, and sits next to Chanyeol. A few centimetres separate them and Jongin pushes aside the urge to lean against the taller boy for warmth. The spring breeze is colder today, and it's not helpful that they are close to the ocean.

“I'm sorry,” Chanyeol begins. Jongin almost didn't hear him over the distracting waves. “For last night.”

“Oh, you remembered?” Jongin couldn't help himself, it comes out bitter. He scrapes the thumb of his skin on the sharp edge of a stone in the sand. It doesn't hurt as much as the ache in his heart. “It's okay. I was prepared to forget about it.”

“No, it isn't!” Chanyeol turns to Jongin, face contorted into a frustrated expression. He looks hurt, but Jongin isn't certain what he has done to Chanyeol to be on the receiving end of this vented anger. “Nothing is okay! Everything is screwed up, my fiancée is missing, my best friend probably hates me for making the same mistake twice and I'm still a mess.”

Chanyeol is breathing heavily now and all Jongin is concentrating on is the meaning behind those words. His breath halts, a scar reopening, a wound fresh once more.

“The same mistake?” Jongin repeats softly. The wind carries his words over with grace but all Jongin is trying to do is keep the fury within. “That's all it is to you? A mistake.”

Chanyeol's eyes widen, his teeth latching onto his bottom lip in realisation of what he has said but Jongin doesn't pay heed to it. His mind is reeling from the revelation, Chanyeol has never forgotten a single thing from that night years ago. He remembers everything, the kisses, the words exchanged, the shared warmth under the same night sky.

Chanyeol remembers and he still decided to throw Jongin away.

A knife sits in Jongin's chest and he pulls it out, choking on his own breath. If all the previous pain he had felt was heartbreak, then nothing amounts to this; the most bloody mess that sits next to him and the knife he has drived into Jongin's chest.

Jongin's fist is clenched, “Sometimes... I wonder why I ever bothered to be by your side.” He laughs, everything is bitter and he needs a cigarette or two now. “It's unfortunate that I'm in love with you.”

Chanyeol parts his lips and closes, clearly speechless. The secret is out, and it leaves Jongin with an awful taste. The waves roar in the background, spring seems so hopeless now, Jongin wants to drench himself in the sea and let it carry him to another shore.

Out of a sudden, Chanyeol's fingers touch the end of Jongin's pale yellow scarf, tugging on it tenderly. There is a soft expression on his features, something that Jongin can't fathom after the anger he has spat out.

“That's truly unfortunate,” Chanyeol agrees and his voice is smooth against the storm brewing in Jongin's heart. “You shouldn't have fallen for a mess like me.”

He gazes upwards into Jongin's eyes and the storm rages on, the fire sizzling and his mind in a disarray. The effect that Chanyeol leaves is never welcoming but Jongin takes it all in any way.

“That took you guys long enough,” a voice interrupts the moment and Jongin tears his eyes away to address the intruder to only be speechless further by the face that looms close to both his and Chanyeol's.

Byun Baekhyun, in the flesh, stands before them with a smile on his face. He looks healthy, put together, like he didn't try to escape an upcoming wedding in a week. A breeze passes by the three of them, sending the ends of Jongin's scarf dangling in the air, messing up Baekhyun's bangs. Jongin gapes at the sight and Baekhyun's eyes fall, noticing Chanyeol's fingers tracing Jongin's scarf, the close distance between them.

Jongin gets up, it feels like the waves are crashing into him, drowning him entirely.

He catches the glint of the gem on Chanyeol's engagement ring on his left hand, and it comes back, flooding to him. The lump rises in his throat and they've found Baekhyun, this is where the road ends. It'll turn around again. Jongin steps back, his lips part to mutter an excuse to leave them alone, and spins around on his heel to exit the beach.

This love story doesn't involve him, it has never been him. He was merely a replacement, a pawn mixed into their lives.

Jongin trips on his way and quickly gathers himself up. He almost scares a kid and he bows low in apology to the parents before scurrying away. Once he reaches the parking lot, Jongin braves himself to turn around and finds that no one followed him, he is alone.

His eyes stray to the beach, squinting to find Baekhyun and Chanyeol, and he sees the couple huddled together, foreheads pressed against each other in intimacy. Jongin's mouth runs dry, he swallows thickly and he finds that the cold is merciless on him again. Goosebumps run down his arms and Jongin rubs his arms together, taking in sharp, short breaths.

Jongin isn't part of this, he isn't needed here, he has to go.

Without even properly thinking through, he turns around, heads towards the main streets and searches desperately for a bus to Seoul. Jongin can leave his things in Chanyeol's car, they are just clothes, a toothbrush and body mist. They are replaceable, like him.

This is not his story to write, to tell, to be in. It has always been Baekhyun and Chanyeol.

Jongin leaves without a trace and once he boards a bus, he lets out the longest breath.

It has never been him.

Days turn into weeks and soon, Jongin misses the wedding day, ignoring the phone calls and messages. He only answers to Sehun whom he knows won't rat him out no matter how much of an asshole he is to Jongin on a daily base, he is still a good friend first.

That's something Jongin would lie about if you asked him though.

Dance has always been his one sanity in life so Jongin takes refuge in it; stepping out onto the streets only to head to the dance academy to conduct dance lessons and have his own dance practices. Jongin has taken the liberty of asking Taemin if he could crash at his place for a while since he's the only friend he knows out of the circle and the only one he knows to stay near the academy. Taemin lets him with the price of Jongin choreographing a piece for one of his upcoming dance competitions.

It's dull, mundane but Jongin doesn't complain about it. It's been a while since he allowed himself this luxury. He throws himself entirely into dance and it feels like a vacation from the life he has known all this time. Sehun calls it 'running away' but Jongin calls it the life he deserved all this time.

“This is not happiness, Jongin,” Sehun had scolded him over the phone. It was almost amusing to hear Sehun preaching. “You know that this is just an escape. A cowardly one.”
Jongin wants to argue that he is happy, though not as obvious, but he insists that he is. This routine that he has adapted to in his life is what he wants. He's not a coward, he just stopped being a third party in the love story that never involved him in the first place. Chanyeol never chose him from the start, Jongin knew that.

It becomes peaceful, almost, to bicker with Taemin when they're both home and work till his bones tire out in the dance studio. Sure, Jongin may have nightmares and there are dark circles ringing around his eyes now but he is living, he is breathing and he can't ask for anything more. Jongin is done with hoping, it's a painful cycle, his heart can only withstand so much pain.

But like all good things, they never last.

Jongin stares at his phone now, at the blinking phone call on his screen. He's counting till ten and it stays there, still blinking, still screaming at him to pick up. Jongin hesitates, his finger hovering over the answer button. He is torn and his impulsive nature takes over, pressing firmly on the answer button.

“Hello?” Jongin says timidly, biting onto his bottom lip so hard he's shocked it didn't draw any blood.

“Were you busy, Jonginnie?” the pet name rolls off on the other end of the phone and Jongin closes his eyes, taking deep breaths to calm his heart. “If I was disturbing one of your dance classes, then I'll call back later.”

“No, you weren't,” Jongin replies. He leans his head back against the frame of the bed, feeling the wooden edge dig into his scalp. “What do you want, Baekhyun?” Jongin asks exasperatedly.

“Nothing!” Baekhyun answers cheerfully. Jongin can almost imagine the smirk on his face when he says that. “I'm just calling to check up on you.”

Jongin sighs out, “You don't have to. I'm fine.” Pursing his lips, Jongin adds, “Congratulations on the wedding. I'm sorry I couldn't be there.”

“Are you?” Baekhyun suddenly asks, all provokingly. Jongin should have seen it coming from the moment he answered the phone call. “Are you really sorry?”

Jongin's nails painfully dig into his palm when he clenches his fist, his knuckles are whitened. “You know why I can't be there but yeah, I am sorry.”

Baekhyun hums on the other end and it's breathy, too close to the speaker. It's loud in Jongin's ears, it almost feels like Baekhyun's next to him, blowing air into his ears like he always does when he tries to annoy Jongin or catch his attention. His heart is suddenly aching, nostalgic for a familiar presence next to him.

“Well thankfully, the wedding didn't happen then.”

“What?!” Jongin sputters out. He gets up too quickly, his back straightened against the bed frame and it hits his spine too closely. He groans out in pain and rubs his tailbone with a frown. Jongin stares at his phone and presses it against his ear again.

“Yeah,” Baekhyun chuckles brightly. It's lighthearted, devoid of any harm. Jongin is confused. “It didn't work out in the end.”

Jongin can imagine the elder boy shrugging in answer and he is further perplexed by the reaction. “But I thought... you had it in control? Wasn't this what you guys wanted?”

He hears the amusement in Baekhyun's voice when he replies, “This was never what I wanted, Jongin. I specifically wrote on my note that I didn't want a wedding, a marriage with Chanyeol.”

Flashbacks of the beach spur in Jongin's mind and he asks quietly after, “What about Chanyeol? Did he not fight for you?”

A laugh bubbles out on the other end of the line, “He did but it wasn't worth it. He realised that it isn't what he wanted either.”

“What does he want then?”

“You,” Baekhyun says simply and it sends a jolt right to Jongin's heart, it has been a while. “And happiness.”
“That's untrue,” Jongin protests, shaking his head even though Baekhyun can't see him. “I was a rebound, replaceable.”

Another laugh rings in Jongin's ears and Baekhyun says, his voice so earnest and sincere that it tugs on the strings of Jongin's heart, “Jongin, dear, you were never a rebound. I was the rebound.”

Jongin's eyes widen but Baekhyun continues, “Chanyeol really loved you since a long time ago and he thought you didn't. I became his rebound and foolishly thought it was real.”

“A part of me has always known that he loves you still,” Baekhyun sighs. “I realised it wholly before the wedding.”

Baekhyun has always thought I was in love with you, Chanyeol had slurred with the alcohol reeking his breath, maybe I was.

All this time. Jongin had thought that all this time, Chanyeol turned to him because he was simply there, always there. He never thought once that Chanyeol would choose him. They've been constants in each other's lives, so tightly woven with each other. Jongin can remember every living memory with Chanyeol, every bruise he brushed against, every tear he wiped with his shoulder for Chanyeol to lean on for comfort, every smile Jongin breathed in, feeling the sun awaken in his body.

How foolish, Jongin almost chuckles out loud, drinking in the revelation. Years and years of memorising Chanyeol and his quirks and yet, Jongin ignores the most important detail. How stupid, he hoped so much and to think that his worth was of a pawn next to Park Chanyeol.

Jongin's the stupid one.

“How about you?” Jongin asks, remembering about Baekhyun. “Don't you love him?”

“I do,” Baekhyun answers immediately. “There's no doubt but I've found someone else and it's different.”

“That fast?” Jongin arches an eyebrow, he keeps the laughter in. Typical Baekhyun, out and charming others and finding himself in a trap just that quickly.

Baekhyun doesn't keep his laughter in, “I've gone through a lot of revelations lately. It seems that we were all foolish human beings in our youth. Especially you and Chanyeol.”

“You don't get to say your version of 'I told you so',” Jongin groans. His heart is pounding against his ribcage, it's a reminder that he's alive and there's hope, bright and promising hope of a future with happiness and Chanyeol.

“Call him,” is what Baekhyun says, so soft and gentle and it makes Jongin smile wider. The fire settles in his heart, and a gentle breeze tickles his skin. His eyes glisten with bliss, Jongin's legs ache to run out of the apartment and into Chanyeol's arms to say all the things he wants to since he was seventeen.

Jongin exhales. His heart feels light.

“I will.”

“Why haven't we gone out on a double date with Kyungsoo and Baekhyun?”

Jongin's eyes narrow at Chanyeol, he flicks a french fry at the taller boy. He answers the stupid question, “Because it's awkward and Kyungsoo hates them.”

Chanyeol's left eyebrow makes a perfect arch in question, as he munches on the french fry that Jongin threw at him, “How do you know that?”

“Baekhyun told me when I asked him before,” Jongin exasperatedly reveals and Chanyeol cackles in laughter.

“This is probably why we're dating,” Chanyeol reaches over to press a sloppy kiss on Jongin's cheek. Jongin scrunches his nose in disgust, Chanyeol kisses him there too. “We make bad ideas and we are both idiots. Perfect pairing.”

Jongin makes a move to flick at Chanyeol's forehead but the boy catches his wrist and holds him there. His gaze is far too intense and Jongin's breath hitches in his throat. There's something underlying those irises and Jongin can't decipher it yet, he is searching and searching for the answers.

They've been dating over two and a half years but to them, it feels like they've been together all this time. It's natural to slide into Chanyeol's chest and rest Jongin's head there like that's where it belongs all the time. Jongin finds that listening to the beating of Chanyeol's heart is his cliché pasttime as a boyfriend, and Chanyeol's favourite is baking in the kitchen (especially when it leads to such a big mess and them kissing the whip cream off each other's faces).

Chanyeol is toying with his fingers now and Jongin's eyebrows furrow in both curiosity and confusion.

“Hey, wh–”

“I have an idea,” Chanyeol suddenly announces and Jongin blinks at that. His mouth closes the gap and he watches as Chanyeol turns his wrist, making his palm face downwards. He digs into the pockets of his sweatpants and pulls out something that Jongin doesn't quite catch at first but when he does, he's breathless, speechless.

It perfectly attracts the light of the room, reflecting off it. A kaleidoscope of colours dances around on the gem, it's stunning and Jongin is immediately entranced by it. Chanyeol's thumb rubs over the edge of the gem and he taps it against Jongin's ring finger on his left hand.

Chanyeol gazes into Jongin's eyes, all too sweetly and beautifully. Love lingers in those irises and it mirrors Jongin's. Chanyeol leans in, his breath ghosting over Jongin's cupid bow, when he asks, “Wanna get married?”

A million thoughts run in Jongin's mind. It's spontaneous, it's sudden and Jongin doesn't even know if he's ready, if they're ready but if there's anything he's sure of is that it's them. It's Jongin and Chanyeol and he's certain of Chanyeol, come what may.

“You can never say no to him,” Sehun had said multiple times and it stays true to this day, a habit that Jongin can and will never break out of.

Jongin says yes.

Prompt #: 93

Title: Together in Electric Dreams
Word Count: 14756 words
Rating: NC-17
Warning(s): Mentions of past mistreatment, mention of minor EXO character death, androids, robots, frottage, hand jobs, human/android smut, mild angst (with a happy ending), sexbot!Jongin, weird science, maybe a little too much conversation?
Summary: Robotics Professor Dr Park Chanyeol has no idea what’s in store for him when he rescues a broken android from a roadside dumpster.
Author's Note: My sincere gratitude to the Mods for being so understanding and for giving all of us this chance to shout out our love for chankai. Many thanks to the prompter for inspiring this fic. I’m so sorry I had to tweak the prompt quite a bit, but I hope you will like the story anyway. My love and thanks to sprint warriors T and O for keeping me sane and for getting me to the finish line in one piece (more or less). All section break quotes are taken from Phillip K. Dick’s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. The title of this fic is taken from this song.

”Do androids dream?”

Chanyeol cups his hand over his forehead, shielding his eyes from the rain. It's the tail end of summer and there's a slight chill in the air. Goosebumps ripple across his bare arms and he tries to ignore them as he jogs along the sidewalk. Just five more minutes and he'll be back in the dry comfort of his large, studio apartment.

The sky is a gloomy, dreary gray and it's just been a horrible week. Wet and gray and horrible. Chanyeol longs for blue skies and the warmth of the late summer sun. Maybe tomorrow. He hopes for a canopy of blue tomorrow.

He almost misses it—the flash of skin and the unnatural angles. The dumpster is just up ahead and he wouldn't normally give it even a passing glance. Just another insignificant pixel of his everyday landscape that he's tuned out. But a car zooms past, gliding through puddles, and splashing water onto the sidewalk.

Chanyeol sidesteps the arc just in time to avoid an untimely shower out in the open. And that's when he notices something extraordinary, a few significant pixels that aren’t a part of of his everyday landscape.

Arms. Shoulders. Dark hair.

Fuck. Chanyeol halts in mid-stride, pinned to the sidewalk in shock. There's a body half-hanging out of the Metal Recyclables dumpster.

His first reaction is homicide. Some psychopath had obviously decided to dump a corpse in the dumpster just across the road from his apartment building. Damnit. A hundred people have probably walked past the scene and pretended they hadn’t seen anything significant. But Chanyeol can’t be like them; he can’t ignore the abandoned body. He needs to report this to Law Enforcement.

His hand is fishing around for his cellphone when he notices the second extraordinary thing about this scene. Slender, gunmetal gray cables are dangling down the side of the dumpster, wet and glistening with the reflected glow of the violet streetlights that hang above it.

It's easy to miss them with the dark, charcoal gray of the dumpster in the background. Anyone else might have overlooked them, but the gunmetal gray sparks recognition in Chanyeol—recognition and a deep sense of horror. The cables are unmistakable to a robotics professor like Park Chanyeol. He’s spent the past six years in his lab, working with similar alloy cables. He’d know them anywhere.

Bile creeps up his throat, threatening to to bring up the too-dry, lemon muffin he only half-remembers eating for tea. His body is caught up in a conflicted knot of fear, horror and the need to save the android. Who had done this? Who had dumped this android in a dumpster like a piece of trash?

Chanyeol will do everything he can to help the Department for Prevention of Crimes Against Robotic Entities discover the identity of the culprit and have him thrown into prison. Someone who is capable of throwing away a sentient being in such a cavalier way—who knows what else such a person is capable of? Why would anyone do something this cruel? This heartless?

Gently, carefully, he hauls the body out of the dumpster. The android resembles a broken marionette right now, with cables snaking down his front and his neck bent at an unnatural angle. But his face. . .it's a beautiful face. Sun-blessed skin, a rugged jaw, a generous, almost sulky mouth. Even the rain-plastered hair and the cables spilling out of the CPU port behind his neck can’t detract from the android’s beauty.

He’s wearing pale, stained linen in some indeterminate color—a plain-cut tunic with matching, loosely cut trousers. Everything is drenched and the android’s dark nipples are visible through the translucent, wet fabric.

Chanyeol takes a sharp intake of breath.

Nipples.

A sudden wave of epiphany crashes into Chanyeol as he stares at the dark, coin-like shapes. A sexbot. Of course. Months of violent demonstrations and picketing had pressured the Government into banning the manufacture and circulation of sexbots a couple weeks ago. Chanyeol had rejoiced with his colleagues when the 15-foot high media screen on their 4th floor office had flickered to life and holo-projected the historic announcement.

He could still see the newscaster’s grim expression as she’d announced, Owners are required by law to surrender their Eros 2000 PleasureBots to the Ministry of Robotic Affairs with immediate effect. If androids are surrendered to the Ministry later than seven working days from today, a fine will be imposed. The money collected from the fines will be channeled into the reprogramming of Eros 2000 PleasureBots. Failure to comply will result in further penalty and/or possible incarceration.

Possible incarceration. Surely the android’s owner had been aware of the risk? Yet Chanyeol had still found himself in the position of pulling the Eros 2000 out of the trash tonight. He pulls an impatient hand through his dripping hair. Why are humans beings so. . .fucking contemptible?

There's no way around it. He’ll have to bring the android to the Ministry of Robotic Affairs so they can identify his owner and incarcerate his useless ass. But it’s a Friday night and the Ministry isn’t open so he’ll have to keep the android for two days at least. Or, not to be stating the obvious, but you could just call the Ministry’s 24-hour helpline and have them pick him up, he chides himself. Chanyeol knows that’s the most logical option to take but his mind recoils from it.

Around him, the rain continues to fall. It’s so fucking cold but Chanyeol barely even notices his own goosebumps by now. The surface of the android’s bare skin is smooth though, despite the wet and the cold. This is the closest Chanyeol has ever gotten to an Eros 2000. He’s always refused to do any work related to sexbots so he’s only seen them from a safe distance—in holo-ads and electronic flyers.

The android’s eyes are closed, like he's in a state of dreamless, serene sleep. Chanyeol is struck again by how beautiful the android is. But then, all PleasureBots had been built to be aesthetically pleasing. That was the whole point, wasn’t it? Chanyeol shudders. He’s so glad that whole business of sexual slavery has been eradicated.

Only five minutes’ walk away, Park Chanyeol. You can do it. You can carry him there without dying..

Who is he trying to kid? He’s totally going to die. The android is two, maybe three inches shorter than him. Broad shoulders, lean body, long legs. Probably around 70 kilos, max. The only thing he’s used to carrying is his backpack, which weighs 3 kilos, max. Clearly, he’s doomed.

Chanyeol takes a deep breath and hoists the android over his shoulder in a fireman carry. He groans at the effort, cursing himself for not joining the company fitness training program this year (for the third year running, fuck his life). It's uncomfortable and wet and his cargo is heavy and oh God, Chanyeol wishes the rain would fucking stop. Too bad he's never had much luck with weather. Gritting his teeth, he plants his feet on the sidewalk, willing himself to keep going.

He tries not to feel freaked out by the fact that he doesn’t feel any warmth from the body slung over his, or sense any heartbeat pulsing against his shoulder blades. Androids are completely static when they’re switched off—this is nothing new to Chanyeol. But he’s never been in such close proximity to a powered-down android for more than a few seconds at a time. The lack of sound and movement is more than a little disturbing because the android’s skin and everything else about him feels so remarkably. . .human.

Chanyeol's always wondered what happens to androids when they power down. Do they dream? Do androids dream? Or is there nothing to look forward to but an instant black void? Over the years, Chanyeol has built hundreds of androids. He’s asked each one the same question. The answer is always the same—expressed in different words perhaps, but the answer is always the same:

what do you dream of when you power down?
nothing. it’s just an ocean of black.
no dreams then?
no. no dreams.

There’s no reason to think this android will be any different than the ones who had come before him, but Chanyeol knows he’ll still ask him what he dreams of. He’ll ask him if he even dreams. If he gets the chance, he won’t be able to stop himself from asking. Shifting the limp body more comfortably around his shoulders, Chanyeol wonders what the android will say.

no dreams.

He’ll probably say no dreams. Chanyeol grits his teeth and walks faster.

✼

Chanyeol is panting as he presses a weary, outspread palm to the perspex biometric scanner beside his front door. Most of his days are spent ensconced in robotic laboratories and this has not in any way prepared him for the physical challenge of carrying an android home.

He’s really done with the gawking too. Passersby and neighbors had given him pointed stares on the exhausting journey back to his apartment. It wasn’t every day you saw someone lugging an android down your street or through your building. Not that anyone had offered to help. It’s disappointing but not unexpected. It’s the norm to take zero interest in other people’s lives and to refrain from offering help, even when it’s needed.

The door slides open with a barely audible whoosh and Chanyeol almost collapses with relief. He’s three steps into the apartment before he drops into a half squat and lowers the android onto the floor. Once he’s safely horizontal, Chanyeol flops onto the ground with a loud groan. The polished granite is hard and unyielding beneath his back but he’s too tired to care.

He turns to look at the android who’s lying about two feet away, I thought i was going to get cardiac arrest halfway home but hey, we made it. Even in profile, the Eros 2000 is stunning. Too stunning, Chanyeol thinks as he looks away quickly and tries to get his breathing back to an even keel.

“Wait here. I’m just gonna shower and then I’ll get a towel and some dry clothes for you.” Chanyeol says the words without thinking, forgetting for a moment that his accidental guest can’t even hear him. He feels a little stupid for talking to the android but at the same time, he can’t help wondering what his voice might have been like if he could have replied. Clear and melodic? Low-pitched and deep?

Well, he’ll find out when he powers him up. Assuming he can do it with the limited equipment he’s got at home. Assuming the bot’s owner hadn’t fucked up too many circuits when he’d yanked out those cables. Thank God, cybernetic circuits are 100% waterproof or the rain would have finished him off. He knows he should just return the android to the Ministry without trying to activate him, but this will literally be his only chance to examine a decommissioned Eros 2000. Chanyeol’s thirst for knowledge won’t allow him to pass up the chance.

You should take him straight to the Ministry on Monday morning, Park Chanyeol. No messing around. No talking to the android. No asking him whether he dreams. No questions. Just no.

Chanyeol wishes he were better at listening to his own good advice.

“Do you think androids have souls?”

After Chanyeol showers and dresses, he goes back down with a stack of towels and clothes and starts peeling off the android’s wet clothing. He’s completely naked underneath the wet linen and Chanyeol glances away as best he can, even if the android has no understanding of privacy, or what it means to have it invaded.

He tries his best not to look but he catches accidental glimpses of the well-made body, the lean, elegant thighs, the softly resting penis. The Eros 2000 really is. . .pleasing to the eye. Not that Chanyeol cares about that one way or the other. He wants to get to work right away though, so he decides he’s not even going to try to get the android into the pair of drawstring pants he’s selected for him. Too much work. Chanyeol grabs one of the towels and dries the android’s hair and body as impersonally as he can before slipping the t-shirt over his head and arms. Then he’s hoisting the android over his shoulders for the second time that night.

Thankfully, his destination is only forty feet away. Gingerly, he lowers the android onto the large worktable at the far end of his loft. It’s seven feet long and three feet wide—built to accommodate androids because Chanyeol is a workaholic who can’t stop tinkering with his robotic experiments. He would live in his lab at the Robotics Department of MediPharm if he could only convince his bosses to allow it.

“Okay. Showtime,” he mutters as he covers the android’s lower body with a dry towel. Then he pushes his glasses further up his nose and grabs his toolbox and a protein bar. He keeps a steady supply of the instafood in the drawer of his worktable so he doesn’t have to stop work just to feed his body. It stresses his assistant Kyungsoo no end that Chanyeol gets so absorbed in his work that he often forgoes proper meals and human interaction. Looks like it’s going to be another Saturday night Chanyeol stays in instead of going out to have dinner or drinks or a date or even a casual hookup.

It’s surprisingly easy to reinstall the cables, as the Eros 2000’s owner had somehow managed, miraculously, to avoid causing any major damage. For more than three hours, Chanyeol works on the repairs—replacing and realigning circuits, locating and reconnecting detached cables. Then it’s just a matter of installing a new control panel and programming a new activation code. Holding his breath, he keys in the numbers on the small, concealed control panel at the base of the android’s skull and waits.

The android looks almost fragile as he lies there on his side, all lifeless in Chanyeol’s too-large faded lilac t-shirt.

“Come on. Power up for me, okay,” he says in a slightly desperate voice as his fingers settle on the android’s arm. Nothing. Chanyeol’s about to reach behind the android’s neck to key in the code again when his eyelids begin to flicker. Chanyeol watches, rapt, as the Eros 2000 opens his eyes. They’re a rich shade of honey, and they look extremely intelligent.

“Where am I?” His voice is deep, not as deep as Chanyeol’s but throaty in a way that Chanyeol’s isn’t. He likes it.

“I’m Dr. Park Chanyeol and you’re in my apartment.”

“Yes, I can see it’s an apartment but what am I doing here and how did I get here?” He sounds curious and a little amused as he sits up. A sense of humor. Chanyeol hadn’t expected that.

“I found you in a dumpster across the road.”

“Ah.” Realization seeps through his features and it kind of upsets Chanyeol that he looks so. . .accepting of his fate.

“You don’t sound surprised.”

“Well, he’s been threatening to abandon me in a dumpster for weeks so I’m kind of relieved it's over and done with and that my personality construct is still intact, to be honest.”

“Hell. That’s just—” Chanyeol’s words trail off because he doesn’t really know what to say. The more he finds out about the android’s owner, the more his revulsion for the monster grows.

“Thank you.” The corners of the android’s mouth tilt up to form a tentative smile.

“For what?”

“For not leaving me there.”

“But I couldn’t have!” Chanyeol protests.

“A lot of people would have just left the recyclable trash where it was.” The android’s tone is matter-of-fact. 
“You’re not trash.”

“To my owner, I was. Literally.” He laughs and there’s no humor in the sound.

“He’s the one who belongs in the trash, not you,” Chanyeol says hotly.

“Thank you for saying that even though you know nothing about me,” he smiles.

“What’s your name?” Chanyeol says at last because he’s not sure what else to say.

“He called me Kai.”

“Do you want me to call you Kai or would you like to pick a different name?”

“I don’t want to be called Kai,” he says with a pained expression. “Would you give me a name? I don’t exactly have a database for names. There was no need for it, you see.”

“I—I need to think of a name. I can’t think of one right now. I wasn’t expecting this.”

“There’s no rush.” The android draws the fingers of his right hand over the back of his left hand and the gesture reminds Chanyeol of a character from a movie he’d watched in high school—one he’s never forgotten. The character is an android called Jongin. He’s always liked that android, always liked that name.

“What about Jongin?” The words come out in a rush and Chanyeol looks down, feeling a little embarrassed at his show of over-enthusiasm.

“Jongin. I like the way that sounds.” And he looks like he means it.

“Jongin it is.” Chanyeol can’t help smiling at how delighted the android seems. And to be honest, he’s just happy he can finally stop referring to him as the android or the Eros 2000.

“Do I call you Dr. Park?”

“Oh God, no. The only people who call me Dr. Park are my bosses and the company interns. You can call me Chanyeol.”

“I had to call him Master so it feels strange to be calling you by your first name. I’ve. . .never called anyone by their first name before.” Jongin says it quietly, like it’s a simple fact, not like it’s something that bothers him. It saddens Chanyeol.

“Please call me Chanyeol.”

“All right.”

“You’re stuck with me for the weekend. I can only bring you back to the Ministry on Monday morning.”

“No, please don’t do that!” There’s mild distress on Jongin’s face and it’s odd. Androids aren’t supposed to show that much emotional response to anything, learned or simulated, replicated or otherwise.

“But the law says—”

“If you send me back, they’ll wipe me out. Every last trace of me.” The honey brown eyes seem to be broadcasting fear, hope, stress. There’s too much human emotion and Chanyeol doesn’t understand. It doesn’t make sense. Androids can’t project like that.

“But the law requires me to, Jongin.”

“You’re not my registered owner. If they ever track him down for not returning me, they still won’t be able to find me.”

“All androids have built-in GPS trackers,” Chanyeol points out.

“You can help me remove the chip.” Jongin looks at him hopefully. “I’ll teach you how.”

“I know how to remove it. I’m in robotics.”

“Help me.” Jongin isn’t begging but Chanyeol’s heart, which has always been too human for everyone’s liking, is folding in on itself anyway.

Chanyeol shakes his head. “I shouldn’t break the law,” he says but he knows he’s already made the decision to circumvent the Ministry ruling.

“Please?”

“I can’t—” Chanyeol starts to say but his hand is already reaching behind Jongin’s neck to key in the deactivation passcode.

I’d better not lose my job for this, fuck my life.

Then he opens up the panel and picks up his lit, needle-nosed pliers. Inserting them carefully, he begins to search for the tracking chip.

✼

The lilac t-shirt is still too big on Jongin but at least he doesn’t look as vulnerable now as he had when he’d been deactivated. If he’s honest with himself, Chanyeol has never encountered an android quite as “alive” as Jongin. And if he’s even more honest with himself, he’s never encountered anyone (android or human) he’s been more curious about than he is about Jongin.

“So I can stay?” Jongin gives him a careful look as Chanyeol places a mug of instant coffee on the small, wood dining table that straddles the space between the kitchen and living area. It looks dated because he’d inherited it from his grandfather who had inherited it from his father who had inherited it from his father before him. The manufacture and trade of wood products had been made illegal more than a century back. The planet’s last-ditch attempt to save the forests. There was precious little green left but there was some green, at least.

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess you can,” Chanyeol mumbles as he slides into the chair across the from Jongin’s. Their knees bump. Inevitable, really, given the considerable length of their legs. Chanyeol is relieved to note that Jongin is no longer naked from the waist downwards.

Sexbots, Chanyeol has discovered, have a very casual attitude towards nudity. Earlier, Jongin had swung his legs off the table in a graceful motion before planting his feet on the floor and getting into standing position. The towel had slid to the floor noiselessly and Chanyeol had gotten an eyeful of Jongin’s bare legs and dick.

Cheeks flushed with heat, Chanyeol had shoved the navy blue drawstring pants and boxer shorts he’d picked out for him earlier and asked him to put them on. Then, he’d fled to the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee. He could probably have done with something stronger to calm himself down. Too bad there was no alcohol in the apartment. It had been months since he’d had people over and he wasn’t really into drinking alone.

Chanyeol had finally emerged from the kitchen five minutes later, giving Jongin plenty of time to get decent. He wasn’t even sure why he’d been so bothered by the innocent show of nudity. They were both men and it wasn’t as if Chanyeol hadn’t used public toilets and communal showers. It shouldn't have mattered.

And now, here they are—sitting across from each other as Chanyeol warms his hands against the sides of the steaming mug. No mug for Jongin, of course. Androids don’t require food or drink the way humans require sustenance.

“Thank you. For doing this. I know you owe me nothing and in fact, I kind of owe you everything, but thank you for helping me. For letting me stay.”

“This is the closest I’ve ever gotten to an Eros—I mean, this is the closest I’ve gotten to one of your kind. The first time I’ve repaired one.”

“But you’re in robotics,” Jongin’s eyebrows lift in surprise.

“I’ve never wanted to work with sexbots and I made it really clear to my employers that I wouldn’t accept any work related to them.” He doesn’t like using the term but now that it’s slipped out and Jongin hadn’t flinched at the mention of it, Chanyeol reckons it’s okay to use it.

“Do you have something against sexbots?”

“No! I don’t have anything against sexbots themselves. It’s not like you get any say over whether you want to be one. That’s my whole issue with it. The fact that the owner of a sexbot can make their android perform any sexual act no matter how they feel about it.”

“Well, we’re not technically supposed to feel anything.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s just wrong. It feels a little too much like rape to me.”

“But an android do anything their owner commands, as long as they don’t harm another human being in the process. Why have you singled out sexbots? Why have you rejected my kind in particular?” Jongin is frowning in confusion.

“You misunderstand. I don’t reject sexbots. It’s the practice of owning and using sexbots I have issues with. It feels like a violation of their bodies and I struggle with that.”

Chanyeol expects another series of difficult questions but all Jongin says is oh. Nervously, he takes a sip of coffee and tries to figure out what to say next.

“So you wouldn’t expect me to serve you?” Jongin’s voice is perfectly neutral but the effect his question has on Chanyeol is anything but neutral.

“No!” Chanyeol slams the mug onto the table with more force than he’d intended. “I’m not. . .I’m not your Master, Jongin and I don’t want you to think that you have to do anything for me just because I’ve allowed you to stay here.”

“Even if I wanted to do things for you?”

“You mean non-sexual things?”

“Both. What if I wanted to do both sexual and non-sexual things for you? With you?” Jongin looks like he’s trying to understand. It’s probably difficult for him to reconcile his subservience to his previous owner with Chanyeol’s firm refusal to use him in any way.

“You can’t ask me that. And you shouldn’t have sex with anyone unless it’s something you really want. Do you understand? You’re not a sexbot anymore. You aren’t obligated to have sex with anyone. I should probably reprogram that aspect of your coding so no can force you into anything.”

“I don’t want you to.”

“But—”

“I might lose pieces of myself if you reconfigure my coding.”

“Pieces of yourself?” Chanyeol wonders if this has anything to do with the intense flashes of emotion he’d seen on Jongin’s face earlier, when he’d mentioned returning him to the Ministry.

“I can’t explain why. But please don’t change my coding. My Master was always threatening to have me reprogrammed,” he says with a sad smile.

Sorrow.

Chanyeol’s never seen such a wide range of emotions captured on a single android’s face, and in such a short space of time. He knows there’s a lot more going on here than Jongin has divulged but he knows he has to help the android. He has to protect all the pieces of Jongin’s self, no matter what. He isn’t like any other android Chanyeol has met and he’s 99.7% sure this has absolutely nothing to do with Jongin being a sexbot.

“All right, Jongin. I won’t tamper with your coding.” He exhales deeply, wondering just what he’d gotten himself into when he’d rescued that android from the trash.

“Thank you, Chanyeol.” Jongin looks so grateful that Chanyeol feels bad.

“Why did your owner want to have you reprogrammed?”

“I wasn’t a very good sexbot, I guess.” The answer is cryptic at best but Chanyeol decides to let it go. For now, anyway.

“Why didn’t he return you to the Ministry when the directive was issued two weeks ago?

“I didn’t want to be wiped out and I tried to escape.”

“You escaped?” Chanyeol straightens in shock. As far as Chanyeol is concerned, an android is a sentient being—capable of logic, sensation and some measure of independent thought. But to defy a human being and take independent action to run away? That isn’t how androids function. That kind of irrational behavior is typical of humans, not cybernetic beings.

“I tried. But he found me.”

“What happened then?”

“He was upset.” The words are like ominous pebbles slipping soundlessly into water.

“Oh God,” Chanyeol’s palm blankets his mouth in quiet horror. “Did he hurt you?”

“I’m not sure what he did counts as hurting me,” Jongin shrugs. “As soon as we were back in the house, he pushed me to the ground and said he’d end me for real. Then he grabbed me by the neck and ripped out my control panel. That caused some pain. That’s the last thing I recall. I honestly don’t know what happened between then and the moment I reactivated in your apartment.” Jongin’s expression is detached, like he’s talking about a random scene from a movie involving characters he doesn’t particularly care for. Whoever Jongin’s owner is, Chanyeol hopes he’s having the worst day of his life. No, make that the worst decade of his life.

“Do you want to report him for abuse? Crimes against robotic entities are punishable by law. He could get jail time just for dumping you the way he did, don’t even talk about ripping your I/O cables out.”

“I disobeyed him though. That’s. . .that’s forbidden. I'd get wiped for sure. I just want to put all that behind me, Chanyeol. Just move on, you know? And hopefully not get reprogrammed along the way,” Jongin says with a wry smile. There’s something in his eyes though. Chanyeol doesn’t think he’ll be able to move on quite so easily.

“I’ll try my best to help you stay under the radar,” Chanyeol promises. He’s not sure how he’s going to achieve this but he’ll definitely try to keep the android safe.

“Thanks. Anyway, I think we’ve said enough about the past. Mine isn’t exactly worth reminiscing about, if you know I mean.”

“Yeah, okay. We should probably work out sleeping arrangements and toiletries now. And you’ll need a shower before bed. Um. . .do sexbots sleep? I mean, utility bots are generally just powered down so they can recharge overnight. I’m sorry, Jongin. I really don’t know much about sexbots. I kinda made it a point not to know anything much about them. Low key regretting that now. ”

“Yeah, we need to sleep just like you do. Some owners expect their bots to sleep with them so we’re designed to recharge as we sleep. Our bodies are 70% human so we function much like humans do except that we come with a CPU and a power button, I guess? We experience physical pressure, pleasure, pain, cold, heat just as much as you do. However, we don’t eat or drink so we don’t perspire, urinate or defecate. In the same light, we can have erections but we can’t ejaculate. No input, so no output, if you know what I mean.”

“That’s. . .shit. I wasn’t expecting that much information all at once but yeah, I guess that brings me pretty much up to speed,” Chanyeol says with an awkward chuckle.

“I thought it would be easier to get it all out in the open in one shot,” Jongin laughs and the short burst of mirth seems to reach his eyes. Chanyeol knows that androids that are made specifically to interact with human beings in social settings—sexbots, hostbots, idolbots—can simulate emotional responses and smile and laugh. They’re all forms of behavior that can be replicated, but there’s something about Jongin’s laugh. It’s so much more human than the slightly off-kilter laughter he’s seen hostbots and idolbots produce.

Jongin's laugh is warm with soft edges. A laugh that curls into all the empty spaces inside him—one that wraps around him and makes him feel safe. It makes him think of his mother’s comforting laughter and how much he misses it, how much he misses his parents. Chanyeol cuts the tide of nostalgia before it can rise and overwhelm him.

“That was definitely a super efficient transfer of information,” Chanyeol smiles. “Are you tired?”

“I don’t know how long I was in that dumpster but my body aches all over and my energy levels are pretty low. Sleep sounds really good right now. Can I take a shower so I can sleep and recharge after?” Jongin’s right hand kneads the muscles of his left bicep as he makes his request.

Chanyeol’s mind is reeling a bit from it all. This time yesterday, he’d been falling asleep at his worktable as he fine-tuned a design for a security bot. The night before, he’d been snoring in front of the television as some tech documentary unfolded on the fifty-inch media screen in his bedroom. Tonight, there’s an android in his home telling him he can’t ejaculate.

What the hell is even going on, Park Chanyeol?

Things have transformed so much in the space of one day that it’s enough to give him whiplash. It’s a lucky thing Chanyeol’s always been adaptable.

He stands up. “I’ll show you where everything is.”

✼

As they make their way to the upstairs bedroom, Chanyeol gives a brief tour of the apartment, not that there’s anything of worth to show his guest. He’s always been too far buried in piles of robotic parts and electronic circuits to invest much energy or money into making his apartment seem more like a home and less like a glorified rest stop with food and sleeping quarters.

“Sorry, my apartment is pretty empty. I need the open floor space to test my rollerbots,” Chanyeol says apologetically as he brings him through the living area. Then he tells him there's a voice-activated AI that controls the ambient and mood lighting and the stereo system. “Cleaning bots keep the place clean and tidy, and they take care of my laundry too. They only come out when I’m out of the apartment, though. It's part of their programming to be as unobtrusive as possible, you see.”

“I was going to offer to clean the apartment. You know, in exchange for staying here.”

“That won’t be necessary, Jongin. I mean the automated bots are programmed to do all that. You can just stay here till you figure out what to do next. I don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything or that you have to contribute. I don’t expect it. It’s been years since I’ve had to share space with anyone. I think it’ll be a nice change.” It’s a very lukewarm way to describe Chanyeol’s simmering sense of excitement about gaining a robotic housemate, but he’s never been real good with words.

“But I would like to contribute,” Jongin insists and he sounds almost. . .stubborn.

“But you don’t even require food or drink and this apartment belongs to me so there’s no monthly rental. It’s not going to increase my expenditure much at all to have you stay here, Jongin.”

“Still, I would like to contribute. I wouldn’t feel right staying here if I didn’t do something for you in return.” He doesn’t sound almost stubborn now so much as outright mulish. Another very human trait.

Chanyeol is suddenly reminded of those Russian nesting dolls he’d read about a long time ago, matryoshka. Jongin’s like a matryoshka. Layers and layers to him. Chanyeol’s only known him for about an hour and he keeps uncovering more and more unexpected layers. Chanyeol’s worked with androids for years and he's pretty damned sure they aren’t supposed to be this complicated.

Chanyeol ponders the situation for a few seconds and finally, he says, “Would you be okay with me interviewing you? For my research into android thought processes? That would be a big help to me.”

“You’re researching android thought processes?” Jongin gives him a curious look.

“Well, I’ve been thinking about doing it for a few months now? And having an android onsite would be really helpful. I mean I’d have to interview a lot of other androids to get a more representative sample, of course. But yeah.”

“All right. I don’t know if my input would be helpful but I’m willing to try.”

“Why wouldn’t it be helpful?” Chanyeol grins and Jongin shrugs—an enigmatic smile on his face.

“I'll try my best to help,” Jongin says finally.

“Right,” Chanyeol nods. “Ok, this is the living area, but you probably figured that out already. This place isn’t exactly um. . .sophisticated.”

“I’ve been wondering, actually—”

“Hmm?”

“That sofa,” Jongin points at the well-worn red couch which sits in the very heart of the living room. “It doesn’t exactly go with the rest of the furniture.”

Jongin’s right. The patch of vibrant red doesn’t blend in with the subdued black of the angular armchairs and steel coffee table. Chanyeol can totally afford a matching sofa upholstered in the same expensive, black, stain-repellant fabric as the armchairs. He can afford it but he refuses to part with the beat-up red couch.

It’s from his parents’ house, upholstered in memories of his childhood and adolescence. His parents had passed away six years ago and the couch is a keepsake, a reminder that they were a part of Chanyeol’s life. An indelible part. He wishes he wouldn’t get so stupidly attached to people in a time and age when it isn't fashionable to act human or display inconvenient human emotions.

“Yeah. That couch is from my mom’s house so it doesn’t really fit in. But hey, I love it.”

“I see.” Jongin has a thoughtful expression on his face like he really does see. Chanyeol wonders if he does. Stop overthinking, Park Chanyeol, he tells himself as he guides Jongin to the floating glass staircase that connects the living area to the bedroom.

✼

“Are you warm enough?” Chanyeol peers over the edge of his mattress. Jongin’s lying on the guest futon that Chanyeol has set up on the floor beside his double bed. He’s managed to wrap himself completely in his teal comforter and it’s endearing. Chanyeol’s heart tries not to stutter.

Jongin sighs and it’s a contented little noise. “Yes. This is perfect. I’ve never slept on a bed this soft or used a comforter this fluffy.”

“Never?” Chanyeol’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

“My Master didn’t want me in his bed after sex. So I slept on a thin mattress in a connecting room. It was comfortable enough, but nothing like this. I feel like if I sleep on this bed, I will never want to leave it.”

Chanyeol doesn’t like the idea of Jongin being made to sleep on a thin mattress, but at the same time, he can’t help smiling at the expression of childlike wonder on Jongin’s face. For a brief moment, he forgets Jongin isn’t altogether human.

“You can stay there as long as you like,” he promises.

“That sure would be nice,” Jongin smiles. Then his expression turns serious. “Chanyeol, am I allowed out of this apartment?”

“Of course! You’re free to come and go as you please.” And Chanyeol means it. Androids are technically incapable of hurting human beings so he doesn’t see any harm in letting Jongin venture out on his own.

“I’ve never been outside.”

“You mean on your own?”

“No, I mean to say. . .other than the time I tried to escape, I’ve never been outside. I was confined to the house the whole time I lived with my Master.”

“How long did you live with him?” Chanyeol’s working really hard to keep the anger out of his voice. Jongin’s owner sounds like a real piece of work and if he ever has the misfortune to meet the man, he might actually throttle him or make some attempt to throttle him at any rate.

“About six months, I think.”

“And you never saw the outside world in that six months?”

“Other than the time I escaped for a few hours? No, I never did.”

“Jesus. That’s just cruel.”

“It wasn’t so bad,” Jongin says quickly. “Please forget I said anything about going outside.”

“I could take you out tomorrow, Jongin. If you want. But anyway, you don’t have to decide now. We should get some sleep.”

“We should.”

Chanyeol’s chin is resting on the back of his hand as he gazes down at the android. “Goodnight, Jongin.”

“Goodnight, Chanyeol. And thank you. For everything.” Jongin’s eyes are filled with gratitude and hope and God knows what other emotions. Chanyeol doesn’t know what to say.

“I’m just glad I could reactivate you.”

“Me too,” Jongin says and his smile ignites a tiny ember in Chanyeol’s chest. He smiles back at Jongin before turning away from the edge and settling his head on his pillow. It’s been the longest night and his entire body aches from carrying Jongin and from spending hours on his feet repairing him. It’s been the most unexpected night and Chanyeol is beyond tired, but there’s a certain comfort to knowing that Jongin is safe in his apartment instead of abandoned in a dumpster across the road. There’s a certain comfort to just knowing he’s lying in the same room as him.

As Chanyeol begins to drift into sleep, he wonders if Jongin is sleeping too, wonders if he’s dreaming. . .

✼

He scribbles his signature across the delivery order and hands the clipboard and stylus back to the delivery bot.

“We’re happy to serve you. Please call the number on the invoice if you require any assistance.” It’s an automated speech and Chanyeol can’t help comparing the bare-bones delivery bot with Jongin. The lack of inflection in his digital voice, the absence of expression on his face. He shakes his head at the contrast. There’s just no comparison.

“Who was that?” A deep voice asks right behind Chanyeol and he startles at the proximity. He sometimes goes the entire weekend without human contact so hearing a voice in his apartment is shocking to say the least. Thirty minutes ago, he’d left Jongin all bundled up in his teal cocoon, sleeping soundlessly. Sexbots did not snore, apparently.

“I ah. . .I thought you’d need some clothes. Mine are a little oversized for you.” Chanyeol gestures at the pale gray t-shirt Jongin is wearing, which exposes way too much collarbone and shoulder for Chanyeol’s peace of mind. “You were sleeping and I didn’t want to wake you so I ordered some essentials from a store down the road. That was the delivery bot dropping off the clothes.”

“You bought me clothes?” Jongin sounds curious. Curious. Androids are never curious—it’s not in their programming to be curious. And yet Jongin has been consistently inquisitive in the brief time they've known each other. Chanyeol isn’t even surprised anymore because Jongin isn’t your average android. He’s a matryoshka.

“Yeah, I hope you don’t mind. I just picked some. . .y’know boxers, t-shirts, shorts, pants. Stuff you can wear around the house. You can choose some other things later. I’m not real good with fashion,” Chanyeol mumbles awkwardly before offering the package to Jongin.

“Thank you, Chanyeol. So you got me boxers. Boxers are. . .interesting.”

“What? What do you mean,” Chanyeol practically splutters.

“I didn’t expect them to be so, well, comfortable.”

Chanyeol gives him a questioning look. “You mean the boxers I gave you yesterday? You say that like they were the first pair of boxers you ever wore.”

“They were the first boxers I ever wore.”

“You’re joking!”

“I’m not joking. I am—was a sexbot. Underwear wasn’t really an essential item for me in my old life, if you know what I mean.”

“Oh,” Chanyeol says softly as realization begins to sink in. Of course Jongin wouldn’t have had much use for underwear. The knowledge unsettles Chanyeol more than he wants to admit.

“I don’t really understand the point of wearing underwear, but I’ll wear the boxers since you think they’re important,” Jongin says, his expression earnest as he hugs the package to his chest.

“You don’t have to wear them if you don’t want to, Jongin.” It’s going to be bad for Chanyeol’s equilibrium, knowing that Jongin might be walking around his apartment commando, but he doesn’t want to pressure Jongin into anything he isn’t comfortable doing. “You don’t have to wear the boxers, Jongin. Really.”

“I will give them a try,” Jongin says. Any other android would have taken Chanyeol’s most recent instructions at face value and agreed not to wear them. But not Jongin, apparently. More layers.

At least he’ll be wearing underwear. Won’t he? Jongin had said he’d give them a try, hadn’t he? What if he wears the boxers just the one time and decides he’ll go without them afterwards? What if he wears them all the time or worse, what if he never wears them at all?

Unbidden, an image of a nude Jongin flashes in Chanyeol’s mind and he groans inwardly. He should have done a better job of pretending not to look when he’d undressed him all those hours ago. Like it or not, his quiet life has become suddenly complicated.

✼

Chanyeol doesn’t cook and doesn’t give enough of a fuck to learn so he usually buys Nutriquik fast-meals from the vending machine in the foyer of his apartment building a few times a week. The fast-meals are supposed to be nutritious or so the holo-ads claim. Chanyeol is skeptical but he doesn’t seem to be dying at least or getting sick much so he carries on buying the fast-meals. They’re too fucking convenient to give up. Who has time to shop for groceries and cook? For variety, he picks up takeout on the way home from work or gets food delivered from nearby restaurants.

It’s a system that works out for him: eating alone at his dining table or coffee table or even his worktable. It seems wrong, though, to stick to his solitary routine on Jongin’s first day at the apartment. So he decides to take Jongin to the Apgujeong shopping district nearby. He can always grab something to eat while they’re browsing in the area.

Jongin takes in the sights with a quiet inquisitiveness—the slick glass storefronts, the mixture of human and android sales staff, not to mention the monolithic holo banners projected on building facades advertising a whole spectrum of products. He’s seen glimpses of city life in news and entertainment programs so it’s not all brand-new for Jongin. But Chanyeol catches the occasional flashes of wonder that flit across his features.

He manages to steer Jongin into a clothing store or two so the android can pick out some extra outfits. Jongin is oddly resistant to the idea and after two hours of wandering around the Apgujeong district, they’ve only managed to accumulate two pairs of pants and two dress shirts.

“What about these shirts? Or these drawstring pants?” Chanyeol’s fingers rifle through the row of perspex and steel hangers, but Jongin shakes his head.

“I don’t need any more clothes, Chanyeol.”Then he takes Chanyeol by the elbow and walks him to the store entrance. “No more shopping, please.”

“But—”

“No more,” Jongin begs and then they’re strolling along the street. “It’s easier to breathe out here,” he says with a sigh of relief. He’s still holding onto Chanyeol’s elbow and he’s not showing and signs of wanting to let go. Chanyeol likes the way Jongin’s hand curls around his arm, the way his shoulder presses against Chanyeol’s.

When they hit an area with large crowds of people, Jongin’s body tenses up and his grip on Chanyeol tightens.

“Are you okay?” Chanyeol frowns, concerned.

“I’m not used to seeing so many people all at once,” he explains.

Chanyeol turns to look at him. “Did you get to meet a lot of people when, you know—”

“No. There was only Master.”

“So you’ve never seen more than one person at a time?”

He gives a nervous chuckle. “No, never.”

“I’m sorry, Jongin. I should have realized this would be stressful for you. I shouldn’t have brought you to such a busy street.”

“I’ll be fine. I just need a little time to adjust. I need to learn, you know?”

“If you’re sure,” Chanyeol nods in assent but he’s still wary that things might get too stressful of . There’s a sudden swell in the crowd and some people bump into an unsuspecting Jongin, crushing him against Chanyeol’s side. “Whoa,” Chanyeol says in surprise and it’s the most natural thing to wrap his arm around Jongin in a protective gesture.

The most natural thing.

Just like Jongin’s body fitting into his and Jongin’s arm curving around his waist is the most natural thing.

✼

After another hour of wandering around the district, they head back to the apartment. They pick up a portion of bibimbap along the way as the hastily-buttered bagel Chanyeol had eaten at eleven is long gone. Chanyeol is ravenous after all the walking and he attacks his bibimbap with vigor while Jongin watches him with undisguised interest.

“That looks. . .delicious. Not that I know what delicious actually means. Sometimes I wish I could actually eat.”

Chanyeol stops chewing, his spoon suspended in mid-air. “Have you ever tried tasting food?”

“I can’t swallow anything and it isn’t right to waste food so I’ve never tried.”

Chanyeol bites his bottom lip before asking, “Would you like to try some bibimbap? You can just have a taste and spit it out without swallowing any of it.”

“But it would be wasting food!” Jongin looks both keen and distressed.

“Just a spoonful. It’ll be okay,” Chanyeol assures him. As Jongin had explained the night before, sexbots’ bodies are 70% human, with sensory receptors that allow them to feel pain and sexual pleasure. But what about taste buds? Chanyeol builds utility bots and rollerbots that have zero use for tastebuds, but he knows so little about the physiology of sexbots. Do sexbots have taste buds? Do they taste anything when they kiss someone? Can they distinguish between flavors? Between salty, sweet and bitter? Chanyeol’s hungry for answers but also, he’s just plain desperate to see how Jongin responds to this new experience. The android is so expressive and beautiful and Chanyeol just. . .he just wants to absorb all of Jongin’s reactions, wants to absorb everything he says and does—

Jongin finally agrees to sample the bibimbap, still looking conflicted. Without even thinking, Chanyeol scoops up a small amount of rice, sautéed spinach, pan-fried beef and offers it to Jongin. After a moment’s hesitation, Jongin opens his mouth and Chanyeol pushes the spoon pass his lips. Gently. And he can’t seem to stop himself from staring at Jongin’s plush mouth as it slides over the smooth, steel surface of the spoon. Chanyeol continues to stare, transfixed, after he removes it, watching Jongin chew the food carefully. His eyes widen and the hint of a smile hovers on his lips.

“Can you—do you taste anything,” Chanyeol asks a little anxiously. “Do you have taste buds?”

Jongin laughs at the question. “Yes, I have taste buds! I can taste minty toothpaste. Water tastes of nothing and saliva is a supposed to be salty?”

“Do you like it? Do you like the taste of bibimbap?” Chanyeol hands Jongin a tissue to spit the food into. Androids can’t swallow anything. It’s non-negotiable. If Jongin swallows the food, Chanyeol will need to open him up and extract it. It’s not how he wants to spend his Saturday night.

“I think I do. I really like the taste of it.” Jongin closes his eyes and gives a small sigh of contentment before spitting the chewed up bibimbap into the tissue and balling it up.

“Wait till you taste kimchi,” Chanyeol grins, holding his spoon up for dramatic effect.

“But the waste,” Jongin protests.

“It’s not a waste when it’s for you, Jongin. I want you to try new things. I mean, if that’s something you want too.”

“I would really like to taste pancakes and bingsu and banana milk, one day. I mean just a taste. If it’s not too much of a waste.” There’s a tentative note in his voice and Chanyeol’s chest aches for this android who seems to think that he doesn’t deserve to have anything, not even the most basic things.

“It will never be a waste, Jongin. Not if it’s for you,” Chanyeol says in a firm voice and Jongin thanks him shyly—his face torn between joy and guilt.

“Would you like some more?” Chanyeol raises his stacked spoon.

“I shouldn’t—”

But the spoon is already an inch away from Jongin’s mouth and he grins before taking the proffered mouthful. Chanyeol swears his heart slips a few more inches out of his possession as he sees the delight on Jongin’s face.

✼

There’s a comedy playing on the media screen, one that Chanyeol had picked out. He’s been wanting to watch it for months but he barely knows what’s happening on the screen. He’s been too wrapped up in watching Jongin. The android really does have a sense of humor and he laughs in all the right places. It’s not a learned response where he only laughs because Chanyeol is laughing.

Truth be told, Chanyeol hasn’t laughed much at all since the film started because he hasn’t been paying attention to it at all. Jongin’s laugh is deep and warm and dangerously addicting. Chanyeol can’t seem to get enough of it. He hasn’t even thought about heading to his lab all night. Neither has he spared much of a thought for his bots or any of the side projects he usually immerses himself in when he’s at home.

He’s not thinking about work for once because he’s enthralled with his new roommate. Whom he’s only known for all of 24 hours. He must be going insane.

They’re sitting together on Chanyeol’s bed because there’s no screen in the sitting room. Their shoulders have been touching for a while now but without warning, Jongin’s head is suddenly resting on the hollow of his shoulder. He’s half lying on him now and Chanyeol can’t breathe. Jongin seems to find it perfectly acceptable to snuggle up to him. Maybe sexbots crave human contact, he reasons. He wants to understand why Jongin is doing this but he doesn’t want to ask because what if Jongin gets self-conscious and keeps his distance. Chanyeol doesn’t want Jongin to keep his distance.

He lets himself relax, lets himself enjoy the firm press of Jongin’s body against his. Chanyeol can’t breathe but it’s okay because he really likes the way Jongin smells and feels. He just likes Jongin. He doesn't care that he's an android. He doesn't care that they've only known each other for only 24 hours.

He’s definitely going insane.

“I wonder what it's like to kiss an android?”

They settle into a comfortable routine. On weekdays, Chanyeol leaves for work at 8.40 a.m. The android's usually still asleep when Chanyeol has to leave for work and he usually squats beside the futon and gently straightens Jongin’s quilt. His eyes are always drawn to Jongin’s golden skin and dark eyelashes, his sensual mouth. Jongin’s quiet breathing soothes him. It’s nothing at all like the first few hours after he’d found Jongin—when he’d been powered down and completely static.

Jongin is more vibrant, more emotionally and physically alive than most people Chanyeol knows. Chanyeol tries his best not to think about the fact that an android isn’t supposed to have emotions of any kind. He knows he needs to talk to Jongin about it but he kind of doesn’t want to because he’s so glad to have Jongin here and he doesn’t want to upset the balance.

Some days, Jongin wakes up in time to sit with Chanyeol as he gulps down a quick breakfast and cup of black coffee. It all depends on what time he goes to sleep because no matter what happens, Jongin must get the mandatory six hours of sleep. Only the override switch can rouse him before he’s had his required minimum and Chanyeol has no intention of using that unless there’s an emergency.

Chanyeol isn’t a morning person and it’s nice that Jongin doesn’t expect him to say anything before his brain has had a chance to fire up. Jongin is a tranquil, comforting presence at the breakfast table—occasionally stirring a teaspoon of raw sugar into Chanyeol’s coffee or pouring milk into his cereal. Jongin’s presence is one that Chanyeol has grown attached to and can’t imagine not having in his life.

His regular hovercab driver, Jongdae, picks him up in front of his apartment building and zips him to the MediPharm office block in just under ten minutes. He picks Chanyeol in front of MediPharm at 5.15 pm and gets him back to the apartment in just over ten minutes because traffic tends to be worse in the evenings. In the past, Chanyeol would leave for home at all hours—always much later than 5.15 and rarely before 6.30 pm. Now that Jongin is living with him though, he finds himself packing up his things by 5 pm and standing outside the building by quarter past.

Chanyeol's programmed the biometric scanner to recognize Jongin's palm print. So Jongin can leave the apartment to explore the city any longer and tag time he wants and re-enter the apartment whenever he wants. He’s not always sure what Jongin gets up to during the day—sometimes Jongin shares little vignettes of his exploratory tours and sometimes he doesn’t and that’s okay with him.

Chanyeol’s also given him some prepaid credit tokens so he can buy things if he wants but Jongin has barely spent any of the credit Chanyeol has given him. He seems content to just wander around Seoul while showing almost zero interest in accumulating possessions. Although he does buy the occasional snack or dessert for Chanyeol on his way home. And two days ago, Jongin had come home with a pet for him—a robotic goldfish swimming around a prismatic glass bowl. Chanyeol’s never had a pet and he loves it.

Jongin doesn’t like being confined on the train with crowds of people so he prefers to walk along the neatly paved streets of the city. He’d told Chanyeol that on the first Sunday after Chanyeol had shown him how to use the SkyRail.

Every day, Chanyeol coaxes Jongin into having a bite or two of whatever he happens to be eating. They discover that Jongin has a penchant for sweet things like pancakes, bingsu and banana milk, and a violent dislike for bitter melon, coffee and kimchi (despite Chanyeol’s attempts to convince him otherwise).

Androids having likes and dislikes. Who knew it could happen?

More layers to the matryoshka that is Jongin. Chanyeol knows there’s a lot going on that he doesn’t understand but he doesn’t want to risk asking Jongin. Not yet. But he appreciates it, whether he understands it or not. He’s grateful that Jongin seems to be able to think for himself and have emotional responses to things. And he’s especially grateful that Jongin likes to hold his arm when they’re out walking, that he likes to snuggle close when they’re sitting on the couch reading or in bed watching something.

There's a floor to ceiling bookshelf made of sturdy hematite that's filled to the edges with fiction and non-fiction. Chanyeol’s accumulated a huge collection of books because he’d read a lot as a child and teenager. He’s had precious little time for books in recent years, though, and he’s bought more math and robotics textbooks than novels. Tinkering with his robotic projects just consumes too much of his energy andu time. Jongin seems to love books, love words, and he’s been working his way through all the books in the apartment since Chanyeol had given him permission to do so.

Jongin has also turned out to be a reliable helper in his home laboratory. Equipped with an android’s photographic memory, Jongin has already memorized the names and functions of all the tools and instruments Chanyeol uses so he assists sometimes when Chanyeol is working on a particularly tricky and demanding project. He’s also been reading the thick, robotics textbooks Chanyeol has on the shelf, often asking insightful questions about bot design.

Weekends are more fluid and erratic, being an unpredictable balance between staying in and taking off on some spontaneous outing, usually initiated by Jongin. Chanyeol used to spend most of his weekends holed up alone in his apartment, but now, thanks to Jongin, he’s going out more and seeing new places and things. But staying in with Jongin is his favorite. And when they’re spending long stretches of time in the apartment, Jongin has a thing about wearing Chanyeol’s t-shirts even though he has his own shirts which are a much better fit.

When Chanyeol had first asked Jongin why he was wearing his ratty old tee when he had e ones of his own to wear, Jongin had grinned and explained, yours are more comfortable. Chanyeol knows it’s a logical explanation but he can’t help hoping Jongin likes wearing his t-shirts because they’re his.

Jongin is pretty much the perfect housemate and Chanyeol is so grateful. His life had been so quiet and solitary and well. . .lonely before Jongin and he’d kept himself so busy he hadn’t even noticed. But now he has Jongin and it’s nice.

“Jongin, are you okay when you’re on your own? When I’m at work? Do you feel lonely,” Chanyeol asks him when they’re out on the balcony, watching the nighttime cityscape. It’s a Friday night and Jongin has been a significant pixel in Chanyeol’s every day landscape for exactly two weeks.

“I was always alone, Chanyeol, when I wasn’t with my Master. And well, he only wanted me around when he wanted sex. He didn’t want me around for anything else. Sometimes he’d switch me off for days if he wasn’t interested and wanted to save power.” His voice is so matter-of-fact it’s making Chanyeol feel sick inside. And angry. He’s so fucking angry with Jongin’s previous owner.

“That’s terrible,” Chanyeol says, reaching for Jongin’s hand.

“Is it? I didn’t know any other life. I can see and learn so much now so in answer to your question, I don’t feel lonely, Chanyeol.” Jongin gives him a reassuring smile as his fingers entwine with his. And then he presses close to Chanyeol’s side and Chanyeol’s senses are filled with Jongin—the scent of his citrus shampoo and the subtle aftershave Chanyeol had bought for him.

He wants to kiss Jongin so badly but he curbs his need because he wants Jongin to be the one who makes the first move, if Jongin even wants to. He wants it to be Jongin’s decision because he’d never had the chance to say yes or no in the past, never had the chance to decide what he wanted or didn't want to do with his body. So instead of giving Jongin the kiss he so desperately wants to give him, Chanyeol shifts his body closer to Jongin’s warmth and drapes his arm around Jongin’s shoulders.

“You know, I don’t think I get lonely but sometimes I miss you, Chanyeol. I miss you and I want to see you and be with you. Is that the same as being lonely?”

“I don’t know—” Chanyeol’s words are breathy and threaded through with so much hope. They’re facing each other now, chests touching, gazes locked.

“Do you miss me, Chanyeol? When you’re away from me?” Jongin’s palm settles on Chanyeol’s cheek and the gesture is so gentle, so careful that it creates a deep sense of yearning in Chanyeol’s chest.

“All the time, Jongin,” Chanyeol says, his hand resting on Jongin’s waist. “I miss you and want to see you all the time.”

Jongin’s lips part, poised to say something, when it begins to rain. It's a light drizzle that wets their faces and flattens their hair.

“The rain. We should go inside,” Chanyeol suggests but he doesn’t move. He’s mesmerized by the raindrops trickling down Jongin’s face and beading his eyelashes. He’s just mesmerized by Jongin.

“Let’s stay a while.” Jongin’s giving him a pleading look and Chanyeol stays where he is, even if they’re wearing short sleeves and it’s gone suddenly cool and wet. He thinks longingly of the dry, warm apartment beyond the glass doors but he’s never been able to say no to Jongin in all the time they’ve known each other. There’s a sudden, cruel gust of wind and the sting of it makes Chanyeol’s nipples pucker and his goosebumps rise.

Jongin shivers, rubbing his arms. “So cold.”

“Goosebumps,” Chanyeol says, a note of wonder in his voice as his fingertips caress Jongin's upper arm. The skin is warm and supple despite the wetness of the raindrops and the bite of the late August night.

“What?”

“You have goosebumps.”

“It's cold and wet, and the rain is cold on my skin.”

“It was cold and wet too the night I found you.”

“Oh,” Jongin says quietly. “I was powered down so my body wasn't awake to react to the cold, so no goosebumps.”

“Yeah. No goosebumps.”

Jongin’s forehead wrinkles with concern. “Is this strange for you?”

“A little, I guess? But not in a bad way,” Chanyeol says as his fingertips glide over the tiny bumps on Jongin's forearm. Androids are susceptible to heat and cold—they have human bodies after all.

It doesn't really matter to Chanyeol that Jongin's body is a living, breathing fusion of human and electronic parts, that he’s not completely human. It doesn’t matter but it still makes Chanyeol so illogically happy that Jongin has this very human reaction to cold.

Goosebumps.

He looks at the goosebumps on his own arms and feels closer to Jongin somehow. It’s dangerous. Feeling closer to Jongin is dangerous because Chanyeol’s heart has always been too human.

He should take a step back, try to impose some distance between himself and Jongin. Just as Chanyeol’s managed to convince himself to move away, a drop of rainwater on the android’s cheek catches the light. It’s like a glimmering tear and Chanyeol stops. He stops and he can't move.

Jongin leans in, face so close that Chanyeol can feel his breath on his cheek. Caught between the balcony rail and Jongin, Chanyeol’s heartbeat begins to race and his face feels warm. Very, very warm. Slowly, inexorably, they move closer to each other, Jongin's palm sliding over rain-wet collarbones before stopping to curve around Chanyeol’s nape.

Jongin’s voice is a whisper as he asks “Chanyeol, can I—”

“Yes,” he answers and then the distance between them shrinks and dissolves as Jongin reaches up to kiss him. And that first contact is so sweet as Jongin’s lips graze his. Chanyeol’s lips part with a sigh and Jongin’s tongue slides in and then they’re kissing for real as the rain gently falls around them.

“Salty,” Jongin smiles when the kiss ends.

“Hmm. . .?” Chanyeol gives him a look of pure confusion.

“Kisses taste salty. Your kisses are salty.”

Chanyeol chuckles, “Kisses are generally salty I think.”

“But I didn’t know that till now.”

“You mean I’m—” Chanyeol struggles for words. “You mean that was your first kiss?”

“Yes. And now I'm embarrassed,” Jongin says, burying his face in Chanyeol’s chest.

“Don’t be,” Chanyeol says, grinning as he hugs Jongin close. “I’m so glad that was your first kiss.”

“Me too,” Jongin says and then he’s gazing up at Chanyeol and half a heartbeat later, their mouths are meeting, breaths mingling and tongues tangling tenderly. They’re completely drenched by now and covered in goosebumps but they don’t care about any of that, their senses alive and filled with nothing but each other.

✼

Later, after they've showered and dried off and gotten dressed (in Chanyeol’s clothes), they lie in bed together. The memory of the balcony kisses hangs between them like a much cherished secret and Chanyeol's never wanted to keep anything safe more than he wants to keep Jongin safe. They've been talking about some new places Jongin explored during the week and how he's been thinking about getting a job because there’s only so much of Seoul he can see and he wants to be useful and to contribute to the household expenses.

“But you're an unregistered android now. You can't technically get a job. And we can't get you registered at the Ministry till we figure out how to get it done without them wiping you out.”

“No, no wiping out,” Jongin protests, a note of mild panic in his voice.

“I don't want that either, Jongin, so no going to the Ministry.”

“Promise?”

“Promise,” Chanyeol says. He drops a light kiss on Jongin’s forehead and the android snuggles closer.

“You promise you won’t give me up?” Jongin’s arms are gripping him so tightly, like he’s worried Chanyeol will slip away and vanish if he lets go of him.

“I don’t think I could give you up, Jongin.” Chanyeol’s hand strokes Jongin’s back. Smooth, long strokes that he hopes will reassure Jongin. “I’m so used to having you around now that I really don’t know how I managed before you. So I won’t give you up. Not unless you want me to.”

“No, I want to stay with you always,” Jongin says decisively.

“I don’t want you to stay with me because you feel obligated. Because I took you in and everything. You should. . .ah, this is hard for me but I think it’s important. You should go out there. Meet people. Be with other people and—” Chanyeol breaks off mid-sentence because there’s a lump in his throat and words are a little difficult for him right now.

“But what I feel is only about you and me, Chanyeol. I don’t need to be with anyone else to be sure,” Jongin says, his cheeks flushed with stubborn determination.

“You’ve only really known me and your Master. That’s only two people you’ve met and that’s just not enough, Jongin. I want you to be sure that what you feel for me isn’t tied up with all that other shit, you know? That it’s just about you and me.”

“Listen to me, Chanyeol. Please,” Jongin’s arms are strong against his back as they pull Chanyeol further into his embrace. And then Jongin’s lips, oh God, Jongin's beautiful lips and his mouth are on his, all salty and hot and overwhelming. In between searing kisses, Jongin tells Chanyeol he doesn’t want anyone else. He tells him again and again until Chanyeol stops arguing.

They fall asleep in each other’s arms, with Jongin’s back curved into Chanyeol’s chest and Chanyeol’s hand curled possessively over Jongin’s stomach.

At the foot of the bed, Jongin’s teal comforter rests in a neatly folded pile on the unoccupied futon.

✼

Chanyeol opens his eyes lazily. It’s a Saturday and his alarm won’t be going off so he’s in no hurry to wake up. There’s a warm body in the circle of his arms and he smiles, a tide of contentment washing over him. Chanyeol nuzzles Jongin’s nape, breathing in the android’s delicious morning scent. He checks the time. . .it’s been seven hours since they went to bed so he can actually wake Jongin up.

Jongin’s earlobe looks so tempting and so accessible but Chanyeol stops himself, because he’s letting Jongin dictate the pace. He reckons cuddling should be acceptable though. Nestling closer to the android, Chanyeol calls his name softly. It doesn’t take long before Jongin is turning in his arms and nuzzling against his neck. Chanyeol has to work really, really hard to ignore his morning wood. He wonders if Jongin gets morning wood but then he realizes he wouldn’t because no input, so no output.

“Good morning, Chanyeol,” Jongin greets sleepily.

“‘Morning, Jongin,” he greets in return and then, before he has a chance to think about what he’s saying, Chanyeol asks Jongin what he’d dreamt of.

“I dreamt that we were eating ice-cream and walking along Charles Bridge in Prague.”

“Prague,” Chanyeol says distractedly because he’s still trying to process Jongin’s answer. Of course his answer would be different from every other answer he’d ever gotten from an android. “That’s really specific.”

“My memory is pretty specific, Chanyeol. You know that,” Jongin laughs. “Anyway, I think Prague is pretty so maybe that’s why we were visiting.”

“Would you want to visit Prague one day?” Chanyeol’s still struggling, still trying to formulate his thoughts.

“I would love that but I can’t travel out of the country, remember? No Ministry so no passport.” Jongin looks only slightly disappointed.

“How did I forget,” Chanyeol chided himself. “I’m sure we’ll figure out how to get around the Ministry. One day.”

“Yeah. Maybe one day.” Jongin’s voice is quiet now as his fingers trail along the edges of Chanyeol’s jaw and collarbones. Jongin’s always liked touching but it’s nice that he can now touch Chanyeol in more intimate places.

Taking Jongin’s hand in his, Chanyeol asks him, “Do you dream often?”

“I dream most nights.” Jongin’s watching him intently. “Why?”

“Is that a sexbot thing? Do sexbots dream?” Gently, Chanyeol brushes soft, dark hair out of Jongin’s eyes.

“No. It’s not sexbot thing,” Jongin sighs.

“I don’t understand.”

“The thing is. . .I’m not entirely a sexbot.”

“What?!”

“I guess you could say I’m an accidental sexbot? My creator, Professor Kim Minseok, worked for PleasureBot Industries. He built hundreds of sexbots in the two decades he was with the company. And he told the bosses I was defective and that he’d try to fix me—but as a side project in his home laboratory. What he didn’t tell the bosses was that he was trying to build an android that could display emotions and think for himself. An android that was practically human, or close to it anyway.”

“That sounds like it involves AI,” Chanyeol covers his mouth with his hand as the shock courses through his veins. AIs are always disembodied so to actually insert one into an android. No one’s ever done this before. The Robotics Community has always kept the two entities separate. Giving androids and robots the power of independent thought would be like equipping them with the capacity to revolt against their human owners. Too risky, or at least that was what the Robotics Community had decided. Chanyeol has always been on the fence but now that he’s met Jongin, he knows exactly where he stands on the issue.

“Are you upset? I shouldn’t have said anything about the dreams. I’m sorry, Chanyeol.”

“I’m not upset. I’m just trying to digest everything.” And then he pulls Jongin into a hug because he needs it, and also because he wants to reassure Jongin that nothing has changed between them. They’d just been cuddling in bed—how have things come to this?

“So you’re part AI?” Chanyeol asks as he strokes Jongin’s back. Jongin tells him how his creator had weaved threads of artificial and emotional intelligence into his coding, into his personality construct.

“Emotional intelligence?” Chanyeol has never heard of such a thing but it’s suddenly making sense now. Jongin’s range of emotional responses, his having likes and dislikes, his stubbornness.

“Professor Kim’s revolutionary and very secret invention,” Jongin sighs.

“So you’re the prototype that carries both artificial and emotional intelligence?”

“I guess you could say that.”

“Didn’t Professor Kim pass away this year?” Chanyeol has heard of Kim Minseok. Everyone in the Robotics Community has heard of the legendary scientist.

“Just over six months ago. He had heart failure about three weeks after he finished building me—the current me, I mean. There were countless versions of me that came before this final version.”

“What I don’t understand is why I’ve never heard of emotional intelligence—”

“He never had the chance to publish his findings and he never let his bosses know the true nature of his experiments. He kept all his research notes in some safe place. But he was a little paranoid and never told anyone where this safe place was. So when he died, the company reclaimed me from the professor’s surviving sister. She had no use for a so-called sexbot and there was no way the Company was going to let 60 million won worth of hardware and bioware go to waste. They had me programmed as an Eros 2000. I don’t know how Professor Kim camouflaged the AI and EI constructs but the robotics scientists who worked on me never even realized I was different.”

Jongin is most definitely different from other androids. Matryoshka.

“So that’s why you dream,” Chanyeol says, a note of wonder in his voice as he cups Jongin’s right cheek.

“I didn’t dream right away but on the tenth day post activation, I began to dream while I slept.”

“What do you dream of, Jongin?” Chanyeol can’t believe that he’s finally found an android who dreams.

“Open fields and trees and seascapes. I dream of being among people—small groups of people like they might be people I’ve come to know instead of just faces in a crowd I happen to be walking through. I still dream of open fields and trees and seascapes. But sometimes, sometimes I dream of doing things around this apartment. Simple things. Sometimes I’m alone and sometimes I’m with you. Reading a book, watching a film, cooking a meal. And sometimes I dream of you, of touching you and making love to you.”

“Jongin, I—” Chanyeol has so much to say but words are failing him now.

“Let’s talk later. I just want to know if you’re going to give me up, now that you know I’m different.” Jongin tries to sound upbeat but there’s genuine fear in his eyes.

“I’ll never give you up, Jongin. Never.” Chanyeol gathers Jongin closer to him and then he just kisses him because there will be more than enough time for talking later. More than enough.

✼

After that night on the balcony, Jongin and his teal comforter move into Chanyeol’s bed while the futon is rolled up and put into storage. Their routine carries on pretty much the same way it’s been doing for the past two weeks, except now Chanyeol and Jongin spend a lot more time touching. Kissing, making out, hugging—everything above the waist because Chanyeol is determined to let Jongin set the pace and the android doesn’t appear to be quite ready for anything below the waist. Not yet. But Chanyeol has always been patient and it’s not like he’s ever had much of a sex life anyway. Work has always taken up almost all his free time.

It’s not easy, though, with Jongin sleeping in his bed every night, Jongin surprising him with frequent and spontaneous hugs, Jongin sitting in his lap telling him he loves him, Jongin kissing him and leaving hickeys on his bare chest. It's way more temptation than Chanyeol has ever had to deal with since hitting puberty. He’s pretty damned sure he’s never spent so much time jerking off in the shower. His bathroom floor tiles are probably ready to stage a revolt by now.

Going to sleep with Jongin and waking up with Jongin is one of Chanyeol’s favorite things, the weight of Jongin’s leg draped over his own and the weight of his arm around his waist as they snuggle under the covers. Sometimes, Jongin sits on Chanyeol’s lap while he’s eating at the breakfast table. Other times, Jongin might lie on top of Chanyeol as he’s trying to nap on his mother’s battered red sofa.

Being with Jongin is wonderful but it’s also. . .well, frustrating. For his own sanity, Chanyeol hopes Jongin won’t take too much longer.

When Jongin isn’t giving Chanyeol the worst ever case of blue balls, they talk about their lives, about Jongin’s personality construct, and about how they will ensure that the Ministry never finds out an android like Jongin even exists. Chanyeol's only known Jongin for a short while but he already knows there will a huge void in his heart and home if Jongin is taken away from him.

He tries to imagine being without Jongin and he knows he can't do it. He can't be without Jongin.

✼

It's a Friday night. Two weeks have passed since that first kiss on the balcony, and Jongin has insisted on staying in even though Chanyeol had offered to take him to watch a movie at the nearby mediaplex—the one with plush love seats, blankets and a 4D surround screen. But Jongin had been quite adamant about staying at home.

So now they're hanging out in bed, dressed in Chanyeol’s most comfortable clothes. They're watching some documentary on semiconductors, or at least Chanyeol is, and he’s startled when Jongin climbs onto his lap and straddles him. In the background, Chanyeol can hear some tech expert droning on about the role of semiconductors in the construction of medibots—not that he can concentrate on a single thing that’s being said because Jongin is sitting on him and rubbing against him, and Jongin’s erection is unmistakable. This is something new and Chanyeol isn’t sure what to do.

“Jongin?” Chanyeol asks, a little disorientated by the abrupt change of pace.

“Hmm?” Jongin asks as his mouth moves over Chanyeol’s neck in slow, wet, circles.

“What are you doing?” Chanyeol asks, voice raspy, as his hands link together behind Jongin’s waist.

“Exactly what you think I’m doing,” he whispers, his tongue curling around his earlobe. Then his hips begin to thrust forward in a smooth, flowing motion, cock grinding against his and Chanyeol can't stifle the loud moan that bursts out of him. The sight of Jongin rocking into him, his right shoulder and fine-boned clavicles exposed by the gaping neckline of Chanyeol’s old t-shirt, is the most erotic thing Chanyeol has ever seen.

“Jongin, I've wanted this for so long,” Chanyeol says just before his mouth crashes into Jongin's, hungry and impatient. They both moan as their tongues come together, hot and wet and thrusting.

“I've wanted to kiss you and make love to you since you took my hand in the crowd that first Saturday.”

“That long ago?” Chanyeol’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Why did you wait so long?”

“I've always known I wanted you and I've always been sure that I'll only ever want you but you didn't seem to believe that I did so I was giving you time, I guess?” Jongin explains and Chanyeol has to laugh at the irony.

“I was waiting for you to be ready!”

“I've always been ready.” Jongin smiles against Chanyeol’s cheeks, his lips soft on his skin. “But it never really felt like the right time till tonight.”

Chanyeol laughs, “While we were watching a documentary? I never even knew semiconductors could induce lust.”

Jongin gives him an incredulous look. “We both know it wasn't the semiconductors, Chanyeol. it was you. You sitting there in your ratty old t-shirt looking all intellectual and sexy.”

Chanyeol protests that no one has ever called him sexy. “Dorky, quiet, clumsy? Yes. And someone called me ‘bookishly handsome’ once. But no one has ever called me sex—” Then Chanyeol runs out of words as Jongin's hand slips down the front of his boxer shorts and wraps around his cock.

“Shh. No more talking.”

“Oh God, Jongin, oh God,” he groans as Jongin’s tongue fills his mouth and Jongin’s hand moves over the length of his erection in long, firm, rhythmic strokes. The friction is so fucking intense, building and building with each drawn out stroke. His nerve ends are alive with pleasure and Chanyeol feels like he’s dying but it's still not enough. He needs more, needs to be closer still to Jongin.

His mouth glides over Jongin's neck, over the dips and curves of his collarbones, making small nips and leaving a trail of roseate marks. Chanyeol’s palms glide over the smooth, bare skin of Jongin's back and Jongin moans—soft little noises that inspire a surge of possessiveness in Chanyeol he’s never experienced with anyone else.

“Touch me, Chanyeol,” Jongin murmurs against his neck, as his hand continues to stroke Chanyeol. “I want to feel you against me. Your skin against mine. Please, Chanyeol.”

Chanyeol holds his breath, his hands moving further down Jongin’s back till they're pushing under the waistband of his loose cotton boxers, pushing the fabric down. Then his hands are cupping the bare skin of Jongin’s ass, and Jongin’s cock is pressing against his own. With desperate, urgent movements, they drag their boxers off and their limbs are a tangled mess as Chanyeol tumbles Jongin onto the mattress.

Pinned beneath him, Jongin stares up, eyes dark with need. And then he’s pulling Chanyeol roughly down and Chanyeol takes a sharp intake of breath as their bare thighs and hips make contact. Jongin’s legs wrap around him, dragging him closer so their cocks are touching,

“Fuck,” Chanyeol groans, pleasure shooting right through his core as Jongin’s cock rubs against his, over and over, in a lazy, sensual rhythm. Their mouths are joined in a passionate kiss when Jongin's hands slide beneath Chanyeol’s shirt, fingers playing with his nipples and teasing them. Jongin ends the kiss so he can pull Chanyeol’s shirt off. Chanyeol hisses as Jongin takes one nipple in his mouth, tonguing it before moving onto the next one. Then Jongin takes off his own shirt and they’re kissing again, bodies rocking together.

Chanyeol has seen Jongin shirtless around the apartment, but it’s different now when they’re together like this. He licks and sucks on Jongin’s dark nipples one by one and in the midst of all this desire, Chanyeol remembers that first night he’d found Jongin. Clothes soaked through and hair wet, body cold and lifeless as the rain fell and fell.

Chanyeol stares into Jongin’s alluring honey brown eyes and he can’t get over how beautiful Jongin is and how lucky he is to have found him on that wet, miserable night, how very, very lucky. Chanyeol doesn’t tell Jongin what’s going through his head and his heart as they make love, but he does reach out his hand to cup Jongin’s cheek. “I love you, Jongin.”

“I love you too, Chanyeol. I love you so much,” Jongin says just before their lips meet in a kiss that’s both tender and passionate. Then Jongin makes soft, gasping noises as he rubs against Chanyeol with quicker, more urgent thrusts. Then Jongin’s hand is gripping their cocks together in the most intoxicating, most devastating handjob Chanyeol’s ever had. The pulsing ache in his groin grows more and more intense as Jongin pumps harder and harder and a few minutes later, Chanyeol’s self-control splinters—heart pounding in his ears as he comes apart.

epilogue

“Well, it’s taken us six years but here we are,” Chanyeol says quietly, as they stand hand-in-hand at the halfway mark of Charles Bridge, watching as the sun sets over the River Vlatava.

“Here we are,” Jongin agrees and Chanyeol can hear the smile in his voice.

A few months after Chanyeol had found Jongin and brought him home, one of his closest friends had transferred from the Daegu Branch of the Ministry of Robotic Affairs to the Head Office in Seoul. With Kim Junmyeon’s help, they had registered Jongin as a butlerbot. Jongin’s paperwork and his sale and purchase details had been completely fabricated to say the least, but Junmyeon had somehow managed to get the application approved. Chanyeol would be forever indebted to his childhood friend.

“Is it just like you dreamt?” Chanyeol asks as he moves to stand behind Jongin. He wraps his arms around the android’s shoulders, linking his hands over Jongin’s chest. With a contented sigh, Jongin leans back into Chanyeol’s embrace.

“It’s better. It’s so much prettier in real life than it ever was in my dream, Chanyeol.”

“I’m just so glad we made it here. All we need now is some ice-cream and your dream will be complete.”

Jongin turns around. There’s a self-indulgent smile on his face, the one he gives Chanyeol when he thinks Chanyeol is being particularly dense. “What are you saying?”

“We were eating ice-cream in your dream so we’ll have to find some so we can make the dream complete. Do you see?”

“We don’t need any ice-cream to make the dream complete, Chanyeol.”

“But--”

“You made all my dreams complete when you saved me from that dumpster. The ice-cream isn’t important.”

“But Jongin--”

“Just kiss me and we’ll call this dream complete.”

Then Jongin is kissing Chanyeol and it’s better. . .so much better and so much sweeter than any ice-cream could ever hope to be.

~fin

(LJ Post)

Prompt #: 38

Title: Lilac Sky
Word Count: 13,000 words
Rating: PG
Warning(s):none
Summary: Just because you think of them when you are cold, It doesn’t necessarily mean they are warm.

Author’s notes: the title (and the whole fic really) was inspired by Halsey’s monologue in Colors. First, dearest prompter, I tried my best and I am just hoping that you like this thing, im thinking that it’s not angsty enough for your liking but it was done before I even know it and then.. yeah. Thank you mods for being awesome *hugs*. And Thanks to T and G for holding my hand.

Rain pattered slowly the moment Jongin stepped a foot out of the lift, steady pitter patter heard against the glass walls of the hospital lobby. The weather has been insufferable the past few days and it did nothing but dampen Jongin’s already low spirits. The only thing he thought of that came along with the wet weather is the significant decline in the patient’s census. Jongin passed by the Emergency Room before he went back to the dorms and it actually looked like an Emergency Room now instead of its usual appearance as a battlefield. He even managed to catch a few hours of uninterrupted sleep before he was beeped.

Jongin brushed back his still dripping hair, having showered when his 36-hour duty ended. The last time Jongin went to their monthly gathering straight from duty, Jongdae threw a huge ruckus about him smelling like death and other bodily fluids though in Jongin’s defense, the first thing he did was to ask Minseok if he can use the shower. In his duties, Jongin’s assigned to two wards, and sometimes three, with about sixty different patients, different cases, different diseases and though he looks pristine on the outside with his white coat and slicked back hair, he can’t risk the amount of germs, bacteria, or microorganisms that chose to stick to his skin and clothes. Being a medical resident in a huge hospital sucks big time but Jongin loves it (sometimes).

Hefting his heavy bag in one shoulder, Jongin heads to the concierge to book a cab. After the third time Jongin almost fell asleep while driving back home, he never bothered to drive to the hospital knowing the hours spent on his feet. Halting even before he reached the counter, Jongin fished his phone from his back pocket once it started ringing to see Chanyeol’s name flashing on the screen.

The number of calls Chanyeol and Jongin has exchanged are scarce that Jongin barely remembered when the last was. Too sleepy to think more about the matter, Jongin swiped the screen to finally silence the blasting device. “Hello, hyung?” He mumbled.

“Jongin!” Chanyeol exclaimed from the other line.”Are you done with work? Kyungsoo said you get off at 5. I’ll be on the lobby in five minutes.” Chanyeol continued and Jongin took a little while to catch up.

“What? Why?” Skidding to a stop in the middle of the almost empty lobby, Jongin pulled his phone back to check if it was really Chanyeol he’s talking to, and indeed it was. Chanyeol has never fetched Jongin from work or from anywhere, really. It was usually Kyungsoo or Baekhyun, but never Chanyeol. Nor did he have any reason to and it makes Jongin’s sleepy mind hurt.

Chanyeol’s barking laugh was heard through the phone so Jongin promptly placed it back to his ear. “Joonmyun hyung called me.” It was enough reason really, Joonmyun hyung, but Chanyeol went on. “Kyungsoo’s going to be late and Baekhyun was with him since the morning so he thought no one would drive you to his place and you’re coming straight from work and Joonmyun hyung’s worried that you’d fall asleep again while driving so here I am! By the way, I’m just about to enter the hospital’s premises, wait for me in front of the lobby, okay?” Jongin barely caught the words halfway Chanyeol’s rant but he gave his assent before hanging up.

Seeing Chanyeol’s red Hyundai enter the pick-up lane, Jongin forced his legs to cross the few distance left to the exit, bowing to the nurses sitting by the lobby’s couch who waved at him. Chanyeol opened the passenger seat’s door from his perch on the drivers’ to help Jongin with his bag in which he carefully placed on the backseat with a huff.

Jongin leaned back to the comfortable seat, securing his seatbelt as Chanyeol eased into the driveway. “You didn’t have to” Jongin mumbled, eyeing the radio in front of him.

Chanyeol reached to flick on the radio like he’s heard Jongin’s thoughts, lowering the volume so the music’s nothing but a background even to Jongin’s soft mumbles. “You’re welcome?” Chanyeol said instead, one side of his lips quirked up in a half smile as he focused on the road. “You know it’s not out of the way, and I don’t mind.” Chanyeol shrugged, humming with the radio when Jongin nodded.

Silence is their usual companion whenever the two were left alone together, so when Jongin leaned his head on the window, Chanyeol settled with humming to his playlist for the whole drive. It just felt like they have nothing in common to talk about, but they do talk, more often than not though they end up with the companionable silence. Jongin thinks that he’s got the ability to cut short any conversation that even the ever so noisy Park Chanyeol shuts up in his presence.

Jongin is friends with Kyungsoo and Sehun since they were just kids, always, the three of them. Until Kyungsoo introduced his boyfriend, Joonmyun to them who was with his friends Yixing and Chanyeol at that time. Sehun and Yixing clicked like they’ve always known each other, leading their group to find someplace to eat while chattering animatedly. Jongin left Kyungsoo to walk hand in hand with Joonmyun after exchanging pleasantries, and chose to walk behind the couple. Jongin jumped when someone fell into step beside him and then he remembered Joonmyun’s other friend, Chanyeol. It was awkward, they didn’t get along easily like how Sehun and Yixing did, but Chanyeol did exert an effort for small talk but Jongin replied in curt, one word answers that probably fielded off any more questions the other might have.

Jongin don’t take too well to strangers, and being friends with one of his best friends doesn’t make them friends with Jongin automatically. Baekhyun used to tell their group of friends that Jongin is a personification of a cat, always running away when you come off too strong. The best way to deal with kitty Jongin is to just let him be for a while and wait for the time when he comes to you himself asking for a hug. Always so distrustful, this Jonginnie.. until you give him chicken.

The problem is Chanyeol must be the personification of a puppy. Always so energetic, always so happy, always so eager to please, and despite Baekhyun’s warnings he’s always came on to Jongin like an impatient puppy with his tail high up in the air wagging freely and it did nothing but scare Jongin off.

If people asked, they’re friends. They belong in a single group of friends that grew over time. Jongin’s best friend’s boyfriend is Chanyeol’s best friend and that makes them friends. Chanyeol knew when Jongin’s birthday is and Jongin’s the same, where they live, their preferred food, and their jobs. But Jongin doesn’t know that Chanyeol preferred vodka to soju and Chanyeol doesn’t know that Jongin’s allergic to beer. Chanyeol doesn’t know what Jongin planned to take for his specialization after his 3rd year in residency and Jongin doesn’t know the title of Chanyeol’s latest edited book.

They arrived at Joonmyun’s apartment after a fifteen minute drive, everyone save for Kyungsoo’s already there scattered all over the place. Jongin automatically flopped on the couch Baekhyun’s claimed for himself, and Chanyeol went straight to the kitchen where Minseok and Joonmyun were stationed as they gather enough food for everyone.

Jongin felt rather than saw (probably) Chanyeol’s eyes still on him even when he clearly went to the kitchen. When Jongin peaked from under his lashes, he caught a glimpse of both Joonmyun and Minseok’s smiles directed at him. Jongin doesn’t have any more energy to deal with his conniving hyungs probably now basking in their victory to push Chanyeol and Jongin together. Sometimes, Jongin wished they would stop doing it. Letting it go for now, Jongin lets the exhaustion in his bones pull him to sleep.

“How’s my Jonginnie?” Baekhyun whispered in his ear where he’s currently squished by Jongin’s weight on the couch. Jongin’s only answer is a hum then he burrowed closer to Baekhyun’s shoulder looking for a more comfortable position. Baekhyun just shook his head with a fond smile muttering Kitty under his breath. He’s so glad Minseok doesn’t seem to have even an ounce of jealousy in his body with the way Jongin seemed to melt into him as he fell deeper into slumber.

Their hyungs have always pushed Jongin and Chanyeol to each other, them being the only single ones in their huge group. Everyone’s already paired up with another and it’s amazing how they managed to find their soul mates in the tight knit of their group. Thus, Joonmyun and secretly the others too, believed that it’s only a matter of time before Jongin and Chanyeol get together. It’s not like they can date Jongdae with him and his proclaimed love for anything female. Chanyeol even once got an “I’m sorry but you’re missing the vital parts”.

With everyone in their group of friends paired up, all of them expect Chanyeol and Jongin to eventually end up together. And there came a time when Jongin thinks Chanyeol almost believed them too.



“Going home Dr. Kim?” One of the nurses in the station smiled kindly when he passed by. It’s quarter past seven in the evening and Jongin’s just so ready to go home and drop dead on his own bed but these nurses are just about to start their duties for the night so Jongin smiled back with a wave.

“Dr. Kim!” Mrs. Seo from the reception desk hollered the moment he stepped a foot outside the lift and Jongin’s just so tired he might just sleep on the cold marble floor especially now that everyone he knew decided to chat him up a little before letting him go, and Kim Jongin was a fucking medical resident and just happened to know almost every staff in the damn hospital. Biting his lower lip to prevent himself from grumbling, Jongin dragged his heavy feet to the reception. “You look dead on your feet, young doctor. Anyway, I just want to tell you that your handsome boyfriend has been waiting for you for about 2 hours now?” She gestured a hand towards the couches near the lounge area. “Now, move along.”

Moving towards the couches, Jongin stopped halfway to tell the lady something he forgot. “I don’t have a boyfriend though.” Jongin said to be heard clearly but the old lady just gestured that he move ahead.

Jongin’s really tempted to just pretend that he’s deaf and ignore just everything but the sight of Chanyeol dozing on the couch in the hospital lounge almost wake Jongin up. He knew something was up when Chanyeol texted him earlier.

Chanyeol-hyung:
Jongin, it’s ur last day at work right??

Jonginnie:
Yeah hyung, why?

Chanyeol-hyung:
Nuthin, you get off at 5?

It indeed is Jongin’s last day as a 3rd year medical resident at the hospital, the younger residents threw a small goodbye/congratulatory party for the 3rd years and that was when he received Chanyeol’s message. Jongin realized with a jolt that he wasn’t able to reply earlier because when he was about to, the hospital wide intercom buzzed, the operator’s almost robotic voice announcing a code blue on the 5th floor. So much for a chill last day duty. Rummaging his bag for his phone, Jongin let out a groan when he saw that it was dead.

“Jonginnie?” Chanyeol’s voice almost made him jump, his already deep voice now raspy and heavy with sleep. Jongin gave him an apologetic smile. “You done?” Chanyeol asked, stretching his arms up.

“Hyuuung,” It was hard to hide the whine in Jongin’s voice and Chanyeol stared at him. “Why are you here?” he wanted to ask but it would seem so rude especially since Chanyeol apparently waited for 2 fucking hours for Jongin. “You should have just left me when I didn’t show up after an hour. You didn’t have to wait for me.”

Chanyeol huffed a laugh before slinging an arm around Jongin’s shoulders to steer him towards the parking lot. “I want to. And what would Joonmyun hyung say if I just left you when I volunteered to drive you home?” Jongin’s bone-deep tired but Chanyeol’s arm around his shoulders barely weigh him down, if anything, it was a warm comfort making Jongin want to lean back and fall into Chanyeol’s arms, so Jongin did just that, barely, but he relaxed in Chanyeol’s hold letting the older guide his way. Jongin doesn’t remember Chanyeol promising him anything that day but Jongin blamed it all on his traitor of a phone.

When Jongin opened the door to the passenger’s seat of Chanyeol’s car, he was surprised to see a bag of takeout from the Chinese restaurant they frequent with their friends. “Figured you’d be famished after your duty.” Chanyeol smiled sheepishly moving the bag of takeouts to the back seat along with Jongin’s bag.

Jongin just nodded, needing time to gather his thoughts after noting that they’re heading to his apartment. After a while though he turned to face Chanyeol giving him his full attention when they stopped for the red light. “Hyung, why are you doing this?” Jongin asked softly, hoping the question didn’t sound too rude. “I just.. if it’s Joonmyun hyung, I hope you know that you can say no to him, okay? You don’t have to spend time with me or do things for me just because Joonmyun hyung thinks I need it.” Jongin heaved a sigh, “But thank you hyung, really.”

It took Chanyeol a while before he graced Jongin a reply and Jongin was worried that he finally offended Chanyeol. “Jonginnie.” The endearment surprised Jongin and he’s just thankful that Chayeol’s gaze is on the road. “If I really just follow Joonmyun hyung’s suggestion I’d be courting you right now, or asking you stupid questions like do you want to go out on a date with me or something, because that’s what Joonmyun hyung and Minseok hyung have been telling me to do for ages now.”

If Jongin was surprised before, he’s definitely baffled now mostly when Chanyeol glanced his way for a few seconds to send him a wry smile. Seeing that his companion has been stunned to silence, Chanyeol continued with a soft laugh. “Baekhyunnie may have mentioned something about you being lonely nowadays though.” They enter the parking lot of Jongin’s building and he almost expected Chanyeol to drop him off by the entrance but Chanyeol never ceased to surprise him when he parked on an empty spot. Turning off the engine, Chanyeol finally faced Jongin. “Just know Jonginnie that I won’t be doing anything asked of me if I really didn’t want to.”

It hit Jongin home and all the fight in him melted when Chanyeol ruffled his hair. The walk to Jongin’s apartment is quiet, Chanyeol contented in carrying Jongin’s bag and the takeout bag when he insisted. Jongin’s face was just blank, repeating Chanyeol’s words in his head.

When they entered the apartment, it’s when Jongin realized that it’s Chanyeol’s first time in his apartment, with the look of pure curiosity in his roaming eyes. “Make yourself at home hyung, I just really need to shower. I feel really dirty right now.” Jongin told him with an apologetic smile, wrinkling his nose. His apartment’s mostly clean since he stays at the hospital more than he stays home and one of his sisters always see to it that his fridge has food and his apartment’s clean for when he does go home.

“It’s fine,” Chanyeol waves him off. “Mind if I use the microwave? I’ll heat the food so it’ll be ready for when you get out of the shower.”

Jongin shook his head pointing to the general direction of the kitchen and mumbled that he’ll be back quickly before disappearing to his room.

When Jongin finally emerged from his room, he’s freshly showered, hair flopped down over his forehead dressed in an oversized hoodie and track pants. Chanyeol has the food set up on the coffee table while he’s focused on the drama showing on the television.

They ate in companionable silence, Chanyeol letting out a variety of interesting sounds while watching the drama. With his stomach finally full and satisfied, Jongin felt so comfortable sitting on the floor while drinking his soda. Chanyeol’s still wolfing on his meal, only facing his food once the drama ended.

“I’m so full!” Jongin stretched tired arms over his head, leaning on the couch, their plates now empty. “Thank you so much for these hyung.” He gestured to the table, and really, just everything.

“No problem.” Chanyeol smiled. “I haven’t had a dinner this comfortable in a long time.”

Jongin stared at him, all his walls crumbled down now that he’s fed and he’s comfortable. Kitty. Baekhyun’s voice whispers in his ear and he ignores it. “Were you lonely too, Chanyeol hyung?”

Chanyeol was honestly taken aback by Jongin’s question, like he was caught red handed with his hand in the cookie jar, but he smiled at Jongin pleasantly after a beat. “Yeah, maybe?” He winked at the other and that had Jongin laughing unreservedly.

“I’m not the most fun or exciting company though, if you’d still take that.” Jongin’s eyes were teasing, his lips pulled up into a smirk.

“I’m lots of fun though!” Chanyeol retorted, “I’m sure we can manage.” This time, he sends Jongin an exaggerated wink that made the other double over in laughter.

When the laughter died down, they’re still seated opposite each other, Jongin’s thigh pressed hotly on Chanyeol’s leg and though they didn’t move an inch from when they first sat, Jongin thought that now they’ve become way closer than before.

“I just want us to be friends.” Chanyeol whispered, a pleading expression on his face, almost pouting. Puppy. Jongin thinks before he laughed.

“Aren’t we already?” Jongin nudged Chanyeol’s leg under the table and Chanyeol’s deep laughter mixed with his. They talked and laughed until Jongin can barely keep his eyes open, head lulling forward so Chanyeol ushered him to his room. Jongin didn’t walk Chanyeol to the door but Chanyeol did tuck Jongin on his bed and did his dishes before quietly creeping out of the apartment when Jongin’s finally asleep.



The thing is, it’s easy to lose oneself at work, Jongin thought. Starting from day one, they were thought that a single mistake may cost an innocent life that they’re not allowed to make even a tiny mistake. So Jongin studied hard, worked even harder.

Friday nights has always been their night, Jongin, Sehun, Kyungsoo. Until Kyungsoo met Joonmyun. Sometimes Kyungsoo bailed out on them and it became somewhat a date with Sehun. They had fun badmouthing Kyungsoo and ate lots of unhealthy food. Then Sehun met Yixing, their weekly dates became monthly gatherings and still it was enough for Jongin. Joonmyun and Yixing are awesome people and though he’s usually the fifth wheel Jongin didn’t mind much, usually there’s Chanyeol too, sixth wheeling somewhere.

But slowly, people sauntered in. Kyungsoo invited Jongdae once in one of their gatherings, then Jongdae brought Baekhyun on the next along with his boyfriend, Minseok, who turned out to be Joonmyun’s best friend. It was disorienting, Jongin thought, his childhood friends mixing with his college friends and their boyfriends. Jongin kept his whole life compartmentalized, meeting with Sehun and Kyungsoo on Fridays, visiting Baekhyun and Jongdae on his free days. Now it’s all jumbled up, Jongin stopped asking when Kyungsoo or sometimes Baekhyun fetched him from work for the nth time driving him to one of the houses where they apparently agreed to hang out. Jongin doesn’t even remember how many times even Joonmyun fetched him from work, he didn’t mind much, Jongin likes Joonmyun.

It’s not hard to get close to the new people, new friends, especially since they all seemed like too eager to befriend their boyfriends’ best friend, but more than that, Yixing easily fell into step with them in one of their dance sessions. It also didn’t help that Minseok likes to spoil him rotten and makes the best coffee Jongin has ever tasted.

But Jongin’s frown deepened when Chanyeol started sending him random messages in random days, then after the random messages, Chanyeol started showing up at the hospital to drive Jongin into one of their meeting places. Unlike the others, Chanyeol doesn’t have any reason to befriend Jongin aside from their common friends.

So Jongin held back a sigh when Joonmyun cornered him in the foyer one time they went together for their monthly meetings. “So, Jonginnie.” He began, waiting until he had Jongin’s full attention before continuing. “What do you think about Chanyeol?” Jongin stared, frowned, and shrugged before patting Joonmyun’s arm and leaving it at that. Joonmyun let him be for the rest of that night but it didn’t mean he stopped asking Jongin the same question every time they see each other.

“So, Jonginnie.” Joonmyun began as a greeting when he opened the door to let him in. Jongin can already hear Baekhyun’s laughter from inside and he suppressed a groan lest the others pick up on his hyung’s interrogation. “What do you think of Chanyeollie?” Joonmyun continued despite Jongin’s discomfort, but the feeling melted slowly when an arm snaked around his shoulders, firm and light and warm and so comfortable.

“Jonginnie thinks I’m amazing!” Chanyeol all but announces to the whole apartment complex instead of just Joonmyun, then Jongin’s being hauled into the lion’s den-slash-the living room so he failed to see Joonmyun’s stunned expression turning into a soft smile.

With the residency done and just his exams on the way, all that’s left is for Jongin to do is review, which was nothing new because that’s all he’s been doing majority of his life anyway. So it’s not a surprise when he actually enjoyed the company of his friends this time, laughing unreservedly, bantering with Jongdae and Sehun then running to Minseok for comfort when they tag team on him.

When it was time for the movie, Jongin settled on the floor instead of squeezing onto the couch beside Baekhyun to cuddle, but he moved so that his head is leaning comfortably on Baekhyun’s thigh. “You look happy.” Baekhyun said softly while the others were busy fighting over what movie to watch. “And well rested.” Baekhyun’s fingers found their way to Jongin’s hair, the familiar comfort.

“I slept for two straight days after my last day at work, hyung.” Jongin replied laughingly, wrapping an arm around one of Baekhyun’s legs. “I surely needed that sleep.”

There was a slight tug on his hair and Jongin turned to see Baekhyun’s teasing eyes. “You can sleep for 28 hours a day and one day only has 24.” Baekhyun tugged on his hair again Jongin’s reply was to playfully bite his hyung’s leg.

“Yah, Jonginnie! Stop stealing Minseok’s boyfriend! You can’t get away with that just because Minseok hyung finds you cute.” Jongdae said and pulled Baekhyun’s leg away from him as he settled on the floor beside Jongin.

Jongin crossed his arms on his chest pouting up at Baekhyun looking like the 3- year old child that he actually is when he heard a low chuckled from his other side. Jongin turned his pout to Chanyeol who’s now sitting on his other side. Familiar arms wrap around his shoulders and he’s being pulled to a warm embrace.

“C’mere Jonginnie, I won’t let big bad Jongdae bully you.” Chanyeol said, looking a lot like a 5 year-old in his full glory with his exaggerated frown.

“Kids, play nice.” Joonmyun mumbled, setting the dvd on the player before finding his seat beside Kyungsoo in one of the smaller couches after turning the lights off.

Jongin wrestled one of the chips away from Sehun, and settled comfortably on the floor, his back leaning on Chanyeol’s broad chest. Jongin can feel a hot breath tickling the back of his neck but he’s too comfortable to move, too engrossed in the movie. Then Chanyeol’s chin is digging on his shoulder, the side of his forehead leaning on Jongin’s cheek. “I think I might fall asleep.” Chanyeol whispered.

Unlike Jongin who woke up at noon without the weight of other people’s lives in his shoulders, Chanyeol came straight from work. After the last time they bonded in Jongin’s apartment, Chanyeol’s random messages became frequent and this time Jongin actually made an effort to reply no matter how absurd Chanyeol’s messages may be (if he’s not sleeping that is).

Chanyeol mentioned something about final revisions and that everyone in their department looked like they haven’t slept for a week. So Jongin brought up a hand to pat what he can reach on Chanyeol’s face, which happened to be his jaw, and whispered, “Just don’t drool on me.”

Jongin felt Chanyeol’s arms retreating from around his shoulders and Jongin tensed when it settled around his waist, Chanyeol oblivious to his reactions because a few seconds later, Jongin felt his breathing even out. Jongin forced himself to relax, it’s just Chanyeol. He and Baekhyun cuddle all the time, for fuck’s sake.

It’s one of those rare days when people mutually decided to stay the night, more because of the stormy weather than actually considering a slumber party. The weather has been relentless the past few days. The first time they had something relatively close to a slumber party, Jongdae was so close to castrating half their friends for being too touchy. Jongin couldn’t blame those couples but it had been a really awkward night for him, Chanyeol and Jongdae.

Joonmyun doesn’t have an extra room enough to fit them all but he has an abundant amount of mattresses and sleeping bags from the last sleepover and the living room is huge enough. They moved the furniture to utilize the space.

While Joonmyun and Yixing are busy setting up the living room, Jongin decided to join Baekhyun and Minseok in the kitchen. Jongin smiled at Minseok when the older placed a mug of hot chocolate in front of him. “Thanks hyung.”

“So, Jonginnie.” It was Baekhyun this time, moving from the counter to sit on the chair beside him, a mischievous glint on his smile. “You and Chanyeollie huh? My baby’s such a big boy now.”

“Hyung, stop embarrassing me. We’re just friends.” Jongin hid his reddened cheeks behind his mug. Minseok’s knowing smile from where he’s seated across him doesn’t help either.

Baekhyun nudged his hip and Jongin sent him a scowl. “I know. I didn’t say anything about you guys dating. Took you long enough though. Chanyeollie’s a great guy.” With a pat to the head, Baekhyun left the kitchen to haggle for the pillows.

“He’s good for you, Jongin-ah.” Minseok said softly. And Jongin thought he was safe when Baekhyun decided to let him be.

“Apparently, I was lonely.” Jongin told his hyung with a wry smile. Sometimes, Jongin thought that Baekhyun worries too much about him and takes his Jonginnie’s mom duties extraordinarily well.

Minseok regarded him with a smile. “You know, it didn’t even cross my mind before that you were feeling lonely even with all of these rowdy people surrounding you.” Minseok nods to the ruckus currently happening in the living room where Chanyeol, Baekhyun and Jongdae were playing games to hoard for more pillows. “But now I can see how comfortable and happy you are. If Baekhyunnie didn’t point it out I wouldn’t even have noticed. He’s good for you.” Minseok repeated.

Jongin didn’t even realize it himself. He just thought that his good mood was due to the less stress from work weighing him down, but now thinking about it, Chanyeol definitely is a big part of it. Chanyeol who’s now sprawled on the floor screaming for mercy from Baekhyun and Jongdae who decided to team up and tickle him senseless. “I think I need better friends though, hyung.” Jongin said eyeing the pile of limbs in the living room and Minseok’s answering laughter is enough to fuel his own.


It has been 2 weeks since Jongin holed himself up in his apartment to study for his incoming exams and Jongin targets that spot in the Cardiology department in the hospital. It was easy, getting lost in his books and tuning everything out. Kyungsoo visited him came the first week of his exile to fill his fridge with side dishes and easy to cook food. Baekhyun called at least twice a week and made him promise to shower every day, eat three meals a day, and to call him if Jongin needed anything in which Jongin replied with yes, mum to Baekhyun’s delight. There’s Chanyeol’s messages too, asking him if he’s had his meal, random messages about a cute puppy he saw on the way home. Jongin got used to waking up with Chanyeol’s Goodmornin Jonginnie! And expecting a Sweet dreams, Jonginnie! before he sleeps.

So when Jongin woke up came the 3rd week of his self review without a Good morning message from Chanyeol, Jongin kind of felt uneasy but let it go, and instead sent Chanyeol his own good morning first.

Jongin lost himself in his books once more, it’s the last four days before his exams and he decided that today will be his last day with his books. He needed to relax the last few days before his exams or he’d go nuts with all the information he’s trying to fit in his head. But when his phone beeped at noon with Baekhyun’s message reminding him to eat lunch, Jongin’s frown deepened because Chanyeol still hasn’t replied or sent him random messages from his day.

Closing his books for the mean time, Jongin was about to give Chanyeol a call when the doorbell rang once followed by a series of knocks on the door. Jongin wasn’t expecting for any visitor but his friends have always been random and it could be any one of them. And turns out it was Chanyeol looking like death wormed over him with a bag of takeouts.

“Hyung?” Jongin hesitated in the foyer before opening the door widely to let Chanyeol in. “You look like..” He trailed off and Chanyeol laughed tiredly.

“Like shit, I know.” Chanyeol’s voice was hoarse. Jongin frowned at Chanyeol’s appearance. It was the first time Jongin’s seen Chanyeol in a less than proper look, not even when they slept over at Joonmyun’s apartment. Chanyeol places the bag of takeouts on the coffee table and drops heavily on the couch.

“Are you okay?” Jongin sat beside him gingerly, one hand brushing Chanyeol’s hair away from his face to settle on his forehead. No fever, good. “When was the last time you slept? Or ate?” Jongin asked going to the kitchen to get plates and chopsticks for the meal Chanyeol brought.

Chanyeol had his eyes closed, an arm over his eyes. Jongin almost thought he already fell asleep. “I haven’t slept in like three days. And I actually had breakfast… yesterday.” Chanyeol opened one eye to send Jongin a sheepish smile.

“God, look at you telling me to eat and rest but I can see you’ve been ignoring your own requests.” Jongin frowned while fixing Chanyeol a meal. It’s chicken, Jongin’s favorite, but Chanyeol hasn’t eaten in more than a day so he trudged to the kitchen to heat the soup Kyungsoo’s brought him from the fridge.

When Jongin emerged from the kitchen, Chanyeol really did fell asleep, his jaw slack and neck bent in a seemingly uncomfortable position. He placed the bowl of soup on the table and sat gently beside Chanyeol. He must be so tired and Jongin almost didn’t want to wake him up but he needed to eat. Placing a hand on Chanyeol’s shoulders, Jongin tapped him gently. “Hyung, you need to eat.”

Chanyeol ate almost automatically, eyes half lidded while slowly devouring Kyungsoo’s soup and eating a few pieces of chicken. Then Jongin’s shoving him to the shower with a set of clothes and an extra toothbrush. “I don’t think I can stand long enough for a shower anymore Jonginnie.” Chanyeol mumbled, letting Jongin manhandle him.

“Then don’t. Just change your clothes okay? You’ll be more comfortable that way.” Jongin waited for Chanyeol just outside the door and when the door finally opened, Chanyeol wearing Jongin’s oversized shirt and pants.

The shower was in Jongin’s room so Chanyeol was about to go back to the living room, ready to crash on the couch but he was pulled by Jongin to the comfortable looking bed in the middle of the room. “Jonginnie, I can crash on the couch.” Chanyeol tried to refuse but Jongin was insistent and the bed looked too comfortable to resist so when he was pushed to the soft mattress, Chanyeol all but melted into the sheets. “And I haven’t showered yet?” Chanyeol mumbled softly already halfway to sleep but he smiled when he heard Jongin’s laughter.

“I was aware of that hyung. Now, go to sleep.” Jongin combed Chanyeol’s hair away from his face, smiling gently when his hyung started to snore.

With Chanyeol sleeping soundly in his room, Jongin was able to wrap up his review comes night time. Jongin finished his share of the chicken Chanyeol brought for his dinner and kept the other half in the fridge for when his hyung wakes up but it looked like Chanyeol will be out the whole night too so Jongin set up a makeshift bed on his couch and settled down comfortably.

Browsing the T.V. channels and looking for something of interest, Jongin has his living room’s lights turned off, settling comfortably on his makeshift nest and almost screamed when someone cleared their throat from behind him. Jongin whipped his head so fast he felt his neck protesting to see Chanyeol sleepily standing by the door of his bedroom.

“Sorry,” Chanyeol mumbled after clearing his throat when his voice gave. “I had to use the toilet, my bladder is killing me. Then I kinda saw you nesting on the couch. Please don’t make me feel bad about taking your bed from you. Let me sleep on that comfortable looking couch, okay?”

Chanyeol was halfway to the couch when Jongin jumped, “No!” smiling sheepishly when Chanyeol winced at the volume of his voice.”You need the rest hyung, and I’ve had more than enough sleep. Please just go back in there and sleep. I’ve slept on cold chairs upright, and even cold floors so the couch is really comfortable for me.”

“Jongin,” Chanyeol sighed, already shaking his head halfway Jongin’s speech. “I can.. I can go home?” It seemed absurd to even come from Chanyeol because he can barely keep his eyes open at that moment.

“Don’t be stupid.” Jongin mumbled, steeling his thoughts and flicking off the T.V. before ushering Chanyeol back to the bedroom. “Just sleep, okay? Will you shut your mind off for a while?”

Chanyeol let out a soft whine but he let Jongin manhandle him as he fell face first on the soft mattress. “I’m not kicking you out of your bed though.” Jongin’s blanket felt really smooth and much like heaven just about now.

“You won’t, okay? So scoot over.” Jongin poked his thigh and Chanyeol rolled closer to the wall. “The bed’s big enough. I hope you don’t snore though.” Jongin mumbled, hiding his reddening cheeks from the other, already halfway to dreamland.

“I won’t make any promises.” Was Chanyeol’s sleepy answer. Jongin felt warm arms draping over his torso as Chanyeol wiggled to make himself comfortable. “If I do though, I’ll make it up to you.”

Ignoring the tightening in his chest, Jongin huffed out a laugh, too aware of the warm arm around his chest. “How?” Jongin asked softly.

“Tomorrow. For now though, Sleep.” Chanyeol murmured sleepily. “Now, sleep.” Then with a soft squeeze around his middle, Chanyeol promptly fell asleep.

Jongin was the opposite case though, too aware of the arm around him and the warm presence pressed to his left. It has been a long time since Jongin fell asleep next to someone so warm, and it has been really long since his heart beat wildly. Ever since Soojung, Jongin didn’t feel like addressing his heart’s constant nudge to remind him of what was missing. It has got nothing to do with relationship traumas, bad breakups or crazy exes. His previous breakup was even a mutual one.

Jongin met Soojung at med school. They were classmates, teammates even. There was just the difficult part of being future doctors that equated to being socially isolated, more intimate with their books and notes than other people. And being with the same set of classmates, of people every day, it wasn’t so hard to fall in love with each other. Soojung just got Jongin, his moods his actions, and though they were busy, at least they were busy together. Until they weren’t anymore. They graduated, got accepted to intern at different hospitals, mingled with other people, and lost time for each other. So when Soojung called Jongin one night after his shift, he couldn’t say he wasn’t prepared for what was about to come. “I think we should end this.” Soojung told him softly but without an ounce of hesitancy. And Jongin just nodded, opting to stay silent than make things awkward by saying something stupid like the last three years has been awesome or something along the line. When Jongin kissed Soojung one last goodbye, it lacked the magical tingling feeling it used to have, and though Jongin’s heart felt heavy for the loss, it felt free.

Now though, Jongin’s heart felt restless, beating wildly inside his ribcage, and sounding too loud in the eerily quiet room. Suddenly, the arm around him tightened as Chanyeol shifted in his sleep. With his heart being so restless, Jongin resigned to a night of restless sleep with Chanyeol’s soft snores as his lullaby.



The next morning, Jongin awoke to the sound of his phone going off a distance away, probably still on the couch from where he left it the previous night. Jongin groaned, burying his face back into his pillow, except that when Jongin turned to do just that, his face was met with Chanyeol’s collarbones. Jongin would jump but he was trapped under a really heavy and still dead to the world Chanyeol. Jongin’s phone continued to blare in the living room, but he felt too comfortable and warm and the next thing, he’s falling back to sleep.

When Jongin next came to, he’s alone on his bed, wrapped up tightly in his cocoon of blankets. Jongin stared at his ceiling, willing his brain to fully wake up. Groaning, Jongin tried to untangle his limbs from the blankets around him when his mind finally caught up and remembered Chanyeol being on his bed the night before. But Jongin’s alone now and he let out another groan. Did he or did he not really dream about sleeping wrapped up in Chanyeol’s arms?

But there’s a sound of cluttering cutleries from outside his room. What greeted Jongin when he stepped inside the kitchen is not Chanyeol cooking them impeccable English breakfast like what people see in the movies. It’s Chanyeol, clad in Jongin’s old clothes, hair a complete ruffled mess sitting on his kitchen counter wolfing down the leftover chicken from the night before. Jongin didn’t just dream of it then, but he’s doomed either way. When Chanyeol looked up from his box of chicken as Jongin stepped into view and smiled lazily at him, Jongin swallowed audibly. Yeah, he’s totally doomed.



Jongin was positive that he’s gonna flunk his exams. Even with all the studying and reviewing he did, Jongin still felt that the exams were way too easy. It can never be too easy because then it’s either you’re really smart, or you’re too stupid. And Jongin’s not really smart so he must be stupid and he’s really sure he’s gonna fail.

It doesn’t help that the results are due after a month. A whole month of torture, uncertainty and self loathing.

Jongin just wanted to forget everything, maybe get drunk and dance silly. But Sehun works on Thursdays, and Baekhyun won’t be out until 5. Jongin checked his phone, opening and locking it after a few seconds. Chanyeol still hasn’t replied from when Jongin texted him right after he left the exam room, stating how doomed he was and he’s just about to fly to another country and take up another course not related to anything medical.

He was about to pocket his phone when it finally vibrated, the message making him smile.

Chanyeol-hyung:
Aww! Cheer up Jonginnie! I’d hug u if I can but em currently 6 ft under towers of unedited papers. Will see u when I can ok?

It was enough for Jongin, sending his hyung a flurry of crying and thumbs up emoticons.

Nothing really changed ever since the sleeping incident as Baekhyun liked to call it but It didn’t help that Baekhyun told the entirety of their friends what happened when Jongin told him, except his story was much more exaggerated and not really unlike those fanfictions Jongin saw him reading one time. Their friends even began their online catcalls until Jongin told them to shut the fuck up because no one popped anyone’s cherry and that they’re as platonic as ever.

Chanyeol was uncharacteristically silent throughout the ruckus, and Jongin thought that he’s uncomfortable with the topic so he let it drop.

For now though, Jongin’s determined to get drunk and wasted so after changing into much comfortable clothes and sending both Sehun and Kyungsoo the address of the bar he’s at (for when I get wasted and I expect you to come and get me), Jongin decided to let go and let the loud pounding of the music melt all his stress away.

Clutching at the cold bottle of beer in front of him, Jongin counts how many bottles he’s had and when he realized that he can’t even remember, he deemed it to be too much and opted to call it a day.

It’s half past two in the morning when Jongin stumbled onto the sidewalk, staring at his phone like a lifeline. He’s aware that he’s more than tipsy, and wobbling dangerously on the deserted sidewalk but alcohol was never enough to cloud Jongin’s judgment and was fairly sure that he’d get back home safely. But Kyungsoo and Sehun weren’t there to take his phone away and turn it off. Jongin becomes a little trigger happy and loved to send drunken messages to his friends and exes.

Jongin found his way back to his apartment safely, onto his bed with his phone still in his hands.



“Hyuunggg.” Jongin whined into the receiver, face resting on the cold marble of his counter.

“What’s so wrong about that though?” Baekhyun replied from the other line, voice husky and cracking because Jongin decided to wake him up at ass o’clock in the morning. “You tell me you love me every fucking day.”

“But it’s Chanyeol! I can’t believe I drunk texted Chanyeol hyung and you didn’t stop me!” Jongin whined irrationally.

There was a muffled irritated groan from the other line and Baekhyun growled at him. “How was I supposed to know!? Go stand in the corner and reflect on your actions you ungrateful bra! Let mommy get some more sleep, I have to wake up at seven!” he huffed and hang up. Jongin actually found himself standing at the corner to reflect on his stupid actions.

Jongin has always told his friends that he loves them, he even drunk texted Minseok once, even Joonmyun even when he’s just across the room, but never Chanyeol. The thing is, Jongin didn’t just text Chanyeol I lvoe you hyugn like he was prone to doing whist drunk. He wrote an entire essay on how Jongin thinks Chanyeol gives great, warm hugs and he wrote an entire prose dedicated to Chanyeol’s deep voice, his plump lips and how Jongin wondered it would taste like, and embarrassingly, how much Jongin’s heart races when he’s near.

Jongin face plants on the unrelenting wall and recalls how Chanyeol replied with, That’s flattering Jonginnie, but wtf, r u drunk?where ru??

Just the thought of it made Jongin’s chest ache. Another thing is that everything Jongin said in his texts was all true. That he accidentally confessed to Chanyeol while he was drunk and Chanyeol replied with wtf.

If they became relatively closer after the sleeping incident, Jongin’s sure that Chanyeol would be grossed out by him now. It was such a shame really, because Jongin genuinely liked him. Jongin wasn’t even sure if the guy was into, well, guys, or a bi like Jongin, but there was an instance when Chanyeol indirectly told him that Chanyeol would be courting him if he really wanted to when their hyungs suggested.

And he didn’t want to because he didn’t like Jongin that way but he wanted to be friends and he thought that Jongin was lonely and Jongin just decided to ruin their beautiful friendship with his feelings.

It was really a wtf moment.



But even then, nothing much changed in the course of their friendship. Chanyeol still sent him a flurry of random nonsense messages any time of the day, and Jongin still replied when he finally sees his phone.

Chanyeol still visited him, slept over a few more times before they’re consumed by both of their works or in Jongin’s case, studies. It was like Chanyeol just decided to forget Jongin’s drunken confession, well Jongin’s fine with that. But in turn, it felt like Chanyeol was so adamant on keeping them as they were, as friends, completely ignoring Jongin’s feelings.



Jongin’s exam results came out exactly a month after he took it, and Jongin stared forlornly at the red glaring letters that read FAILED on his laptop screen. It wasn’t as if Jongin wasn’t expecting it. He was pretty sure the exams weren’t made to be easy, but that was because Jongin was too distracted, too stupid. Jongin knew that he wasn’t the only one who failed, his senior in the cardiac catheterization laboratory even relayed his story of third time’s the charm with the exams, but he’s now one of the most aspiring Minimally Invasive Procedure specialists in the hospital.

On top of that, Jongin caught the flu and he was sure he must have violated the gods in his previous life because he felt like dying just about now.

Baekhyun called him a few hours after that and he told his hyung the most embarrassing and the downiest moment of his life so far. Initially, Baekhyun called to let him know that they’ll be having their meet-up at one of the bars near Minseok’s apartment because Sehun complained about never going out, but hearing how Jongin sounded like a dying frog, Baekhyun decided to let him rest.

“Are you sure you don’t want me there? I’ll cook you something.” Baekhyun fussed from the other line.

“I’m fine hyung.” Jongin covered the receiver when he had another coughing fit. “Besides I don’t want you to catch whatever bug I’m having right now. Noona left me some soup when she visited yesterday, so I’m good with food. Just.. don’t worry too much okay, future doctor knows what he’s doing.”

“Okay, okay.” Baekhyun laughed from the other side, “Now, future doctor, go back to rest and don’t hesitate to call me when you need anything okay? I love you.”

“Love you too, hyung.” Jongin mumbled, already feeling choked up.

Jongin knew that he tended to be clingy, a crybaby and childish when he’s sick, but he’s an adult now, and Jongin doesn’t want to burden his friends even more. But with the added stress of failing his exams, Jongin just couldn’t help that pressing feeling of being a failure, of being alone, and being hurt all at once.

Jonginnie:
Hyung, I think I need a hug ☹

Jongin hesitated before pressing the send button, hugging his phone close to his chest and crying his heart out. Finally, the weight of his sickness and tears pulled Jongin under a listless sleep.

When Jongin woke up, it was already late in the afternoon. Orienting himself to his surroundings, Jongin found his phone still on his chest with a few messages from Baekhyun, and one from Chanyeol.

Chanyel-hyung:
WHYYY??? I’ll see you later ryt? I’ll give you a big hug! And I want you to meet someone!!!!

Jongin rolled over, burying his face on his pillow before letting a few tears escape his tightly clenched eyes. Jongin really hates being sick.



Baekhyun and Minseok visited him the next day, almost close to noon and that was the only time Jongin got up from his bed aside from taking a leak and drinking lots of water.

Jongin let his hyung pamper him, Minseok serving him a warm soup as he fought not to fall asleep on the bowl in front of him while Baekhyun stripped his bed of the sweat drenched sheets and covered them with new ones.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?” Minseok asked Jongin for the third time and Jongin just shook his head again. “You don’t look too good.”

Baekhyun joined them on the couch once he finished running Jongin’s sheets in the washing machine. “You should have just told me yesterday that you’re like really dead on your feet instead of insisting that it’s just a flu.” Jongin received the half hearted scolding and burrowed closely to Baekhyun’s side when he sat beside him, still not letting go of Minseok’s hand.

Baekhyun felt warm trickles on his neck and he sent wide eyed stares to his boyfriend on Jongin’s other side before pulling away shortly to cup Jongin’s face. “Hey,” Baekhyun whispered, placing a soft kiss on his forehead and noting how burning it was. “Why are you crying? What’s wrong?” But Jongin just shook his head and buried his face back to Baekhyun’s shoulder.

Jongin fell asleep like that, drained and tired and hurting allover and not entirely physical, but he woke up on his bed after a few hours cuddled by Kyungsoo and with Sehun playing with his phone while he sat at the foot of Jongin’s bed.

He felt significantly better, whether it was the rest, or all the crying, or the company of his friends, or the medicine Baekhyun forced him to take before his fever caught him under once again, Jongin was just thankful.

His fever lasted for another few days and Baekhyun was a constant in his side, with Minseok, Sehun, and Kyungsoo popping up every now and then. On the fourth day of his sick leave as Baekhyun liked to call it, when technically, Jongin sans a job at the moment, He decided to finally check his phone. There were tons of messages from their friends, a lot from Joonmyun and Jongdae, even a few from Yixing, and one from Chanyeol.

Chanyeol-hyung:
Get well soon Jonginnie! Baekhyun said you’re feeling better now, thats great! I’ll finally have some free time after this week, I’ll come see u then ok? Don’t miss me too much, I can feel it when u do!

Jongin promptly locked his phone and turned it face down on his side table before wrapping his blanket snugly around his shoulders. Reading Chanyeol’s message made him feel a little better about the other in not visiting him but Jongin knew how busy Chanyeol can be with his work and other things and it would be such a hassle to visit a sick and depressed Jongin.

When Baekhyun found him as he is after a few minutes, his short hyung almost panicked that he’s once more getting worse. But the feeling of dread in Jongin’s bones has got nothing to do with his fever at all.



When Jongin got better enough to shoo Baekhyun out of his apartment and back to his adult responsibilities, Jongin decided to pay the hospital a visit, not as a patient but as a previous colleague. The nurses gushed over him, telling him how handsome he still looked, how he lost weight, asking him when he’s coming back. It was overwhelming, being surrounded by people actually excited to be with him, people who enjoyed his company, work related or not.

“Dr. Kim, it’s nice to see you.” Jongin beamed when his superior welcomed him to his office.

“You as well Dr. Kang.” Sitting on the chair offered to him, Jongin updated the older man on the recent happenings in his life, most especially his most recent failure. “I didn’t think that me wishing for a long vacation landed me a really long one at the cost of my career.” He finished lamely, slouching unprofessionally on his seat.

“There’s always a next time, Dr. Kim.” The elder laughed lightly. “There’s always a first time, sometimes a second time, or third, or many more. I told you third time’s the charm right! The question is, how badly do you want it? Do you just quit after failing your first try, or try harder, try better the next time. Tell me, Dr. Kim, why do you want to become a doctor, aside from the obvious perks that is?” The older doctor winked and Jongin huffed out a laugh.

“At first I wasn’t so sure, Doc. Just that, I thought it was just something that interested me as a child. When I was a kid I used to love fixing things up my parents thought I’d become some sort of an engineer, but when I grew up I liked fixing people up more. I like how the human body works, how resilient our body is. Now though, I like it when I see my patients getting discharged, walking away from the hospital where they arrived wheeled in, or when my patients thank me for doing my job.”

“Those were the perks I was talking about!” Dr. Kang mentioned slyly, making Jongin laugh. “Now, why do you want to be a Cardiologist?”

Jongin thought for a while, before shrugging. “I just thought that neurology is too complicated, and I like dealing with heart matters more. I can’t fix broken hearts but I will be able to repair heart blocks and I’m okay with that.”

“Now, then. Think of that when things seem to pull you down and lets see you back in here after six months. I need a hand in dealing with these fat filled arteries and all that shit.” Dr. Kang exclaimed before leaving Jongin to tend to a patient but not without a light pat on his shoulder.

The truth is, Jongin falls in love in almost everything. He fell in love with the clear sky, fell in love with the rain, fell in love with the clouds, fell in love with the stars. Jongin fell in love with the children, and fell in love with the weak. Jongin fell in love with humanity, and fell in love with the tiny bud of kindness in a rotten person’s heart. That’s why Jongin decided to become a doctor. Because becoming a doctor means giving love to as much people his heart can reach.

Jongin doesn’t always get loved in return, and most of the time Jongin’s fine with that. Sometimes though, Jongin thought that it would be nice if someone, somewhere maybe decided to love him back.


After his talk with Dr. Kang, Jongin decided to pay his previous ward a visit. The nurses in the fifth floor were ecstatic, running around to tend to their patients one moment then running back to catch up with him the next. He was even roped into treating the entire floor staff with pizza and ice cream.

Jongin mourned for his bank account and settled on leaching off of Baekhyun and Minseok ‘s kitchen. For now though, Jongin’s decided to buy his favorite coffee from his favorite coffee shop near the hospital. It has been too long since he drank one.

After paying for his order, Jongin decided to stand by the bar as he waited and watched the barista mixing his coffee when he heard and all too familiar laugh. To his surprise, Jongin saw Chanyeol sitting on the table near the condiments area, laughing obnoxiously with someone.

After getting his drink, Jongin padded towards Chanyeol’s table with a soft smile on his face.

“Jonginnie!” Chanyeol exclaimed when he saw someone approaching and looked up to the smiling face of his closest friend. They haven’t seen each other in weeks.

“Hi, hyung.” Jongin replied, soft smile widening when Chanyeol jumped up to hug him muttering about how much he missed the other and how long it has been since they bonded.

“Anyway, what are you doing here?” Chanyeol asked, after he pulled away, inquiring eyes raking over his features. “That flu really did a number on on huh, you lost a lot of weight.” Chanyeol sounded really upset and it made Jongin smile.

“I just visited the hospital.” Jongin said, pointing to the general direction of where he came from. “Then I decided to visit my favorite coffee shop. Then I saw you.” Then Jongin remembered Chanyeol wasn’t alone when he approached, turning to the other man eyeing then curiously but not unkindly, Jongin smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry for disturbing you though.”

“Oh!” Chanyeol turned back to their table when he remembered that he indeed was not alone. “I’m sorry Jaehyunnie, this is Jongin, one of my closest friends. The one I was telling you about? This is him!” Then he turned back to Jongin, grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the table. “And Jongin, meet Jaehyun. He’s one of my workmates.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jongin-ssi. Chanyeol-hyung has told me lots of stories about you.” Jaehyun stood up and offered a hand to Jongin.

Smiling shyly, Jongin took the hand and shook it lightly. “Not all bad I hope? It’s nice to meet you too.”

Turned out that Chanyeol and Jaehyun were on a break and decided to pay the coffee shop a visit instead of eating stale food from their cafeteria. Then Chanyeol broke into a tirade of how stressful their current project is and spits office jokes that Jongin barely understood but Jaehyun seemed to get since he’s laughing uncontrollably when Chanyeol went on a roll.

“I actually need to go.” Jongin mumbled before Chanyeol decided to be carried away and convince Jongin to have lunch with them or visit their office. Jongin felt like a third wheel as it is. “I.. need to get back to the hospital to meet one of my superiors.” Letting the lie settle on his tongue heavily, Jongin mustered his most convincing smile then waved a little before walking out of the café.



Chanyeol-hyung:
So, didya like Jaehyunnie?
Jonginnie:
Hm, I guess he’s ok? Why does it matter??
Chanyeol-hyung:
Don’t be like that Jonginnieee! I rly like him! I told u I’d introduce u to someone ryt? Well that’s him. He’s rly cool and chill. And as my bestfriend I rly rly want you to like him for me ok??

Jongin’s phone slips from his hand.



It has been three months since Jongin last saw his friends. He still saw Baekhyun and Minseok because they’re practically family. He still sent Kyungsoo and Sehun a few messages, but Jongin didn’t have the heart to talk to anyone other than them. But it has been too long and they were all becoming really worried for him despite Baekhyun’s insistence that he’s fine. And so he decided to finally reply to one of Joonmyun’s inquiring message if he’ll come to another of their group of friends’ gatherings.

Jongin jumped from where he fell asleep on his couch when there’s a loud knock on his door. Joonmyun called him at around noon, excitedly chattering about the meet up Jongin agreed to attend with their friends and this time in a club that hosted live bands or performances. Chanyeol will be playing the guitar for some friends, and possibly will be singing a bit, according to Joonmyun. Jongin frowned at the news, he didn’t hear anything from Chanyeol about joining a band, or playing live in front of people. But Jongin hasn’t really heard anything much from Chanyeol aside from the wayward good mornings and polite goodnights he’s sent even when Jongin stopped replying to him entirely in the previous months of Jongin’s exile.

Stretching his arms, Jongin padded to his front door and opened to door to the frowning face of Kyungsoo. “You totally fell asleep on me.” He pointed an accusing finger at Jongin, reaching up to fix the yougner’s hair. One side was flat against his face from where he leaned his head on the armrest while he slept while the back side of his hair’s all just ruffled and sticking out in all possible directions.

Jongin murmured something about being bored while waiting but he let it go and crouched lower to make it easier for the other to fix his hair.

“Jonginnie,” Kyungsoo inquired softly, and Jongin hummed in reply. “Did you and Chanyeol fight?” Kyungsoo noticed how Jongin tensed under his hands and fought back a sigh.

“No.. Uhm, we didn’t? Not that I know of hyung. Why?” Jongin mumbled, pulling out of Kyungsoo’s reach when he felt the other’s fingers starting to twitch. “Didn’t we all agree to watch his gig tonight? You know I wouldn’t be coming if we were fighting.”

Kyungsoo looked up at him, brows still furrowed worriedly. “Do you really want to go? I mean, you don’t have to force yourself. We can just stay here and watch a movie. I’ll rope Sehunie into bringing us take out and it’ll be just like the old times.”

Feeling something settle in his throat, Jongin shook his head. “I can’t always get away with isolating myself can I? And eventually I’d have to face them, they’re my friends too and I owe them even just this once. Just.. thank you Soo.” Jongin hugged the other, sniffing slightly.

Shaking his head, Kyungsoo just said something about being late and ushered Jongin out of his apartment, suspiciously turning his shiny eyes away from the younger.

Jongin and Chanyeol weren’t fighting. One moment, they were best friends, inseparable, the next moment they’re as civil as newly introduced strangers. It was exhausting, terrifying even, for Jongin, because Jongin doesn’t do things such as push and pull. Jongin has been really selective of who he lets inside his carefully built walls. Acquaintances with everyone, friends with a selected few and back then, Chanyeol was really eager, and he really seemed like he wanted to be friends, no, to be closer to him, and Jongin’s mistake once again was that he genuinely believed in him.

Chanyeol seemed like a nice guy though, and Jongin seriously enjoyed being friends with him. Chanyeol still sends him morning greetings and sometimes night greetings. The previous month, Chanyeol sent Jongin one photo of a cute stray cat he saw on the way to the café he frequents at work, and one really random message that said I rly rly want to eat seafood pasta rn.

Jongin enjoyed Chanyeol’s friendship. Especially the warm bearhugs, the thoughtfulness, how he initiated to take care of Jongin, and not hesitating to be taken care of in return. Jongin thought that Chanyeol’s friendship is so what you see is what you get. He’s been upfront from the first time that he wanted to be friends with Jongin, and maybe this time it’s one of his ways of saying that Jongin has been too close that he’s not really all that comfortable with just the friendship so he’s pulling away before anyone gets too attached. Before anyone gets hurt. In more than once instance, it’s always Jongin who ends up too attached and hurt.

Jongin saw it coming, but no one expected Jongin to take his kindness and friendship into something more, no one expected Jongin to fall, but he did anyway.

Chanyeol’s set was awesome, he played the guitar for some band called NCT and even harmonized with some of their more mellow songs. It’s like seeing Chanyeol in a new light, more comfortable on the stage than his own skin, with a handsome smile permanent on his face.

The set ended with a loud applause from the audience, clearly a crowd favorite and the band was laughing as they followed Chanyeol to their group’s table to give their greeting before sauntering off elsewhere. Aside from one person, and Jongin wouldn’t have noticed him if he wasn’t already looking. If Jongin remembered right, his name’s Jaehyun, Jongin met him once as Chanyeol’s workmate, the one Chanyeol has been crushing on, now he was introduced to the crowd as one of the lead vocalists. He’s currently sitting side to side with Chanyeol across from Jongin, talking and laughing animatedly with Sehun. This time, Chanyeol introduced Jaehyun to everyone, to Jongin as his boyfriend.

It wasn’t the first time that his group of friends is meeting Jaehyun, Jongin thought. And when said person turned to look at Chanyeol with something gleaming in his eyes and got a look that says the same thing in return, Jongin felt spiders crawling down his spine.

Jaehyun, Jongin learned is a few years younger than all of them. He was Chanyeol’s intern for six months the year before and when he returned a year after, he’s the newly hired Editor in Chanyeol’s department and he gushed at how he was so happy to still be working under his Chanyeol sunbae and all that shit.

Shit. Jongin takes a bite on the chicken gingerly placed in front of him, and though there’s a huge weight sitting uncomfortably on his stomach, Jongin decided to chug more beer into his system to drown the feeling out.

Jongin has clearly had more than enough alcohol, if the way he’s sending daggers through his eyes across the table unreservedly is any indication because Jaehyun and Chanyeol have been flirting incessantly in front of him like he’s not there, like no one aside from them is present and it irked Jongin so much. Baekhyun and Minseok tried to limit the younger, but he’s hell bent on getting wasted and it didn’t help that booze just kept on falling on their table.

“For fuck’s sake, Kim Jongin will you please stand straight.” Baekhyun hissed into his ear, and Jongin giggled more. He was feeling really light headed and Baekhyun’s being so funny right now. Jongin liked Baekhyun, he’s funny. So he tried to lock his knees and straighten his posture which was good, but turned out to be a bad idea entirely when Jongin almost brought Baekhyun down with him. Good thing someone stronger than Baekhyun caught him.

“Jonginnie,” Jongin’s head whipped, and to his left there are three Chanyeols and they are all looking at him worriedly.

“Can I have one of the many yous?” Jongin slurred, reaching out to the Chanyeol nearest to him and ended up slapping the air. Then there are three Baekhyun’s to his right, and three Jaehyun’s behind them and fuck it, because if there are three Jaehyuns then they’re going to want all three of Chanyeol again and seriously fuck it because he’s already got someone Jongin wants, and it’s always Jongin left alone in the end.

“Jonginnie, hang on okay, let’s get you home.” All three Chanyeols said, making Jongin’s head dizzy with anger. Because how can Chanyeol not like him?

Jongin pulled away from him abruptly, managing to glare at the taller male while Baekhyun and Minseok scrambled to keep the younger upright. “Don’t fucking touch me.” It came out as a growl, heatedly sent to the clearly stunned Chanyeol. Jongin proceeded to walk away with Baekhyun hot on his side but almost stumbled and Chanyeol instantly reached out but Jongin slapped his hand away.

“I got it.” Minseok took Jongin’s other side, sending worried glances towards Chanyeol. “I got him.”

Jongin crashed with Baekhyun and Minseok that night, more likely because Baekhyun was afraid Jongin would do something stupid keeping the younger’s phone away before he decided to drunken text Chanyeol again with the colorful choice of words he associated on the drive back home when Chanyeol’s name came up.

It was fine really, because Jongin is a quiet drunk, and Baekhyun liked taking care of him. But this time he’s too quiet aside from all the cursing, and he won’t talk. Jongin’s mouth comes loose when drunk and Baekhyun just can’t find an answer to his drunken outburst aside from his occasional Fuck you Jaehyun and Stupid Chanyeol. Baekhyun has an inkling of what happened though and he let it go for now.

Then morning came and when Baekhyun rose to check up on Jongin in the guest room, he was left with the rumpled sheets and an empty guest room.


After the gig, it was like Jongin just disappeared. He was not in his apartment, nor in the hospital. Neither in the dance studio or the café he likes so much and Baekhyun was so close to filing a missing person report when he received a call from one of Jongin’ sisters.

Relief washed out all anxiety creeping on his skin when he found out that Jongin went back to him hometown, and was safe with his family.

Thinking about what happened, Baekhyun was almost a hundred percent sure that it has got something to do with a certain Park Chanyeol. Chanyeol and Baekhyun are friends, but Jongin is Baekhyun’s baby and if he finds out that Chanyeol hurt Jongin then Baekhyun’s sure Chanyeol will fear for his life.



It turned out that Chanyeol doesn’t know where Jongin hostility towards him came from. As far as he’s concerned, they’re okay then suddenly they’re not.

Baekhyun doesn’t lose his shit, because Chanyeol can be really stupid sometimes and Baekhyun understands that, but Minseok doesn’t and he’s shouting at a stunned Chanyeol because “How can you not know?!”



It took Baekhyun four months to finally convince Jongin to talk to Chanyeol and settle things out with a lot of bribery and involved free coffee for a month from his favorite café. four months were enough for Jongin to gather his thoughts, but it surely wasn’t enough to completely move forward so he’s fairly nervous to be facing Chanyeol after his stunt after the gig and his disappearing spell. In the months that he was gone, not even once did Chanyeol contact him, and it was enough wake up call, really.

Especially when Jongin didn’t always stay away. On nights when he felt extremely lonely, Jongin drives back to Chanyeol’s apartment, a safe distance away staring at the lean shadow passing by the windows. Sometimes, Chanyeol stares outside the window, into the star filled nightsky and those are the nights that Jongin yearns. Baecause Chanyeol’s there, just a few meters away but it feels like there’s a huge distance between them.

Sometimes Chanyeol doesn’t even come home. Sometimes Chanyeol’s not alone. Jongin has witnessed more than a few times how Chanyeol kissed Jaehyun with those plump lips that Jongin adores, how CHanyeol hugged Jaehyun with the bearhug that Jongin missed.

Sometimes, Jongin thought about what would happen if Jongin decided to show himself. Of course Chanyeol would still accept him, hug him, even, because he’s Chanyeol, he’d forgive Jongin. He won’t have Chanyeol all to himself, but at least he gets to have Chanyeol even if just a friend.

But Jongin is selfish, and it’s not enough. So he stayed inside the car, watching how someone he dearly loves love someone else.



Jongin was just thankful when Baekhyun told him that he won’t leave Jongin along with Chanyeol, appointing himself a mediator and refused to leave the two alone.

When Jongin arrived, Chanyeol’s already there, chewing on his bottom lip while staring blankly at the trees that lined the park. Jongin opted just clear his throat, announcing his arrival before sitting on the farthest side of the bench Chanyeol’s at.

“Now, will you two settle this thing like the responsible adults that you both are?” Baekhyun regarded both of them. And backed away a few steps when both nodded.

It was Chanyeol who spoke first, voice soft and hesitant. “I.. didn’t know what I did wrong for you to suddenly hate me.” He began, already choking up on unshed tears. “One thing, we’re okay then you’re lashing at me the next. Baekhyun said you’ve been on a huge slump lately, and I understand that, everyone does. And so I decided to give you time. Will you tell me what I did wrong, Jongin? Are we okay?” He finished, wiping at the corners of his eyes.

“I think it’s all me.” Jongin managed to get out, voice more confident and firmer than how he’s feeling. “You did nothing wrong.” He said, when all Jongin wanted to say was, how can you not love me? “I was an asshole and I’m sorry. I was angry.. No, I was… hurt. but isn’t it easier to be angry than to tell people you’re hurting?”

“That.. did I hurt you?” Chanyeol was rounding on him, question clear in his eyes. “Was it I who turned you into this asshole you’re talking about, Jongin?” Jongin can see the clenched fists. “You do know how this, how this thing about us affected our friends, right? Minseok hyung can’t look at me for a minute without snapping at me, all because you think you’re an asshole?”

“I’m sorry.” I’m not. Jongin steeled himself. I’m hurt, still hurting, and you fucking hurt me and all you’re concerned about is how Minseok hyung clearly hated your guts because of me. Is all Jongin wanted to say but he gulped them down. “The past few months hasn’t been really easy for me too and I know I messed up, but how was it so easy for you to replace me?” Jongin’s voice almost didn’t wobble, but it cracked pathetically in the end. “How was it so easy for you to just drop something when you find something new? How can you do that when you knew how much I love you?”

“What are you talking about Jongin? You were the one who suddenly just got angry and left without a single word. I didn’t replace anyone, and I didn’t replace you. ” Chanyeol’s actively seething now, unshed tears glistening at the corners of his eyes. Hearing just the words he wanted to hear and ignoring Jongin’s feelings, leaving them hanging in the air. “Not everything is about you Jongin, why are being so selfish?”

Yeah, Jongin’s selfish. Jongin can’t do it. Chanyeol has been hell bent on blaming everything on him, but Jongin blamed everything on Chanyeol, and it hurts, how cold he’s being towards Jongin. “Let’s just stop this.” Jongin sighed. “I ruined our friendship and I know it’s my fault. I know now, that not you don’t always get to have the things you wanted but I am selfish and I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’ll be able to put it back together like how it was before.” Jongin stood and Chanyeol followed, wide eyed and still shaking.

“Jongin… Don’t do this. Why does it feel like you’re breaking up with me?” Chanyeol stepped closer, reaching for his hand.

Break up? Jongin laughed at the thought. “We’re not breaking up hyung, we were ever together in the first place. Right now though, you’ve hurt me, you’re hurting me by just being this close and I am selfish and I don’t want to be near you now, not ever.”

“Why? It doesn’t have to end like this right? You know how important you are to me.” Chanyeol sounded pleading, warm hand wrapped around Jongin’s wrist.

With a firm gesture, Jongin pulled his wrist away, Chanyeol’s hand falling limply to his side. “You remind me of something I want but cannot have, and right now, being near you is torture.”

Before Chanyeol can form a reply, Jongin’s already sauntering away, leaving before Jongin decided to take it all back.

“Jongin..” Baekhyun’s voice was soothing, Baekhyun’s voice was home, and it grounded him enough to feel the tears now streaming down his face.

“I know I don’t even stand a chance, and he made it clear the first time that he’s not interested in me, but it still hurts, seeing him so happy with someone else.” Jongin muttered, briskly walking away, knowing Baekhyun’s hot on his heels and listening. “How can even someone like him love someone like me?” Jongin wiped his face harshly.

When they turn the corner, Jongin sees Chanyeol’s back slowly fading away, towards the other side.

Jongin missed him. His warm hugs, his random messages. Jongin missed all of Chanyeol, even if he’s just snoring in Jongin’s room, rummaging in his kitchen. Jongin missed the way they were but there’s no going back. Jongin would rather miss him than let unconsciously hurt him to the paint where his heart becomes beyond repair. It’s disconcerting, how someone can easily break down all the walls you’ve put around your heart just because they can, and take a look at all of you and leave because they fucking can, and in the end you can’t put the walls back up because they took all the broken pieces.

Jongin thought of Chanyeol, though of his warm hugs, his warm hands, his warm presence; it’s not enough to melt the ice that turned Jongin’s heart so cold.

He was indispensable, that guy. He wasn’t my Yin nor was I his Yang. We were just two people. Different and the same. However, time moved, so did I. The indispensable one wasn’t him. It was I.
-JFF

(LJ Post)

Prompt #: 16

Title: Electronic Puppy
Word Count: 23k
Rating: PG
Warning(s): none
Summary: Where a little android chooses his potential owner on a subway train. Chanyeol never even had a chance.

Author's note: This turned out rather long - I hope you enjoy it nonetheless! Much love to my beta J!

[Log Entry 20161007]

+live protocol+

confirming change in location: south korea, seoul, north-eastern district, subway line 2, "Former Idae" station

starting script 'potential.owner'

script running...

...

confirming newly entered passengers - result: 8

filtering out category "inconvenient_age" - result: 3

collecting "social_habits"

interpreting...

result: 1

analyzing range of options...

cancelling the process

reason: main subject is leaving

run option "Follow him"?

...

run "Follow him"

...

People were almost desperately blocking the way to the door, refusing to make way or, god forbid, step outside for a second, driven by the irrational fear of being left behind at the wrong station. Nothing new here. Park Chanyeol wasn't too happy about squeezing himself past strangers, but he was used to it by now, murmuring half-assed apologies under his breath. He didn't even take out his earbuds at this point, letting heavy drums orchestrate the situation, painting it in a much more dramatic, almost comical light.

With a relieved sigh, he stepped out into the fresh air - which was technically just as artificially cleansed as the air he'd been in before, though the subway's poor system was usually unable to keep up with the sheer number of people. But Chanyeol wasn't educated enough to complain about their use of taxes. Chanyeol was a simple person and stretching out his arms like this was actually really good-

Someone stepped, no, skipped into his vision and Chanyeol flinched back with a quiet yelp, arms freezing in the movement above his head. It was a young boy.

"Good day, Mister."

Oh. Not an actual boy, an android. Nowadays, you rarely found kids showing this level of respect for anyone, really. Besides, the clear enunciation was a dead giveaway. Chanyeol sighed regretfully, because he was a social person like that.

"Sorry, not interested," he said simply, but not unfriendly. There were many people who deemed it socially acceptable to be an ass towards androids, simply because they weren't human at the end of the day, but Chanyeol was also the type to apologize to a pebble he tripped on, so being rude to an android was an absurd concept to him.

The little android seemed to shrink a tiny bit at his rejection, but quickly caught himself.

"You didn't hear my request," he stated with a hint of something in his voice, something that told Chanyeol he was aware of social norms, and able to pinpoint Chanyeol's behaviour as rude. He resisted another sigh, feeling instant guilt. It wasn't that he was busy in any way - but his working shift had been pretty exhausting, and he was hungry.

"Please hear me out. I need help," the male android continued, and god, Chanyeol was such a sucker for puppy eyes.

"Fine," he said, one hand loosely playing with the strap of his backpack, "tell me what you need."

Chanyeol was being an idiot, and he knew it. It was a known fact that people liked to use androids (especially innocent-looking ones) to scam people. This one was beautiful without question, though not in the conventional way. Maybe a deliberate choice, in order to give people the illusion of not being scammed. Still, there was the case of androids actually seeking help, and rejecting them would be like rejecting a hurt rabbit.

The boy blinked up at him with his strangely lively brown orbs.

"I need a new owner."

Chanyeol looked at him, mind wiped blank. Whatever this meant, it was probably trouble and he should leave-

"You appear to be the best potential owner," the boy continued, obviously hurrying because he could see Chanyeol preparing his rejection, "you suspect I have ill intentions, and in order to prove myself, I will gladly give you my core code and have you confirm it yourself."

At this, Chanyeol grew wide-eyed and quickly reached out to leave one of his hands hovering over the android's shoulder.

"Don't do that!" he said in a hushed voice, "what if someone will overhear?"

The core code was the password only owners ought to know, for it gave them free access to the most basic and essential parts of an android. Making fine adjustments to their character, but also tampering and destroying its inner workings - as long as you had the password, the android would voluntarily let it happen.

To his surprise, the android smiled, plush lips stretching into a small grin.

"See? You're really kind. You're the perfect owner."

Before he had any chance to react, the android leaned up on his toes, whispering three letters into his ear.

"K-A-I. That's the password."

Chanyeol had never had an android whisper into his ear before, and though he obviously didn't breathe, he still radiated a certain warmth and he felt the tiny vibration of his voice. No surprise, coming to think of it. Perfectly unperturbed, the boy returned to his original stance, looking both earnest and determined.

"Please be my owner. I'm very low-maintenance, and I'll do my best to support you. It's highly likely that you won't regret it."

Really now, all of this was so surreal, Chanyeol couldn't help shaking his head at the whole situation. This wasn't something he could decide on a whim. But people were starting to stare for real, and the thought of someone getting a hold of this easily-trusting android made Chanyeol feel protective already.

"Let's just go to my place for now," he began, eyes roaming the not-so-subtle stares of a nearby group of girls who looked very interested in the pretty thing.

"I'll think about it there. I can't make decisions on an empty stomach."

The boy smiled, quickly scampering after him with his shorter legs.

"Look. I'm sure you would be a really great help, but the thing is," Chanyeol began, all but scarfing down his instant noodles, "I don't have the financial means to take care of you. I'm just a poor part-timer. This is all I can afford at the end of the month."

The little android sat across him at the low table, legs orderly folded and attentive gaze trained on him.

"My hardware is very basic, and my sensors detect nothing to be in any state that needs maintenance," the boy replied naively. Chanyeol paused his attack on the meager food in favor of a hearty gulp of chilled water, neutralizing his taste buds.

"Not right now, they might not. But there will be a need for maintenance in the future, and what if I can't afford it? Who was your previous owner, anyway? You don't seem to be in a state suggesting mistreatment," he asked, quite awkwardly. Was this a sensitive topic? Was he an idiot for being sensitive towards an android?

Sure, Chanyeol saw androids everyday, mostly as shop assistants or otherwise privately owned. He paid them the same amount of politeness and respect he had for any other person, since there were a lot of emotionally-driven androids. It was just nothing to be picked up at a mere look; and to Chanyeol, that wasn't all that different from seeing strangers on the street - you'd never know how much of a thing a simple smile or frown could mean to a stranger.

This particular android cocked his head to one side, eyes roaming the room as he internally checked his memory. He sure had a lot of human traits.

"It does not feel like I've been mistreated. My previous owner deleted my memory though, so I have no chance to find him again."

Huh. So... he'd been abandoned.

Chanyeol swallowed hard and directed his gaze back to his soup. Who would leave behind a fully-functioning android like that? To top it off, this one was very elegant in the way it held itself, not to mention beautifully crafted (at least visually), meaning that he didn't look cheap either, so why? He appeared to be rather sentient, too, from what he could tell so far. This wasn't a functioning device like a toaster, this was a living being.

"Maybe I was not to my previous owner's liking. My skills might have been not satisfying, or maybe something really is broken and I am unable to detect it..." the android mumbled, looking rather dejected. The fact that he told him this guess even though it could lead to Chanyeol not keeping him, was probably what gave him the final push.

"Alright," he sighed, shifting the bowl away from him. Brown eyes immediately blinked up at him, widening a little at the possible implications he was no doubt trying to process right now.

"I'm not promising anything, but if I can't keep you, I'll at least try to help you find a new owner. Maybe we can track your old one, too. It might have all been an accident, right?"

The boy blinked.

"This possibility exists," he stated simply. Chanyeol shot him an encouraging smile.

"Good. How about we take you to a good tool workshop tomorrow? See whether you're registered somewhere? And get you checked up, too, while we're at it."

The android smiled, and his facial features looked so human that it easily infected Chanyeol.

"Thank you, that's really kind. I'm assuming you would not want me to call you master, or anything similar," he stated, the same open, curious look returning in a flash as his voice lifted in an unspoken question. Chanyeol shrugged him off as he staggered to his feet to place the bowl in the sink.

"God, no. Please don't do that, it would be weird. I'm Chanyeol. Park Chanyeol, but first name is more than enough."

"Okay. Chanyeol," the boy repeated, more to himself than anything, it seemed. He was about to turn on the water and wash the accumulated pile of dishes (because for some reason it flustered him to let this android see the overall messy state of his neglected apartment), when said one all but appeared at his side, scaring the hell out of him.

"Can I help you?"

Chanyeol hit his head on an opened cupboard and winced, feeling the tension running down all the way into his toes. The boy was really, really quiet, too.

Immediately, he had a hand hovering over his head.

"Are you hurt? Should I check-"

"No, no, no," Chanyeol quickly reassured him, taking half a step back as he rubbed his head. "Fine. I'm fine. You don't need to do the dishes either-"

"Oh, I can do this type of things, don't worry. And I'd love to be useful. Please."

Chanyeol looked at the hopeful(?) eyes through his teary ones, and really, what was he supposed to say?

A few minutes later had them both peacefully doing the dishes, with the android drying them. He had evidently done so before, though it was just as obvious how the action was being fine-tuned throughout, adapting to be as effective as possible. Maybe it had been awhile since he'd done this? Do androids work like this?

Either way, Chanyeol was more than a little fascinated by the swift and precise movements of his fingers. Only after watching him all but polish a glass into a state that was probably cleaner than when he'd initially bought it, Chanyeol noticed that he still needed something to call him.

Jongin, the little android replied with an easy smile. He seemed happy that Chanyeol was willing to roll with this, instead of giving him a new name.

It was a little odd, riding the subway with Jongin. It was Chanyeol's day off, but this was a weekday, and it wasn't even noon, meaning that the subway was rather empty. Most of the other passengers were old ladies, who eyed both Chanyeol and Jongin rather obviously. It made him mildly uncomfortable. No doubt they were suspecting Jongin was some sort of sex toy, because old people were like that - any pretty robot that was out on its own was probably made for erotic fantasies of rich people, according to them. Chanyeol knew it from his own experience - the information counter at the big supermarket he worked in, had an android supporting the female employee. It was definitely an android capable of reading and interpreting emotions, though she was a little rickety and sometimes, her reactions were a little off (courtesy of their store being an almost forgotten branch). Nonetheless, most people manning the information counter had grown attached to her, and M-671 had become Emma. Sure, adults wouldn't spare her a glance, but especially old people had become quite fond of her, even talking to her once in awhile.

All those things are just robots, you know. Alright, Emma is a little different, but that doesn't count.

It was a tiny step, but it did count to Chanyeol. A tiny hint that humanity retained at least a shadow of their ability to learn and advance.

Still, to those people eyeing him right now, he was probably a spoilt kid with a bunch of questionable fetishes. He tried to ignore them, whipping out his phone to lazily check whether his friends had posted anything (Chanyeol did have an extensive online main account linked to a three digit number of people, but he hadn't opened that one in ages). Jongin didn't say anything. Neither did he fidget, like Chanyeol did. Instead he sat there, completely still. Occasionally, the subway would rock his undoubtedly light body, but he was always quick to adjust his weight. His eyes were either trained on the ground or assessing the world outside through the extensive windows. Maybe this was normal, maybe androids were passive like this? Still, Chanyeol was an all-around talkative and curious person, so he finally spoke up, despite the stares they got.

"So... are you, like, thinking about anything right now?" he asked tentatively, eyes flitting from the phone screen to Jongin. The android turned towards him, without breaking his orderly pose.

"Yes," he said simply. Chanyeol looked at him encouragingly. Waiting. Jongin blinked, seemingly getting the hint.

"You. I'm thinking about you."

Despite the ridiculousness of it all, Chanyeol blushed, especially knowing that people were witnessing them right now.

"Me? Don't say stuff like that, it sounds like you're hitting on me!" he complained with a playful whine, purposefully keeping up the smile, to give Jongin a hint. Androids tended to look for a smile first.

"I have no intention to hit you, don't worry," Jongin earnestly replied, and Chanyeol snorted.

"It was a figure of speech."

"I know."

Chanyeol couldn't help blankly staring at the android. Jongin still smiled that supposedly naive smile.

"You're playing me," Chanyeol incredulously stated, and Jongin dared to grin.

"You played me first."

Shaking his head in disbelief, Chanyeol stored his phone away.

"You're much sneakier than I thought. Seriously though, why are you thinking about me? Planning to scam me, after all?"

It was a rhetorical question, for Chanyeol had indeed confirmed his core password the evening before. Jongin still shook his head, fingers twitching in his lap at a particularly harsh turn that had Chanyeol secure his position by grabbing a nearby handle.

"I'm analyzing the input you gave me."

Misinterpreting Chanyeol’s raised eyebrow, he elaborated.

"I'm trying to understand you as well as I can from what I have now."

He mouthed a silent 'o', signalizing his understanding and waited if there was more to come. Sensing this, Jongin followed along.

"So for example now I know that you're playful, and you're not easily offended by an android displaying emotions or even defiance. You're encouraging it, which I like, because I have a wide range of emotions."

The awe on Chanyeol's face was probably rather obvious, but hearing the immediate, accurate analysis of their short encounter was very interesting indeed.

"Also your eyes were smiling when you were baiting me. That was really pretty."

Pretty? Was the android trying to flatter him?

Aware of the fact that little Jongin was able to read most of his emotions right off his face, he tried to keep it neutral and thanked him with a polite smile. Maybe he should be a little put off by the amount of insight, maybe even a little scared. Maybe he should suspect the android was trying to actively manipulate him into keeping him. But Chanyeol wasn't that quick to judge, and made sure to put him at ease by sliding a little closer, until their sides touched.

"Artificial Dreams" was a tiny, independent droid workshop downtown; a building so old it was mostly made of wood and stone, squished in between an apartment complex and another, shabby building that supposedly offered detective services. It was by all means not one of the big chains, meaning that the actual store inventory and prices weren't as reliable, which could be both a good or bad thing, depending on your situation and timing. But people rarely stopped by to actually buy tools or parts. Rather than that, they bought time - the time of the owner Kim Minseok, who was not only an excellent craftsman, but also Chanyeol's friend from university. They had even roomed together for a semester or two. Those had been some tough times, but at least Minseok was the only person to ever manage disciplining Chanyeol into cleaning. Without him, he'd probably still be unable to clean a window, and convinced that one type of towel was equally suited to clean every surface.

"Is this place certified?" Jongin asked as Chanyeol casually pushed open the rather narrow door, always one step behind and to his left, like an afternoon shadow.

"Don't worry," he called back, holding the door open for the android, who didn't have to duck his head, unlike him, "the owner is a friend of mine. He knows what he's doing. He won't hurt you."

The old-fashioned doorbell tinkled merrily, and immediately sparked the attention of someone. A head popped out of the backroom, revealing a mop of messy, auburn-colored hair that was held back by a simple band, and familiar, porcelain-colored skin dotted with specks of oil.

"Chanyeol, long time no see!"

It was a little difficult, maneuvering through the cramped shop clearly built for people who were Minseok's size at most, but Chanyeol managed not to break off any of the devices dangling from the ceiling. A fleeting look confirmed that Jongin was still obediently following him, his eyes now darting from the interior to Minseok.

"Yes, it’s been forever since you allowed me in here," Chanyeol confirmed, patiently waiting for the other to shrug off his apron so they could share a quick hug. "I forgot how tiny this place is," he added. He was close enough to the ceiling to smell the layer of protective lacquer Minseok had undoubtedly repainted not too long ago. Because really - this was the cleanest tool workshop mankind had ever seen, including the fancy retail chains. Chanyeol had the vague idea that this was likely thanks to his earnest apprentice Yifan. Technically speaking, that guy only had to fix a sponge onto his head to clean the ceiling, so he definitely had that going for him.

"Then you also forgot that I call this the perfect height, didn't you?" Minseok remarked, pulling the elastic, black band off his head to run a hand through his hair, lightly massaging the strained roots. "Okay, is this our lost kitty?"

Chanyeol turned at the same time Jongin obediently stepped forward. Minseok nodded to himself with a low hum of approving wonder. Jongin didn't flinch as the other leaned in close like a curious artist scrutinizing another's canvas. Still, he seemed a bit stiff.

"I definitely see where you're coming from. He's beautiful, but not in the typical SP way. You're not even equipped in that area, are you? Can I touch you?" he asked Jongin, who threw a questioning glance at Chanyeol. Even he knew that SP stood for Sexual Pleasure, or, in this case, sexually pleasing. He had obviously noticed that this particular android had nothing similar to genitals, but instead of replying, he nodded at Jongin, encouraging him to talk to Minseok himself. He had positively responded to Chanyeol leaving him room to express himself before, and Chanyeol was curious to see him do so.

"No, sir. I'm not. And yes, you can."

Minseok had nothing but a small smile for the honorification, as he carefully cupped the other’s cheek, fingers disappearing in the mop of brown curls. It looked less like an examination and more like a fond gesture, though Minseok made no effort to hide his interest in the other’s hair and skin.

"Don't 'sir' me, just Minseok is fine. After all, Yeol and I are friends," he hummed distractedly, rubbing soft circles into his cheek. Jongin lowered his eyes, and his posture relaxed. Something about the touch definitely soothed him and sparked curiosity in Chanyeol.

"Yeah," Minseok breathed as he carefully turned Jongin's face to see his profile, "not the most amazing materials, but above average and harmonious. Definitely exotic."

He retreated, and Jongin blinked in something akin to confusion, before stepping closer to Chanyeol.

"Let's see what we can find out about you, shall we?" he asked, voice purposefully open and friendly, as if talking to an alarmed child. Again, he looked over at Chanyeol for confirmation first, and Minseok chuckled.

"You really like this guy, don't you?" he asked, mirth clearly visible in his eyes, and it sparked a sense of defensiveness in Chanyeol.

"Well, he did say I'm his temporary owner, so he's just being really loyal, right?" he stated firmly, one hand already snaking around to rest on Jongin's shoulders.

Minseok huffed in amusement at the sight.

"Oh, Chanyeol. You have zero clue, and yet you're already so... into this. Anyway, let's go to the back."

He turned away, and with a pout, Chanyeol followed, complaints about not being taken seriously on his lips.

Minseok ignored them and directed Jongin onto a wooden stool near his work bench with a good-natured smile. This room was even more cramped with all sorts of tools Minseok was effortlessly handling as he reached for a simple scanner, tapping away at one of his tablets.

"Are you uncomfortable, with all these... parts lying around?" Chanyeol asked, voice almost as careful as the way he was folding his limbs, cramming himself onto the second stool in a corner. He really felt two times too tall for this room. Jongin's eyes quickly took in the workbench where numerous, complex looking parts were strewn about, thankfully nothing coated with skin, because those would always leave Chanyeol's naive mind mildly disturbed. Jongin's eyes sought his again, and he tilted his head.

"Are you uncomfortable beside a shelf of books? Or paintings?" he asked right back at him, and Chanyeol blinked questioningly.

"No?"

"All these parts piece together emotions and functions. If you added them to me, they might do good or bad things to my way of thinking and acting. It's not very different from a book," he said calmly, though he certainly behaved a little more guarded in Minseok’s presence, who was smiling as he typed on his tablet.

Chanyeol felt a little stupid, and was left with something to ponder while Minseok brushed the android’s hair aside and tugged a little at his shirt's collar to scan him and get access.

Jongin obediently ducked his head a bit, showing nothing but patience. A dull beep later, Minseok encouraged the android to sit up straight again.

"Alright, I need the passcode."

Jongin only hesitated for half a second.

"1994-0114," he spelled out slowly, and Chanyeol blinked.

"That's not the same code you gave me."

For once, Minseok was distracted from his work, flicking the back of Jongin's head with an incredulous laugh.

"You actually gave him your core code? Man, you're a brave one. This guy here barely knows how to handle a microwave. Knowing Chanyeol, he might accidentally kill you!"

Chanyeol pouted and was ready to defend himself, when Jongin beat him to it.

"I don't think he will."

Decisively mollified by Jongin's trust, he childishly stuck out his tongue at Minseok. The mechanic only shook his head, and went back to typing. Chanyeol wasn't shy about showing affection, so it was no secret that he thought an earnestly working Minseok was 'super cool', as he liked to call it. Indeed, his clever fingers were all but flying over the user interface, as he skimmed whatever it was showing him.

Once in awhile, he hummed, and by the way he tilted his head Chanyeol knew whatever he was seeing was at least mildly interesting.

"Can you see whether he's registered?" Chanyeol asked hopefully, only to be shot down immediately by a click of Minseok's tongue.

"Nah. Definitely not registered. He's not exactly a serial product, which shouldn't be too surprising by the looks of him. Anyway..." he trailed off, and with two taps and one slide, the nearby whiteboard lit up slightly, displaying a row of numbers and figures. Both Chanyeol and Jongin looked at them curiously, as Minseok prepared to explain and interpret them.

"I'm not gonna bother explaining those numbers to you," he began, looking solely at Chanyeol.

Okay, fine. So no explanation it was.

"They're way too complicated for you. I'll simplify it - you love video games, right?"

Comically, both Jongin and Chanyeol nodded in unison. Minseok's lips twitched, but he didn't comment on it.

"If you design a character, you do it by setting parameters, right? Most of the time, you have a limited number of points. So you can decide whether you want your character to be either brave and extroverted, or careful and introverted. Essentially, we judge an android's nature and character just like that, by measuring the parameters they're given."

They nodded again, and Chanyeol leaned forwards, watching the numbers with new-found, and yet completely aimless awe.

"Jongin here," Minseok began, moving a few of the charts back and forth, "is definitely a private project. One hundred percent custom made. You can see it in the unconventional and exotic way his parameters are set."

Chanyeol tried very hard to think of the numbers as something special.

"It's not like his skills are extraordinary. He isn't as smart as those androids used in companies, nor are his emotions as finely crafted as the ones of a partner android. This doesn't mean that he's performing weakly, though. Not at all."

Chanyeol didn't understand it just yet, but he's learned that Minseok was a rather good tutor, and that he was probably going somewhere with this, so he waited.

"You see, you gotta ask yourself what purpose his creator had in mind, if you wanna interpret the data. What did he or she expect sweet Jongin here to do? Obviously neither being a lover nor a factory worker. There's no answering it without consulting the creator, but the values are giving me the vibe of a Sentient Companion. But... even in that case, they're rather unique."

He trailed off, tapping a finger against the frame of his whiteboard, back-pedaling a bit in his explanation.

"Sentient Companions are usually pre-equipped with a range of morals. This one has a lot of leeway to set the morals himself, so to say. In order to do so, he has immense observation and interpretation skills. I mean it, these numbers are almost ridiculous, and I have no idea how his comparably primitive system keeps up with that input. Either way, all the values determining how he actually interprets the information... are obviously manually set, every single one of them. Complete handiwork. It would take a year for me to perfectly interpret them all."

Chanyeol nodded vaguely. So Jongin was like a personal work of art, with all its strengths and flaws. A perfectly unique android. Said android seemed mildly interested, too, eyes skimming the numbers.

"It's an obvious attempt at trying to coax Jongin into developing his own personality. It's not unheard of, but usually, you'd put limitations in there somewhere - prevent the android from developing hate, violent tendencies and such. They are there, but seriously pushing it as far as it's legal. He can definitely get annoyed, but not to the point where he throws you out of a window. A limitation I wish I had, from time to time," Minseok added with a side glance, just to get a protesting 'hey' to tell him his useless friend was still listening.

"So if there's something broken within the parameters, you wouldn't be able to tell?" Jongin suddenly asked, and Minseok's eyes flitted back to the android he was talking about, now addressing both of them.

"That's basically correct. I'm sorry to disappoint you with both the registration and the analysis. I know you came here because you think so highly of me, Yeol. The really big places might be quicker, but they'll also probably cost a fortune, because he's not one of theirs-"

"No, no, don't say that!" Chanyeol cut him off with hurried hand gestures, "you're already doing all this without charging me. This actually helped a lot. I mean, at least we know about the owner being a private person and that he's kind of alright."

Minseok tilted his head from side to side with a sympathetic grimace, the scanner now uselessly dangling by his side.

"Ah, I wouldn't go that far. I can't tell you stuff like this just by looking at the numbers, no one is that good. Still, I'll copy a few crucial parts and take a further look at them whenever I'm free. I'll let you know if I find anything."

"Thank you," Chanyeol said, enveloping his friend in an overly eager hug, accidentally sending a few parts crashing to the ground. Without a word, Jongin got up to quietly retrieve the items.

"I owe you, man."

"I think we're past the stage of owing each other stuff," Minseok only chuckled, good-naturedly patting his friend's back, while his eyes followed the android with mild interest.

"Don't say that, Min. You deserve to get paid for your work. We all know how much time you spend in here... in fact, you should come over more often after your shift. I'll cook us some actual dinner," he earnestly promised, and something about his tone caused Jongin to stop in his movement and regard his temporary owner with a curious look.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm not starving, Park Chanyeol. Though I do miss your homemade pizza. I'll text you."

While they left the shop -Chanyeol actually steering Jongin out by his shoulder- Minseok kept calling after him, reminding him how delicately balanced Jongin was and making him swear to definitely, never ever touch any of it. Unlike Chanyeol, the little android himself barely paid the mechanic any attention, his head tilted upwards as he stumbled along, still regarding Chanyeol with wonder.

"Well, come to think of it, it would have been a little too easy," Chanyeol shrugged, settling into his sofa with a content groan. Jongin sank into the remaining spot with much more grace, placing the box of takeout food on the table. He had insisted on carrying it, obviously determined to make himself useful. Without bothering to sit up, Chanyeol's fingers blindly fumbled for the little patch on the corner of his table, blindly tapping a few fields, switching on the screen on the opposing wall. He flicked through his files and put on some music, controlling the volume with a swipe of his finger. Calm, serene guitar tunes filled the room, and Jongin smiled. Noticing this, Chanyeol lazily grinned to himself while forcing his body to get up after all, accepting the fact that he had to sit up in order to eat.

"You like music?" he asked with a side glance as he fumbled with the plastic box. The android nodded instantly, almost eagerly.

"Yes. I really, really like music. I like anything that's considered creative, but music is my favorite."

"Oh really? I wouldn't have guessed. Can't robo- androids kind of generate creativity?"

Chanyeol bit his lip, already feeling a blush of shame creeping up his face. The publicly used term 'robot' was really inappropriate. A robot was more like a machine, much less complex and thoughtful. An android, on the other hand... well, supporting associations liked to call androids fully sentient beings with their own rights.

Chanyeol had never considered himself ignorant, but actually being confronted with an android was new. He waited for Jongin to address his slip up (because there was no way he hadn't noticed it), but he didn't.

"I understand how you would come to this conclusion. But since creativity is an individual expression consisting of combining different experiences and feelings, creativity coming from humans is very different from artificial creativity," Jongin explained patiently as he watched Chanyeol devour his Carbonara noodles.

"But androids can be creative, too, if it all comes down to generating it, right?" Chanyeol asked, already swirling the noodles around his fork while still chewing and talking. "After all, artificial artists are all over the place these days."

"Yes, they can. They can easily imitate trends, or combine out of a random selection. And unlike humans, they have access to the complete digital database. They can create art that humans enjoy by studying their preferences. They can even create something 'new', as far as new is applicable in the art sector," Jongin replied. He looked pretty happy about their topic of conversation, and Chanyeol watched his eyes flit over at the screen once in a while, undoubtedly reading and memorizing the artist.

"So what exactly makes this exciting to you?" he asked, the fork with noodles now half-raised and forgotten. Jongin sought the right words for a second - he seemed to blink more while he was thinking. It was adorable.

"It's about the physical skill and the range of information. If I take in an artificially generated piece of art, my mind instantly sees the numbers behind it. It's all parameters and values. If I am introduced to a human piece of work though, my mind actually has to do some work."

"But humans also just use values and parameters, right?" Chanyeol instantly asked, thinking about the way he himself produces songs. After all, anything he preferred felt good for a reason; it might be a clear one, like a positive memory or association, but could go as deep as his upbringing.

"They do," Jongin readily agreed, "you have to remind yourself that creativity is nothing but combining and expressing things that you've seen or heard about before. Imagine it like working with tools to draw a picture. Now an android has basically all the tools imaginable, because it has access to all information mankind ever collected."

To a human, an android's painting might be fascinating, but to me, who possesses the exact same tools, it's rather bland and uninteresting. Humans, however, each have very specialized sets of tools due to individual experiences. So to me, a painting done by a human is much more interesting. It occupies my mind seeking the patterns and drawing connections, trying to understand with what type of tools they were working with."

When Chanyeol finally ate the bundle of noodles, it had cooled down. Not that he'd notice it.

"That's actually... very interesting," he began, turning the thought in his head, "because in a way, this kinda means that you're bored by your own kind, but not by humans, because you cannot understand them. At the same time, androids are made by humans, and they're so perfect at everything. At everything but understanding their creator. Kinda ironic, don't you think?"

Jongin tilted his head, lips pursed the slightest bit.

"Maybe. Maybe it's not strange at all, because an android is a product of a human's mind, nothing bigger than it."

"That's not what I meant. I mean that it's kinda ironic, if not typical, that people dig this deep into technology, artificial intelligences and whatnot, without figuring out how their own bodies work," Chanyeol threw in as he finished his cheap dinner and sank back into the couch, stretching like a content cat.

"You're just blinded by easily visible results," Jongin argued, but he was smiling, and Chanyeol wasn't offended. It was probably true.

"So Teppei, huh?" he asked instead, nodding towards the screen listing the name of the artist. The android nodded with open glee.

"I can tell he inspires you."

It was Chanyeol's turn to be surprised.

"You can? I'm not doubting that you saw all the instruments and stuff, but you haven't heard any of my music."

The android allowed his posture to relax against the back of the couch, their sides almost touching.

"I saw the rhythm your fingers tapped on the subway's railing yesterday."

Oh? He hadn't even consciously done so, but now that he thought about it, he might have listened to this particular artist yesterday.

"Minseok was right - you do notice a lot of stuff, don't you?"

"Because I observed you," Jongin said with the shadow of a proud smile, "and I love creativity, so this was one of the main arguments for you to be my owner."

Chanyeol hummed thoughtfully. Right. Now that he'd eaten there was no more chance dragging his next steps out. He had a homeless little android on his couch who needed to find his owner. He pondered it for awhile, but there was really not much he could do.

"We could put you up on the database, see whether your owner will find you?" he asked into the room, testing Jongin's reaction - because if he had a resourceful android right next to him, it would be stupid not to ask for his opinion.

The mention of his previous owner didn't seem to delight him though.

"You could... but the chance of part dealers taking me instead is high, right? Without my memory, how would I be able to recognize him or her?"

"Well. I could interview the person, see whether they have an extensive knowledge about you?"

Jongin hesitated, and Chanyeol could immediately tell that something was off. His arguments didn't make perfect sense anymore.

"But..." he began, sounding rather helpless, "but deleting my memory was either done by my owner, or by myself. Either way, there was a reason for doing so. I don't think I'd like to go back to the place I came from, if it has me ending up all alone, on some dirty side walk again."

Chanyeol's mouth formed a small 'o' as he understood the actual problem, and without really thinking it through, he drew the android closer, tugging his head under his own, so he could rest his chin on the brown curls.

"I see. You should have said so right from the start. I won't force you to return to a place that made you unhappy."

Cautious hands found their way into his sweater, fingers burying in the soft cable-knit fabric.

"We'll find another way. Maybe a completely new owner," Chanyeol suggested calmly, eyes trained on nothing in particular, as he stroked his back.

"Can't I stay here?" Jongin asked with a muffled voice, and Chanyeol sighed.

"You're a sneaky little opportunist, asking this question now," he accused him with fond exasperation, but held him closer nonetheless. He shouldn't lightly say yes like that. Never make promises you're not perfectly sure you can keep. It was a lesson Chanyeol had learnt the hard way. Not that he had dramatic stories to tell, but at some point you gotta realize that you can't simply please everyone without suffocating. Chanyeol was old enough to know that.

He expected Jongin to eventually wiggle out of his grasp to demand an answer, or at the very least complain about the human show of affection that restricted him. Instead, the boy snuggled even closer with a content sigh. It was obvious that he wasn't human - his limbs were too hard, body suspiciously light, though it beared an obvious strength. But his skin was still warm to the touch.

"Some android you are," Chanyeol softly chuckled, blowing air at a strand that kept tickling his nose, "you even like cuddling?"

"Yes!" Jongin replied in almost childishly determined fashion, nudging his nose even closer into his clavicle.

"Why?"

"You're asking a lot of questions," Jongin stated, sounding almost accusatory. Chanyeol laughed quietly.

"Right. Sorry. Let's rest a little."

The week passed by, and the following, too, and Chanyeol wasn't kidding anyone. Not even himself and certainly not Jongin. With every passing day the chance that he'd give Jongin away was getting smaller and smaller. But he'd been very busy with his jobs, and having Jongin was just so easy.

He'd go to work in the morning, bid the android farewell and ask him not to do anything reckless. He'd return to him sitting on the couch, watching a movie or reading a book. Chanyeol would rant a little about his day and go to sleep a few hours later.

Jongin didn't need anything. No food, no real entertainment, no excitement. He was just there, and it wasn't the least bit uncomfortable.

Chanyeol guessed that he was trying to keep a low profile, in order to smuggle himself into his heart. Though knowing Jongin, he probably knew very well that Chanyeol wouldn't throw him out any time soon.

On a Thursday evening, Chanyeol still spoke up over an empty bowl of soup.

"Aren't you bored, spending your days like this?"

Jongin tilted his head in a questioning manner.

"Why would I be bored? Are you worrying about not paying enough attention to me? Because that's perfectly fine."

Chanyeol couldn't help a small smile tugging at his lips. Jongin may be an android, but that didn't mean it was impossible to get him. He wasn't all that complicated.

"You really are keen on being as quiet as a mouse, aren't you?" he asked with a sassy grin, plopping down next to the lithe android (who bounced a little in his seat), feeling full and sated.

"What makes you think so?" he asked right back with a perfect display of innocence. But Chanyeol wasn't that easily fooled.

"You're pretty sure I won't throw you out, but you're not going to take any chances, huh?" he asked, because if he wanted to build trust, Chanyeol knew he had to do the first step, and that often consisted of voicing your thoughts.

Jongin blinked at him, and he could basically see the processes running in his head as he probably tried to calculate the smartest response. Maybe it took him so long because he hadn't seen Chanyeol reacting to a possible argument. Either way, Chanyeol broke into a smile and pulled him closer in a show of reassurance.

"Easy there, I'm not trying to fight you in any way. You know I won't throw you out, don't be insecure about it now. I was just saying that I think you're holding yourself back. Isn't there anything you want to do?"

Jongin reciprocated the affectionate gesture without hesitation, nuzzling into his side as he craned his neck to try and look at Chanyeol at the same time.

"You're asking an android whether he's bored. Why would an android be bored?"

"Well, maybe not bored, but..." Chanyeol began, searching for the right words while his thumb rubbed circles into the other's shoulder.

"Or maybe it is a little like boredom, after all," he finally said, sounding content about his current train of thoughts, "because if you just exist without really doing something you get rusty, right?"

"I don't get rusty!" Jongin protested indignantly, and Chanyeol chuckled at the childish display of emotions.

"Of course you don't. Not literal rust. But your abilities will kind of go to sleep - you said it yourself, that you like to keep your mind occupied. I'm not saying that because I think less of you. It goes for everything and everybody, right? For machines, humans, androids and even animals. If a little puppy is isolated from other living beings, it'll be harder to form a bond later."

"I'm not like a puppy either-" Jongin protested half-heartedly, only to stop when Chanyeol started to ruffle up his hair and tickle him.

"Sure about that? Showing up like this and approaching me, all friendly and cute - you really are like a big puppy!"

Jongin wasn't ticklish in the least, but startled enough to half-heartedly swat at Chanyeol's fingers.

"So I'm your puppy now?" he asked, and Chanyeol seized the fruitless attack to regard him with a questioning gaze. Jongin hesitated for only a second.

"Because I'm dependant on you? That's why I'm your pet?"

Immediately Chanyeol dropped the playful attitude and enveloped him in a bear hug, repeatedly calling out "Nooo," and how he got it all wrong.

"Don't say that. You make it sound like I think of you as something I look down on, but it's really not like that, promise - sometimes I'm an idiot with my choice of words, sorry-" he reassured him, and for once, Jongin was short on smart replies and protests, simply waiting where he was going with this as he was coddled to no end.

"A puppy isn't like a stuffed animal or something. It has feelings and rights and just because it lives in my house, doesn't mean I have the right to do what I want to it. It's like... a companion. A companion you want to protect."

He drew away to gauge Jongin's adorably ruffled appearance.

"I don't know you very well yet, but we're companions now, aren't we?"

"Alright. I'll be your companion," Jongin readily agreed, and Chanyeol poked his cheek with an encouraging grin.

"And I'll be yours. So now that we talked about this-"

"I think I'm much more capable of protecting, anyway," Jongin interrupted him with an afterthought that had Chanyeol pinch his cheek instead.

"As I was saying, now that we talked about this," he continued, ignoring the statement of his new, sassy companion, "you can be honest with me, right? So what is it that you'd do, if you weren't worrying about upsetting me?"

Jongin lowered his gaze as he was working with the new request, probably so Chanyeol wouldn't see how glassy his orbs got when he was thinking. He'd noticed it before, but chose not to address it for now.

When the android lifted his head it was such a sudden and rapid movement that it startled him.

"I'd like to get a job," Jongin said, looking perfectly earnest.

"A job?" Chanyeol echoed numbly, "what kind of a job?"

"A paid one. So I can raise money in case I need parts one day."

Chanyeol hummed in understanding and sank back into the couch. A paid job. There were paid jobs for androids, but they were pretty rare. Of course androids were able to do just about any job, but employers weren't willing to pay an android, if a simple machine could do the same job at a cheaper price. The laws were still a little vague, but in order to protect androids from being exploited, the employer usually had to pay certain maintenance insurances, in case the android got damaged in any way. There was also a considerable amount of androids working for free -just to be useful- which didn't help, either.

"Ah, I bet it won't be easy to find a job..." Chanyeol murmured, absently rubbing his neck. At the look of caution blooming on Jongin's face due to his lack of enthusiasm, he patted his thigh with a smile.

"But tell you what - let's scour the nearest districts at the weekend. Maybe we'll find some spots that aren't in the database. Besides, if they see you, they'd be fools not to employ you!"

22 days later, Jongin found himself tugging at the simple uniform that was just a little too loose. He couldn't deny that he was excited for his first day. He could feel his system being perfectly alert and open to take in as much input as possible. This was an important day, he had to give a good impression to his boss and colleagues. The boss was a friendly young woman, and Jongin wasn't too worried about her suddenly changing her mind about hiring an android, but he could still lower the risk permanently by being the perfect employee. Also...

"Jongin, will you hold little Baekki still, while I remove that nasty tick?"

...also Jongin loved puppies. The pet shop also had kittens and other cute, young animals (even two tiny baby snakes), and Jongin liked them all, but puppies just had something to them. He hadn't ever consciously thought about them before, and he usually encountered animals with neutral friendliness, but the bitey little ball of fluff that was Baekki had won Jongin's affection in an instant. Of course he contemplated the reason for that - Jongin was prone to meticulous self-reflection, because he usually knew every little factor moving him. Any unexpected one was to be analyzed and categorized immediately. But it seemed like he had no logical reason for liking puppies. Tracking it back, he always ended up with them being 'pure' and 'worth protecting'.

That much couldn't be said for his colleague, unfortunately.

It had taken Jongin exactly 1.4 seconds to note that Oh Sehun didn't want to work with him because he was an android. Another five to confirm that the boy had never been in contact with an android before. Half an hour of silently observing him while doing minor tasks, and Jongin had also found out that Sehun was still a student, studied something language-related and had a rather distinct balance of extroversion and introversion, strongly spurred on by his own set of opinions. He was a rather simple person in comparison to Chanyeol - though his owner did appear to be simple, too, only to catch him off guard when Jongin was least expecting it. He still had a lot to learn about him.

Sehun, on the other hand, was simple. And determined not to like him.

And Jongin was determined to make him change his mind.

General advice on the database related to Sehun's characteristics told him that pushing stubborn people would mostly lead to them turning away on purpose though. Usually, less pressure would show the greatest effects, and so Jongin patiently did his work. He still made it a point to subtly stay near Sehun, in order to demonstrate how harmless he was and get him used to the concept of an android coworker. He could feel the boy scrutinizing his every action, probably waiting for him to make a mistake. Jongin was just considering whether making a mistake on purpose would get some interaction going between them, when Sehun's hand invaded his personal space, reaching for the bag of food in his hands.

"Not that one."

Realizing how sharp his voice had sounded, Sehun toned it down a little, though he was unwilling to meet Jongin's searching eyes.

"Vivi is allergic. She gets different food," he elaborated, reaching for another, smaller bag on a shelf. He hesitated, and for a couple seconds he looked between the android and the tiny white poodle he was absently petting. With a sigh he gave in, and offered the bag to Jongin. This wasn't a human making him do the work, because he looked like he was out of his comfort zone. Therefore this was Sehun letting him do something he'd preferred to have done himself, Jongin concluded. Either a first show of trust, friendliness, or basic morality. Regardless, Jongin smiled as he took the bag and filled the little bowl. He grinned even wider at the tiny pieces of food bouncing off the poodle's eager nose that was already buried in the bowl because he wasn’t anywhere near finished.

"You're so eager, don't rush too much or you'll get a stomachache," he cooed as he observed the excitable little thing nip on the food.

Sehun was now crouching down next to him, petting the distracted puppy. A display of mild dominance and possessiveness - but not in a threatening manner. If anything, Sehun might be the one feeling threatened by him. Jongin didn't mean to upset him, but he still couldn't resist reaching out to graze his fingertips over the soft fur on her back, avoiding to interfere with Sehun or touch his fingers. It wasn't completely soft, the little curls in the hair made it a bit coarse. But Jongin really enjoyed it.

"You seriously like puppies?" Sehun asked quietly, and the emphasize on the verb told Jongin that he didn't think an android would like anything the way humans did. Jongin wasn't upset. After all, Sehun made a tiny bit of room, allowing Jongin to scratch her ears carefully.

"Yes!" he replied enthusiastically, "I like them the most. They're so innocent and soft."

"Why would an android even like puppies?"

So Sehun was a straight-forward person. Those were the easiest to deal with, Jongin thought.

"I'm programmed to," he stated simply, never ceasing to smile. When Sehun only snorted at his answer, he sparked Jongin's defiancy though.

"So why do you like puppies?" he asked right back at him.

Sehun hesitated.

For about 15 seconds, he didn't reply, before quietly muttering that puppies were cute.

Aware of the fact that his answer was in no way more logical than Jongin's, he sought distance and didn't say anything else to him that day. But when Jongin ended his shift, Sehun called after him, asking when his next shift would be with a small, shy smile.

Jongin smiled back at him.

"I can tell you're nervous, Nini."

The android's head whipped up to him, and he looked suspiciously attentive.

"You just called me Nini. That's generally a female name," he said neutrally, and Chanyeol only chuckled at the cheap diversion tactic. Slowly, he was beginning to get the inner workings of his adorable android.

"We both know you technically don't have a gender," he stated lightly as he placed an arm around the other's shoulders, tugging him down the street, "and you don't have to be nervous. My friends have yet to eat somebody. They'll like you. You made that boy at your job like you, and he didn't like androids in general."

Jongin hesitated, eyes trained on the street.

"How did you know I'm nervous?" he finally asked, and Chanyeol ruffled his hair with a smile.

"I just know."

He could tell the android that he tended to talk less, undoubtedly busy with running an unnecessary amount of calculations on the possible outcome of their meeting. That he was overall less responsive. But he didn't want to burden him any further, if the prospect of introducing himself to his friends was already occupying him so much.

It wasn't in his intent to show Jongin off, but ever since he'd told them the truth about owning an android, the guys had bugged him to meet Jongin. And now that the boy had been living with him for more than three months, Chanyeol figured that he could just as well get it over with. After all, it didn't look like he and Jongin would go separate ways any time soon.

He gave Jongin some space, even though he left a reassuring palm on his upper back as they entered the bar. It was a cozy location with old-fashioned, thick glass windows and plush benches, one of their favorite hangout places. Without hesitation, he headed towards the noisy corner in the back, where his three friends sat nursing their drinks, with Baekhyun telling something with animated hand gestures.

Kyungsoo noticed him first and gave him a vague nod, alerting the other two as well. Baekhyun jumped to his feet immediately, a hearty greeting on his lips.

"Yeol, you're late!" he accused, drawing him into a half-assed hug, as his eyes were already roaming Jongin, who was standing next to him in almost too orderly a fashion, as if he was awaiting instructions.

"Don't mind him, he's just proud that he's here before you for once," Jongdae said with a dismissive wave of his hand, though his eyes were curiously flickering over to the android as well.

"Hey guys. This is Jongin," Chanyeol simply announced, and now that the situation had come, he might be a tad bit anxious after all. Still, in order to reassure Jongin, he kept the palm on the android's back perfectly still. All three of them were now looking at the poor android, who looked perfectly neutral, before a small, careful smile tugged at his lips.

"Nice to meet you," he announced quietly, and the spell was broken when Baekhyun decided to jump right into his vision, eager hands patting his shoulders.

"Awesome!" he blurted out and Jongin twitched back in surprise, "So you're an actual android! You almost look real, though you're a bit too pretty - I mean, look at you, you're so handsome, like what even-"

"Back off Byun, you're scaring him," Kyungsoo deadpanned, and with a friendly shove from Chanyeol, the noisy boy relented and slipped into the bench, insisting Jongin sat next to him. The android sought Chanyeol's eyes almost helplessly, but he gave him an encouraging nod that went unnoticed in the commotion.

"Nice to meet you, too. I'm Jongdae."

A hand was extended over the table and Jongin, who'd been about to bow, quickly changed strategies and shook it. Kyungsoo quietly followed suit, but Chanyeol was already at ease. He knew his friends, and their current behaviour was their way of showing friendly curiosity.

Though friendly curiosity could already be very overwhelming if you were Byun Baekhyun.

Chanyeol had barely nipped at the foam on his beer when the questions started.

"So what type of an android are you? You're so pretty, don't tell me you're the naughty type-" Baekhyun began, and spurred on by the urge to defend Jongin, Chanyeol flicked a bit of his precious foam at him.

"No, you idiot," he began, but Jongin cut him off with a display of neutral friendliness.

"I'm a Sentient Companion."

"The most sentient one you've ever seen," Chanyeol added with a hint of pride, slinging his arm around Jongin's shoulders again. Jongin practically glowed at the compliment.

"Sentient? You don't really look the part," Baekhyun mused, tapping a manicured finger on the wood, "though you do seem more sentient than Soo, And Soo's supposedly human, so there's that."

Kyungsoo didn't even bother doing anything but glare at Baekhyun, since Jongdae was ready to flick the noisy boy's head already.

Chanyeol was relieved when they made it through dinner without major slip ups. Jongin seemed to have taken a liking to silent Kyungsoo, and the feeling appeared to be mutual, which was rare enough, considering how Kyungsoo was picky with his friends (Baekhyun was a slip up, according to him). With Jongdae, on the other hand, things became real interesting real fast.

"Kind of. I just study people very closely in order to estimate their future behaviour," Jongin was just explaining to an inquisitive Baekhyun, who demanded he demonstrate. Jongin looked around the table helplessly, probably unwilling to expose his owner or the reserved Kyungsoo - because the little android was quick and thoughtful like that. So he settled on Jongdae instead.

"Alright, so... just now, Jongdae greeted me with a handshake and a friendly smile. I can't draw conclusions about how high he regards androids just yet, but I can tell that he's invested in making me feel comfortable, especially because Chanyeol kept me as a secret and he wants Chanyeol to be comfortable. Regarding just his outer appearance, I take him to be neither sloppy nor overly fixated on his looks, with his clearly washed, but messy hair and the simple, woolen sweater. He's definitely not sensitive towards germs, since he's mindlessly touching the rim of his glass. He obviously doesn't care much about sport, but he isn't over-weight in any way either. I guess his eating habits are irregular. Might be the type to skip a meal or two when stressed. This is just a loose guess at this point; I'll know more when he orders something later. It's just that he was very ready to jump to Kyungsoo's aid when a comment was directed at him, so I take him as someone who is very keen on harmonizing, likely at his own expense. Oh, and he has to be close to Chanyeol, because he knows his eating preferences very well and already ordered that beer for him," Jongin added like an afterthought, and Chanyeol couldn't keep the small grin at the way Baekhyun's expression lost a bit of his confidence.

"So I'd currently predict that Jongdae won't make snide remarks directed at either Kyungsoo, Chanyeol or me, though the ones directed at you seem to be of playful origin as well. I'm guessing you can take them."

"Ah, just how you think I can take some analyzing?" Jongdae spoke up from where he'd mashed his cheek into one hand, the other circling the rim of his glass.

"Because you wouldn't wanna risk getting into Chanyeol's bad books, take Kyungsoo as a possibly sensitive person and Baekhyun as someone who doesn't take well to being picked apart?"

His tone spoke of mild interest, and Chanyeol could see the way it threw Jongin off, could see the way he started re-running his calculations as he blinked repeatedly.

"Are you offended right now?" he finally asked, a look of confusion on his face.

"You're already pretty dead set on me being too friendly to display my anger in an obvious fashion, aren't you? And now you don't know where this is going..." Jongdae trailed off, and at the sight of helplessness on the android’s face, he finally lost the fight against the small smile tugging at his lips. The gesture seemed to give Jongin the hint he needed, and he relaxed visibly.

"Ah. You're playing with me. You... you see a lot, but don't voice it out. You're letting me know because..."

Jongin hesitated, and a left-out Baekhyun butted in to regain much-wanted attention.

"Because you shouldn't underestimate him! Dae is pretty smart, you know?"

But the android shook his head, and it was more than interesting to Chanyeol to see his android struggle with something for once.

"That would include him being sensitive or offended by my revelation. It wasn't much though, so I don't think that's it..."

"Just ask him," Kyungsoo suggested dryly, and after a probing look, Jongin complied.

"Why did you give me this deeper understanding of you?"

Jongdae sat up straight and all but beamed at him.

"Because it's fun to see your lashes fluttering when you're working so hard to figure things out," he chirped, making cute expressions at him.

"Also, it's just me being curious, so don't get your head twisted up too badly."

Jongin muttered a small 'Oh,' and Chanyeol could see him rearranging all the new input, working hard to keep track of the four people at the table.

"Stop it, Dae, you might give him a blue screen," Baekhyun joked, which led to a pout on the android's face.

"I'm not a rickety computer, I do not get blue screens. How would I even turn blue?"

"I don't know, man, you tell me. What does happen, then? Will you give us a shutdown announcement?"

Sensing Jongin being unhappy about those questions, Chanyeol drew him in closely by his shoulder. With a defiant glance directed at Baekhyun, Jongin snuggled closer.

"You didn't have to go home early because of me..." Jongin mumbled as they were taking the steps to his apartment.

"Don't say that - you were obviously uncomfortable. You don't have to feel bad, Jongin," Chanyeol reassured him as he unlocked the door and entered with a sigh. Home, sweet home. He went straight to refrigerator to get a bottle of chilled juice and threw himself onto the sofa with a blissed groan. This was the first time he could really relax ever since he’d gotten up for his morning shift. His feet were positively aching. Instead of joining him, Jongin unsurely hovered behind the couch, palms resting on the headrest.

"I don't dislike Baekhyun. He's not a bad person," he stated carefully, and Chanyeol leaned back to give him an upside-down look.

"He asked you to do a robot dance," he stated in a deadpan voice. Jongin's small smile didn't twitch, but he didn't say anything either. With a sigh, Chanyeol shuffled to one side of the couch and gestured Jongin to join him. The android complied immediately, and it was the silence that gave him away. Chanyeol was flattered by it, quite frankly. Lying and brushing things off was all-too easy for an android, but Jongin was apparently determined not to lie to him; not that Chanyeol had ever made him promise not to.

"What's occupying you right now?" he asked in a friendly tone, when Jongin had snuggled into his side in an already perfectly familiar fashion. With his head comfortably resting on Chanyeol's chest, Jongin finally replied.

"I'm just thinking that it would be nice if I could cry."

"Oh?" Chanyeol asked, actually taken by surprise. "Why is that?"

Leaning into his owner's hand petting his curls absently, Jongin closed his eyes.

"If I could cry, I could show people I'm sad or unhappy. Most humans I met so far rely more on the show than tell aspect of communication."

"Ah, that's why..."

Chanyeol considered it, and Jongin didn't press him for a reply. He usually didn't, for to him, a lack of verbal response was already a reaction containing a lot of information.

"You know, most people hate crying," he finally stated, and Jongin blinked up at him with a cocked head.

"What? Why?"

"Because they're afraid," Chanyeol replied immediately. There wasn't much to think about regarding this one. "They're afraid of being weak in front of others. It makes us vulnerable, you know?"

"Us," Jongin repeated mindlessly, and Chanyeol bit his lips.

"I wasn't meaning to make you feel like an outcast," he quickly corrected, and Jongin only nodded, before resting back against his chest.

"I know. You just meant to include yourself. To tell me that you, too, are acquainted with this feeling. That's nice of you."

Chanyeol huffed.

"You think too highly of me. Maybe it just slipped because I'm selfish and eager to make you feel sorry or protective over me."

The little android shook his head, and his curls tickled Chanyeol's chin.

"You want me to know you, and I like that. Don't feel bad about it. You could cry in my presence, too. I wouldn't mind. Crying is like your body or mind calling for help, right? So if I could do that, hypothetically speaking..." he murmured, reaching for one of Chanyeol's hands. The android's hand felt so real in his, and yet there was no heartbeat thrumming through veins. It was warm though. And solid.

"...I'd only cry in front of people I really trust to help me. Like you."

With a small smile, Chanyeol blew air into his ear, just to see the adorable way he was twitching in surprise.

"You can't though. So you better tell me when you need help. I'll take you seriously for sure."

With an oddly content smile, Jongin looked at nothing in particular.

"Because you're very caring. Remember that time on the train?"

"When you found me?"

Some people may have said 'when I found you', but Chanyeol was no fool. Jongin had found him. Chose him.

"Yes. Back then, you offered this young boy a seat. He wasn't old or anything, but you could tell that he was having a bad day. In fact, I think he might have felt physically unwell, too."

Chanyeol couldn't remember at all. It was such a small matter, and not something that was in any way unusual for him.

"And I came to the conclusion that you care for others. It seems that I was right about that."

"Ah, nothing escapes your hawk eyes, does it?" Chanyeol chuckled, one absent finger messing up the silky, synthetic curls, "anything else that helped you choose me?"

Without a word, the android shook his head a little to get his hair back to its original shape as he thought about it. Chanyeol bit back a grin, and his fingers immediately wandered into the curls again.

"I thought you might need some help," Jongin finally said. "You had this heavy bag, and oh. I never even got around to carrying your stuff, after all."

"You don't have to..." Chanyeol hummed, carding through the hair to see whether he could sweep it to one side. "Anything else?"

With a faint sound of protest, Jongin swatted at his hand and turned to give him an accusatory look.

"Yes. One thing," he said, and Chanyeol was too curious not to take the bait.

"Yeah? What is it?"

"I'm not gonna tell you," Jongin snippily replied, causing Chanyeol to make a scene of trying to get the information out of him. Some dramatic poking and half-hearted wrestling had them end up on the floor, with their legs propped up on the couch instead.

"You know..." Chanyeol began, still a little huffy from Jongin's pretty accurate tickling. "Next time, you should get back at Baekhyun. Show him not to make fun of you. He can take it, and god knows he needs it."

At this, Jongin perked up, looking visibly interested.

"How?"

"You went dancing?"

This had Sehun look up from where he was heaving sacks of dog food around to get to the bottom of the stack where the bags of sand for the birds were (while Jongin was stuck with the even heavier sacks of cat litter). He'd even ceased cursing about the storage room for the first time since they'd entered. The urge to grin was pretty strong, and Jongin figured Sehun wouldn't mind, so he did.

"Yes!"

"You can dance, too?"

Multitasking was obviously not a problem for Jongin, but this conversation topic was rather engaging, so he clearly slowed down on the task at hand.

"I just imitated what I saw, putting together what would be a desirable form of dancing. At first I was a little off, because I only looked at my owner, and he's not that much of a dancer. But soon enough, Baekhyun became very apologetic over that robot dance joke."

"Can you learn just about anything?" Sehun asked incredulously. He wasn't even pretending to work anymore at this point. "I mean. I love dancing, but I bet what I learned over years you mastered it in, like, five minutes."

"I just have a lot of vacancy to fill," Jongin offered, always willing to talk in simple phrases and examples to make people like Sehun understand.

"I have a certain amount of potential and can distribute it to various skills. So far, I didn't learn a lot of things. It's comparable to a human baby. They don't know many things, so they learn quickly, right? And the more they have to keep track of, the slower they learn."

Sehun nodded in understanding, though his brows remained slightly furrowed.

"So that's why you learnt it so quickly..."

"Oh, but I also really like music, so that certainly sped up the progress, because I'm so familiar and open to it!" Jongin added, because he really was that excited about this experience. To his surprise, Sehun tilted his head a little, looking contemplative. The mood shifted and his voice sounded thoughtful.

"Sometimes I feel like androids are just... better than people. Like they can do everything and are just perfect. But then you're saying such things, and I can't help thinking you're so similar to me-"

The little speech was interrupted when Sehun heard the steps coming closer and like a well-conditioned employee, immediately whirled around to continue working, not without gesturing Jongin to do the same. The door opened a mere two seconds later, allowing the general outside noise of the shop in.

Both of them looked up to the entrance, where their boss was standing with a pretty boy. Jongin immediately pinpointed him as an android. His posture gave him away.

"And this is our storage room. Those are Sehun and Jongin. Jongin's our fellow android employee. Guys, this is Taemin," she introduced in a curt, but not unfriendly manner. Sehun nodded and Taemin waved at them with an adorable smile.

"I'm currently showing him around, but you'll help him out later, won’t you?"

"Sure," Sehun offered, but Jongin was too distracted by the way the blond android looked at him. There was something about it. He might simply be thrown off by Jongin being an android as well, though. There was no option of figuring his inner workings out from just a look, so Jongin didn't try to. His boss ushered him out of the room and towards the actual animals of the store. Sehun dropped the pretense of working the moment they were out of sight.

"Did you see him?" he asked in a hushed manner, and Jongin didn't get his excitement. He hadn't seemed thrilled when Jongin started out, either. Was he that accustomed to androids already?

"He looks just like you, don't you think?"

Oh. Wait... he wasn't wrong about that. Jongin hadn't put much thought into analyzing the android’s outer appearance -and he hadn't seen him up close yet- but he could definitely see where Sehun was coming from.

"Not to sound racist or whatever you'd call it, but man. I don't know. It's the face?"

Jongin nodded absently, while he compared Taemin's face with his own. They indeed had similar features. The shape of their eyes, nose and lips... though Taemin was fair where Jongin wasn't. He was all porcelain skin, bright eyes and blond hair. It was like conventional beauty standards meeting Jongin's supposedly exotic features.

"Hey, did I upset you?" Sehun asked worriedly, one hand gingerly touching Jongin's shoulder. It instantly called him back to the present.

"No. No, I'm not upset. You're right."

There were a couple possible explanations, and one that was definitely not high enough to be stored away as 'likely' yet. But he couldn't discard it either.

"Are you worried I'll favor him because he's new? I won't, okay?"

Jongin smiled. Sehun had a really sweet nature. He wouldn't wanna bother him with his thoughts though, because Sehun didn't have a good grasp on android's behaviour yet, and he didn't want to confuse or distress him.

"Okay. I won't favor him because he's an android either."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Nooo..." Jongin reassured him earnestly, only to tilt his head in a playful manner. "Do you want me to make fun of you? I could do that."

"Sure you could, I can imagine that you'd be passionate about that," Sehun grumbled, pushing a heavy bag of sand into his hands.

"Let's get some work done, before our residential dragon replaces us with even prettier androids. My ego definitely couldn't take the blow."

At the end of the day, Jongin actually found himself behind the counter with Taemin. This was the first time they were sort of alone together, given the opportunity to communicate freely. To say that Jongin wasn't curious would be a blatant lie. Sure, Jongin saw androids all the time, but never had he interacted on a personal level with any of them. At least not as far as he could remember. Suddenly, he wondered whether he'd had android friends before he came to in the shabby hall of the main station, without any memory whatsoever.

Taemin didn't seem to share his curiosity, or maybe he was hiding it. In any case, the blond android was looking ahead with the hint of a polite smile tugging at his lips. He was probably very keen on doing a good job. But there was no customer in the shop, so Jongin didn't feel bad for breaking the silence.

"I never had an android coworker," he stated probingly, and the other reacted by shooting him a mildly confused look. He really was pretty, by both android and human standards.

"So I'm curious and interested in you," Jongin elaborated, and the blond's expression lit up in obvious understanding.

"Oh, I see. What would you like to know?"

Androids were far easier to adapt to than humans on many levels. They were working on the basics of logic, ingrained emotions, and overall parameters that were easy for a fellow android to interpret. But maybe Jongin had been around too many humans, for he found Taemin's simplicity rather... off-throwing.

"Maybe what kind of an android you are?" he asked carefully. The reply came swift and easily, his tone almost neutral.

"I am a Sentient Companion."

"Really? Me too. I’m even more interested in getting to know you now," Jongin said honestly, and the blond was actually beginning to look a little more invested in their conversation as well.

"I take it your owner is working a lot, if you have the spare time to pick up a job?" Jongin prodded further, and Taemin nodded. "What do you need the money for?"

And he'd lost him again, seeing as Taemin tilted his head in confusion once more.

"I do not get paid. I have no need for money."

"Oh. I see..." Jongin replied, and tried not to feel inferior to the other. He wasn't selfish for receiving money for the work he did. He was already receiving less than Sehun, and he potentially needed this money in the future. If he were to have a choice, he'd gladly care for these animals for free, too.

He'd obviously lost the string that had kept the conversation going - and while Taemin did look a little troubled about the sudden silence, he didn't seem to know a way to break it.

"So what type of person is your owner?" Jongin asked, throwing in a hopefully safe question. Chanyeol himself insisted on Jongin not calling him his owner, but he couldn't assume that all other androids experienced the same thing. Taemin actually lit up at this. For the first time, Jongin got the impression that Taemin was... human.

"He's a professor. In fact, he's also my creator. He developed the engine I'm running on, and together with a friend, he even put me together."

Jongin blinked.

Completely custom made. And he did look like him.

"So you're his first finalized android?" he asked, and as expected, Taemin wasn't able to read in between the lines. He only shook his head.

"The second one. I never met the first one. I once saw some notes calling him Kai. There were some parameters on it, but my owner does not talk much about him. My guess is that he was not satisfied with the outcome."

Jongin resisted the strong urge to show emotions and put up a neutral face of his own.

"You think so?"

"Yes, it is highly likely that something went wrong. Oh, but I am not worried about myself. He regularly tells me how happy he is with me."

Jongin smiled. It came out perfectly, but Jongin had lost all will to further communicate with the android. Such an easy, perfect smile that came automatically and fooled everyone for the rest of his shift. Jongin kept it on at all times - because it was expected and made sense. But never before had he felt so... isolated around humans. In a corner of his constantly working mind, he entertained the hypothetical case of being human himself. Would he be crying now? Even though the timing would be bad and the backlash uncomfortable - would he?

When he stepped out of the elevator and padded down the hallway to Chanyeol's (and his) home a few hours later, he knew perfectly well what he wanted to tell his owner. All the words were chosen, his concerns sorted into orderly categories. Maybe this is the most human thing about me, Jongin thought as the entrance came in sight. The fact that I have this urge to share information. Seeking advice is logical, but Jongin hoped less for advice and more for Chanyeol drawing him in closely for comfort. What an odd desire, from a logical point of view.

The moment he'd typed in the code and opened the door, he heard it. Foreign sounds. Chanyeol was home, but he wasn't alone.

"Hello. I'm back..." he carefully called into the apartment as he took his shoes and jacket off. Footsteps resounded, and Chanyeol tumbled out of the tiny living room with a girl Jongin hadn't seen before. She waved at him with a curious, but friendly smile.

"Jongin! You worked overtime again," Chanyeol said in a playfully accusing tone, before his eyes darted to the girl.

"This is him," he simply told her before addressing the android again.

"Jongin, this is Amber. I told you about her, remember? What a silly question though, of course you remember-"

"What do you mean you're talking about me behind my back? What did you tell him, huh?" the girl asked jokingly, nudging Chanyeol's side with a not too moderate amount of force. Jongin regarded her. Yes, Chanyeol had mentioned her as someone who often went to the same studio he did. She was indeed boyish with short, unruly black hair and wore an equally black, simple T-shirt. It revealed the tattoos raking up her right arm. Unlike many other females her age, he didn't spot any traces of makeup on her.

"Anyway!" Chanyeol intervened, still shooting her suspicious glances as if he expected her to attack him again any second. "What I was going to tell you is that she's my- that I'm her boyfriend now. Kinda."

Boyfriend. Chanyeol was in a relationship now.

The words all but tumbled out of Chanyeol's mouth in a way they'd never done before, and Jongin just blinked at him from where he was frozen in the doorway. The girl snaked an arm around his waist.

"Kinda? Someone's really convinced of this," she said, still obviously joking, "I guess I could be your kinda-girlfriend. You may treat me to dinner in return."

Chanyeol kept tugging at her hand and whined about girlfriends not being the one to have their hand there (not even kinda-girlfriends), leading to Amber rolling her eyes and telling him he was too tall to go for the shoulders. All the while, the tips of his owner's ears were burning, and Jongin had never seen him so socially awkward and-

Suddenly, Jongin's mind was wiped blank, and all his sensory receptors ceased working. The relentless stream of information stopped abruptly, and when Jongin came to, he was still standing in the doorway. His inner clock told him that no more than two seconds had passed, but he felt insecure and even wobbly, since his system was running a quick check on everything, including his limbs and joints.

"Jongin?"

Looking at Chanyeol when he asked for it came naturally by now. He looked mildly worried.

"Everything alright?"

The tests said yes, so Jongin nodded. At this point, the basic check was done and he had enough room for social constructs to shift into focus. There was his owner, and the girl... his girlfriend. Amber. Romantic relationships were important and he ought not to interfere. He'd really, really wanted to talk to Chanyeol, but Chanyeol was busy with someone more important than him now. Jongin put up a polite smile.

"I'm fine. Let me prepare you some tea, it's rather cold in here."

With this, he went to the kitchen, absently looking into the boiling water as his mind tried to analyze his current emotional state.

"Have mercy on me, stop, sto-ah-!"

Chanyeol yelped when a finger poked his sides just where he was especially ticklish.

As expected, Amber was merciless in her attack and took perfect advantage of Chanyeol being somewhat careful around her. Not necessarily because he felt like girls needed to be coddled and more because he'd been harbouring a crush on her forever, and now that she was actually right next to him, he couldn't believe his luck. Sure, just because she'd agreed to date him didn't mean he should start looking for engagement rings (not that people really bought those nowadays, anyway), but the memory of her pecking his lips earlier was still fresh on his mind. In such a daring, swift move she'd kissed him to shut him up, and Chanyeol had seen the shy grin tugging at her lips afterwards. He hadn't teased her about it. He was way too busy swooning right now.

She ceased tickling him as Jongin came in to place two cups of tea on the table. Chanyeol offered for him to keep them company, but the android mumbled something about needing a little alone-time, wandering off into his room. They both followed him with their eyes, and Chanyeol silently wondered whether he'd gone at this the wrong way. He had no intention of making Jongin feel like a third wheel in his own home. A sip of the tea had him scrunch up his face in distaste. Chamomile. Amber snorted at his expression.

"Don't laugh, it's awful!" Chanyeol whined, only egging Amber's amusement on, "I only have chamomile tea in case Jongdae visits me. I really can't stand it, okay?"

He was still smacking his lips, trying to get rid of the taste, when Amber casually switched their cups.

"You should have noticed the smell of it then, if you hate it so much," she teasingly said, sipping at the steaming liquid. "I thought your cute android knows you inside out?"

Chanyeol halted with his fingers clasping the warm cup. Right. Jongin knew his tea preferences. Why would he serve him chamomile tea?

"You think he's passive aggressively trying to tell you something?" Amber suggested, only half-joking. "Like how he's unhappy about me being here?"

Chanyeol shook his head without hesitation.

"No, no, no. That's not it. I mean... if there's any android capable of being passive aggressive, it would totally be Jongin," he clarified, perfectly convinced, "but that's not in his nature. If he gets annoyed with me, he'll usually show it."

Amber smiled at the way he talked about Jongin.

"You two are kind of a package deal, huh? But then why would he do it? You think he might have switched the cups?"

Chanyeol didn't know an answer to that, and his mind wandered off to the android in worry.

He ended up bidding Amber farewell earlier than planned. She seemed to get that he was worried and left it at a peck to his cheek. Chanyeol was infinitely grateful for that - he would've never forgiven himself for not being a hundred percent invested into their first, real kiss. As soon as he'd closed the door, he made a beeline for Jongin's room. The android rarely ever spent time in it aside from sleeping, and according to Chanyeol, it was evident in how lost he looked. He hesitated in the doorway, because Jongin showed no sign of having noticed him and continued to sit on his bed with his back against the wall, all but curled up on himself.

"Jongin?"

A second passed, and as Chanyeol was about to consider freaking out, something akin to a shudder went through the android, and his head whipped up to look at him.

"Chanyeol? Were you calling for me just now?"

With a serious feeling of unsettlement, Chanyeol strode over to the bed to take a seat next to Jongin. The android seemed distracted.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly, carefully even. Jongin seemed to consider this question himself, blinking rapidly and ultimately shaking his head.

"Nothing."

Chanyeol considered his next course of action. Jongin never lied to him, so this was about asking the right questions.

"Do you dislike Amber? I shouldn't have brought her over without warning, but it was all so spontaneous-"

"I don't dislike Amber. I don't know much about her," Jongin assured him, and he was gradually beginning to revert to his usual self. Only now did Chanyeol realize he was missing the mimic earlier. And something he wasn't able to pinpoint... it was back now, but that didn't mean he'd stop worrying.

"There's something I've been meaning to tell you," Jongin interrupted his thoughts.

Chanyeol was left staring at Jongin after hearing his story. He was very well aware of the ugly feeling of wariness tainting the news that Jongin had technically found his creator. Was he going to return to him now? It would probably be for the best, and Chanyeol should encourage him, but the selfish part of him was blocking the words from coming out.

Jongin was looking at him almost expectantly, and Chanyeol swallowed hard.

"So... how does that make you feel? Do you want to meet him?" he asked slowly, and it seemed like he was on the wrong track, judging by how quickly Jongin shook his head.

"No! What if he takes me back? I don't want that to happen."

"Does seeing Taemin make you sad?" Chanyeol asked instead. From what Jongin had told him it sounded like the blond android was like a better version of himself. It would sure depress him. But Jongin dismissed this guess as well.

"No. It makes me... angry," he said after a pause of hesitation.

"Angry? How so?"

Jongin didn't have to consider his reply. It was like he'd been itching to say it.

"Because abandoning things is wrong!" he stated rather fiercely, before tuning down on the emotions in order to not make Chanyeol feel attacked. "My morals tell me that abandoning your responsibilities is wrong. That means my creator thought so and implemented this. Even though my creator thought so himself, he still abandoned me, and simply built a second android to take my place."

Oh. Now Chanyeol really got his train of thoughts. And it made sense. A lot of sense, actually. Still...

"What if he didn't abandon you and something happened?"

But of course Jongin wouldn't be Jongin if he hadn't thoroughly considered this possibility already.

"He didn't even search for me. Throughout the entire time I've been conscious, I have kept track of the incoming search queries online. He didn't even try to find me. Apparently, I wasn't worth the effort."

Chanyeol looked into his big, expectant eyes, and finally caved in.

"What would you like me to do? There's something, isn't there?"

The android looked almost petulant at the question.

"You could just hug me, Chanyeol."

With an exasperated huff, Chanyeol followed his request, and the way Jongin melted into the embrace was so flowing and un-android-like that it was hard to remember the boy in his arms wasn't human.

"Aren't you a bossy one," Chanyeol joked, one palm cupping the back of Jongin's head. He felt him lean into his touch.

"Just what is it about you and physical contact? I don't think I've ever heard of an android genuinely craving it."

Any other person might have been offended by the question itself but with Jongin, it was perfectly fine to speak on such a neutral, logic-driven level. It wasn't like he minded being affectionate with Jongin. This was merely about curiosity, and the android knew it.

"I have yet to figure that out. I'm working on it," Jongin mumbled somewhere near his clavicle. "A certain level of warmth tends well to the part of me running on lithium batteries, but I suspect it's something about the display of affection and comfort itself. It might just make me feel protected in an irrational way. Either way, it heavily establishes that you like me, in a way words can't. I haven't dug deeper into the matter yet."

His words caused a warm wave of adoration to wash over Chanyeol. Adoration for the peaceful android in his arms who knew no shame or awkwardness when it came to expressing himself to him. He slung both arms around his back, and ultimately encased him with his legs as well. Keeping him as close as possible.

"Don't worry. I'll hug you anyplace, anytime. Until you get tired of it," he mumbled and Jongin smiled against his neck.

That evening, Chanyeol insisted on Jongin sleeping in his bed, where he could continue to cuddle him until he fell asleep with the shorter one cradled in his arms.

This might not be Jongin's best idea so far, but he was seeing this through. His legs were dangling off the bench he was sitting on, absently scanning the café's customers.

Sure, he had been searching the database for information, but at the end of the day, he decided that he'd value the opinion of individual humans more. He could have called Sehun, and maybe he would ask him during his next shift, but for now he'd contacted-

Jongin flinched as someone jumped him from the side he hadn't been watching, but ceased any action as he recognized the familiar voice.

"Jonginnie, found ya!"

It was Jongdae clinging around his neck, and as he turned around, Jongin noticed Kyungsoo standing right next to his table as well.

They didn't immediately ask for the reason Jongin called them, and instead got comfortable, ordering food and drinks.

"Your hair smells good, what shampoo do you use?"

Also Jongdae hadn't stopped clinging on to him for even one second. Jongin was beginning to feel confused.

"Chanyeol's?"

Jongdae hummed, his cheek still mashed against Jongin's hair in their awkward sideways hug.

"I see. Tell him it smells good for me."

"I'm sure he won't find that statement weird at all," Kyungsoo deadpanned, voice dripping with sarcasm. Jongin was glad he was able to detect sarcasm, or else he and Kyungsoo would have a hard time communicating.

After an internal debate on whether Jongdae cuddling him was acceptable or not, Jongin decided to give in and lean into it. He did like warmth. And Jongdae seemed to enjoy himself a lot.

"This is, like, the best thing ever - I should have thought of it earlier," he happily stated, snuggling Jongin like a teddy bear. "You see, I love cuddles. If I cuddle a man, people will call me gay and probably bash me though. Now if I cuddle an android..." he continued, talking as if he was convinced this was genius, "...people will only call me a weirdo!"

"And that is infinitely better than getting bashed for being gay," Kyungsoo said, entirely unimpressed. Jongin sensed the odd atmosphere and was about to store away this unexpected display of attitude of Jongdae's, when the latter laughed.

"I mean, nothing against gays, obviously. Still, I don't wanna give mixed signals and die single!"

"Obviously," Jongin repeated quietly, curiously. Like before, the implied question was enough for the other to elaborate.

"Yeah. After all, Soo here swings that way," Jongdae replied easily, nodding towards the stoic boy whose eyes actually flit down to the table for a split second. Jongin nodded in understanding. Homosexuality was usually accepted nowadays, though there were still plenty of elderly people who would frown at a display of such preferences. In addition to that, it wasn't like assaults on people who were different ceased completely. The way Kyungsoo had reacted - outwardly nonchalant, but still avoiding eye contact - showed Jongin that he wasn't entirely comfortable showcasing this part of himself. Though he wasn't mad at Jongdae, so the two of them had to be very comfortable.

"That actually makes me very lucky," Jongin stated, and in response to the confused looks, he added, "because it makes you the perfect people to talk to."

Jongdae actually let off a little, going from a tight hug to light embrace, with one hand absently grasping for the cookies that had arrived.

"Yeah? What did you call us for, Jongin? Not that we mind spending time with you without a reason."

Jongin dismissed his reassurance with a small smile. It was time to get to the point.

"I was wondering about something. I was wondering whether I might have fallen in love."

A dumbfounded silence ensued. This question seemed to have caught both of the guys off guard.

"With Chanyeol?!" Jongdae asked, voice pitched a little higher as if the whole idea was ridiculous. Jongin couldn't understand what would possibly make Jongdae think so. His owner was lovable all around, by human standards. He was friendly, tall, had a handsome face, a knack for creativity and loved to laugh.

"Why would you think that?" Kyungsoo asked, naturally dark eyes trained on Jongin. He looked imploring and even mildly worried. Jongin tried not to be deterred by Jongdae's reaction.

"I've started to feel odd around him. My sensors keep malfunctioning and I feel wary and mildly unsettled. It started when he introduced his girlfriend to me on Monday-"

"Chanyeol has a girlfriend?" Jongdae cut him off with a pout, "and he didn't deem it necessary to mention that?"

"I'm sure he is going to tell you soon," Jongin said with certainty. Knowing his owner, he probably wanted to give them the news face to face.

"So you think you might be jealous."

The android looked at Kyungsoo, who patiently held his gaze, and nodded.

"I researched a lot about love, and jealousy seems to be a common theme. But I figured asking individual people for advice would be more effective than scouring the database," Jongin explained. He'd pinpointed these two as sensitive and open towards him - not to mention that they were close to Chanyeol and now he knew that one of them was attracted to his own gender. Not that Jongin technically had a gender.

"Not to sound ignorant, but... can an android fall in love?" Jongdae asked ad, almost mused as he absently rubbed Jongin's shoulder.

"They can," Kyungsoo answered before Jongin could. "Some of them at least. I once read an article about that..."

When he trailed off unsurely, Jongin took over.

"Some of them can emulate love. It's less complex than human love though. To say it in non-technical terms, androids can form lasting attachments to people that are good to them. In a way, it's a form of self-preservation to some. Of course, there are also Partner- and even SP-types who will give themselves to their owner unconditionally, but it's not as similar to human love as the aforementioned."

"And you can't sort of look into your source code to find out whether you're capable of doing such a thing," Jongdae guessed, and the android nodded.

"I can look into my code, as you are calling it. But this is one tiny function in a huge amount of affection-related regulations. Chanyeol gave me full permission to do whatever I want to my own code, and while I might not get down to the fine function of love, I could notch down on some obvious formulas regarding the gain of affection. Simply speaking, I could permanently take away a considerable amount of affection I have for Chanyeol - and if what I'm feeling right now is jealousy, then maybe I should. My owner shouldn't be burdened by that."

"Wait, wait, wait," Jongdae fell in, looking mildly alarmed, "you shouldn't do anything on a whim. This sounds like an irreversible thing. Like tampering with your genes."

Even Kyungsoo seemed to agree.

"Definitely. There's no telling what might happen to the balance of the overall system. Didn't Chanyeol say you're entirely custom made?"

"That's why I'm here to get your advice though," Jongin fell in, trying to calm them down. He hadn't done anything yet. He may not be the most complex and smart android out there, but he wasn't silly.

"But... how would I know whether it's love or just regular affection, meaning that the problem lies elsewhere?"

It got really silent after that. Here Jongin was, feeling uinstable and strange in the presence of his owner and self-declared companion, whom he cherished dearly. But how to tell the difference? Where was the line between companionship and love?

Kyungsoo was the first one to gather his thoughts.

"So what exactly do you feel like? Do you dislike his girlfriend? Do you feel angry or betrayed in your trust?"

Jongin shook his head.

"I didn't expect him to find a partner and I'm not sure whether this will change anything, but no. I don't feel either of this."

"So you're a little afraid of whether he'll lose interest in you now that a girl is in the picture?" Jongdae prodded, and Jongin tilted his head.

"Maybe? And that's love already? Not self-preservation or abandonment issues?"

His bluntness definitely caught them off guard, and Kyungsoo reached for his drink to take a sip, accepting that this discussion wouldn't be solved within the following seconds.

"He has a point, Dae. Could be just that."

With a contemplative groan, Jongdae leaned back in his seat. More silence ensued, until Jongdae finally snorted.

"What an absurd situation. How can this be so difficult?"

"Maybe because love is either much less magical than people make it out to be... or way too vague and complex for us to get it, after all," Kyungsoo hummed, resting his chin on one palm.

"Or maybe it's a little bit of both," Jongdae threw in, nestling his head into the crook of Jongin’s neck, who silently watched the exchange. Humans were decisively slower than androids, so he gave them time to come to a conclusion. This time it was Jongdae who had an idea first.

"Say, if Chanyeol were to have a really long-lasting, deep relationship with that girl... would that make you sad or happy?"

"Happy."

"Okay, and if he were to like her more than you - what would that make you feel like?"

Jongin hesitated for a split-second.

"A little sad."

"Because Chanyeol means a lot to you. If he weren't your owner, would that change anything about your affection?" Kyungsoo took over, and again, Jongin had to calculate a bit to get to his answer.

"No. That is, I have the strong urge to support my owner in any way, but if another owner told me to do something that may inflict any type of harm on Chanyeol, I'd be in a very tough spot."

Kyungsoo nodded as if the answer was obvious now. It was always so puzzling when humans saw something he didn't.

"You want to know what I think?" the quiet boy asked calmly, waiting for Jongin's nod before continuing. "I think I'd call this selfless love. Really, really selfless to a point humans aren't capable of feeling."

Jongdae agreed with a hum, snuggling close again now that they'd found a satisfactory answer.

"I know, right? In a way, you're lucky you're an android, Jongin. Humans can't stand their love not being reciprocated. Some may break while others won't, but no one would feel truly content staying beside your one-sided love. You, on the other hand, could do just that, without the pain and whatnot."

"Yes, but what about the malfunctions?" Kyungsoo threw in. "At the end of the day, no one but you can label your own feelings, Jongin. And only you can decide whether you're content or not with the way things are. It's about what love means to you."

They didn't part immediately after that, but when he returned home that day, this sentence was still echoing in Jongin's mind, being analyzed and picked apart.

What does love mean to me?

That was the question he had to find an answer to.

The moment he opened the door to the apartment, the question was temporarily whisked down on his priority list by the wave of half-burnt food odor invading his senses.

"Hey Jongin! Don't worry, nothing's burning, I swear!" a voice called through the apartment, and the android found his owner in the middle of an astoundingly messy kitchen.

"What's going on?" he asked helplessly, watching a mildly distressed Chanyeol bustle to the oven. There were streaks of flour on his clothes and the drying towels he used to take out the baking tray were barely recognizable anymore.

Chanyeol sighed at the outcome, and when Jongin padded closer to peek around him, he caught sight of some generously brown and rather dry-looking cookies. With a whine, Chanyeol leaned against the counter to catch a break, his attention now fully on Jongin.

"I was just baking biscuits, because it'll be Amber's birthday soon," Chanyeol said, ruffling his hair in frustration. "You know, I bet her friends will already bake her a cake and stuff. And we haven't been together for long enough to buy some big, super expensive present. I told her that I used to bake those with my grandmother, and I swear I did! I don't know why they turned out so badly!"

Jongin watched his owner complain, barely registering that he was smiling. Chanyeol was such a nice person. The way he was pouting over the result only showed how much he'd looked forward to gifting her with this dessert he had good memories with. He turned to take a closer look at the slightly burnt cookies, seeking for a matching entry on the database. Apparently those were a type of traditional shortbread cookies with a crust of sugar around them. A look around told him that Chanyeol had had the recipe written down. It only took him a few seconds to figure out what was wrong.

"The temperature is higher than in the recipe."

"What? No way, I checked it twice!" Chanyeol piped up, immediately kneeling before the simple oven to check it a third time.

"It's technically correct, but the way it heats differs from the old devices your grandmother presumably used. Modern ovens heat from all around, not only from top and bottom. Therefore you can take out the goods approximately 3 minutes and 12 seconds earlier," Jongin quickly calculated, and Chanyeol looked up at him in pure adoration.

"You're a genius, Jongin!" he called out, hugging his legs, and making Jongin smile even wider. Getting praised by Chanyeol wasn't exactly a tough achievement, but there was nothing he could name that made him happier. Was that considered love?

Together, they continued baking with Chanyeol rolling the dough through whisked yolk and sugar, only for Jongin to cut them into perfectly even slices, while a part of him kept pondering how to categorize his feelings.

To humans, love was something intense and oftentimes painful, especially when it's one-sided. Jongin had gathered that much from the looks and body language Kyungsoo was directing at Baekhyun, and that he was now able to interpret correctly. It was bringing out something primal in them, and even Chanyeol was no exception. He'd been different around Amber. Very excited and nervous and happy at the same time. Jongin, too, used to be a little nervous around Chanyeol, but now he felt nothing but safe in his presence. Chanyeol was his owner, yes, but he was less than that and much more at the same time. He gave him complete freedom, and not only allowed him to pursue whatever he wanted, but also actively helped him achieve his goals. Unlike other owners, Chanyeol never got annoyed when Jongin caused additional work or stress for him, instead of relieving it like Sentient Companions were supposed to. Whatever he did, Chanyeol took it in stride and though they had occasionally rubbed each other the wrong way, he'd never even considered getting rid of Jongin or adjusting him.

Chanyeol actually respected him.

Interesting, how much this actually affected... everything. But was it love?

"Chanyeol, can I ask you a personal question?" he finally spoke up, and Chanyeol stilled in his vain attempts of clearing his fingers from the sticky substance coating it.

"Since when do you even ask? Of course you can."

He did sound a little curious, but light-hearted and benevolent overall. Jongin decided that there would hardly be better timing in the future. He needed an answer to get to a conclusion.

"Will you distance yourself from me in the future? Because you have a girlfriend now?"

This question obviously had highest priority for Chanyeol, too, because the cookie dough was all but forgotten now.

"What are you saying?" he asked, serious concern blooming on his face. An emotion Jongin didn't see a lot, but when he did, it was usually directed at him.

"Me being in a relationship has nothing to do with what we have, Jongin. We're companions, aren't we? Do you not want me to meet up with Amber?"

The way he asked it sounded like he'd be conflicted if Jongin actually told him not to be with her. Like he would actually, seriously consider his complaints, even though relationships were often said to be above everything else on a human's priority list.

So did that make what Chanyeol felt for him love?

He looked into his owner’s expressive eyes that were scanning him for any sign of emotions.

And did it even matter?

With a smile, Jongin shook his head.

"No, I like seeing you be happy. You should keep meeting her."

Chanyeol smiled right back at him, butting their heads together because his fingers were still sticky.

"And you need to be happy, too," he stated with conviction, before returning to the task at hand, "how about we do something together, all three of us? See whether you get along with her?"

Jongin hummed in agreement and went back to cutting cookies, though he couldn't help but sneak glances at Chanyeol.

Whether it was love or not didn't matter. If the only thing separating love from friendship were physical activities Jongin couldn't engage in, then he already had everything he could possibly hope for. Because whenever Chanyeol looked at him, his eyes had this certain sparkle. The sparkle they got when he looked at things or people he cherished. This captivating little twinkle he's also shown Minseok and that excited dog someone had brought along into the subway where Jongin had met him for the first time. Yes, he'd analyzed how Chanyeol was creative, caring and open-minded. But back then, the little android had already put an irrational amount of importance on the fact that Chanyeol's eyes were just so pretty.

That evening, Jongin went to sleep before Chanyeol for once. The android was tired, more tired than usual, and Chanyeol guessed that he'd really been worrying his pretty little head about the thing with Amber and him. With a fond grin, he sat at the edge of Jongin's bed, hands running through his curls. Jongin was already fast asleep, curled up with his eyes closed, giving his system a much needed break. Jongin technically could survive by stimulating energy through this wristband of his, but like an actual computer, keeping him up and running all the time was slowly wearing his system out. Though he did seem more tired than usual lately.

Chanyeol pulled up the thin blanket a little. It wasn't strictly necessary, but Jongin liked a certain level of coziness.

He may not need food, but Jongin had a lot of other needs. He needed sleep, something to occupy his mind, someone to assert him with cuddles. Just like any other person.

And Chanyeol knew then and there (or maybe he'd known it all along, really), that even if others might call him weird, he'd never let go of the android. Even if no one else understood, they didn't have to. Chanyeol liked him. What they had was more than a simple friendship and different from an ownership. They lived together, shared everything, and it just... felt right. He really hoped Amber and Jongin would get along, but if they didn't, he knew whom he'd choose at the end of the day, even if it may hurt.

The next day he'd planned a trip to the zoo with Amber and Jongin. The latter seemed excited to see actual wolves, while Amber looked eager to touch bases with the curious android Chanyeol kept gushing about (her choice of words, not his). Everything went well... until they exited their apartment building and Jongin collapsed without a warning.

One second, Chanyeol was walking in between them, telling some menial story he couldn't even recall when a second later, Jongin was lying on the ground, unresponsive. Chanyeol whipped around at the sound of his body hitting the ground.

"Jongin?"

"Oh my god, what's wrong?" Amber asked, and they both knelt by his sides. Chanyeol felt like his heart had stopped beating. The android just lay there with glassy eyes, no response to their touches and questions. He looked... dead.

"Hey... hey, Jongin," Amber kept asking while Chanyeol just stared at him in a moment of terror. Just like that. It had happened... just like that.

"We gotta do something. Chanyeol, what are we gonna do now? I have no idea about androids-" she began, looking up to see the panic reflected in his eyes. A palm was patting his cheek none too gently, and Chanyeol snapped back into it, focusing on her intense gaze.

"Chanyeol. We gotta do something. Now," she repeated, and Chanyeol all but scrambled for his phone. Of course.

"I'll call Minseok. He repairs androids all the time. He knows Jongin," he murmured, fingers running up and down the android's upper arm as he impatiently listened to the silence on the other end. Jongin didn't stir. And Minseok didn't pick up.

"Goddammit," he cursed to himself, stuffed the phone away and lifted the lifeless android up. So light, he'd always been so light. Suddenly the fact that Jongin was, in fact, not human, seemed so glaringly obvious. Because even if you lose a human to a sudden streak of illness, you know at least a little of what's going on. There was first aid, the right numbers to call, people who’d help. Jongin, on the other hand, had just gone from completely fine to passed out in the blink of an eye.

He staggered towards the street, awkwardly waving at an automatic taxi, Amber on his heels.

"We'll just go there, Minseok will be there-" Chanyeol began, when a thought struck him. Jongin's creator. He had to know what to do. Amber looked at him from inside the car, arms still outstretched to help get Jongin inside, when Chanyeol changed strategies.

"You'll bring him there, I'll get his creator. Can you do that?" he asked urgently, already heaving Jongin inside. She nodded.

"Address?" she asked simply, and Chanyeol gave the address and swiped his card to pay for the ride. He didn't waste time looking after them and took off running to Jongin's workplace. People were staring at him left and right, but Chanyeol couldn't care less as he hastily made his way through people, occasionally bumping into someone and leaving a half-hearted apology lingering in the air. No matter what kind of a person this creator was, surely he'd help Jongin. He simply had to. The image of the lifeless boy was burnt into his mind already. Jongin didn't deserve this.

He was completely out of breath when he reached the pet shop, lungs burning and mind still high-strung on adrenaline. Without further ado, he burst inside the shop, all but demanding to see this android called Taemin.

"Taemin isn't on shift today," the woman behind the counter said with a judging glance at Chanyeol's ruffled appearance.

"Then please tell me where he lives, I need to see him!"

"I cannot give you information about our employees," the woman only stated with crossed arms, "that's against our policy."

"But Jongin is really, really sick - Taemin's owner might be able to help!" he insisted, palms digging into the counter with impatience.

"You might instead turn towards a repair facility, Mister."

"You don't understand..."

Chanyeol wanted to scream. How could she insist on such stupid policies when Jongin's life was at stake?! He caught sight of another employee, a tall, scrawny boy with bleached blond hair that was looking at him in shock, before gesturing towards the woman and disappearing in the back. Chanyeol took it as a sign to keep her busy, and started to explain the situation, hoping she would cave in. But to her, a malfunctioning android wasn't a big deal, apparently. To her, it was similar to a broken computer - either it could be fixed, meaning that time didn't matter, or it couldn't.

The simplicity with which she dared to tell Chanyeol that Jongin might just be broken, tempted him to actually jump over the counter and rattle her into reason. Jongin wasn't just some broken phone, goddammit!

The woman was threatening to call the police, when the boy's head popped back into the shop.

"The rabbits broke out again, Mrs. Kim."

"I'm busy, Sehun-"

"All of them."

With a disbelieving groan, she whirled around with barely concealed curses on her lips.

"Then you send this man home. Call the police if he won't leave-"

"I will leave!" Chanyeol angrily called after her, thinking that Jongin should really look for a job with an employer who had more respect for him. As soon as the woman was out of sight, blond boy pushed something into his hand. A plastic name tag. Taemin's.

"Scan the code on the back," he whispered harshly, urgency and genuine worry written into his eyes, "password is 375. Keep me updated on his status, will you?"

Chanyeol nodded numbly and the boy all but pushed him out of the store. Chanyeol whipped out his phone almost absently, eyes trained on the street in the hopes of finding a taxi for himself this time. He almost dropped the nameplate when he did, eagerly waving it over and hopping inside.

"Please name the destination," a pleasant, neutral voice said, and Chanyeol finally scanned the barely visible code on the back of the name tag. A few seconds later, he spoke up before the voice could repeat itself.

"379-51, Garosugil."

To a certain professor Kim, who was listed as Taemin's owner.

Chanyeol wasted no time admiring the pretty house that was obviously inhabited by someone at least moderately wealthy. He simply jumped out of the taxi, asked it to wait, and almost tripped over the few stairs leading to the door. He rang once. Twice. The sound echoed through the house, and Chanyeol had ten seconds to think about what kind of life Jongin might have led in a perfect house like this. Then the door opened and curious, bright eyes blinked up at him.

"Yes? How can I help you?"

He knew that it was Taemin without asking. It was painfully obvious. He really did look like Jongin.

"I need to talk to your creator. It's really urgent. Jongin has collapsed."

"Jongin?" Taemin asked in a mix of wonder and confusion.

"Tae, who's there?" someone asked, and Chanyeol shifted on his feet, barely withstanding the urge to barge inside.

"My android co-worker collapsed and a stranger wants to see you about it," Taemin called back obediently, and a man in a shabby, grey coat walked into the entrance area. He was young, rather short, neither stocky nor scrawny, with messy blonde hair, a pair of thickly-framed glasses dangling on his nose. Chanyeol took all this in without really trying to.

"Excuse me?"

"Jongin. That android you built, the one with the curly hair and tanned skin, the stubborn one-"

"Kai? How do you know about Kai?" the professor cut him off, wide-eyed and alarmed. He shook his head, fixating on the topic at hand.

"Where is he? Let me grab a few tools," he murmured, disappearing into a nearby room. Chanyeol was relieved that the man seemed to understand the urgency of the situation. Poor Taemin was left confused at the whole situation, still hovering uncertainly in the door frame.

"I'll be leaving the house, Tae!" the owner called, as if on cue, and the blond padded towards him, only to narrowly avoid crashing into the professor who stormed out of the room.

"Do me a favor and gather all the data you can find on Kai, will you? You have permission to go through my stuff. I'll text you the address so you can join me, then."

He hastily slipped into his shoes, not bothering to put on a jacket. Still, he did take the time to turn around and pat the android's shoulder, a gentle 'see you later' on his lips. A gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Chanyeol.

And even as they sat in the taxi with Chanyeol numbly answering the rush of questions the professor directed at him, he couldn't help sneaking glances at the guy. This was Jongin's former owner, his creator even. He seemed like such a genuinely concerned man. So how did Jongin end up on the streets?

"I didn't even introduce myself, did I? Kim Jonghyun's the name," the man said, offering his hand that had been rapidly typing on a notepad all the time. Chanyeol only hesitated a second. He had no other option but to trust this man. Whatever happened in the future didn't matter because currently, they were in the same boat.

"Park Chanyeol."

The moment they rushed into Minseok's shop and right towards the back, Kim Jonghyun made a beeline for the android lying on the table - just like Chanyeol. He didn't know what to expect, but the way the professor immediately buried a hand in Jongin's hair, cupping his cheek with an almost wistful sigh, had Chanyeol's heart twinge irrationally.

"Kai, my poor little Kai. What happened to you?" he asked, almost to himself.

"I assume you're the creator. Kim Minseok, I own this place," Minseok introduced curtly, one hand grasping a digital pen and the other fumbling with machinery that was connected to Jongin's wristband. Chanyeol was ushered aside and caught by Amber who gently, but firmly led him to a nearby chair. She didn't complain about having to stand, and though Chanyeol was going crazy hearing the two technicians talk about stuff he couldn't comprehend at all, the palms absently massaging his shoulders were soothing him just that little bit. Amber understood. She hadn't even gotten to know Jongin yet, and she'd told him how she hadn't ever personally met an android before. But seeing the very same boy that had been skipping alongside them, eagerly talking about wolves and lions, now lying on a table completely devoid of life seemed to get to her, too. Just thinking about Jongin being hurt and damaged in any way made his heart ache.

"Chanyeol."

He blinked, trying to focus on whoever had talked to him. It was Minseok, his voice bearing a drop of emotions on the mask that was his professionalism.

"I said we're not losing Jongin. We're not exactly sure what's wrong, but he's definitely not lost, you hear me?"

Chanyeol nodded numbly, and Amber mumbled reassurances meant for him alone while Minseok and the professor bounced more technical terms off each other, bustling around the room and fumbling with the patch on his nape.

"See? He'll be just fine. Those two are gonna nurse him back to health. You heard them? They're booting him up right now," she hummed, never ceasing the subtle kneading motions on his shoulders. As if on cue, Jongin sat up, glassy eyes blinking rapidly, and Chanyeol jumped to his feet.

"Booting process going without a hitch, it seems," Minseok said, eyes trained on a stream of data being projected on the whiteboard, while the professor was observing the android intently. Jongin regained focus with an unhappy frown ghosting over his expression, before he looked up, eyes darting right past the devices and people - right at Chanyeol. And his expression softened the tiniest bit.

"Chanyeol," he called out, and said one was by his side in a flash, grasping Jongin's free hand. The boy looked up at him with mild confusion.

"What is going on, Chanyeol? I don't remember what happened before my system crashed."

"We wanted to go to the zoo, remember? Together with Amber, we wanted to go see wolves and lions," Chanyeol reminded him gently, and Jongin tilted his head.

"We did? That sounds nice. Who is Amber though?"

The professor took a sharp inhale, but Minseok beat him to it.

"I think I got it. Selective deletion of information, probably loosely based on priority categories. That points towards one issue I've been low-key suspecting ever since I saw his data," he all but babbled now, moving around the notes with new-found vigor. The professor took over and pushed his own notepad into Minseok's hands to drag the numbers across the board himself.

"Don't tell me it's the virtual memory," he mumbled, flipping through the categories, "I realize that the system is weak there, but he shouldn't react like this-"

"Who is this man?" Jongin asked, and his creator actually stilled in his tracks, as if the statement had hit him hard. Despite the dislike he should feel towards him, Chanyeol couldn't help pitying him a little.

"He's-" he began, only to be cut off by both Minseok and the professor.

"Don't!"

"Don't tell him," the professor said almost harshly, and both Chanyeol and Jongin flinched, while Amber took a step forward, as if ready to cut in. With both hands lifted in defense, the blond looked at the android.

"Kai- I mean Jongin. Will you please mute your hearing? Just for a while. These words aren't meant for you."

Before anything, Jongin's head turned to look at Chanyeol, silently awaiting his response to the demand. Out of the corner of his eye, Chanyeol saw the smile on the professor's lips vanish, and it was obvious why. He'd been the one to build Jongin, had probably invested years into him, and yet the android made it very clear whom his loyalty lay with. There was no reason to rub it in, so Chanyeol silently placed his hands over Jongin's ears with a reassuring smile. Jongin seemed content and calm, despite the worrisome situation. Minseok was the first one to speak up, since Kim Jonghyun's eyes still lingered on the android.

"Alright, so do you remember the time when I checked Jongin's system?" he began, waiting for a silent nod to continue, "how I told you that I was amazed at the fact that Jongin is able to be so insanely observant, even with this outdated hardware he's running on?"

Chanyeol didn't actually remember those words, but now that he mentioned it...

"That's the key. He keeps taking in so many details that his system can't keep up with the flow of information. It drains his battery and clutters his memory."

"I guess he does need more rest than other androids..." Chanyeol muttered, and Minseok nodded.

"This is a vague guess of mine, but your relationship is new, right?"

Chanyeol nodded with the hint of a blush dusting his cheeks. Minseok didn't comment on it.

"Then I'd say that the additional input about your behavior in a relationship as well as the character of your girlfriend had been the last straw. It was too much and his system shut down. That's why Jongin shouldn't be confronted with the professor being his creator right now. Who knows what this might do to him. We shouldn’t risk anything right now."

Chanyeol silently nodded in newfound understanding. So analyzing his new behavior and adding Amber to the picture had been too much for Jongin. Professor Kim seemed to have snapped back into it as well, at the mention of his title.

"Did you notice any errors regarding his memory? Because it's likely that due to the massive amount of information, his system just started deleting things that were deemed less important, in order to keep going."

Chanyeol thought about it, but Amber was quicker.

"The tea!" she exclaimed, as if it should have been obvious from the start. "He switched up Chanyeol's preferred types of tea."

Right. There had been a few other instance like that. But they were all so minor, like Jongin forgetting what had happened in the last episode of the series they'd been watching, or when Chanyeol would return home.

The professor shot him a strict look.

"You should have noticed the signs sooner."

"But- but those things were so small, I thought he'd just forgotten," Chanyeol muttered pathetically small, and the creator shook his head, having none of it.

"Humans forget, Chanyeol. Androids like Jongin don't. Jongin isn't human, and you need to be aware of that."

Chanyeol didn't even attempt to argue. It was harsh, but it was the truth. This boy, whose curious eyes were currently flitting between him and Kim Jonghyun, wasn't human. And it was Chanyeol's responsibility to be aware of that at all times, in order to take care of him like Jongin did for him.

"What's the point in scolding him now," Amber jumped to his defense, "in fact, shouldn't you tell us why he ended up on the streets, anyway? You're acting like you're all that, but how can we even trust you at this point?"

The statement was like a slap to his face. With a sigh, the professor sat down on the edge of a work bench.

"You're right," he admitted, and now he just looked miserable. "It was ultimately my fault that this happened. You see, Kai isn't very old. Just about one year and a half ago, he came to life. Back then, I was in a stable relationship with a woman, and I sort of dedicated Kai to her. I was his creator, but first and foremost, my wife was his attachment figure."

One year and a half. So when Chanyeol had met him, Jongin had been just about one year old only.

"All was well. Kai adored my wife, just like I did. Our relationship took a turn for the worse, however. It was all bad blood with lots of drama and shouting. We finally decided to end it, and of course Kai wanted to stay with her. I made him promise to return to me in case something happened or if he needed help in any way, but... I guess that woman had other plans for him."

The blond sighed and ran a hand through his already messy hair.

"I can't believe she had him wipe his memory and just abandoned him. This isn’t about a personal feud anymore, this is... how could you possibly do that?"

Now Chanyeol really felt nothing but bad for this man. He was convinced that he was telling the truth - because this was the man who came up with Jongin's character, and no ugly person could have designed someone as beautiful as him, as far as Chanyeol was concerned.

"That's why you didn't search for him..." Chanyeol hummed, regarding the emotionally exhausted man with a contemplative look. Finally, he gave in.

"But isn't it amazing that Jongin somehow made it, anyway?" he began in a soft tone, "despite the obstacles, despite being left on the streets with literally nothing in his hands, he somehow found his way back to you."

The smile on Jonghyun's face was weak.

"And yet he's still wary of me. He really never did acknowledge or accept me. I appreciate the sentiment though. If that's how it is, there's nothing to do about it."

He stretched his limbs in an obvious attempt to give himself something to do.

"You should let Kai back in on the discussion. He looks like he's getting impatient-"

"Jongin," Chanyeol cut him off gently, but firmly. The professor sighed barely audibly.

"Right. Jongin. I'm sorry."

When Chanyeol lifted his hands from Jongin's ears, they were all warm, and with a faint pout, Jongin shook his head to get some air to them.

"Jongin, we found out what happened to you," the professor began, and Minseok stepped back to let him do the talking. The android watched him with cautious eyes.

"Your battery and your internal memory are weak. Your technician friend and I will think of something. You'll need some better parts, too. They're expensive, but-"

"I saved up money," both Chanyeol and Jongin said in unison, leading to the android looking up at the other in confusion.

"I told you not to worry about that," Jongin all but scolded him, but Chanyeol just quipped right back at him. "It was obviously a good idea - besides, you can't tell me what to do with my money!"

"Unless you have a lot of money saved, I'm afraid it'll take a little longer until we can actually afford them," the professor said, carefully keeping the expectations low. "So for now, just try not to expose him too much to interpersonal relationships and the likes."

Chanyeol nodded earnestly.

"I'll do my best."

"Jongin, you should cut down on the accumulated data, see if you can make some room in your head. Also, you might dull your receptors a bit, but you’ll be fine for now. You should go home and rest; you all look exhausted," the blonde suggested, "my boy will arrive soon with the data. We'll talk over the rest together, right?"

The question was directed at Minseok, who nodded silently as he loosened Jongin's wristwatch from the machinery and pulled off the patch. The android immediately hopped off the table and stuck to Chanyeol's side. It seemed like he was eager to leave this place. With a wave and a promise to stay in contact, Chanyeol finally steered Jongin out, who was all but clawing at his sleeves. He was uncharacteristically silent, even though his system appeared to be working without a hitch now. The first thing he did when they stepped outside was turn towards Amber, who had followed them.

"I'm sorry for causing so much trouble."

He had his head lowered and gaze averted -probably to keep the input to a minimum, like instructed- but his expression was obviously rueful.

"I obviously forgot about you. I'll work hard so I can get to know you soon."

"Ah, what are you saying," Amber cooed, patting his shoulder in a simple, friendly way. "We all have our battles to fight. Let's give Chanyeol some time, too, before we can make his life hard with combined forces!"

"I only make Chanyeol's life easier," Jongin argued, and Chanyeol was happy to see a hint of sass already returning. Amber only laughed.

"I can imagine. Ah, there's a bus, I guess I'll take that one - Yeol, text me?"

Chanyeol hummed in agreement, and since Jongin's eyes were still lowered, he allowed himself to sneak an innocent peck at her lips. He was still staring after her when she turned to wave at them from the bus window, feeling almost ridiculously dazed over something that small.

"You're still there."

Chanyeol was pulled back to reality by Jongin's words, seeking the object of the android's concern and finding it in the form of the professor lurking in the doorway of the shop. He appeared to be rather nonchalant; his interest in Jongin obviously outweighed any feelings of guilt over staring after them like a creep.

Jongin's shoulders tensed, and the android seemed to come to a conclusion. He stepped towards the man and looked him straight in the eye.

"Alright. If you promise not to tamper with the memories I've made with Chanyeol, you can try to restore the ones I have of you."

The blond looked mildly shocked, while Chanyeol was flat-out gaping.

"How did you know?! Did you eavesdrop, after all?" he asked, only for Jongin to shoot him one of his infamous, exasperated looks.

"I'm not silly, Chanyeol. This man helped fix me, and you knew about Taemin. I know you'd throw away any other concerns if my health is at risk."

Chanyeol sheepishly rubbed his neck. Of course, he couldn't ever hide anything from Jongin and should really be used to it by now.

"You cannot know the weight of your memories. Aren't you afraid that if you remember, you might leave Chanyeol, after all?" the professor inquired with an honestly intrigued look. Jongin didn't even hesitate a second. There was nothing to calculate, it seemed.

"No. No possible memory would make me leave Chanyeol. So you can try it."

Jonghyun actually chuckled at the blunt response and shook his head.

"You... you raised him really well," he said to Chanyeol, who had nothing but an unintelligent "huh?" to offer.

"To a certain degree, Jongin adjusts his morals and accommodates to his owner. Seeing that he's kind enough to soothe the misery of someone he shouldn't necessarily trust shows how good of an example you must have set for him. He seems really impressed by you."

"You're wrong," Jongin cut in before Chanyeol had a chance to say anything. He could only huff when Jongin drew him close in an almost protective way.

"He's not my owner. He's my companion."

Chanyeol could only stare at him. Jongin could have said that he was his owner, it wasn't completely wrong. He could have also claimed to be Chanyeol's Sentient Companion. But no, Jongin had chosen to claim Chanyeol as his companion. Because they were equal in his eyes.

This time Jonghyun straight-up laughed, and for the first time, Chanyeol could spot a familiar warmth in his expression that reminded him of Jongin.

"So he is your companion? Oh, what to do with you... of course he is, pardon me. Either way, I'd be delighted to meet you again, Jongin."

Jongin nodded seriously, and the encounter was over for him. He simply turned and tugged a slightly baffled Chanyeol along, who was still trying to comprehend that Jongin had taken all control from him, just like that.

And when they sat down in the next taxi, and the artificial voice asked for their destination, Chanyeol slowly dictated his address, and Jongin murmured "home" ever so quietly.

With a happy sigh, Chanyeol tipped his head until it rested on Jongin's, and they spent the ride bickering about whether or not Jongin should take a week or two off work.

Chanyeol also vowed not to let him down ever again. Jongin looked at him with his artificial and yet incredibly expressive eyes and simply stated that he hadn't. And when Jongin said things, he just meant them, he always did. So Chanyeol tried his best to hold his gaze and pour all his heart into his next words.

You’ve never let me down either.

Meeting you brought me nothing but happiness.

Judging by his smile, Jongin believed him.

"Hey, Jongin, will you lend me a hand?"

Jongin's eyes stopped scanning the lines of the book he was reading as Amber's voice called out from the kitchen, but he made no move to actually get up from the couch.

"Sorry, I'm in energy saving mode," he claimed, not even bothering to add a layer of innocence to his words. Amber poked her head into the room, just so she could shoot him a judgmental look.

"That's bullshit, and we both know it - you're even wearing your wrist thingie right now!" she half-heartedly scolded him, but it was all in good nature. Jongin simply shrugged. He did like Amber, and he did get up to help her set the table eventually, but not before a randomly chosen time span had passed (in this case, only 48 seconds) - after all, it was good to make it clear that the only one allowed to order him around was Chanyeol. Just once in awhile. Like how he liked to give Chanyeol some attitude every once in awhile, just because re-establishing their equality felt so nice.

In fact, there was something that felt even nicer - and that was the feeling Jongin got after unceremoniously wriggling in between Chanyeol and Amber, ruining their make out session in favor of the promised movie night. When he ended up snuggled in between the two bodies, wrapped up in pleasant warmth with Chanyeol's arm around his waist and Amber's around his shoulders.

Because Jongin's analytic mind knew very well that this was the closest he'd ever get to perfection.

(LJ Post)

Prompt #: 20

Title: Once Upon a Morning
Word Count: ~23k
Rating: NC-17
Warning(s): side pairings (Sehun/Luhan, Sehun/Yixing, Luhan/Kris, Baekhyun/Kyungsoo), some angst, mild cum play, FWB
Summary: In which Jongin is a monogamy fearing frat boy and Chanyeol is a music nerd who wants his fairy tale ending.

Author's Note: This was such a lovely prompt and I clearly went a little crazy with my word count. Enjoy, everyone!

Jongin groaned loudly as he lay back on he grass, the sunlight shining harshly down on his skin. “I'm so fucking bored,” he complained, arms spreading wide and eyes slipping closed. He could hear Sehun still typing, and further away he could hear some girls giggling over something he didn't catch.

“And? What do you want me to do about it?” Sehun asked after a prolonged pause. He was used to Jongin complaining about any which thing on any given day, so he mostly didn't pay that much attention anymore.

“I don't know,” Jongin whined softly, eyes popping open again, “There's nothing going on. Everyone's boring. And it's only Tuesday.” If it was the weekend, he knew he could look forward to a party and probably getting laid, but the week didn't usually provide the same amount of entertainment.

“You're pathetic. Why don't you do...I don't know, your homework?” Sehun deadpanned, pausing his typing just long enough to give Jongin a pointed look.

“Shut up. I have to get laid tonight,” he said as he reached and ran a hand through his hair.

“When don't you?” Sehun shrugged, “But if that's your way of saying you want the room tonight: fine.”

Jongin narrowed his eyes slightly, suspicious. “Just like that? You're never this easy-going, what gives?”

“Already had plans,” his roommate admitted with an easy shrug. “I'm setting up these two cute little nerds, they're going to love each other.”

He snorted softly. Sehun had a tendency to meddle in people's love lives, it was his main hobby aside from simply gossiping about everyone in their friend group. It was common for him to exclaim he'd found the perfect match for someone and set them up on a double date with him and whoever he could convince to tag along for the evening. Jongin couldn't ever figure out if he liked to do it because he wanted a relationship to pan out (unlikely), or if it was more to do with a sick amusement having a first hand look at their first date jitters and inevitable breakup – if it even made it that far. “Who are they this time?”

“Kyungsoo and this new kid, his name's Baekhyun? I don't know much about him, but he's short and was wearing glasses so I figure he has to be as nerdy as Kyungsoo. A match made in heaven,” he allowed a strange, rare smile to fleet across his expression. One that only seemed to happen when there was the potential for disaster.

“More like hell. How did Kyungsoo even agree to that? I thought he had pretty much sworn off of dating after you forced him into a date with Kris,” Jongin reminded him, eyes closing again. Kris was one of the heads of their fraternity, mostly out of the fact that everyone just naturally respected him than him actually attempting to take on that role. He was an intense person on first meeting, so they could all understand why Kyungsoo was taken aback after their date.

“True. But I'm very convincing when I want to be. Plus, he owed me,” Sehun said.

There was the sudden sound of someone clearing their throat, and Jongin blinked his eyes open to see who approached. It was a student he didn't recognize, but he was tall with rather fluffy hair, and he shifted from foot to foot near them. “Um, hi, sorry to interrupt. Sehun, do you have the notes you borrowed from me yesterday?” he asked, adjusting the glasses sitting on his nose.

Jongin blinked a couple more times, surprised by how deep the other's voice was.

“Oh, right. Yeah, one sec,” Sehun agreed and turned to rummage in his bookbag.

“Hi, I'm Jongin,” he suddenly offered, moving to finally sit up.

The other looked to him for a moment, seeming to assess him. “Hi,” he greeted simply, hands slipping into his pockets as he waited for Sehun.

A brow raised. It wasn't all that often that people snubbed him like that. He was well-liked and well-known throughout the campus, either from sports, from the frat, or simply because he dated a lot. Usually people couldn't manage to even get his attention, much less shun it completely.

“Here you go,” Sehun finally re-emerged from his bag, holding a rumpled piece of paper out.

The boy sighed. “Glad you took good care of them,” he shook his head, and simply turned to leave.

“Who was that?” Jongin asked, watching his long legs retreat toward the library.

“Chanyeol. He's in my math class. Total brain. Why? Do you want me to set you two up?” Sehun narrowed his eyes slightly in suspicion, but there was a glint in his eye at the possibility of setting another couple up.

Jongin quickly waved a hand. “Nope, nothing like that. You know I don't go on dates anyway. I was just...curious. He's kind of hot.”

“So not your type. He's too smart for you, Jongin.”

“Fuck off.”

“It's true. The only people you fuck are the desperate, clingy types because anyone else might want something besides a quick fuck,” Sehun pointed out.

Jongin glared. “I repeat: fuck off.”

-

Of course, Jongin could never be all that mad at Sehun, because his assessment of him was all too true, especially given how well they knew each other. They had been in the same pledge year, and it hadn't taken long for them to become friends. Jongin could tolerate Sehun's moodiness and meddling, and Sehun never allowed Jongin to charm him or minded his playing ways. It had been easy to decide to room together, with the frat house having much looser terms about how room setups worked.

Their friendship allowed that they could call each other out on things, and one of Sehun's favorite things to bring up was Jongin's aversion to commitment. They both hooked up with a lot of people, but Sehun had no trouble at least attempting to date every now and again (even if none of his relationships lasted for more than a month or two at most). Jongin, on the other hand, refused to commit to anything as simple as a date. If it went anything beyond a party or a quick hookup, he avoided it completely.

That evening, Jongin was perched against one of the tables in the cafeteria, scrolling through his phone as he waited for Kris to show up. They were supposed to be headed to one of the clubs after Kris had overheard Jongin whining about needing to get laid. Since he had already been going out, he'd offered that Jongin could tag along with him. While normally the frat house had a cook that actually took care of them, he'd quit when there had been a few too many pranks, so they were stuck with regular cafeteria food.

With a sigh, Jongin shoved his phone back into his pocket, but as he glanced up again his gaze found a familiar fluffy haired figure taking a seat. His nose was shoved in some book, and he barely even looked down at his tray of food as he began to eat, transfixed by the pages instead of his surroundings. Eyes narrowing slightly, Jongin pushed himself away from the table and took the few steps over to the other table, plopping himself down even without any acknowledgment from the other.

It took a couple of minutes for Chanyeol to even notice that he wasn't alone. When he finally did, he glanced up for just a second. “Do you need something?” he asked, already back to the book.

“Maybe. Are you planning to ignore me?” he countered, tone taking on a hint of playful amusement.

Chanyeol let out a disgruntled sigh, but he finally turned the book face-down on the table beside him. “Okay, what's up?” He spooned some soup to his mouth.

Of course, Jongin realized quickly that he didn't actually have anything to say to him. There wasn't a particular reason he wanted to talk to him, much less anything he needed him to put his book down for. He shrugged, “I just wanted your attention,” he said, a smile flashing onto his face in a way most people would describe as charming.

But Chanyeol rolled his eyes. “Really?” he grumbled, clearly annoyed. “I'm not the type to play games with you.”

“Oh come on, games can be fun.”

“No, thank you.”

“Come on, you haven't given me a chance yet.”

There was a sigh. “I know your type. And I'm not interested,” his deep voice had a hint of finality to it.

Jongin was about to protest that he wasn't that bad, only then he noticed Kris walk in. “Okay, I'll leave you alone. For now. But I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more of each other.”

-

When Jongin finally stumbled back to the house, it was already morning and there was a rush of frat brothers in varied states of getting ready. “Are you just now getting back?” Kris suddenly accused, a frown on his face.

Jongin winced slightly, head pounding from the bright lights. “Maybe, yeah,” he confirmed, voice raspy and weak, too tired and too hungover to even bother and shrug it off.

Kris snorted softly. “You're hopeless,” he simply said with a shake of his head and walked back to the kitchen.

Jongin traipsed up the stairs, seeking his bed desperately. As he opened the door, Sehun glanced up from where he was rifling through their closet. “So you made me stay out of our room for nothing last night, I see,” he said, expression droll as usual though there was still a sense of amusement in his tone.

With a grunt of acknowledgment, Jongin flopped down on his bed, pulling the covers over his head.

“So you're not going to classes?” Sehun asked. “Too bad; Chanyeol was going to meet me after history. You could have made another sad attempt at conversation.”

“Fuck off,” he grumbled, though he couldn't completely deny that there was a certain appeal in seeking out the tall boy again. But he knew he couldn't even tolerate the smell of Sehun's too-expensive cologne, much less get through the entire day without hurling all over himself.

“Okay, okay, princess. Let me just tell you two things: one, the date went terribly. Baekhyun wasn't nearly as much of a nerd as he needed to be for Kyungsoo, so that was a disappointment. And two, Chanyeol texted me about you,” Sehun said, his voice close enough that Jongin could guess he was standing just near the bed.

With a groan, he finally pulled the covers down just slightly. “What did he say?”

Sehun allowed a grin to slip onto his face, a mischievous tinge to his expression. “I knew you were interested,” he tutted, seeming pleased with himself, “but, here. See for yourself.”

Jongin snuck his hand out to grab the phone Sehun offered to him, opened to display a series of texts between the two of them.

[text;Chanyeol] what is the deal with your friend?
[text;Sehun] which friend
[text;Chanyeol] the fuckboy
[text;Sehun] lmao oh you mean jongin? he's cool.
[text;Sehun] a little into himself and definitely a fuckboy but he's not that bad.
[text;Sehun] why? are you into him? or is he bothering you again?
[text;Chanyeol] neither. Just curious.
[text;Sehun] you should give him a chance
[text;Chanyeol] why? are you suddenly trying to be his wingman?
[text;Sehun] hey you're the one who brought him up
[text;Chanyeol] …touché

“Is this supposed to make me feel better or worse?” Jongin croaked, turning to glare at his roommate.

“Neither, just thought you should see that you've at least made some kind of impression on him.”

“Yeah, a fuckboy. Thanks for that,” he said, but he couldn't help but snort softly. Handing the phone back to Sehun he immediately pulled the blanket back over his head.

-

For the rest of the week, Jongin didn't run into Chanyeol again. He was almost disappointed in that, but he wasn't about to bring him up to Sehun again. On Friday, Luhan was throwing a party while his roommate was out of town, and Jongin was at least offered a reprieve from thinking about why he seemed to care about some tall brain in the first place.

Luhan's family was loaded, and it wasn't uncommon for him to throw impromptu parties just because he felt like it. But it always left his roommate Junmyeon very put-out and he'd chastise the other the entire time. As luck had it, Junmyeon was also loaded, so their combined wealth allowed them to rent a large house off-campus. Which Jongin found strange that Junmyeon was so uptight given the whole purpose of renting a party house.

Sehun was already there when Jongin arrived, he sat perched on the kitchen counter as he talked to Luhan. Jongin suspected that there was something going on between them, but he could never actually get his roommate to admit to anything. “Dude, this is boring as shit right now,” Jongin complained, clapping Luhan on the back.

Luhan laughed. “I know. Hopefully it will get more interesting, or else I'm going to have to start making it more interesting,” he said, a hint of a threat in his voice.

“I hate when you say that,” Sehun grumbled.

“I love when you say that,” Jongin countered.

Luhan tutted playfully. “Now, now, boys. Don't fight over me.”

Sehun rolled his eyes, and Jongin went to find the liquor.

As it turned out, the party didn't get more interesting – at least not by Luhan's standards – and Jongin was only beginning to feel a buzz when he suddenly yelled for everyone there to come join him in the living room. “Since you all are boring the shit out of me, we're going to play a game,” he announced.

There were some groans, but despite finding it kind of silly, everyone always seemed to go along with Luhan's games. It wasn't that uncommon for him to suddenly force everyone into a drunken round of Never Have I Ever, and one time he even managed to get people to play Pin the Tail on the Donkey. While it would have been easily possible for people to leave if they really didn't want to, no one ever seemed to argue.

Sehun rolled his eyes again, but ended up sitting next to Luhan as they all crowded into a somewhat uneven circle in the living room. Jongin shook his head at his roommate, half in amusement and half in exasperation, but he too joined the circle.

“The game...is spin the bottle,” he announced with a very distinct glint in his eye, reaching out to grab for the bottle he'd apparently nabbed just for this moment. “Now if any of you have been hiding in a mental institution for your entire lives, this is how it works. Whoever's turn it is spins the bottle, and they have to kiss whoever the bottle ends up pointing at. I don't care if it lands on your best friend's girlfriend or your worst enemy, you don't get to refuse. If you're gay, if you're straight...I don't care, you kiss according to the bottle,” he continued, looking at everyone in turn as he spoke the rules.

With a quick glance around, Jongin decided that it was of no real interest to him anyway. He'd kissed a good number of people already in attendance, since most of the time it was the same bunch of people that always showed up to Luhan's.

Luhan went first, of course. And when it landed on Kyungsoo, who'd snuck in apparently when Jongin wasn't paying attention, he laughed. Kyungsoo looked annoyed (which wasn't all that uncommon), but he didn't protest when Luhan stood and knelt down to plant a kiss on his lips. It was brief, and it was clear that neither of them was particularly interested in the kiss before it was over and Luhan resumed his seat. “Okay, Sehun, your turn. We're going in a circle so none of you can get lucky and escape.”

The game went on as it did for a good half an hour, with some people ending up making out more than simply kissing, and a couple of people pretend-vomited after their turn. One girl started yelling at her boyfriend when he kissed someone else, and they ended up leaving to go fight elsewhere.

Jongin had ended up kissing Kris, a girl named Soojung, and a strange boy named Tao when he was suddenly taken by surprise at the appearance of Chanyeol entering through the door, looking out of place and uncomfortable.

When Luhan finally noticed the other, a wide smile spread across his face. “Chanyeol, get your beautiful ass over here. We're playing a game,” he said. “You're here because I told you I needed your help, and now I do. Help me make things more interesting.”

Chanyeol sighed, clearly having been deceived. But he didn't protest, and merely went to sit down next to Sehun. As the new person joining them, Luhan insisted that Chanyeol was the next turn, much to the other's chagrin. He weakly twirled the bottle, waiting until it landed on Luhan to let out a long sigh. “This is dumb,” he muttered. Jongin lifted a brow, watching a bit closer than necessary as Chanyeol leaned in to Luhan and pressed a quick kiss to his lips, their mouths barely brushing before he pulled back again.

“Well that was anticlimactic,” Luhan tutted, but didn't seem overly put off before announcing that they were going to play a different game. Normally he didn't change tactic all that often, but it had become apparent that he was feeling restless. With a long look around the circle, he finally brightened when the idea came. “Alright, this one's always fun. Let's play truth or dare,” he announced, bouncing a little on the floor. He went over the obvious rules, adding that someone could only pass if they took the opposite choice. “Okay, Sehun...truth or dare?”

Sehun pressed his lips together in a thin line, contemplating his choice. “Alright, alright, dare,” he finally grumbled.

“I dare you to...kiss Jongin,” Luhan said with little hesitation. “Truthfully, I always suspected you two, now let me see.”

Jongin let out a quiet snort, “Sehun and I are just roommates, dude,” he declared, but at the same time he and Sehun had made out a few times (even if Sehun would likely deny it forever). With a shrug of surrender, his roommate stood and walked over to him, kneeling quickly before him and drawing their mouths together. Though he knew that the other intended for it to just be a quick, chaste kiss, he couldn't resist the urge to teasingly slip his tongue into the other's mouth.

Recoiling, Sehun whacked Jongin on the shoulder. “He said I had to kiss you, not that you had to try and shove your tongue down my throat,” he grumbled before going back to slump back next to Luhan.

“Shut up, you know you liked it,” Jongin laughed quietly, gaze slipping to Chanyeol who was watching him with a wary expression that he couldn't decipher. Time passed, with people revealing embarrassing crushes and awkward encounters, with strange attempts at dancing and dares that involved eating bizarre foods.

After a few too many drinks, Jongin was getting bored of playing games. When it came to his turn to ask someone, he set his sights on Chanyeol, eyes narrowing a little in a challenge. “Chanyeol...truth or dare?”

The boy in question raised his brows, his expression almost innocent. “Uh...truth?” he said, just as he had the other couple of times he'd been called on.

“Tell us what your biggest secret desire is...” Jongin requested, leaning forward slightly. He had a hunch that Chanyeol wouldn't want to actually reveal much, and he had a plan for either scenario.

As expected, Chanyeol's expression turned to a frown. “I don't...want to tell you that,” he said, “Can I pick dare instead?”

A sly smile slipped onto his lips at the request, “Sure. Then I dare you to come spend the night with me.”

Luhan burst into a loud laugh near him, while Chanyeol gaped silently for a moment. “Jesus...can I forfeit?”

“If you want to be lame...no one's forcing you,” Jongin shrugged.

Licking his lips, Chanyeol silently contemplated before letting out a sigh. “I'm definitely not revealing anything to you, so come on,” he finally said, deep voice settling into one of determination more than the unsure questioning it had been before.

Though Jongin hadn't expected him to actually take him up on either of the offers, he couldn't resist a smile that fought its way to his expression. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sehun shaking his head, but he ignored him in order to follow Chanyeol as he walked toward one of the back bedrooms to the call of “have fun,” from Luhan. “Seriously? You must have some really embarrassing secrets if you're willing to come with me,” he joked as they stepped into the first empty bedroom they happened upon.

After turning on the light, Chanyeol suddenly turned to look at him, eyes narrowing slightly. “I sincerely doubt you care about anything besides getting in my pants,” he said, deep voice serious and quiet in the room. “I figured it was easier this way.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Come on, Jongin. I'm not an idiot, I've seen you around. And I've seen you looking at me. If we just get this over with and I let you fuck me, both of us can go back to forgetting all about each other,” he said with a shrug, expression blank and unreadable.

Jongin blinked, taken aback by the dismissive irritation that seemed to show in his voice. “Right, I'm the fuckboy. I get that. But really, if you don't want to be with me I'm not about to force you...or beg,” he pointed out, a little more peeved at the assumptions than he otherwise might be. The door was still partially ajar, but Jongin wasn't about to make the move to close it given Chanyeol's apparent opinion of him.

There was a long moment of silence, though laughter and faint words could still be heard from the living room. Finally, Chanyeol let out a sigh. “Alright,” he uttered, though he reached over Jongin's shoulder to tap the door shut.

It was Jongin's turn for silence, and he lifted a brow slightly. “What are you doing?”

A slight smile came to Chanyeol's face, “I appreciate that you aren't being a complete asshole about this. But a deal is still a deal, and there are more repulsive people in the world, so come on.” His deep voice seemed calmer, almost more resilient than before.

“Wow, sweet talker,” he mumbled, though an edge of amusement laced into his tone. But without being the type to hesitate when given the opportunity, he took a step closer to Chanyeol, arms twining their way around his waist.

There was a brief moment where Chanyeol stiffened slightly in his arms, but when Jongin didn't immediately pounce on him, his body relaxed again. “I don't normally do something like this,” he admitted, deep voice nearly a whisper. But he didn't give Jongin a chance to respond (or crack a joke), and leaned in to press their mouths together in a soft kiss.

Jongin's head tilted further as he leaned up to the kiss, not exactly used to being with people who were taller than he was. The other's lips were soft and hesitant, Chanyeol's hand coming to rest on the back of Jongin's neck to pull him closer. It was different than most of the other kisses Jongin shared with people, most of them casually hooking up with people on a regular basis so there was only an incessant rush. But Chanyeol was all softness and tender motions as he allowed Jongin to lead him into breathless kisses.

It didn't take long for them to move onto the bed, Jongin laying on top of Chanyeol as they slowly began to explore one another. Chanyeol's hands drifted to roam along Jongin's back and caressing over his ass, while Jongin snaked his tongue into the other's mouth, exploring with a low moan. When cool fingers drifted under the hem of his shirt, Jongin pulled away and leaned back, fluidly slipping his shirt off and tossing it over to the floor.

The other's eyes roamed over the exposed skin, roving with a heavy gaze. He swallowed thickly before pulling Jongin down for another kiss. After a slight nip to Chanyeol's bottom lip, he pulled away again and reached to begin unbuttoning the other's white shirt. Chanyeol took a deep breath, gaze remaining locked on Jongin, even though Jongin's eyes remained focused on the slow reveal of his skin.

They took their time in finishing undressing one another, with soft caresses and exploratory kisses pressed against skin. Normally Jongin didn't take his time with people, he simply jumped into things with the aim of getting his pleasure as quickly as he could. But Chanyeol was different than most of the others he was with, he was observant and didn't just jump into bed with anyone, so Jongin felt a need to take things a bit more slowly and carefully than he would otherwise want to.

As Chanyeol lay back on the bed, Jongin knelt to dig through his wallet to withdraw a condom and a small packet of lube, tossing them onto the bed beside the other. “Are you sure?” he asked again, quietly, before climbing back onto the bed to join him.

Chanyeol shrugged a little, a smile appearing. “I guess so,” he finally said, though his tone was a bit amused.

“Come on, I know you want me more than you're pretending,” Jongin teased, eyes narrowing a little at him before he plucked the packet of lube from the bed.

“Maybe, but don't you dare ask me to say it,” he warned.

Jongin snorted softly, fingers warming up the lube a bit before he slid closer, his other hand going to the back of Chanyeol's thigh to hike his leg up further. He watched his expression for a sign of resistance or hesitation, but on finding none he slid a finger along the crack of his ass, teasingly preparing him for what was to come.

“Can you please just get on with it?” Chanyeol finally grumbled, legs falling open a little more in invitation.

Wordlessly, Jongin slipped the first finger inside of him, earning a quiet sigh and an uncomfortable shift. He slowly began to move the digit inside of Chanyeol, letting him get used to being intruded. The other's eyes were closed, and his breaths came shallowly, anticipating more. It wasn't long before Jongin added more, thrusting two fingers inside of him and twisting them just so to reach a bundle of nerves that drew a long choked moan from his lips.

There was something about the deep voice that could easily become addicting, and Jongin's lips curled into a slight smirk as he continued the ministrations inside of him. “Jongin...” came the sound of Chanyeol's low whine, arching into the fingers in needy desperation.

Jongin let out a quiet chuckle at the sound, but didn't answer his plea; instead slowly pushing a third finger inside of him. It didn't take long for Chanyeol to adjust to the sensation of being more full, and he was soon grabbing for Jongin to pull him into another harsh kiss, teeth nipping against his bottom lip. With a soft sigh, he pressed a lingering kiss to the other before pulling back and settled between his legs.

After sheathing himself in the condom and spreading more lube onto his cock, he angled Chanyeol's leg to rest on his shoulder and slowly began to push inside him. Chanyeol let out a quiet, deep whimper, a hand running through his hair to push it away from his eyes. Jongin's gaze remained fixated on Chanyeol's expression, seeing the wince of discomfort cross his face made him pause.

He pressed a few soft kisses along Chanyeol's jawline, soothing him into the feeling of being filled. After a few minutes, Chanyeol finally growled out a quiet, “Move,” and clenched around him. Jongin let out a quiet moan at the feeling of the tight heat around him, but he accommodated his request and shallowly began to thrust into him.

After a while, his thrusts sped up and Chanyeol's leg slipped from Jongin's shoulder, moving to instead wrap around his hips and pull him in deeper. Jongin let out a long string of moans at the change in positioning, and he leaned down to fall onto his elbows so he could focus on fucking him deeply. Chanyeol reached to run his fingers through Jongin's hair, pulling him in for a slow kiss that was punctuated with soft sighs as they rocked against each other.

It didn't take long before Chanyeol was letting out strangled groans of Jongin's name, arching into every thrust. Jongin's head dropped into the crook of the other's neck, his hips stuttering into him in sharp motions. Open-mouthed kisses were pressed to his shoulder, and Jongin felt a hand snake between their bodies to stroke himself.

Jongin was the first to come, letting out a raspy cry as his hips faltered and he emptied himself into the condom. It took a moment for his mind to become unclouded from his high, his hips were still slowly rutting against Chanyeol's ass to milk his release. With a shaky gasp, he let his fingers join Chanyeol's, stroking him quickly to help him get to his own climax. There was a low groan as Chanyeol came, his head tossed back against the pillows and legs tightening around Jongin as his release spilled over their hands and between their bodies.

It was only a moment before Jongin disengaged himself from Chanyeol, carefully slipping out of him and reaching for some tissues on the bedside table. By the time he cleaned himself up, Chanyeol was already off the bed and swiping at the mess on his fingers and stomach. “I'll see you around,” he suddenly said, bending down to reach for his clothing.

A brow arched, unused to the other person being ready to leave just moments after fucking. “You're already leaving?” he asked, though he couldn't identify why there was a seeming disappointment in his voice.

As Chanyeol stepped into his pants, he shrugged. “Yeah, why wouldn't I? I fulfilled my dare, I have other things to do...why would I stay?”

The mention of it being a dare was somehow more disappointing than he thought it would be, even though he'd been the one to dare him in the first place. “Right. Okay, well...see you around, then,” he agreed, feeling a lot more awkward than he had in a long time after an encounter.

Chanyeol offered a smile, wide and unguarded, and for the first time Jongin noticed that he had dimples. He pulled his shirt back on and gave a quick wave. And then he was gone. Jongin frowned, slipping his own clothes back on. Though he was used to sleeping around regularly and casually, he was usually the one that gave people the brush-off instead of being the one left puzzled.

Once he was dressed, he slipped back out to the party, with the game having broken up and people back to simply mingling about. It seemed as though a good number had left, and it was quieter than it had been when he and Chanyeol had gone back to the room. He found Sehun lounging on the couch, spread out with little concern for anyone else. “Hey,” he approached, tapping his legs to get him to move.

With a grumble, Sehun obediently lifted his legs so Jongin could sit down, though as soon as he did he plopped them into the other's lap. “How was it?” he asked, gaze still on his phone.

Jongin let out a sigh. “Good? I think. I mean, the sex was good,” he said, resting his head on the back of the couch.

Finally, Sehun raised a brow and slipped his phone into his pocket. “You think? Did you do something to piss him off?” he asked, voice suspicious.

He snorted. “No...it was good. Where's Luhan?”

“His room,” he shrugged, though there was a certain look to his gaze that Jongin couldn't identify. “Come on, tonight's been a bust. Let's go.”

-

The next week passed uneventfully, with the frat house continuing their usual schedules of events and with Jongin fitting in his class work with a sense of restlessness. Though he knew for the most part he should have forgotten all about Chanyeol, he still found his gaze seeking out a certain fluffy head of hair. Sehun noticed, but to his credit he only gave him a knowing look instead of actually saying anything.

As Jongin lounged in one of the plush chairs in the house's living room, he glanced up when Yixing walked in toward him. He was a quiet, pensive boy who didn't fit into the mold of most of the others in the house, but everyone liked him despite his differences. “Hey, what's up?” he asked, turning his phone over so he didn't have to look at the lack of notifications.

Yixing waited until he was sitting in the chair next to him to actually speak up. “Tonight is an open mic. Will you come?” he asked, expression simply inquisitive.

“Open mic night? Why the hell would I go to that?” he asked. It was Friday, and while no plans had popped up that he was interested in, the promise of listening to outcasts read poetry about their cats made him want to hurl.

There was a quiet laugh from the other. “You wouldn't, normally. But I signed up to read something, and I want you there. Sehun already said he'd come. Kris is busy, though.”

It was only a small surprise that Yixing would sign up for something like that. While most of the guys in the fraternity were focused mainly on getting dates, sports, and having a good time, Yixing always sort of did his own thing. Which included dancing in a group and apparently reading poetry. “Uh...” he trailed, only at the same moment Sehun caught his attention in the doorway, mouthing a plea of 'please come with me.' With a stifled laugh, he returned his gaze to the other next to him. “Alright, I'll come. But you owe me,” he warned, even though they both knew he probably wouldn't actually call in that offer.

That evening, Jongin wasn't any more thrilled about the prospect of attending the open mic night. But he had agreed to go and support Yixing, even though his better judgment said that it was going to be a snore. When he asked Sehun why he'd even agreed, the other had just shrugged and said, "Well, what else did you have planned for tonight?" Which Jongin found hard to argue with.

The coffee shop was one that he normally avoided, too filled with people who posted all of their coffee into social media and who dyed their hair ridiculous colors and made him cringe. But he supposed it all made sense to have a place like that to hold some sad poetry fest. He couldn't resist grumbling as he and Sehun made their way to the counter, ordering their drinks (a mocha for Jongin and a green tea latte for Sehun). "They could at least serve some alcohol if they're making us deal with this," he grumbled.

Sehun rolled his eyes and dug an elbow into his ribs. "Come on, if you stop complaining so much you might not hate it," he offered, leading the way to take some seats in mismatched chairs that looked like they came out of some grandma's parlor.

Jongin snorted. "Where is Yixing, anyway? He was the one who asked us to be here and then he didn't even show up?" he shook his head, taking a sip of the drink in his hands. Lackluster coffee, but he knew that he was beginning to nit-pick.

"He's coming in a minute, he just texted me that he was finishing something up. Who knows, to be honest," he shrugged, not seeming overly concerned.

With a grunt of acknowledgment, he glanced about the room with only mild interest. It was certainly not the usual scene that he hung out in, much less anyone he knew. Though as he looked at Sehun briefly, with his bleached out hair and blank expression, he realized that he actually fit in quite well.

Moments later, Yixing came and joined them with a smile and a quick thanks for them showing up. In the back of his mind, Jongin wondered why it was that only he and Sehun were there. He didn't know if it was because everyone else had made excuses or if Yixing had only invited select people. "When are you going on?" Jongin asked, not caring that he was already seeming impatient.

But, of course, Yixing just shrugged, "Whenever they call me up, I guess."

After a solid hour of listening to people read (and occasionally sing) inane poems about their feelings and fake-deep observations about weather and any other arbitrary thing they could come up with, he was more than ready to bail on the entire night even if it might hurt Yixing's feelings. But just as he was getting restless, the MC (a guy in his later twenties with a purple mohawk) announced Yixing's name.

"Finally," Jongin groaned out, but he didn't bother to look to his side to know that Sehun was probably half-smirking in agreement.

Though he had no real idea what the other had planned, and hadn't exactly bothered to ask, he only knew that he was there to try and enjoy it. Or at least pretend to. The MC announced that he would be doing a spoken word piece, and Jongin and Sehun exchanged a look before they returned their gaze to the stage.

Yixing cleared his throat, looking mildly uncomfortable on the stool before a thoughtful look passed over his expression. He launched into a strange poem, one that made little sense and seemed to be about his grandmother, though Jongin couldn't exactly say why or what he was trying to say about her.

It went on for a solid few minutes, and when he finished there was a silence as though no one else knew if he was done or if they simply couldn't process what had just happened. Despite not exactly understanding why Yixing had been insistent on reading that of all things, he still launched into applause for his friend. Sehun snorted, and lazily clapped his hands together a few times.

"Can we go then?" Jongin asked as Yixing descended the stage, only the MC chose that moment in order to announce the next performer. Upon hearing the name Chanyeol, Jongin paused, turning to watch the stage and seeing Chanyeol go up. "Wait, what's he doing here?" he asked, frowning, though even less could he be completely sure why he cared if he was.

Sehun hadn't been paying much attention, and as he glanced up, he let out a snort. "Dude, you really don't know anything about him, do you?" he asked.

Jongin was about to answer, but he couldn't be bothered when Chanyeol launched into a song. His deep voice carried over the room and he allowed himself to really listen to him. Part of him hoped that the song wouldn't be about an animal or about someone's grandmother, and he was pleasantly surprised to hear that it wasn't as inane as a lot of the others. His voice was warm, and deep, and it sent a shiver down Jongin's spine in a way that he couldn't explain. There was a frown screwed up on his face as he sang, his fingers moving along the guitar with familiarity that didn't ask him to pay attention.

Though he hadn't known that Chanyeol was interested in music, much less that he sang, he could see that it seemed to fit. Part of him wanted to ask him about it, but he also couldn't figure out if he wanted to know because Chanyeol was suddenly in front of him or if it was because he couldn't stop thinking of him.

When the song ended, Chanyeol got a look of near embarrassment that was becoming familiar, and he thanked the crowd quickly before exiting the stage. Beside him, Sehun cleared his throat, "Jongin...are you alive? Did you pass out with your eyes open again?"

Blinking, he finally turned to look at his roommate. "What?" he asked, "Oh, sorry. No, I'm fine, just a little surprised I guess. He's got a really great voice."

Sehun shook his head. "Dude, you're pathetic. He's kind of known for his music, that's his thing. That's why he's always got his guitar around and is always listening to something," he said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Which, Jongin supposed, it probably was. While he didn't know Chanyeol very well aside from a few encounters, somehow he felt a little silly for ignoring what seemed to be obvious signs. "Right...I'm going to go talk to him," he excused himself.

Yixing blinked. "Are you and he...?" he trailed off, letting the question hang in the air with suggestion.

Jongin scoffed. "You know I don't date," he shrugged him off, navigating his way through the chairs filled with try-hards to locate Chanyeol. He was easy to spot due to his height, and Jongin tapped him on the shoulder.

Chanyeol turned, eyebrows raising in surprise as he recognized Jongin. "Hi. I didn't expect to see you in a place like this," he said, and his lips spread into a welcome smile.

"Yeah, well, I came here for the guy who went before you. I didn't know you did this kind of thing either," he finally said.

"Grandma boy? He was...definitely different," Chanyeol let out a deep laugh, though it wasn't mocking as it might be from someone else. "You don't know that much about me, I guess."

He finally allowed a smile to slip across his own expression. "That's true. Maybe you should let me get to know you more, then," he suggested, tone playful.

Chanyeol snorted softly. "Are you hitting on me? Again? I thought you got that out of your system," he shook his head, but he didn't seem overly offended by the words.

"There isn't anything that says I can't hit on you multiple times," he argued, though his tone remained playful.

“I guess I just didn't think you would,” he admitted, though it was accompanied by a quiet laugh. “Maybe I'll take you up on that later, I promised someone else that I would hear them sing,” he shrugged, sliding onto the seat at the bar.

Jongin hummed quietly, and without actually being asked, he slid onto the seat next to him.

“Won't your friends miss you?” Chanyeol asked, glancing toward Sehun and Yixing who sat slumped in their chairs, looking on the verge of falling asleep.

He snorted. “You aren't getting rid of me that easily.”

After another half hour, Jongin still felt bored out of his mind from the actual events. There was more poetry and attempts at singing, all of which just made him cringe in his seat. Chanyeol didn't seem to share the same aversion, however, and remained transfixed with the stage, only taking a few sips of his latte between performers.

They remained quiet next to one another, and Chanyeol only spoke when a small boy took the stage. “That's him,” he said simply.

Jongin nodded his acknowledgment, watching the other on stage. He looked nervous, and Jongin could only hope it wasn't as bad as his friend's attempt had been. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Sehun waving a hand to try and get his attention. Frowning, he mouthed a 'what?'

It took a couple of tries before Jongin could finally decipher that the boy on stage was Baekhyun, the one who Sehun had tried to set up with Kyungsoo. He finally signaled that he got the message, and returned his attention to the stage. His voice was powerful, and the nervousness seemed to melt away as he sang out the beginning notes.

While Jongin wasn't all that knowledgeable about music, he knew that he was good. With a glance to Chanyeol, he saw him in his usual transfixed position when someone was taking the stage, but there was a strange look that accompanied the look that he couldn't identify. The song didn't last that long, and when it was over there was a burst of applause, though Jongin noted that Chanyeol only smiled. “He's good,” he finally said.

“Isn't he? Well, come on, did you want to get out of here?” he asked, the question jarring.

“Well, yeah. But didn't you stick around for that? Shouldn't you go say something?”

Chanyeol shrugged. “I'll be right back, we can go to my place.”

Jongin frowned a little to himself as he watched Chanyeol retreat into the crowd, presumably to find Baekhyun. He was acting a bit strange, and he knew that he might not have known him well enough to say that, he could still feel that something was off. He stood and leaned on the back of Sehun's chair, “You two surviving?”

Sehun snorted, glancing up to him. “I like how I practically forced you to come here and now you're the one who's stuck around the whole time,” he grumbled, and Jongin knew that by the way three different coffee cups sat in front of him, he was bored.

Yixing, on the other hand, seemed absorbed. “They're all so good. I should start doing this regularly,” he finally said.

“Just don't ask us to come along every time. Please,” Sehun warned.

Jongin let out a quiet laugh. “You two have fun with your night, I'm heading out.”

A look passed over Sehun's face, one that was first of indignation, but quickly shifted to one marked with suspicion. “With who?” he questioned, clearly already figuring that Jongin wasn't leaving alone. Which wasn't such a surprise, as that's what Jongin tended to do whenever they went out somewhere.

Without an answer, Jongin flicked his friend on the forehead and moved to go join Chanyeol who was back at the bar. He was fiddling with the sleeve of his hoodie, and there was still a strange look on his face. On seeing Jongin, however, he smiled again and lead the way out.

It turned out that Chanyeol lived off-campus in a small apartment he shared with one other person, though he didn't say much about him, and Jongin didn't ask. He only let Jongin get his shoes off before he was pulling him down the hallway and into his bedroom, crushing their mouths together immediately.

Jongin let out a quiet sound of surprise, and remembered to at least push the door closed before he leaned into the kiss, allowing Chanyeol to take the lead. A tongue snaked its way into his mouth, and Jongin only pulled him closer, a soft noise leaving the back of his throat as their tongues danced together. Fingers threaded through Chanyeol's hair, and the other's hands gripped his hips harshly.

Chanyeol was the first to break the kiss, both of them left gasping for air in the dimly lit room. He didn't pause for long, however, before he began to reach for Jongin's clothing. It only took moments for them both to shed their clothing, and it lay in a forgotten pile on the floor as Chanyeol lead Jongin to the bed, giving him a soft instruction to lay on his front.

Most of the time, Jongin was used to being the one in charge. He usually took the lead and instructed people on how he wanted them to behave, and in a way he had the previous time with Chanyeol, though he was still far more accommodating than usual. While he wasn't opposed to someone else taking the lead, it caught him off guard, but he found that he sort of liked it. Chanyeol seemed simply awkward and maybe a bit fidgety, and Jongin had expected that he would be too shy or unsure of himself to tell him what to do.

But he found that he was intoxicated by the quiet demands in Chanyeol's deep voice, that he wanted to see where this would lead. Without protest, Jongin slipped onto the bed, kneeling back so that his ass was in the air and his weight was resting on his arms. Chanyeol wasn't far behind him, reaching into the drawer and fumbling around for a minute before the bed dipped and he felt a hand run along his spine.

The cool touch sent a shiver through him, and he let out a soft sigh. He heard the squirt of a bottle, and his muscles contracted at what he knew was to come. He didn't bottom all that often, most people preferring him to top given his somewhat alpha persona that others seemed to assume from him, but he was almost glad that Chanyeol didn't seem to have the same view or reservations about it. A sharp gasp slipped from his lips when he felt fingers running along his skin, playfully teasing his ass. After a moment, Chanyeol's finger breached him, pressing in slowly and carefully so as not to cause him much discomfort.

Jongin arched into the sensation, trying to get used to the feeling after such a long time without someone else's fingers inside of him. "That's good," he mumbled, rocking back onto the long digit. At the words, Chanyeol pressed a second inside of him to join the first, and there was a teasing quality to the way he seemed to explore inside.

Chanyeol took his time to spread him open, adding a third finger only after he was practically begging for more. He didn't make a sound, only kept thrusting his fingers in and twisting them in ways that made Jongin's toes curl. After what felt like too long, he finally pulled his fingers from him, and there was the distinct sound of a foil wrapper and a sigh as he sheathed himself in the condom.

Lifting up slightly, with the intention of possibly changing his position, he was met with a hand coming to the back of his neck, pressing his face into the pillows. He let out a quiet whine, but he didn't argue, and Chanyeol's hand remained to keep him in position. There was another sound of the bottle squirting, and a quick, "You alright?" from Chanyeol.

On getting a positive answer, he began to push inside of him, and Jongin let out a long string of moans that sounded close to whines as he felt himself filling with the other's cock. He was larger than Jongin expected and thick in a way that Chanyeol's fingers hadn't prepared him for. When Chanyeol stopped, he finally let go of Jongin's neck and began to smooth his fingers along his back, rubbing circles against his muscles. He hid his face for a moment, trying to adjust his breathing before giving Chanyeol the go ahead.

When he finally did, Chanyeol thrust into him sharply, causing Jongin to let out a strangled moan against the pillow at the unexpected movement. But the pain was quickly fading, and instead the pleasure began to build in the pit of his stomach. Fingers clenched onto the pillows, and Jongin arched his back to get that delicious angle that would send stars shooting behind his eyelids.

Chanyeol let out quiet moans as he thrust into Jongin, the deep voice sending shivers down his spine. His motions weren't particularly uniform, there was a certain level of erratic motion to his hips that kept Jongin guessing every time he thrust back inside. The sensations drew soft curses and whimpers of Chanyeol's name tumbling from his lips, and he began to rock back onto his cock to feel him deeper inside of him.

Jongin was the one to come first again. He hardly had to touch himself before he was releasing onto the sheets below him and over his hand, weakly falling onto the pillows below. Chanyeol pulled out carefully, and while Jongin thought that he might come over his back, instead he pulled Jongin to rest on his back. "Can I come on your face?" he asked, fingers lazily stroking himself after he'd pulled off the condom.

His eyes widened a little, not expecting such a brazen request. But he merely nodded a little, and reached out to pull Chanyeol closer to him. One hand came to rest under Jongin's chin, angling him just so as his other hand finished himself off. With a deep groan, his release spilled over Jongin's face, streaks of it shooting into his parted mouth while most of it fell on his cheeks and over his lips.

It took them both a moment to recover from their daze, and Jongin swiped his tongue over the release on his lips, tasting more of the other. "I didn't expect that," he suddenly said, though it was more to himself than to Chanyeol.

The other let out a laugh, one that seemed too loud for the otherwise quiet room. "You look good painted with my come," he finally said, swiping a finger against Jongin's cheek before pressing it to his lips.

He sucked the digit into his mouth, letting his tongue playfully swirl over Chanyeol's finger before pulling back. "You taste good," he answered, giving a cheeky grin before sliding off of the bed in order to clean up the mess that was rapidly drying on his stomach.

Chanyeol let out a quiet snort of amusement, and he grabbed some of the tissues to dab gently along Jongin's cheek. "If you want to stay the night, you can," he offered, disposing of the mess.

Though Jongin was a little surprised by the offer, it was a pleasant one, especially given the way that Chanyeol had left so quickly after their last encounter together. "Sure," he agreed, a sleepy smile coming to his lips. Normally he was fond of the plan to just leave as quickly as possible to avoid the awkward moments later on, but he was comfortable with Chanyeol and too tired to say no.

After cleaning up, Chanyeol pulled Jongin down to the bed, pulling him flush against his body. "Sorry if I was acting a little strangely earlier..." he said as they settled in together.

He wasn't used to someone taking such care of him, wasn't used to the affection or warm embrace against his back, but it seemed to have a similar effect of Chanyeol's voice: soothing and sending soft shivers down his spine. "It's okay. But can I ask why you were, then?"

There was a soft sigh that caused his hot breath to fan over Jongin's neck. "It was watching Baekhyun," he said, and the shrug could be felt against his back.

"Why? Isn't he your friend?"

"Yeah, he is. But it's...I don't know, it's embarrassing."

Jongin's brow raised slightly, and he shifted so that he could turn over in order to face Chanyeol instead. "Well now I'm intrigued. Are you two...?" he asked, the question trailing in an obvious suggestion.

Chanyeol shook his head, a smile appearing to his face. "No, nothing like that. We're just friends. We became friends a while back...both of us loved music so it made sense. But he makes me a little...insecure? I guess. You heard him, he has an amazing voice. And I guess it makes me a little bit of an asshole to be jealous of him instead of just being happy for him, but that's still how I feel."

Mostly Jongin liked the way that Chanyeol felt against him as he spoke, his voice tumbling through the room pleasantly and filling him with warmth. "That makes sense. Some people might think it's douchey, but I get it," he offered, a slight smile coming to his lips. "Didn't he just transfer here?"

There was a look of surprise that crossed his expression. "Yeah, how do you know that?"

Jongin shrugged. "Sehun set him up on a date, so I recognized his name. I don't know much else about him."

"Oh, yeah. He said he actually had fun on that date," he huffed a quiet laugh. "We met in high school, and he was always the best. When he said he was transferring here...well, it's kind of bittersweet. Sorry, I shouldn't just unload this onto you..." he trailed off, seeming unsure of his words, or maybe just unsure of Jongin's reaction to them.

However, Jongin just shook his head. "It's okay. I get it. I've always played on teams, so I understand the whole...friendly rivalry thing. It's normal, at least for some of us," he said. "Does he know you feel that way?"

"I don't think so. I mean, he probably doesn't see me as much of a threat, so I think it's mostly on my side," he admitted with a laugh.

Jongin leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Chanyeol's lips. "You shouldn't worry about things so much. Come on, you should get some rest," he said, tangling his legs with the other's.

Chanyeol only smiled a little in return, his arms wrapping a bit tighter around him. The warmth of Chanyeol's body against him was comforting, and he could feel the lull of sleep creeping in at the edges of his mind.

-

Although they never actually discussed it, Jongin found himself falling into a pattern with Chanyeol. They would run into one another somewhere – usually off-campus – and they'd end up falling into bed together. Sometimes they'd go to Chanyeol's apartment, other times they'd run Sehun away from the room, and once in a while they would simply make out in a bathroom stall. But what seemed to stem from their moments of intimacy lead to talks that went far deeper than Jongin would have ever expected.

They discussed simple things, about their friends and their interests. Chanyeol talked a lot about stress related to upcoming exams and his music, though he only occasionally mentioned Baekhyun. Jongin talked about Sehun and the fraternity, always with a strange story or two that would leave Chanyeol shaking his head in both dismay and amusement.

They never spoke about what they were, they never actually even went out together. They only hung out on occasion, when they ended up in the same place, but they easily were able to fall into bed together; sometimes from encounter and sometimes from a simple text. While Sehun sometimes gave him a hard time about 'dating' Chanyeol, he always brushed it off with a laugh and reminded Sehun that he didn't date anyone.

But as they lay together in their post-orgasmic bliss, they would sometimes talk about things that were weighing heavily on their minds, or thoughts that they wanted to explore even if they might not make complete sense in the middle of the night. Jongin learned that Chanyeol was a secret romantic, and that he had a weakness for fairy tales. He revealed that he sometimes felt out of place in his frat house, sometimes feeling like he was on the edge of it all even though most people saw him as being the iconic frat boy.

One morning, Jongin awoke to Chanyeol watching him. His gaze seemed focused and dreamy, and a smile spread across his face as he saw Jongin begin to wake up. “Good morning,” he whispered softly, reaching out to brush the hair out of Jongin's eyes.

The touch was so soft and sweet that it warmed Jongin's core, and he couldn't resist the smile that came in response. “How long have you been awake?” he asked, still half-asleep.

The tender look didn't falter, and Chanyeol brushed his hand across Jongin's cheekbones. “Not long,” he said, voice quiet. “You're really beautiful like this, you know.”

-

"Do you want a happily ever after?" Chanyeol suddenly asked one night as they lay in Jongin's bed.

Jongin arched a brow slightly, but he'd stopped wondering where things came from. "I don't know. I don't really believe in the idea of happily ever after."

"Why not?"

"It's like...of course people want to be happy, and I guess I do too. But I just don't really believe in destiny or something. Fairy tales are kind of misleading, you know?" he paused, not often talking about his actual ideas about these sorts of things. Most of the guys he hung out with would just give him a strange look if he even attempted to bring that up. "I don't believe in a love that's unending, too many people fall out of love for me to believe that."

There was a silence before Chanyeol let out a quiet hum. "I never realized you were so cynical. Is that why you don't date?"

Jongin couldn't help but let out a soft snort of amusement. "A bit, yeah. I just don't see the point in dating when you're probably just going to end up hating each other or end up hurt. It's easier not to actually feel that much for one person, you know?" He felt a bit strange actually admitting his thoughts to someone, but he knew that Chanyeol wouldn't judge him for it, he never judged him for anything he said.

"Ah, I see," he hummed thoughtfully. "But isn't that also a little bit lonely? Not having someone you feel that close to? Not knowing love? Have you ever been in love?"

He let out a soft sigh, but it was less out of irritation and more thoughtful. "No, I've never been in love. I don't really know what love is, or what it should be. I've never really understood that concept. I have friends, and I rely on myself, that's all I need," he admitted.

There was a silence before Chanyeol ran his fingers through Jongin's hair softly. "Maybe one day you'll be lucky enough to fall for someone."

"Maybe," he hummed, turning over so he could fold himself into the curve of Chanyeol's body. "Have you been in love?"

"Goodnight, Jongin."

-

He didn't actually get to find out the answer to his question until a few weeks later. As he was coming back from class, he caught sight of Chanyeol sitting on one of the benches strewn across the quad, his nose in a book. Without hesitating, he walked over to where he sat, blocking his light which caused him to look up with a frown, his glasses perched on his nose.

"Oh, Jongin," he said, with a note of familiarity, the frown smoothing from his face.

"Whatcha reading?" he asked with a smile, plopping down beside him.

"It's on music theory," he held up the cover to display it to Jongin, though he quickly bookmarked it and slipped it inside his bag on the ground near his feet.

"You're so dedicated," he laughed. It seemed that Chanyeol was almost always either practicing or reading about music. When he was thinking, his fingers would tap out beats and he would sometimes mouth words to songs he hadn't yet written. Jongin found it fascinating, the way that he was so enamored of his music, considering he often didn't feel much toward anything.

A fleeting, embarrassed smile crossed Chanyeol's face. "What are you up to? I don't usually see you around campus."

Jongin shrugged. "I took a different path, I was going to get food. Want to come along?" he asked.

"Sure, I guess," Chanyeol shrugged. "Where's Sehun? Aren't you two normally joined at the hip?"

"He's busy ruining two other people's lives," he said with a grin, standing up from the bench. "He's made it a mission to find Kyungsoo someone to date, so he's trying to develop a game plan."

Chanyeol let out a laugh, the sudden sound loud in the surrounding air as they began to walk off campus. "That one's going to get himself in trouble one of these days."

"Probably," Jongin agreed. It didn't take them very long to arrive at a small cafe that was just off-campus. They took a booth in the back, one that still enabled them to look out the window. The waitress came and took their orders, and Jongin smiled as he thanked her.

"You know, it's interesting. I don't think we've ever done anything like this," Chanyeol mused, "We seem to mostly just see each other at parties."

He hadn't really thought about it all that much, but he supposed that it was true enough. Mostly, they didn't bother to actually talk unless it was after sex. He let out a quiet laugh, "That's true. I guess the opportunity just didn't come up," he agreed. Of course, part of him wondered whether or not that was even true, or if he simply hadn't made the effort to try and see Chanyeol unless he was trying to get in his pants.

"This is almost weird," Chanyeol said, adjusting his glasses on his nose. "Well, if we're getting to know each other outside of the bedroom, tell me something about yourself most people don't know?”

Jongin considered for a quiet moment, a little embarrassed to actually say something to him that most other people didn't know. Then again, he couldn't deny that the other was more comfortable with him than most others. “Okay, but you have to promise not to laugh. Or ever repeat it.”

Chanyeol's eyes narrowed, “This has to be good. Okay, I promise.”

He cleared his throat and glanced down for a moment, “It sounds really lame. And only like one person outside of my family knows this. But I really, really like the ballet,” he admitted, voice almost conspiratorial.

“Are you making a joke?”

Jongin let out an embarrassed laugh. “No, I'd come up with something way cooler if I was going to lie. But my aunt was a ballerina, and it's just been something I always loved to watch. I used to want to be a dancer, but I'm more into sports. So, yeah,” he shrugged.

“That's...unexpected. The frat boy jock who likes a sissy dance,” Chanyeol joked, but a second later his expression softened. “Thank you for actually telling me that. Are you afraid to actually like ballet openly because of your image?”

“I guess. I don't know, the guys I hang out with think it's lame to like anything like that. Sports are cool, dating is cool, very...dude things are cool. And I do like those things, but I guess it's also my little secret that I'm into a really lame dance,” he said with a slight smile.

“It's nice that there's more to you than what meets the eye. I'm guessing the other person who knows is Sehun?”

Jongin nodded. “It's not like I actually wanted to tell him. He kind of saw me watching a video from a ballet and he wouldn't leave me alone about it until I admitted it to him. Typical Sehun,” he tutted, “Your turn, tell me something I don't know.”

There was a pause of consideration in which they silently ate, until Chanyeol suddenly perked up with his idea. “Oh, okay. Well, remember when you asked me when I was in love?”

“Yeah.”

“I was in love before, with my ex boyfriend. I just don't like to talk about it much. There wasn't anything...terrible that happened. But remember when we were talking that one night, and you said you hated the idea of two people suddenly hating each other?”

He was almost surprised by the fact that Chanyeol always seemed to remember their discussions in such vivid detail. Of course, he remembered that evening, but he wasn't quite sure where that related. “I remember that,” he agreed, taking a drink from his coffee.

“That's sort of what happened. We were together for over a year. And slowly it just sort of dawned on us that we didn't actually love each other like we had when we'd first gotten together. He started to just not come around as much, and I stopped caring if he did or didn't,” he explained, shrugging slightly.

“Wow. And yet you still believe in happily ever after?”

Chanyeol hummed quietly. “I guess I just can't help but think the right person will still be my forever,” he paused before shaking his head, seeming to shake off the conversation, “Oh, by the way, I didn't tell you yet. I got a call a few days ago, I have a gig coming up. It's a couple hours away, but it's a nice venue."

A smile spread across his face at the news. "That's awesome. When is it?"

"A couple of weeks. I was wondering...if you wouldn't find it weird, would you want to come?" he asked, his gaze dropping a little with possible insecurity.

The offer was a bit surprising, given that they really didn't see each other much outside of their random encounters. His answer was stalled, however, when the waitress came to set down their sandwiches and cups of coffee. When she left, he returned his attention to Chanyeol. "Yeah, I'd love to see you play," he agreed, surprised that he didn't regret telling Chanyeol about his secret interest.

-

"You do realize you two are totally dating, right?" Sehun asked, looking at him pointedly from across the table of the coffee shop. His phone was sitting before him, but he hadn't been paying much attention to it once he'd asked Jongin how things were going with Chanyeol.

He scoffed, "No, we aren't."

Sehun shook his head, and angled his head toward the counter where Luhan was grabbing his drink. "Luhan, I need your opinion on something," he called out.

Luhan walked over and took a seat next to Sehun. "Yes, that shirt is ugly," he said with a teasing grin.

Sehun stared at him blankly for a moment. "Shut up, I like this shirt. Anyway, that was so not the question," he grumbled.

Jongin snorted at their exchange, though in the back of his mind he still wondered what was going on between them. Luhan had only happened by, but a part of him still sensed something between his two friends.

"Okay, so you tell me if this sounds like two people who are dating or if it's just friends," Sehun started.

"You're kidding me..." Jongin groaned, but he knew he should have expected him to bring up something like that.

"Quiet, you. So these two people have sex on a regular basis, for one. They have all these intimate little post-coital talks, and one of them goes to see the other perform. What am I missing?" he paused, feigning thoughtfulness, "Aside from maybe planning on going on some trip together. And having dinner together."

"That was once. And it's not like a trip-trip, it's just a show he's playing. He wanted me to be there," he defended, even though Sehun putting it out there like that was starting to make him feel just a little bit uncomfortable.

Luhan raised a brow. "I would call that dating. Look at you all grown up and having an almost boyfriend," he cooed playfully, reaching out to pinch Jongin's cheek.

Swatting him away, he glowered at them both. "Fuck off. Except I also still fuck other people, and he can be with anyone else. It's not like a boyfriend thing at all."

Sehun and Luhan exchanged a look, one that seemed almost pitying. "Oh boy. This isn't going to end well, is it?" Luhan asked, shaking his head sadly.

-

With the suggestion that other people might perceive them as a couple, Jongin felt a little more distant from Chanyeol than he had previously. He hadn't really considered that people would think that they were dating considering he didn't think anything of their connection to each other, and he didn't think that Chanyeol thought that way either. But it felt strange, as though there was something disconnected in the way that he felt about being around him. He knew that he liked being around Chanyeol, of course, but he didn't want to let people think that he was actually dating someone. He didn't date, after all, and he didn't think that was about to change anytime soon.

Jongin flopped down on the fraternity's couch, watching the people mill in and around the house. Kris was away for the weekend, and so the rest of them had decided that would be the perfect time to throw a party. Even though Kris didn't usually care if they did, there was always something a little more satisfying about doing it while someone in charge was away. However, despite Jongin usually loving to be in the middle of a party, he simply wasn't in the mood.

Frankly, he hadn't been much of a mood for anything since his conversation with Sehun and Luhan. It made him uncomfortable, couldn't handle the idea of dating someone or being thought to make some type of commitment to Chanyeol. That wasn't who he was, and he could only hope desperately that the other was aware of where they stood.

He watched as a variety of people walked passed him, some of them trying to catch his eye, but he mostly kept watching ahead. Sehun and Luhan were talking in the corner, but it wasn't long before Chanyeol came in, Baekhyun pulling him along. He let out a quiet sigh, unsure of exactly how to avoid the subject or perhaps avoid him. But that made him feel a little strange, considering he did enjoy being around him.

He was able to avoid the moment for a little while when Chanyeol was pulled along to get a drink, or perhaps to find someone else. However, it wasn't long before Chanyeol approached him with a smile, "You seem pretty quiet tonight."

Jongin couldn't resist the thought that Chanyeol's dimples were adorable, but he smiled back slightly. "Just not that into it tonight," he agreed, "I didn't know you were coming."

Chanyeol shrugged, "I didn't plan on it. I didn't even know anything about it until Baekhyun suddenly made me come."

"Got it. He seems to have made his rounds pretty quickly," he let out a quiet laugh, glancing toward the boy who was chatting up one of the other guys in the frat.

"That's Baekhyun, he can make friends anywhere," Chanyeol shrugged.

Jongin caught a look on Sehun's face as he glanced over, and he suddenly felt a pit form in his throat. "I'm, uh, going to get a drink," he excused himself, raising from the couch to head toward the kitchen. Ditching the other didn't exactly make the pit cease, but he didn't know a way to avoid the whole situation.

When he made his rounds toward the back of the frat house, he caught sight of Baekhyun talking to someone. He hadn't really spoken to him by himself, and he shrugged a little, almost going to approach him before he noticed Kyungsoo with him as well. A brow raised, having heard from Sehun that it wasn't going to work, but Chanyeol had mentioned that Baekhyun had enjoyed himself.

He followed after them for a quiet moment, simply curious. However, when he saw Kyungsoo lean in for a soft kiss, he held in a sharp laugh. Quickly, he walked away to go find Sehun, wordlessly grabbing him to pull him toward the other two. Sehun grumbled behind him in confusion, but when they caught sight of Kyungsoo and Baekhyun mid-kiss, he let out a loud squawk. “You two did like each other,” he called out, a little too loudly.

They both jumped away from each other at the sound, embarrassment quickly flooding over Kyungsoo's face, though Baekhyun only smiled widely. “Oh...hi,” Kyungsoo said quietly, though there was a quiet irritation in his demeanor.

“Are you two going out?” Sehun demanded, looking more thrilled than Jongin had seen him in a while.

The two exchanged a look. “Sort of, yeah,” Baekhyun finally admitted, voice chipper. “After you forced us on that date we weren't so sure, but then we ran into each other a couple of times and, well, here we are.”

Jongin let out a laugh and walked away from Sehun's arrogant whooping, thrilled to have actually found a match. Whether or not it mattered that they'd only gotten together without the date, he knew that Sehun was about to take it as encouragement to keep trying to set people up.

He passed the next hour or so hiding out in various places, avoiding people he knew too well after catching sight of Chanyeol again. When he was approached by a student he hardly knew, he pulled them into a kiss, desperately pulling them closer. He needed to forget, to get his mind off of the strange feelings associated with Chanyeol and why he needed to avoid him.

Part of him knew that he would rather be kissing Chanyeol, but another part wanted to forget about him and just get lost in the feeling of the stranger. The kisses were clumsy, and Jongin was feeling almost like he was just going through the motions instead of actually being caught in a fit of passion. But he didn't really care what his reasons were, only that he needed to prove something. What that was, exactly, he couldn't be sure; if it was proving that he could easily be with other people or if he just wanted someone to see that he wasn't committed.

As he turned to pull the stranger up the stairs to his room, however, he caught a glimpse of Chanyeol. He was watching, had almost definitely seen Jongin making out with the student. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Jongin couldn't describe the look written in Chanyeol's expression. But the other looked away first, returning to the party. Jongin felt someone tug his hand, and he returned his attention to the task at hand, though a pit formed in his stomach as he ascended the stairs.

The next morning, Jongin walked down the stairs with a yawn, and was greeted to the sight of Sehun sleeping on one of the couches. With a little smile, he walked over and shook his shoulder. "Hey, wake up," he prodded him.

There was a groan before Sehun's eyes finally fluttered open. "Hi," he croaked, a hand coming to wipe at his eyes. "Is your...guest gone?" he asked.

"Yeah, they left sometime while I was asleep," he shrugged. "Do you want to go sleep upstairs? Sorry I blocked you down here."

"Not the first or last time," he mumbled before raising into a sitting position. "Well? How was it? Do you feel like a little bit of a dick?"

Jongin raised his brow slightly at the question, going to flop beside his roommate. "Why? Should I?"

"...you tell me. Chanyeol saw you go with that guy. I mean...I know you guys are...well, I don't know what you are. But I think it kind of bugged him."

"Did he say something?" he asked, though a part of him hated that he was even asking.

Sehun gave him a look, before he snorted softly. "You're hopeless. But no, he just left pretty quickly after you disappeared upstairs."

Jongin groaned quietly, leaning over to rest his head on his friend's shoulder. "Do you think I'm a dick?"

"I know you're a dick."

He elbowed Sehun sharply in the ribs, but couldn't resist letting out a little laugh. "Shut up. I just...don't know. I don't want to think anymore," he whined.

Sehun patted his head, a little bit condescending in a way that only he could manage. "Well, it's never been your strong suit anyway."

-

Jongin managed to mostly avoid Chanyeol and the subject of him for the next few days, at least until Sehun brought him up again. "So I know you and Chanyeol are...sparring-"

"-we are not."

"Whatever. You guys are having some type of thing. But I have a favor I need to ask you," Sehun requested, sitting down on Jongin's bed.

He let out a sigh, not exactly liking where this was going. "Depends, what is it?"

There was a rare moment where Sehun looked unsure of himself, biting his lip slightly before he let out a little sigh. "I need to set you up on a date."

"Um, what?"

"Okay, hear me out. You know Luhan and I...uh, well, we're nothing, right?"

Jongin blinked, not used to Sehun even bothering to bring up something like that. "Mhm..." he hummed, not wanting to push too much just in case he changed his mind.

"I hate telling you things. But whatever, I guess I like him...or something. But I'm not about to ask him to go out with me, so I was thinking that if I sort of set you up on a date...then I could get him to come along with me?" he said, though his tone was more unsure than Jongin was used to it.

"I'm so glad you've finally admitted to liking him," Jongin admitted, holding in a laugh. "But okay, two questions. One, why can't you just ask him? And two, why me?"

"Because I don't think he thinks of me like that. And shut up, I don't need to hear your smartass remarks about this. Just go with me. This way I figure I can still technically go on a date with him, but he's used to me doing this weird double date thing. You feel me?" he gestured, still seeming a little out of his element with trying to explain the plan to Jongin.

And truthfully, Jongin was just as puzzled, even though he was starting to put it all together. "Okay, I'm mostly with you. So why me?"

"Because one time he said that the only way he'd come with me on one of these dumb plans is if you actually went out with someone," he shrugged.

Jongin let out a disgruntled sigh, leaning back on his pillows. "This is ridiculous. But fine, if you're too much of a wimp to do this, I guess I will. But you'll owe me," he warned.

A smile broke out on his face, "Thank you. I know it's really dumb, but I do appreciate this. And yes, I'll owe you."

"So who is this date going to be with?" he asked, though he already felt dread creeping up on him.

"Not sure yet. I'll make it someone who isn't horrible...maybe," he said and stood from the bed, grabbing his phone from his pocket as he slipped out of the room.

Jongin sighed again. It wasn't as though he hadn't ever been on dates before, it was just that he preferred not to. Most of the time, people expected too much if he took them out, and he wasn't about to set anyone up for lowered expectations. He was only in it for a good time, and he didn't want people to end up hurt because of their own expectations.

It was only the next day that Sehun's plan came into fruition, with him having decided on setting up Jongin with Tao - the strange boy he'd kissed at the party. While it made Jongin roll his eyes a bit, he knew that it was just so that Sehun could go out with Luhan. It was a favor for a friend, that's what he kept telling himself. Plus, there was the point that it also helped him to forget about Chanyeol, which seemed to be weighing heavily on his mind as much as he tried to ignore them.

He got dressed as simply as he could manage for a date: a pair of dark jeans and a black knit sweater. He wasn't about to try and impress Tao, but he also wanted to attempt to make the date look like he tried even halfway. Sehun dragged him out of the house in a similar outfit, except with a white button-down.

"So...Luhan actually agreed to this?" he asked as they made their way to the restaurant they agreed to meet at. It wasn't anything special, just a small little cafe that plenty of students went to for both dating purposes and for quiet studying.

Sehun shrugged a shoulder. "Yeah, I mean...reluctantly. I kind of had to ask him a couple of times and I also owe him now," he snorted.

"...Seems like a lot of work just to get a date. You should really just ask him," he cautioned.

There was a frown. "That's ironic coming from you. But you know I can't."

"Why not again?"

"Shut up, I just can't," he argued, and true to his word he said no more about it. They arrived at the restaurant to Luhan already standing outside, looking at something on his phone.

"Hey, Luhan," Jongin greeted him easily.

The other glanced up, a smile spreading across his expression as he saw them. "Hey, you two. No sign of Tao yet," he said, though he soon narrowed his eyes a bit at Jongin. "By the way, why did you suddenly agree to date someone? I thought for sure it would be Chanyeol."

The name caused a frown to slip onto his face. "Let's just say I agreed because Sehun is a dick," he answered.

His roommate snorted softly, and it was only a matter of a few minutes before Tao showed up, offering quiet greetings of hello to them. They went inside the restaurant and were seated by the window, with Jongin and Sehun on one side, and Luhan and Tao on the other. "So, Tao, how have you been?" Jongin asked with a smile once they'd all ordered and were simply waiting.

"Oh, fine. I guess I was a bit surprised by all of this, but...fine. And you?" he asked, though his expression remained wary.

Jongin glanced to Sehun, wondering why he'd thought Tao was a good fit. While he didn't dislike the other, he also didn't see much they had in common. Tao was quiet and he looked brooding, even though Sehun claimed that he was actually a lot more silly when he was more comfortable. The conversation continued to trickle between them, a bit awkward and stunted at times, but Luhan and Sehun seemed to be easily flowing with their side. Of course, it was natural given that they'd been friends for a long while, but Jongin could only hope that their friendship could actually turn to something more which Sehun wanted.

While it seemed to be what he was a bit hesitant about in the first place; awkward first dates always caused him more distress than he felt he needed, he kept making jokes enough that after a while he'd drug a few smiles out of the other student. Luhan kept giving them questioning glances, and occasionally he would give them a suggestive eyebrow raise while he spoke to them, but Jongin was glad that he didn't say anything that would make it more embarrassing than it already was.

However, his positive feelings about the date quickly came tumbling to the ground when he caught sight of a very familiar figure entering the cafe. Cursing under his breath, he slid down a bit in his seat, hoping that Chanyeol wouldn't see him. It wasn't that he wanted to avoid him completely, only that he felt a little bit bad about having avoided him for far longer than he normally would.

Of course, luck wasn't on Jongin's side. Chanyeol looked over toward the table, surprise glinting over his expression at the sight of him. Seeing as it would look even worse if he tried avoiding him, he lifted a hand in a slight wave.

Sehun glanced up to where Jongin's gaze fell. "Uh-oh," he mumbled, quietly enough that the other two likely couldn't hear it.

Chanyeol approached the table, holding the cup of coffee he'd ordered at the counter. "Hi," he said to them all, though his gaze focused on Jongin. "I'm not going to keep you from your date, just wanted to say hi."

There seemed to be a certain tone to the way he said 'date,' but Jongin couldn't be sure. He offered a slight smile at the other, "Hey, Chanyeol. It's not a date...it's just..." he trailed, unsure of how to end that sentence.

Tao's eyebrows raised slightly, "I thought this was a date," he argued.

Jongin looked at Tao sharply, though the look seemed to prove ineffective. "Well..."

Chanyeol snorted. "Hey, it's none of my business. Like I said, just wanted to say hi. See you around, Sehun," he offered before walking out of the restaurant.

"I think he just snubbed you," Luhan mused, seeming close to laughter as he watched the events unfold before him.

"Big time," Sehun agreed.

"Shut up," Jongin grumbled, unable to swallow around the lump in his throat. He knew it shouldn't have bothered him so much, but he could see that there was something in Chanyeol's expression that he wanted to fix, even if he didn't know how.

-

A couple of days later, Jongin caught sight of Chanyeol on the quad, plucking at the strings of his guitar. Though he still felt a little strange about the whole thing, he knew he couldn't exactly avoid the other. And truthfully, he didn't want to anymore. "Hey," he greeted, plopping down in the grass in front of him.

A look of surprise crossed Chanyeol's face, and his hand stopped the strings from playing. "Oh, hey, Jongin. What's up?" he asked.

"Not much. It's been a while since we had a chance to talk," he said, though he felt a little strange given that it was his fault in the first place that they hadn't.

"Yeah, I noticed."

"Oh yeah, things have been kind of busy." There was a pause, one in which neither of them really seemed to know what to say. Something in Chanyeol's expression still seemed off, and Jongin wished he could reach out and smooth the frown lines away from his forehead. "Um, so your show is still coming up, yeah?"

Chanyeol nodded.

"Am I still invited?"

"You aren't too busy?" he asked, a certain tone in his voice slipping in on the word, reflecting Jongin's earlier statement.

"Ouch. No, I still want to be there," he said, though he could feel the tension sparkle between them. "Are you upset with me?"

There was a sigh. "No. I just don't know why you've been avoiding me so much. So I guess I should ask if you're upset with me."

Jongin shook his head, "No. I'm sorry...it's kind of a long story."

Another pause passed between them before Chanyeol finally moved to set his guitar aside, placing it into the case. "It's fine. So how about I pick you up around 11? On Saturday? It takes a little while to get there...and I sort of have something I want to show you."

Now it was Jongin's turn to raise a brow in surprise. "What is it?"

"It's a surprise," he smiled, "Just be ready when I come get you."

Jongin narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing him up. There was still some tension in the air, but he could feel it slowly dissipating and the twinkle back in his eye that reminded him of how much he liked the other. "Alright. I'll be ready."

-

Jongin slid into the passenger's seat with a long yawn, settling himself in. "It's too early," he grumbled, though there was a slight smile on his face as he said so.

"It's after eleven, it isn't early," Chanyeol protested, letting out a little snort of amusement.

"For me it is," he countered. Chanyeol had shown up knocking on his door only a half hour prior, and Sehun had to shake him awake. They'd planned the quick trip a while back, and they knew that they were going to spend the night in the city, so the night before he'd remembered to throw in some things he would need.

Their time passed in the car with intermittent comfortable silence and easy small talk about their lives. Though Sehun had given him a little bit of a hard time regarding Chanyeol, he didn't like avoiding him. Even if he felt strange about the possibility that people might think they were more than they actually were, he preferred actually being able to spend time with the other. Their conversations always flowed easily, even when they talked about mundane or potentially embarrassing topics.

It took them a few hours to actually arrive at the city, having stopped halfway through to grab lunch because Jongin began whining about being hungry; with a not-so-subtle reminder that he hadn't been able to grab breakfast. They pulled up to the hotel, and they went in with their things to check in. The lady behind the desk gave them a slightly questioning look, but didn't say anything as Chanyeol requested a room with two beds for them.

They walked to the elevator and down the hall, passing paintings of dim landscapes. "Why are hotels always so...depressing?" he asked, frowning a little at the painting beside the door Chanyeol was opening.

"You think? I kind of like them," he said with a shrug before opening the door.

The room was small, and typical of what they could afford. It held two lofty beds and a TV mounted on the wall. It was nothing special, but Jongin was glad to have it. He liked being able to be away from the frat house for the evening, and somewhere that wasn't his family's house. Of course, he supposed that he spent the night in plenty of other places when he met them for hookups, but it somehow felt a little bit different.

Jongin flopped down onto the bed with a long sigh, feeling the comfort of it before letting out a hum of approval. "Not bad," he muttered, "could be worse."

Chanyeol snorted quietly, “Come on, get dressed, I have that surprise for you, remember?”

Truthfully, Jongin had forgotten all about that, but he couldn't deny a certain level of curiosity. “Oh yeah,” he mused, “And here I just thought you were going to whip your dick out.”

The other's loud laugh resounded through the room. “At this point I don't think that would be too surprising, now would it?” he countered, giving Jongin a pointed look.

“Touche.” He rolled off of the bed to go to the bag he'd packed. “Wait, am I not dressed? Did I get naked and not realize it?”

“You're naked enough I doubt you would notice,” Chanyeol agreed, though there was a teasing smile on his lips. “No, just...dress nicely. Don't ask questions, just do it.”

Jongin gave him a withering glance for the cheap shot, but he soon turned his attention to the clothes he'd brought along. He'd expected to go to Chanyeol's show, not having to dress up nicely. “Uh, on a scale of lame to getting arrested, how bad would it be to wear jeans?” he plucked up a pair of matte black jeans he'd brought along to show to the other.

Chanyeol considered briefly before offering a shrug, “Only a little lame. Just please tell me you brought more than a t-shirt.”

“Well sorry, you didn't exactly warn me I needed to bring along my whole damn wardrobe,” he pointed out, but pulled out a cream-colored button-down to change into, glad he'd brought it along.

When he was dressed, and his hair had been styled, he emerged to find Chanyeol in slacks and a blue dress shirt. His eyes narrowed, wondering where they were going that they'd have to be in decent clothing. Despite many attempts to weasel it out of Chanyeol, the other always brushed him off with an easy “you'll see.”

-

When Chanyeol pulled into the parking lot of a large brick building, Jongin's brow furrowed, trying to see what the sign said. But Chanyeol merely offered a smile as they got out and walked closer. As Jongin finally saw the sign, scrolled out in elegant script, his eyes widened. “What the fuck? The ballet?” he pointed to the sign.

A sheepish grin took over Chanyeol's face. “You told me you like ballet. And I figured that if we're hours away from your cool friends,” there was a tone that conveyed sarcasm, “then you might enjoy seeing one.”

Jongin gaped at him for a moment. With Sehun he'd only endured teasing at his interest in the ballet, and he would rather die than any of his frat brothers know about it. “You are...kidding me,” he mumbled, but he knew very well that Chanyeol wasn't.

“I can't tell if you're really happy or really mad right now,” Chanyeol admitted with another loud laugh, though a hand reached to scratch at the back of his neck that helped to convey his sense of insecurity.

He shook his head, taking a step closer to the other. “I'm really happy,” he said, before he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the other's lips. “I don't think anyone's ever done anything sweet like this for me,” he admitted, and his fingers went to lace through Chanyeol's, pulling him toward the building.

The other held a pleased smile as he let Jongin lead the way. As they arrived inside, he found out that they would be watching a performance of La Sylphide, and Chanyeol handed off the tickets he'd already purchased. Jongin shook his head at the fact that the other seemed to have already had the whole thing planned. They found their way to their seats, and Jongin let out a soft sigh as he leaned closer to Chanyeol. “My aunt once performed this,” he said quietly, “She was Effie.”

There was a brief frown that crossed Chanyeol's expression. “I have to admit I know approximately nothing about ballet...except for the music, maybe. Do you like this one?”

Jongin laughed. It was strange to be able to admit to an interest he normally denied and shrugged off as pansy or girly, but he knew that clearly Chanyeol didn't judge him for it. “I do,” he confirmed, “It's about really fucked up love and this guy who's supposed to be married, but he ends up falling in love with a sylph. You'll see.”

They talked for a few more minutes as others filed into their seats, the afternoon performance not being nearly as busy as evening ones. It had been years since Jongin had actually been in the audience of a ballet, having attended when his aunt would take him, but she moved across the country when he was little. And it just wasn't cool to go and attend a ballet if he couldn't claim it was a forced activity.

The ballet was enthralling, Jongin found himself lost in the storyline and entranced by the seemingly effortless grace of the dancers. He knew from his aunt that it was actually a lot of work and required a lot of strength, but he always found himself enamored of watching the dance. Beside him, he could see Chanyeol trying to enjoy, or perhaps to understand. A frown fell on his face for the entirety of the performance, though it only lasted an hour in all.

When it finished, after the dancers had come for their applause and the lights had brightened the place again, there was a smile on Jongin's face. “What did you think?” he asked, bumping him lightly in the shoulder.

Chanyeol licked his lips, seeming to consider. “It was good. I don't...get that much of the story? Like I think she died at the end, but did he die too?”

“Yeah, both of them died, that's why Madge was so happy,” he explained, and stood from the seat. “Thank you, Chanyeol. I never expected you to bring me to something like this, but I love you for it,” he joked, pressing another quick kiss to the other's cheek.

-

It was already early evening by the time they got back to the hotel, and Chanyeol changed quickly, saying that he had to get going to the venue so he could get things set up and do a quick rehearsal. “Good luck,” he called, “I'll see you here in a few hours.”

“You know we sound like a married couple suddenly,” Chanyeol joked, tossing on a hoodie over his shirt and slinging his guitar over his back.

The words brought another pit to Jongin's stomach, but he forced a smile. “Have a good time at work, honey,” he teased, catching sight of the other's wave before he was left to his own devices in the hotel room. With a sigh, he called Sehun.

“What do you want?” he grumbled into the phone.

“Is that any way to greet your favorite person?”

Sehun snorted. “That certainly isn't you. What?”

“What's wrong? You're always crusty, but this is a new level,” he frowned. While he was used to Sehun always being a little short with him, it was usually a joke. So he could clearly hear that something was actually wrong, having known him for so long.

There was a sigh. “I don't want to talk about it.”

Jongin let the silence stretch between them for a long moment. “Dude...” he said, a certain edge of concern creeping into his voice.

“Ugh, it's dumb, but it's nothing for you to worry about,” he said, and there was another silence before he spoke again. “Fine. I talked to Luhan.”

His eyebrows lifted in surprise, “About...you two?”

“Yeah. He said, and I quote: 'Sorry, Sehun, I never thought about you like that. You're not really my type.'”

Jongin's jaw dropped a little. “Oh my god, are you kidding me? That's so harsh.”

“Tell me about it. Whatever, I'll get over it. What's going on with you and Chanyeol?” he asked, and there was a soft plop that let Jongin know he had likely fallen back onto his bed.

“I don't know if that's such a good topic now, considering.”

“Just talk, you dumb shit, let me hear about your pathetic life,” he grumbled, though there was that edge of familiar teasing back in his voice.

He sighed softly, “He took me to the ballet.” While anyone else he would have never said a word to, Sehun already knew enough about him that he didn't see what it could hurt to just give him all the details.

“Ooh la la. Since when does he know about your deep dark dance secret?”

“For a couple of weeks now. I don't know, I mentioned it to him and he sort of just surprised me with it today. His show's in a couple of hours.”

“And...you're still claiming to be just friends? That sounds like love to me.”

“Shut up,” Jongin said with a soft laugh. “I don't know. It feels so weird? Like it kind of does feel like we're dating right now and I just...don't date. So it's kind of freaking me out a little bit,” he admitted, laying back on the pillows with a sigh.

There was the sound of a loud sigh from the other end. “Jongin. I'm going to put this as nicely as I can. You're a fucking idiot.”

He blinked. “If that was the nice version, I don't want the other version.”

“Dude, are you kidding me? You two have been sparring for months now. You never usually see people for more than a single fuck, and yet with this guy you're fucking regularly, you're going to his shows, you told him the thing that you haven't told anyone else. How the fuck are you still being so blind?”

“You know about that,” Jongin defended, though he knew he couldn't say all that much about the rest of it.

“Only because I walked in on you watching some pansy bullshit and forced you to tell me. This was information you willingly gave up. If you can tell me you've done any of this with other people, I'll kiss your ass.”

Jongin groaned. “But even if I did want to date him – and I'm not saying I do – I don't know how to be someone's boyfriend. That's not me, bro, that's so not me.”

“It's your choice. You could be an idiot and let this crumble before you even give it a chance, or you could give it a shot and maybe something great will happen. I don't know, but don't fuck it up,” Sehun said, and only a second later there was the distinct sound of a beep and silence that signaled that he'd hung up.

-

Jongin walked into the club and his gaze immediately scanned over the venue for Chanyeol. He wasn't sure if he was going to be milling about since he'd arrived early, or if he would still be backstage. There were a few dozen people who were getting drinks and mingling with one another, and there was a strange sort of comfort in the fact that Jongin knew none of these people. Of course, they were in a completely different town, and it wasn't an interesting enough place for people in their college to visit, but he was used to being in the middle of a crowd who knew him.

On not seeing the other, he slipped over to the bar and ordered a drink. There was a photographer who he could overhear explaining that he was trying to showcase unknown talents, but mostly he didn't bother to listen to the other conversations around him. His thoughts were preoccupied, and part of him wanted to talk to Chanyeol before his show, but he knew he also didn't want to break his concentration or mess up his mood in some way. They were there for Chanyeol's show, and that was all he could remind himself of.

The show was a few different performers, all not very well known and all from various places. The first performer was a girl in a long dress with flowers in her hair, and she sang an acoustic set about the meaning of love. Jongin had to resist the urge to roll his eyes multiple times, but he didn't want to be too rude to the girl as she seemed too fragile. The second was a guy who wore too much leather for the type of venue they were playing in, and screamed into the microphone about something Jongin couldn't even bother to decipher. All he knew was that he sounded angry and pretentious.

It was an hour in when it was Chanyeol's turn to take the stage. Jongin shouldered his way to the front of the stage, and he caught the other's eye for a brief moment. A smile flashed across Chanyeol's face, his eyes crinkling just slightly before he cleared his throat and began to sing. He recognized the song immediately as the one he'd performed in the coffee shop, and a small smile rose to his face as he watched the other get lost in the song.

For the second time that day, he was captivated by the stage. The first had been when he witnessed the elegant dancers, and now he was taken by the words that spilled into the venue, by the way that Chanyeol wrapped his song around the room. He played a few more songs before he cleared his throat again and smiled at the crowd. “Thank you, everyone. I'm only going to play one more tonight...and I just want to dedicate it to someone who's very special to me,” he said, deep voice resounding into Jongin's bones.

The words weren't lost on him, especially with the faint glance his way, but he didn't know what exactly was up his sleeve. When the song began, the pit formed again in his stomach. He sang about a love that was unrequited, of wanting a happily ever after and of knowing that someone was right for him. His hands clenched the stage, knuckles whitening as he listened to the song that was unmistakably for him, and told in painful words exactly how Chanyeol felt.

When he was finished, there was a cacophony of applause, but Jongin couldn't pull himself away from where he stood, frozen in shock. He was only pulled away when Chanyeol came down the stage, having handed off his guitar. When he didn't immediately come over to Jongin, he pushed himself away from his spot and went to seek out the other.

Chanyeol was talking to one of the photographers, and Jongin put a hand on his shoulder just to alert him that he was there. He turned with a smile written on his handsome face, and reached to pull Jongin into a hug. “Thank you for being here,” he uttered, as quiet as he could manage with the sounds around them.

Jongin swallowed the lump in his throat. “You were great,” he said, and he knew that even with his reservations about what had happened that he couldn't lie to him or ignore it.

“Let's get a photo of you two together,” the photographer suggested.

While Jongin was about to protest, Chanyeol pulled him to the side and draped an arm around him, already posing for the shot. So Jongin leaned into the other, a smile slipping to his lips as well. When the shot was taken, the photographer clapped Chanyeol on the back with a quick, “Nice job. You two are cute together, by the way.”

The quip caused Jongin's brows to raise slightly, and he let out a quiet sigh. “Can we talk for a second?” he asked, head tilting just a bit to the side.

There was a look of uncertainty that passed Chanyeol's expression, but he nodded once and followed him as they went out the side exit. It was dark in the alleyway, with only a couple of other people around. “What's up?” he asked.

“That song...” he started, though his gaze fell to the ground, “Was that for me?”

Chanyeol cleared his throat, a sense of tension creeping into the moment. “What do you think?”

“I think...yes? I mean, if it was for someone else then I'll just forget this entire conversation, but I don't think I'm off base here. Why did you write that song?”

“Why do you think?” he countered, arms folding over his chest. “Come on Jongin, You aren't that dumb, I think you know.”

A hand raked through his hair before he finally leveled his gaze back at the other. “I'm tired of dancing around this subject. Do you like me or not?”

“Of course I do. I've been in love with you for a long time,” he admitted, deep voice calm in the night. “I get that you aren't into relationships, that you don't feel that way. That's who you are.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, his mind still reeling from the other saying that he loved him, confirming that he wanted to be with him. But the dismissal of 'that's who you are' pissed him off. “What exactly is that supposed to mean?”

Chanyeol licked his lips before shrugging slightly. “I just mean that...well, you hop from bed to bed. Person to person. You've made it pretty clear that you aren't interested in more than a fuck,” he said, though his tone was more matter-of-fact than it was intending to harm him.

But the words still felt like a punch to the throat. “If that was the case, then why the hell would I bother to keep coming back to you? Why would I come all the way out here for you? If I was only interested in a fuck, I could fuck anyone else,” he pointed out, his tone harsh and bitter. “I'm out of here.”

As he walked away, he heard Chanyeol call out to him, but he refused to look back. He hadn't intended to get into a fight with the other, but hearing Chanyeol indicate that he was only interested in sex and that he couldn't ever be anything more rubbed him the wrong way. Perhaps it was true, he considered, he just didn't like to hear it coming from the other's mouth.

-

Jongin immediately went back to the hotel room, irritation still seething underneath the surface in every step he took. There was the obvious that was upsetting him – that Chanyeol had said a couple of things that stung – but part of him was also angry with himself. He couldn't blame the other so much for saying those things when he was well aware that he'd messed things up between them for such a long time already.

By the time he'd showered and changed into his sweatpants, he made the decision that he was going to depart from Chanyeol the next day without another word. Too much had happened, and they both said and did things that they shouldn't have, that much he knew. And part of it all was the entire reason he avoided the whole relationship dynamic, that everyone was bound to be hurt.

However, as Jongin settled into one of the two beds, the door opened. Jongin froze, keeping his back turned to Chanyeol in the aim of ignoring him. Perhaps it was childish, but he didn't really care.

“Jongin? Are you still awake?” came the sound of a deep voice nearer than expected.

Although he'd planned to stay silent, he was never good at keeping quiet when there was a confrontation that was imminent. He finally huffed out a sigh. “I am,” he answered, though his tone was clipped and he didn't actually turn to face him.

There was the sound of footsteps, and a sudden dip in the bed as Chanyeol sat down near his feet. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said any of that to you,” he said after a moment.

Although he rolled his eyes, he finally turned over so that he could properly glare at Chanyeol. “No, you shouldn't have. Asshole.”

“Come on, Jongin, don't pout. Can we talk? About everything?” he asked, dark eyes serious. Most of the time there was always a hint of amusement or joking in Chanyeol's gaze, but none of that was resting in his expression.

There was a long pause. “I guess. So talk,” he grumbled. Of course, he knew that he was still being a bit immature, that it wasn't although he was innocent in the scheme of things, but he couldn't help and make himself stop.

Chanyeol let out a soft sigh before glancing away. “You already know how I feel. I wrote you that song, I told you I've been in love with you for a long time. I think as early as when you came to see me sing that first time. I don't know how you feel, I just sort of made my own assumptions about that.”

It dawned on Jongin that this is what he'd been dreading the most, that he would one day be in a position of having a conversation with someone about emotions and the possibility of commitment. Chanyeol seemed to make it so easy, he just let the words about love and feelings trickle from his mouth without seeming petrified about the end result. Jongin wasn't like that. He knew that the power of words could be merciless, could destroy something or someone in just a few utterances. “I don't...I'm not good at this,” he said, and there was a slight whine that crept into his voice.

“Try. For me?” Chanyeol reached out, a hand resting on Jongin's hip that was still clad in blankets.

The request left him with a warmth and a tingling sensation whispering across his skin. “I don't...do relationships. You know that much. I've never really dated, I don't like commitment,” he stated, though he had a distinct feeling like he was stalling for time. “But I also don't usually come back to people. Usually we fuck once or twice, and then we don't ever really see each other again – not in that way. But I keep coming back to you, and I guess I haven't tried to think that much about why.” He finally moved to sit up, letting the blankets fall from his shoulders and pool into his lap.

Chanyeol stared at him for a long moment before he finally let a faint smile slip onto his expression. “You're just thinking out loud aren't you?”

Jongin let a soft laugh tumble from his lips. “Maybe, yeah. But come here, listen to me think through this. That way if I come to some kind of decision then you won't have to wonder why,” he patted the seat next to him for emphasis.

The other rolled his eyes, but the motion was playful, and he stood to go to the other side of the bed. Saddling up, he settled down next to Jongin, an amused look still resting on his expression. “Alright. If I'm going to be with you, or be without you, I can stand to listen to a couple of your weird musings,” he joked.

He glowered for a brief moment before settling back into the blankets. “Good. So basically, you and I have become...well, I don't know. Friends with benefits? Maybe? Something like that. But then everyone started saying things about us being together or making a cute couple and I just...kind of freaked out?”

“Is that why you were avoiding me for so long?”

Jongin paused, not expecting him to actually bring that up, but a part of him was glad to have it all out there on the table. “Yeah, I guess.”

“And is that someone Sehun?”

“...Maybe.”

“He's a pest,” Chanyeol let out a loud laugh, but he didn't seem all that bothered.

“He is. But basically, yeah. Because I didn't want people to think that I was with anyone. And it sounds ridiculous, I know, but relationships terrify me.”

“I noticed. You don't believe in happily ever after.”

A faint smile passed over his lips, remembering that conversation again. “Just because I'm really scared of the idea that two people could so easily hurt each other, that so much pain could happen with just a few words. And then you end up hating each other, and I can't even imagine hating someone that I cared about for so long, you get me?”

Chanyeol considered for a long moment before finally nodding his head. “You know, I think underneath all of your fuckboy behavior – you're kind of a secret romantic,” he said, and held up a hand to silence the protest building on Jongin's lips – “Hear me out. You're afraid of hurting someone you love. It isn't that you're too selfish or you want to fuck everyone in sight, it's that you can't handle falling out of love.”

Now it was Jongin's turn to pause for a long moment. “That's...okay, I'm much more of a pussy than I even realized,” he grumbled to himself, sinking further into the blankets.

There was a laugh beside him. “You're definitely a lot sweeter than I think anyone would guess,” he admitted, “But okay, now that we've analyzed your reasons for avoiding relationships...go ahead. Why do you give a shit about me?”

“Narcissist. Can't just let me work through my own shit,” he tutted, though his tone was still playful as ever. “Alright, well, when I first saw you it was just wanting to fuck you. You know that. So we did, and I thought it would be the end of it myself. And then I saw you perform...” he paused, letting out a soft hum of consideration. “And I was amazed. I'd never seen that side of you, I hadn't wanted to. But I was forced to see it and I guess I really liked seeing you being so passionate and in love with what you were singing. So I kept wanting to see you.”

“Aw, how cute. We're retracing our friendship.”

“Fuck off,” Jongin laughed. “Either way. I guess I just didn't know what to think about it, but I also kept wanting to see you. Even when it didn't make that much sense. And I was still fucking other people, but you became someone regular.”

“And now?”

“Now...I guess it's not so easy to just say. I've talked to Sehun about it, and he still gives me shit about you. But he also thinks that I would be really dumb if I just let it all go to waste,” he admitted with a little shrug, turning to look closer at Chanyeol.

“I know pretty well by now what Sehun thinks about us,” Chanyeol mused.

“Shut up. Sehun is really sweet when he isn't an ass,” he defended his friend, although he knew that Chanyeol wasn't necessarily insulting him either. “I guess...I maybe want to try? I'm just scared of fucking things up and then we don't even talk anymore. You know?”

“I know. But it might also end up really great,” he pointed out, giving Jongin a long look.

He let out a soft sigh, leaning until his head rested upon Chanyeol's broad shoulder. “The thought of not seeing you anymore is worse than the possibility of a breakup,” he finally muttered, though his skin tingled with the possibility of what he was saying. “So let's try it.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. I want to give it a go, but can you promise me something?” he asked, adjusting slightly so that he could actually look up at Chanyeol. “Promise me that even if we don't work out, we won't hate each other?”

A smile graced Chanyeol's lips, his eyes crinkling in such a way that one of them squinted a bit more than the other. “I promise,” he agreed. A hand reached up and cupped Jongin's cheek, pressing their lips together softly. It was warm and gentle, with lips pressing so delicately against one another that it almost felt new. “So I can start calling you my boyfriend?”

The word caused a grimace to appear on his face, but he fought it. “I guess that's what I'm saying. But be gentle with me on using that, it's going to freak me out,” he admitted with a laugh. Before Chanyeol could answer him, however, he pushed the covers off and moved so that he was straddling the other's lap. “Well then, boyfriend,” he had to fight not to cringe at the word, “Can we commemorate this with a good fuck?”

Chanyeol rolled his eyes, but amusement still glinted in his expression. “You're insatiable,” he joked, but it was only a moment later that he wrapped his arms around Jongin's waist to pull him even closer, lips finding lips in a passionate dance.

They kissed for what felt like hours, their tongues sliding against one another and teeth brushing against lips in need. Though they'd kissed dozens of times, Jongin could feel something different in the way they did so this time. Emotion danced behind the kiss, with the way that hands roamed along skin and caressed softly, with every soft sound that was pulled from their throats.

After they were both breathless, Jongin slipped out of Chanyeol's lap and began to slowly strip off his clothing, giving the other a little bit of a show as he did so. The Chanyeol's gaze was heavy on him, and he loved the way that all of his thoughts were on him. When he was naked, he offered a slight little smirk. “I'm not going to be the only one without clothes, am I?” he asked playfully, reaching out to pluck at the button on Chanyeol's shirt.

The words seemed to spur him into action, with him quickly shedding his clothing (though even Jongin could admit that it was with far less finesse than he had). Jongin pushed Chanyeol to lay back on the bed, and he made his way to kiss along his body, tongue lapping over his pink budding nipples and dipping into the crevice of his bellybutton. Chanyeol let out deep groans with each new piece of skin he paid attention to, and as Jongin's tongue caressed over his hipbone, he finally reached to grab Jongin's hair. “Quit teasing, oh my god,” he commanded, though his voice was too breathless to sound very demanding.

His lips spread into a slight grin, but after pressing a quick kiss to Chanyeol's thigh, he moved on to let the head of the other's cock fall into his mouth. Fingers reached to stroke and twist him into full hardness, and he let out soft moans as he continued to take in more of him.

The hands remained in his hair, tightening a bit when Jongin's tongue ran across a particularly sensitive spot. Of course, them having been together so many times helped to aid Jongin in knowing the other's weaknesses, and he was never shy about using that knowledge to his advantage. It wasn't long before Chanyeol was pulling Jongin away, a soft gasp leaving his lips. “Stop, I still have to fuck you,” he said, though amusement and desperation still danced in his tone.

Jongin let out a quiet laugh. “I don't know when it changed so that you fuck me way more than I fuck you, by the way,” he mused, though truthfully he didn't care – and he knew that Chanyeol didn't either. He didn't allow him much of a chance to actually respond, however, before he moved to grab the supplies he'd thrown in his bag as a just in case measure, and plopped them down onto the bed. “How do you want it? Want me to ride you or do you want to pound me into the mattress?” he asked, voice a seductive purr as he leaned near Chanyeol's ear.

There was a groan in response to the question, before Chanyeol reached to grab at Jongin's waist, turning and flipping their positions. Jongin let out a sound of surprise, but immediately settled into the pillows and pulled Chanyeol to him. He pulled him into another kiss, tongue swiping against teeth with needy desperation. “Don't bother to finger me, baby, just fuck me,” he requested, voice rasping out.

Chanyeol stared at him for a quiet moment before he leaned back, reaching for the lube and condom. It only took him a moment to sheath his cock and slick up his length. He reached for Jongin's thigh, pressing it upward and near his chest before he aligned himself. There was just a moment's hesitation before he began to push his way inside, Jongin letting out soft whimpers as the other filled him up.

His arms laced around Chanyeol's neck, pulling him close and pressing kisses against his shoulder as he continued to be split open on his cock. When the other bottomed out, he let out a quiet sigh, head tilting back and onto the pillow. “You feel so good,” he whispered softly.

The words brought a quiet groan from Chanyeol's lips, and he pressed a kiss against Jongin's jaw. “Tell me when,” he said, and the strain in his voice gave way to the fact that he was straining not to just fuck into Jongin openly.

Taking a deep breath, he finally gave a slight nod, and settled into the sensation of the other beginning to fill him with long thrusts. His lips parted and a soft 'ah-ah-ah' of pleasure escaped, eyes slipping shut. Chanyeol was never too rough with him, he always knew the perfect way to make his toes curl with pleasure and never cause him to whimper in pain.

As the other fucked him, pace even and steady, he realized that he didn't regret the decision as he feared he might. A contented sort of smile twitched at the corner of his lips, and his gaze opened to watch the look of pleasure cross Chanyeol's face. There was a frown of concentration, and sweat was beading on his brow, and Jongin had never seen him look more beautiful. It was strange the way that he had seen him in so many ways, with looks of pleasure, of hurt, of sleepiness. And yet none of them compared to the way he was overcome with the sense that Chanyeol was his, and the sense of something more beautiful blossoming between them.

Chanyeol reached up to brush the hair out of Jongin's eyes, his hips never faltering their uneven strokes inside of him. As they rocked together, he leaned down so that his weight was resting on his elbows, and his head fell to rest in the crook of Jongin's neck, hot breathy moans fanning over his skin with each thrust.

Jongin began to rock against each thrust, pushing himself deeper on the other's cock and pulling him in for more pleasure. It wasn't long until his legs and back ached for relief, but more than that was his desire to come. When Chanyeol's hips sped up to pound into him, Jongin couldn't resist moaning his name loudly, a hand reaching between their bodies to feel himself. His thick cock twitched with every brush against his prostate, and his fingers moved desperately in seeking his release.

Chanyeol was the first to come with a deep, guttural groan, his release spilling into the condom. As he rode out his orgasm, his hips continued to rut into Jongin, milking himself of his release. Jongin continued to twist and stroke himself, the feeling of Chanyeol softening inside of him strangely alluring, and it wasn't long after that he was crying out the other's name and coming between their stomachs.

They lay there for a few minutes, both trying to regain their breath and calm their sore muscles from the exertion. “That was amazing,” Chanyeol finally uttered as he began to right himself, carefully slipping out of Jongin.

He let out a soft whine of agreement, hand reaching for tissues on the nightstand. “You'd better recover quickly, because here in a minute I'm going to fuck you,” he informed him with a cheeky grin.

“Christ, Jongin. Are you trying to kill me?”

“Maybe,” he said, and leaned to kiss Chanyeol again, all soft and sweet.

-

The next morning, Jongin awoke with a sense of disbelief weighing heavily on his mind, and muscles that ached from their activities. Realization settled over him on what had happened, that he'd agreed to be in a relationship with someone – and that someone was Chanyeol. He turned his face slightly to look to the sleeping man beside him, his face settled into one of absolute calm. His lips were parted prettily, and hair was swept over his closed eyes.

While there was still a slight tentative feeling, he knew that he could easily imagine waking up to his face for a long time. He let out a quiet sigh, and reached out to let a finger drift across the bridge of his nose. “Chanyeol,” he cooed softly, voice barely above a whisper.

After a moment, his eyes fluttered, and he blinked a few times before his gaze focused and settled on Jongin. “Oh, hey. Morning,” he said, deep voice raspy from sleep.

A slight smile slipped across his face. “Morning. Come on, we should get ready. I want to have breakfast,” he demanded playfully.

Chanyeol snorted. “You don't have any regrets?”

The question was unexpected, and Jongin's eyebrows raised slightly in his surprise. “What? You think I'd go back on my word?” he asked. “Sorry. You're stuck with me.”

“Good.”

-

By the time they got back to campus, it was already mid-afternoon. On the ride, they'd ended up stopping at some of the tourist traps just for a good laugh. Truthfully, Jongin suspected that it was just because they were both afraid of how things might change once they made it back to their regular lives. Being away from it all was easy, it was just the two of them with little distraction. When they were in school they had work to do, they had friends who had strong opinions about their lives, and they had their own reputations to uphold.

“So? Are we going to tell people?” Chanyeol asked suddenly as he turned off the car.

“Why wouldn't we? Are you ashamed of me now?” Jongin joked, but at least a small part of him wondered if that was the truth. They came from different worlds. He was a frat boy, Chanyeol was a music nerd. They didn't exactly have a lot in common from most perspectives, and even less did they usually run in the same circles.

Chanyeol shook his head. “No. Just making sure,” he said and leaned in to press a quick kiss to Jongin's lips.

Entering the frat house was met with its usual buzz of chaos. There was the usual mix of yelling and loud music, sprinkled in between with those actually studying. The first person he went looking for was, of course, Sehun. His roommate had been very vocal about his opinions on he and Chanyeol, and he wanted to get it over with.

When he opened the door to their room, however, he was affronted with a sight he hadn't anticipated. Yixing and Sehun were laying on the bed making out, and Yixing's shirt was nowhere to be seen. “What the fuck?” he couldn't resist asking.

They both jumped visibly at the sudden voice, and Yixing moved to sit up, a shy smile on his face. “Welcome back, Jongin,” he said, soft voice as friendly and unfazed as ever.

Sehun shrugged. “Whoops. So how was your trip?”

Jongin blinked at them for a moment. It wasn't as though he and Sehun hadn't walked in on each other more than a handful of times, but it was the fact that it was with someone they both knew so well that was keeping him in a state of perpetual shock. “Fine, good. You first, though. Are you two...? Is this a thing or just a...thing?”

“Well said,” Sehun snorted. “Well...you remember I told you about what happened with Luhan, right? I guess I felt kind of shitty, and Yixing noticed and we went out to dinner. And, well, I don't know. It just happened?”

“We haven't said we're dating, but Sehun, do you want to date me?” Yixing asked, turning to look at the other beside him.

“Sure,” Sehun agreed with a shrug.

Jongin stared at them for a long moment. “Are you two kidding me? That's it? Just 'hey want to date?' 'Sure?' What the hell is that?” he grumbled, going over to flop onto the bed. “You're over the Luhan thing that quickly?”

Sehun shrugged again. “It's not as complicated as you make everything, Jongin. Sure, I was bummed about Luhan, but whatever. I'm over it. I don't dwell that much.”

“Alright. Congratulations. I think,” he said, though he was still feeling a little perplexed at how easy they'd made it all seem. There was no argument, no fight, no conflicted emotions.

“Your turn. What happened?”

“Yixing can you at least put your shirt back on? Your nipples are staring at me,” he grumbled.

Yixing laughed, but reached to the end of the bed and grabbed for his white t-shirt before slipping it on. “I can go if you'd rather talk to Sehun,” he offered.

Jongin appreciated that Yixing was always so understanding, he never seemed offended if someone didn't include him or said something odd. “Nah, you're good,” he confirmed. “Well, Chanyeol and I are...dating.”

Sehun's eyes widened slightly in his excitement, though he quickly tried to regain his usual composure. “Seriously? How did that even happen, Mr. I-don't-do-commitment?”

“Fuck off. I don't know. We had a fight. And then we talked through it. And it just happened.”

While he was expecting a few jabs from the other, all he received was a rare, wide smile. “Good for you.”

-

Jongin sighed as he settled into the booth of the coffee shop, clutching his drink in his hand. Chanyeol slid in after him, and it was almost immediate that Jongin reached to lace his fingers with the other's. Sehun and Yixing weren't long after, both of them plopping across from them. “Hey, you guys want to come to open mic night?” Chanyeol asked the table.

Sehun glanced toward Yixing. “As long as this one isn't reading another poem, sure.”

Yixing stared at him for a long moment. “You said you liked my poem.”

“I was being nice,” he admitted with a dry smile.

“I'll be there. But this weekend you are coming out to the club with me,” Jongin said. While they tended to have very different interests (outside of each other), they had started agreeing to explore different interests together. So Jongin would agree to go to things like open mic nights and listen to the music majors performances, and Chanyeol would come to some of the frat parties and the clubs that Jongin liked to frequent.

“Hey, did you hear about Luhan and Kris?” Sehun suddenly piped up.

“Are they fucking?”

“Yep. Yesterday morning I was going downstairs and I caught Luhan trying to sneak out of Kris's bedroom without anyone seeing him. It was great, he was embarrassed,” he snorted, “So apparently they're a thing now. According to Kris.”

Jongin looked over to Chanyeol and Yixing before asking a quiet, “Does that bother you?”

Sehun rolled his eyes. “Why would it? I'm not a pussy, I don't care. Good for them. Besides, I have this loser,” he gestured to Yixing, though there was a slight smile on his face. “That reminds me. Yixing, we're going on a double date tomorrow.”

“With who?” the other boy asked, not seeming put off by the idea, but merely curious.

“I'm going to try and see how Junmyeon and Jongdae work out. They both tell terrible jokes, and Junmyeon can help give Jongdae a brain. How could it go wrong?”

“You always say that. And it always goes wrong,” Jongin reminded him.

Sehun turned to fix him with a glare. “Baekhyun and Kyungsoo didn't.”

“One match out of dozens, and you're never going to let it go,” Jongin snorted.

-

When they left the cafe, Chanyeol's arms snaked around Jongin's waist, pulling him flush against his body. “Can I say something lame?”

Jongin couldn't help the smile that came to his face. “You're always lame,” he said with a quiet laugh, tilting his head back to kiss Chanyeol's jaw.

There was a swat to his hip. “You make me happy. I've never been this happy,” he finally uttered, voice deep and low in the chill night.

The smile spread, almost without him even realizing it. He twisted in his arms so that he could face the other. “That was lame,” he agreed, “But you make me happy too.” They kissed for a few long moments before Jongin pulled back again, “Can I be your happily ever after?”

(LJ Post)

Prompt#: 24

Title: Encounters of the Sexy Kind
Word Count: 11.4k
Rating: NC-17
Warning(s): smut and slightly weird alien anatomy
Summary: It isn’t that Chanyeol doesn’t believe in extraterrestrials, it’s just that this isn’t how he imagined meeting one.

Author’s Note: A million thank you stars to the lovely ladies who betaed this—E, L, and C. To the dear prompter, I tried to fit in all you requested! I hope everyone enjoys~

🌟 🌠 🌟

The long road stretches dark and empty over the desert-like valley. The lights from Chanyeol’s truck illuminate only what is right in front of it, barely penetrating the thick darkness around. It’s the last stretch of empty road before he arrives at the curving, dusty off-roads that lead home.

It’s time.

The front windows lower at the press of a button. Quickly selecting a playlist from his phone, Chanyeol then shoves one finger over the plus sign on the volume button, cranking it all the way up.

Piano notes boom out of the speakers.

Chanyeol grins, feeling the music vibrate through the seat under him. Rihanna sings the first verse in time with the haunting melody. As she gears for the chorus, Chanyeol opens his mouth and sings along.

I hit a wall, I thought that I would hurt myself

Chanyeol thumps the wheel, raises his palm, and dramatically clenches his fingers into a fist as he continues to sing.

Oh I was sure, your words would leave me unconscious
And on the floor I'd be lying cold, lifeless

Gathering air in his lungs, Chanyeol roars the next line.

But I hit a wall, I hit 'em all, watch the fall

He undulates his right arm along with his body as he gets into the last part of the chorus. He’s totally feeling this shit.

You're just another brick and I'm a sledgehammer
You're just another brick and I'm a sledgehammer

Aww, yeah. Singing along to Sledgehammer at the top of his lungs, and his Star Trek Beyond Blu-Ray waiting at home. Tonight is gearing up to be just as epic as the rest of his day.

His little league rascals surprised everyone by winning the state championship, leaving parents scrambling to come up with ideas for a celebration party. So, Chanyeol had pulled out all the stops (aka his wallet) and treated them to a full day of partying at the waterpark. Tired didn’t even begin to describe the bone-deep heaviness in his body after twelve hours plus with a bunch of twelve-year-olds, but it’s nothing a full night of sleep can’t cure.

Starting tomorrow, his schedule will be free of games and practices, and for his first weekend of freedom Chanyeol plans to geek-out with a Trek movie marathon. Spaceships, uncharted galaxies, and ali—

A blinding light blasts across the sky accompanied by a loud boom. Chanyeol startles hard, swerving onto the cracked dirt and rocks on the side of the road. His truck protests the rough treatment, but handles it nonetheless. He stomps on the breaks and turns off the radio. The light disappears over mountains, its glow spreading across the horizon for a second or two before dissipating.

“Woah.” Meteorites are pretty common out here in the middle of nowhere. In fact, his friends constantly tease him about aliens living in his backyard, which he always laughs off. It isn’t that Chanyeol doesn’t believe in extraterrestrials—like, come on, the universe is too big to only hold one advanced species—but he has never seen anything weird in his backyard or the surrounding land.

This meteorite was bigger though, all that light and the roar of its descent. The morning news will no doubt have some coverage of the event and the crash. Maybe he’ll go take a peek at the site tomorrow, after his Trek marathon and pretend he’s Captain Kirk discovering a new planet.

With a hearty chuckle, he eases the truck back onto the empty road and drives.

Arriving home, Chanyeol parks his huge red pickup 150 on the driveway and smiles at the stack of packages waiting for him on the front porch of his two-story desert ranch home. The mailman hates coming all the way out here to deliver, so he often holds back packages and brings them in batches. Chanyeol doesn’t mind. It’s like Christmas every Friday.

Before hoarding the loot inside and clawing his way through them to find his movie, Chanyeol unloads his truck. Baekhyun, his co-captain, usually takes the baseball equipment back to his town loft at the end of the season. But he got a girlfriend recently and in an effort to appear tidier, he’d asked Chanyeol to store it. Chanyeol didn’t mind. It wasn’t as if his terminal single-ness would change any time soon, plus he has plenty of space.

He pulls the heavy sport bags off the cargo bed, and takes them out back to the barn-garage where they’ll stay until the next season starts. For now, he stacks them into a corner and makes a mental note to find a more permanent place for them later.

An odd noise comes from outside, making him pause. Running water? Did a pipe burst or was someone out there? Chanyeol frowns, grabs one of the baseball bats from the bags, and exits the garage. This far out in the badlands, it’s probably a wild animal making a mess, but Chanyeol isn’t one to take chances. It’s hard to see in the dark, so he moves closer to the house until the back porch light flares up. He curses as it blinds him momentarily.

A puddle of water extends across the yard. The faucet he installed beside the flowerbed at the foot of the back porch is half-way open and steadily pouring onto a figure lying among his well-tended flowers.

“What the hell?” The still night absorbs Chanyeol’s whispered words, and he swallows suddenly too aware of the remoteness of the area. Chanyeol raises his bat, cautious of the intruder springing up and attacking, and moves closer. “Hello? Um, excuse me? I know there’s no fence, but you are trespassing.”

No answer.

The puddle gets bigger. Chanyeol curses and moves to shut off the faucet. Up close, he gets a good look at the figure and something in his chest tightens. Golden skin, dark pink hair, a sleek bike-riding suit all in black that contours sinfully to every muscle and sharp angle. Chanyeol has seen gorgeous, handsome, cute, but this man is on a whole other level.

Thoroughly soaked, with droplets still dripping down his hair and onto his cheeks, looking all serene and ethereal, Chanyeol guesses the man is younger than him. Is this one of the punk young adults who like to ride across the desert at night? Where are his friends?

Chanyeol drops the bat and kneels, ignoring the water seeping into his jeans. “Can you hear me? Hello?” A steady, if too rapid, pulse pounds underneath his fingers when he presses them to the man’s neck. Skin is hot to the touch as well, too hot. Is he hurt? Sick? How did he get here?

Several hard shakes of his shoulders has the man’s eyes fluttering open. Chanyeol is mesmerized by the intense purple irises with a star pattern inside. Woah, amazing contacts. They look so real. With a shake of his head, Chanyeol focuses on the trespasser. “Hey, there. Are you hurt? What’s your name?”

The man ignores the questions and raises a hand, reaching out to the faucet, trying to open it again.

“Dude, no. You’re already soaked through.” Chanyeol grabs the man’s hand and holds it between his. Long, golden fingers clench hard around his own, and the man sits up.

“Easy, easy!” Chanyeol helps keep the man steady as he sways. His body feels like a tiny sun, burning up against Chanyeol. If this was any other situation, Chanyeol would be burning up too from having such a gorgeous man in his arms. But this is an emergency. “Are you sick? What do you need?”

Thick, soft-looking lips move but barely a sound comes forth. “-ah…ter.”

Chanyeol frowns, unsure. “Water? You want water?”

The man grips Chanyeol’s shirt. His face is too close now, starry eyes wide open, as if looking into Chanyeol’s very core. He nods once and then slumps fully onto Chanyeol, unconscious once again.

“Shit.” Regardless of the strangeness of the situation, the man is clearly in need of help. Chanyeol grabs onto him and slides an arm under the man’s legs, lifting him. “Let’s get you inside.”

After opening the house one-handed and stumbling in, he debates where to settle him. Soaked through as he is, the man will need a change of clothes, so Chanyeol takes him to the downstairs bathtub. The stranger let out a soft sigh when Chanyeol settles him in the tub, but otherwise doesn’t wake. His golden skin feels even hotter inside the cool bathroom. He’s really burning up, but there’s no way to give him some ibuprofen while he’s out. Then Chanyeol remembers how Grandma Park used to give him and his sister warm baths when they got feverish, so he plugs the tub and opens the faucet.

Star-filled, purple eyes snap open when the water reaches the man’s hips. He flails and slides down the tub. Chanyeol jumps to catch him, but the man pushes him away, quickly gathers water in his hands, and raises it to his lips.

“Woah! Don’t do that!” Chanyeol slaps the man’s hand away. “It’s filthy, see?”

The man blinks slowly and looks down at the water. It’s quickly turning brown with the dirt and dust that clung to his suit from the flowerbed. A small whimper goes out of him.

The heartbroken look the man gives Chanyeol at this is enough to have him stumbling to his feet. “I’ll get you some water, okay? Don’t drown.”

Chanyeol dashes out and fetches a full pitcher and a plastic cup from the kitchen. The man all but rips the cup from Chanyeol’s hands when he offers it, and drinks like someone who has just found an oasis after long months lost in the desert. Chanyeol tells him to slow down, but the pitcher is empty in a few minutes.

The man raises the empty cup.

“If you drink any more, you’ll get a belly ache.” Chanyeol puts his hand over the man’s forehead. The fever seems to have gone down. “Why don’t we get you into some dry clothes, okay?” He steps to the towel cabinet in the corner of the bathroom. “Then you can tell me all about what you were doing outside my home in the middle of the night.”

Chanyeol is pulling out all the towels, trying to find the huge, fluffy ones, when the sound of the showerhead spray makes him jump. He turns and comes to a full halt.

The man stands in the tub, head tilted back and mouth open to the showerhead and the steady rain falling from it. The strange suit covering his body dissolves under the rivulets of water right in front of Chanyeol’s eyes. The body revealed is covered in strange, black tattoo-like markings that run along his arms and legs, racing across his sculpted sides and down his slim muscled back.

A rush of heat spreads across Chanyeol’s face and neck the longer stares. It’s shameful how the front of his jeans suddenly get uncomfortable as his cock reacts to the perfection of the male specimen before him. Holy shit.

“Apologies for intruding in your home and using your resources like this,” the man says suddenly, wrenching Chanyeol’s attention. His voice is rich and thick like a good piece of melted chocolate that Chanyeol wants to bite or lick. “Dehydration led me to stumble here by accident. Thank you for your water.”

“No problem,” Chanyeol answers numbly, unable to tear his eyes off the man who continues showering uncaring of his audience. He’s about to do the gentlemanly thing and leave, when the man turns and gives him a full frontal view. Chanyeol’s brain doesn’t melt, it just kinda comes to a full halt as it tries to make sense of what he’s seeing.

Except for a darker tattoo line right down the middle, it’s all smooth and clean between the man’s legs.

The dude has no genitals.

“It’s an annoyance that we can’t stand your sun. I was lucky to fall during night, but the desert atmosphere was still a bit too much for me,” the man says, continuing the conversation as he tilts his head back, letting the water cascade over his head.

Chanyeol’s boner has completely deflated as his mental breakdown continues. “You f-fell?” he asks dumbly. Of all the things, that’s what his brain catches on while his eyes still ogle the impossibility of the dude’s dick-less front.

“My ship fell, yes.”

“Ship? Your sh—Oh. Oh.” The skin, the eyes, the weird marks, the strange suit, the odd accent, the lack of dick. Chanyeol gets it now. His friend’s voices echo one single word inside his skull.

Alien.

As if reading his mind, the guy, no, the alien smiles wide. “My name is Kai. Thank you for your assistance, human.”

The towels fall from Chanyeol’s hands and he falls right on top of them.

🌟 🌠 🌟

Chanyeol clutches the couch’s single cushion, a Christmas gag gift Baekhyun gave him a few years ago. At the moment, it’s so not funny that the thing is shaped like an alien head, all green and with huge eyes. Fucking Baek.

“I was on vacation on my way to Mars to visit my friends Luhan and Yifan,” the alien pacing in his living room says, drawing full his attention.

Chanyeol runs a hand down his face and tries to breathe normally. An alien. There is an alien in his fucking living room, and he looks nothing like E.T. all wrinkly and gross. Instead, Kai is so handsome and ethereal that Chanyeol’s brain is fighting itself between freaking out and wanting to swoon.

“It’s very easy to get distracted by your beautiful planet. Unfortunately, while I was enthralled by it, I ran into a comet.” Kai’s smile is tiny and a little bit embarrassed, accompanied by a darker bronze blush on his cheeks.

Chanyeol holds back a groan, because he’s fucking distracted by the beautiful alien. After the shower and drinking alarming amounts of water, Kai’s skin glistens in tones of bronze and gold, his pink hair has deepened to a rich magenta, and his eyes hold galaxies full of sparkling stars—like, literal tiny sparkling dots in his purple irises.

Kai is not a creature from Earth. He is unknown and dangerous, but somehow those facts do nothing to lessen the strong pull of attraction. At least the spacesuit had regenerated after Kai dried up, giving Chanyeol back some control over his brain processes and his libido. Control that he has to use now to focus on the most surreal conversation ever.

“My starship bounced off it mostly unscathed, but the autopilot got damaged, and then gravity pulled me in. I ejected and…” Kai stops his story and frowns. “Are you following, human?”

Chanyeol shakes his head. This has to be a dream, right? He’d finally cracked and terminal singleness had conjured up a hot alien boy toy. But the cold water Kai had splashed on his face to wake him up after he passed out hadn’t woken him. Neither did the screaming (his own), or the fall downstairs (as he tried to escape), nor the self-slaps and hair-pulling he did before giving up and slumping onto the couch.

“Human?” Kai’s fingers brush against his cheek.

Fuck. Chanyeol jerks back. Everything was real. “C-Chanyeol.”

“What is a chan ion? Is it a new particle?” Kai draws back and tilts his head, the movement graceful and a little sexy. “I’m not that up to date with human technology advancements. Your species evolves so slowly, I prefer to read the Earth Digest every fifty years or so.”

Chanyeol’s groan ends in a sob. He ignores Kai’s explanation because it might break his brain if he thinks of the implications. Every fifty—How old is he? “Chanyeol is my name.”

“Strange.” Kai observes Chanyeol for a second too long, and then shrugs. “As I was saying, human, gravity pulled me in fast, but I ejected safely. Now, I require your help in moving my ship somewhere secure before any others discover it and call your authorities.”

A small ripping sound makes Chanyeol look down at his hands where he holds the alien cushion, the seams now torn on one side. Unclenching his fingers, he runs them through his hair, lightly pulling.

“Did you hear me? Other humans will come looking for me and that is a problem.”

The authorities will very much go looking for Kai once they discover the crashed ship and see tracks leading out from it. Alien hunters and fanatics will come from all over once the news breaks. And the damned trail will lead them straight to Chanyeol’s house.

“Oh my god.” Chanyeol stands in a rush. There’s no way he can deal with this on his own. He needs to talk to someone, anyone, but the risk of sounding like a lunatic has kept him from dialing. Still, maybe if he calls one of his friends? They’re always telling him an alien will crash land on his backyard, and here is one!

Chanyeol dives for the phone on the coffee table, unlocks the screen, but as he touches Sehun’s icon, the device suddenly disappears from his hand. Wait, what?

“I don’t think that is wise.” Kai’s voice has gone down an octave. Gone are the friendly lilt and strange alien accent.

Chanyeol gapes when he sees the phone Kai’s hands. “How did you…?”

Kai’s lips twitch, but he doesn’t smile. A heavy aura has gathered around him highlighting his otherworldliness. “High speed movement is like breathing to my species.”

Chanyeol breathing increases, his body catching up to the danger in the room. But underneath the fear is excitement. He is so fucked. A weight on his hand makes him look down to find his phone there again. “Shit.”

Kai rolls his purple eyes, and relaxes into charming and friendly once more. “Calm down, human, before you faint again. I didn’t mean to frighten you, but I’d prefer if you don’t call outsiders here. Think it through. Do you really want others knowing about me?”

Chanyeol hesitates. His friends weren’t exactly the best at keeping secrets, and one of this magnitude would inevitably get spilled. Revealing Kai would blow up a shit storm, one that Chanyeol would inevitably be caught up in. The only option available seems to be helping Kai rescue his ship so he can be on his way to…to Mars. Mars. “Fucking hell.”

Kai moves closer, looking down at Chanyeol. “Now that you’ve reached the inevitable conclusion, are you ready to find my ship?”

“You want to go now?” It’s just after midnight, and there is no way Chanyeol will willingly step into the desert with an alien on a hunt for a spaceship. Even one as distractingly attractive as Kai.

“The more we delay, the more time we give others to find it.”

Chanyeol groans. “That’s true but…Are you even okay to go out? You were unconscious on my flowers thirty minutes ago.”

“I’m fine, human. Now come. We must go—” Kai does the super speed again and appears at the door. He gasps and falls to his knees.

Chanyeol is off the sofa and at his side in a couple of strides. His heart has lodged somewhere in his throat, but the tightness eases somewhat when Kai clings to him, panting lightly. His golden skin is hot to the touch once more.

“Perhaps you are right,” Kai says. “I seem to have…overdone it.”

“You need more rest,” Chanyeol says. “And water?”

Kai nods, and then rests his head against Chanyeol’s shoulder.

A different tightness blooms in Chanyeol’s chest, one that’s full of pleasure and contentment at having a gorgeous man—alien—in his arms for the second time in one night. Chanyeol lifts him easily. “We can find your ship tomorrow.”

In the morning, Chanyeol wakes up and rubs his eyes. The weekend is here and he’s ready to settle down for a full day of Star Trek movies. But his morning wood demands attention first, so he rubs against the mattress to get things started as he thinks of the day ahead.

Chanyeol groans, feeling the warmth gather in his groin. It’s been a while since he’s had any time to himself what with baseball season and practices. Later, he’ll probably fire up the grill and cook up some home-made burgers, drink that apple-flavored beer his best bro had insisted he try. “Wonder what Sehun is up to?” he murmurs, the remnants of sleep making his tongue heavy. He probably shouldn’t be thinking of his BFF as he dry humps the bed.

“What is a Sehun?”

Chanyeol’s eyes fly open and he stops grinding, nerves firing up into high alert. He sits up in a tangle of sheets and finds a handsome pink-haired male standing beside his bed and peering down at him with such intensity Chanyeol’s dick twitches in interest. Until he remembers it’s Kai, the alien.

“Fuck!” Chanyeol jerks back and stumbles right off the bed.

“Are you all right, human?”

Peeking over the edge of the bed, Chanyeol finds the alien still standing there. Kai is looking better again, bronzed skin, magenta hair, and sparkly sparkly eyes. He’s donned an apron over his black space suit and is holding a breakfast tray with coffee and a plate of still-steaming pancakes. What the fuck?

“I have made breakfast,” Kai says, stumbling over the word with his weird alien pronunciation. “Your world information network, said these circular bread stuffs are typical morning food. Not very nutritious, but I must admit their taste is quite good.”

Chanyeol is way too fucking asleep for this shit. Boner now gone, he drags himself back onto the bed, shoves his head under a pillow and screams. How could he have forgotten the sinfully good looking alien residing in his house? The one that still needed help in finding his spaceship, but was now apparently playing house and cooking Chanyeol breakfast!

Once Chanyeol finishes freaking out, he emerges from under the pillow.

Kai is still there, looking gorgeous and perfect, holding up the cup of coffee. “Caffeine?”

Inhale and exhale, just inhale and exhale. Chanyeol accepts the cup and drinks half of it in one go, hoping it’s enough to wake him up to deal with…everything. “World information network…you mean, the internet?” he asks.

“Inter net. Yes. It’s a very subpar version of the one my kind uses. You can’t even communicate across your planetary system, much less the galaxy.” Kai settles the tray over Chanyeol’s lap. “It’s useful enough to answer inane queries like ‘what do humans eat for breakfast’ so I suppose it works.”

Chanyeol shakes his head and shoves the pancakes in his mouth one after the other, if only not to scream again.

Kai blinks at him. “Fascinating. Is this how all humans feed?”

“It’s how I feed…eat…dammit.”

“Is the meal acceptable?”

Chanyeol sets his fork down once finished, and glances up at the alien who is waiting expectantly for an answer. “The pancakes were great.”

A pleased grin spreads over Kai’s face. It makes him look younger and not at all threatening. “It’s payment for your services, human. Now, come, we must go in search of my ship.”

Chanyeol coughs, spitting some of his coffee. “Could I at least get a moment to breathe first?”

One second the alien is at his bedside, the next Kai is a single inch away from Chanyeol’s face. The stars in his purple eyes flash in a distressing pattern. “Every second we waste is a second your fellow humans will get closer to discovering me. We should leave. Now.”

Chanyeol swallows. It’s scary as fuck and yet hot as hell when Kai goes all intense alien. “Yeah, ok.”

Kai pulls back. “Excellent. I’ll wait downstairs.”

After the alien super-speed disappears from his room, Chanyeol jumps out of bed and hurries to the bathroom to take care of his cock, which had sprung at attention once more.

🌟 🌠 🌟

Out in the desert, temperature rises at a steady pace as the sun creeps higher in the sky. Chanyeol has been following Kai’s directions, based on the pulses his suit emits. Apparently, it’s connected to the ship via fancy alien tech. They’ve been on the hunt for a full hour, yet even with the truck’s AC on high, the heat is filtering in. Kai hasn’t said anything, but his golden skin has started to look a bit faded and flushed.

Chanyeol glances at him. “Are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine for a few more hours,” Kai says, but the way he backs further up on his seat, trying to stay away from the sunrays coming in through the windows, tells a different story.

Chanyeol reaches behind his seat and into the backpack he shoved there when they left. He takes out one of the water bottles and hands it over.

Kai downs it in one go.

“Better?”

“Yes, thank you, human.”

The relief in Kai’s words and the resulting smile makes Chanyeol flush. He bites his lip and keeps driving. Not long after, they come upon the crash site. It’s full of people—young, old, gawkers, officials. Chanyeol’s pulse goes into hyperdrive at the camouflage trucks parked in a line. The military only comes to one of these sites when they are sure something stranger than usual has landed. “How are we supposed to find a ship and move it with this kind of crowd?”

“My ship isn’t here,” Kai explains, and insists they continue driving past the crater.

Following instructions, Chanyeol moves on from the crowded site, and only stops once Kai taps the dash, urging him to stop. After parking by the side of a trail, they exit the truck into a scorching landscape. Chanyeol grabs the backpack, and two snapbacks, forces one over Kai’s head before allowing him to run off.

Chanyeol keeps a close eye on the alien, monitoring his condition and moving in close to offer water when needed. Kai always manages a smile for him, and no matter how stupid or irrational, it sets Chanyeol’s heart soaring every single time.

They find the ship close to noon, when the sun is beating down hard over their backs. Even with Chanyeol’s cap over his head, Kai is swaying on his feet, no doubt affected by the sun and heat. Chanyeol is about to offer him the last bottle of water, when the alien gasps and gains a burst of energy. Kai moves quickly up the trail to what appears to be another rock formation at first glance. Upon the alien’s touch, a ripple goes out and the shiny disk of a single-manned craft appears.

“It really looks like an UFO.” Chanyeol admires the thing from afar, wary of it. It’s smaller than his truck, but the roundness makes it wider.

Kai keeps his palm connected to the top, eyes closed. Chanyeol doesn’t doubt he’s somehow communicating with the ship through some alien tech mojo. Lines of light spark out from Kai’s palm and the disc rises to hover a few feet over the desert floor. It’s how they carry it back to the truck, and settle it onto the truck bed.

Chanyeol shakes his head. It looks absolutely ridiculous protruding sideways from the back. The effort of carrying it seems to have drained Kai, so he Chanyeol hates to ask. “You’re going to do that camouflage trick again, right?”

Sweat droplets dot Kai’s face, and he looks ready to keel over. Wordlessly, Chanyeol hands him the last water bottle. A smile isn’t granted this time, and Kai simply touches the ship to camouflage it. Chanyeol helps him up onto the truck and drives as fast as he can back home.

The UFO fits inside the garage. It’s a relief when Chanyeol finally closes the barn doors and rests his back against them. There’s still the risk of someone tracing Kai back here, but the alien only needed a few hours to fix his ship and be gone, right?

However, hours later—after hydrating and resting—Kai is staring at his ship with a critical eye and a displeased frown. “It sustained more damage than I thought,” he says. “Fixing it won’t be as easy, especially since I don’t have any replacement parts.”

Chanyeol scratches his head. “What does that mean? Are you stuck here?”

“Hardly. I’ll just have to make some parts by melting and mixing until I get the right elements to—”

“Yeah, okay, so you can fix it?” Chanyeol says, slightly exasperated. The crash made headline news and the story had gone viral online. Apparently, someone had captured a video where the shape of the UFO was clearly visible in the middle of the ball of light. Chanyeol didn’t know how long it would be until someone arrived at his place asking questions.

“I will require use of your tools, human,” Kai says.

Chanyeol grinds his teeth. The name human is starting to grate on his patience. “Take anything, just…fix it up and fly away before anyone comes and discovers all this.” He leaves the alien alone and goes back to the house to try and salvage his weekend. It’s too hot outside now to grill burgers, so he’ll have to settle for some pre-made oven pizzas. “Damned alien.”

The rest of the afternoon is uneventful. Chanyeol resists the urge to check on Kai, to ask if he needs more water or to remind him to rest. He’s not the alien’s caretaker. He’s not the alien’s anything, no matter how much his brain keeps giving him scenarios in which he can live happily ever after with the hottest alien ever. So, he focuses on completing his Trek marathon.

It turns out he should’ve been more specific when he told Kai to take anything he needed. He’s mid-movie when a resounding crash comes from the driveway. Chanyeol races outside to a disaster. He cries out, stumbling over his feet and almost falling. His heart drops into his stomach and nausea threatens. His beautiful red truck has been disassembled, and now lies in pieces across his backyard.

Kai stands nearby, a ball of metal floating between his hands.

Chanyeol roars. “What the hell did you do?”

“I needed material to melt for the parts and your vehicle had the required—”

“Put my baby back together!”

Kai shakes his head and raises the spinning metal ball. “Already melted the pieces, human. There’s nothing I can—”

“Would you stop calling me human?” Chanyeol yells.

Tilting his head, Kai frowns. How dare he try being cute? “But it’s what you are.”

Chanyeol wants to kick his ass so hard he’ll blast out the atmosphere and straight to Mars without needing a ship. But knowing how fast and strong Kai is, the attempt would end badly. Chanyeol snarls and swallows his anger in, and then storms inside, murmuring foul curses about annoying yet extremely sexy aliens.

🌟 🌠 🌟

Chanyeol glances up when the back door screen squeaks open and finds it has gone full dark outside. He tries not to tense up, to disregard the sound of footsteps coming nearer, but he can’t ignore the sexy alien walking towards him.

Fucking stars.

The hottest man he’s ever met lands at his doorstep and turns out to be an alien. Not only that, but said alien manages to disrupt his entire weekend by making Chanyeol go spaceship hunting, and then dismantling his brand new truck to use as spare parts. Chanyeol doesn’t even want to think about the awkward boners he keeps popping, full of conflicting feels and ridiculous fantasies.

All this shit in less than twenty-four hours. Chanyeol has only held back the tears because they would’ve prevent him from watching the highlight of his Trek marathon—Spock and Uhura making out on screen.

The loose hardwood board behind the couch squeaks. Surprising given that Kai’s super speed would make him soundless if he wanted. Then it hits him. Kai is making all the noise on purpose. Chanyeol sighs and lifts his gaze from the movie.

Kai’s black suit is now splattered covered in some kind of fluorescent liquid, and there are stains all over his face as well. Spaceship grease and oil? “I’m sorry about your vehicle,” the alien says, all the haughtiness gone from his voice. He also didn’t tack in human at the end, and it has Chanyeol’s hackles lowering. “You’ll be happy to know my ship is almost ready. She should be fully charged in ten Earth hours or so.”

“Great,” Chanyeol says. The alien is leaving in ten hours. He should be ecstatic about the news, but for some reason he’s not.

“Chan Ion…I promise to return and fix your truck on my way back from Mars.” Kai gives a tiny, hesitant smile as if afraid of Chanyeol’s response.

Chanyeol wants to stay mad at the alien, but he can’t quite manage it when Kai sounds so sincere in his apology. The cute way Kai says Chanyeol’s name wrong might have something to do with it as well. “Yeah, okay.”

Kai walks around and sits beside Chanyeol on the couch. A full minute passes in silence as they watch the movie. “Saturn is my favorite planet,” he comments as he sees the Enterprise rise from the planet’s rings.

Chanyeol closes his eyes as his heart gives an extra out of place thump. Statements like that only serve to freak him out, and at the same time endear him to the alien. Conflicting feels. “Is that where you come from?”

Kai laughs, all soft and too beautiful. “Oh, no. I’m not from this galaxy.”

If the alien’s plan is to draw him into a conversation, it’s working. Curiosity gets the better of Chanyeol, and he sits sideways on the couch to face Kai. “Um, what galaxy do you call home? Are your species very advanced? Do you have a boyfriend?” Wait, what?

Kai laughs, a thrilling sound and sends Chanyeol’s heart racing. “It’s not that we are so very advanced, but that your species is so slow with progress.” Kai shakes his head. “For example, you idolize the moon and celebrate stepping on it, but don’t even bother to colonize and settle in. It would make an excellent space port.”

Chanyeol sighs and massages his temples. Haughty and superior again. “We’re all idiots, I get it. But it’s really rude when you keep repeating it.”

Kai smiles and touches Chanyeol’s arm. “It’s not my intention to offend. I just find you…peculiar.”

Chanyeol narrows his eyes. Kai’s star-filled eyes are literally sparkling, teasing. The look sets Chanyeol’s blood racing, making his body pleasantly warm and alive. He registers the way Kai’s thigh presses against his own, and he only wants to lean over and kiss him. Panicking, he blurts, “Y-You’re dirtying up my couch.”

Kai is suddenly standing, glaring down at his suit which is covered in desert dust and whatever weird fluid his ship uses as grease or oil. “Apologies…again.” An embarrassed pink flushes his ears. “I will wash now.”

Chanyeol hates super speed, but it’s kinda fun to see the alien flustered. Better than him being flustered and popping another awkward boner. “Are you hungry?”

Kai nods.

“Go clean up. I’ll have dinner ready.” Preparing food will calm him down, and give him time to think. Though it seems no matter how hard he convinces himself of the opposite, he’s more than a little attracted to the alien.

“Chan Ion?”

Chanyeol startles and looks back. “Y-Yeah?”

“After everything I’ve done…caused you worry, destroyed your things, put you in danger by being here,” Kai says softly, “and you will still make me a meal?”

Chanyeol shrugs. “You made me pancakes.”

Kai’s frown is full of confusion. “But it’s not an equal exchange. On my planet—”

“We’re on Earth,” Chanyeol says. “Here we feed our guests and make sure they are comfortable, no matter if they’ve broken a plate…or a truck.”

By the deeper frown on his golden forehead, the alien still doesn’t understand. Kai looks up at Chanyeol, purple eyes vivid with emotion. “I thank you.”

“Shower, then food.” Chanyeol hurries to the kitchen, away from the open and vulnerable look on the alien’s face. Has no one been kind to him? What kind of society does Kai live in? So many questions. Just thinking about an entire extraterrestrial civilization made his head spin.

Chanyeol loses himself in making dinner, allowing the motions to calm him and keep his mind relaxed, away from thoughts of invasions and Independence Day. It’s harder though, to keep away from remembering the sound of Kai’s laugh, the way his eyes literally sparkle when he teases, and the buzzing left behind whenever they touch. What would it be like to run his fingers across that golden and toned body? To hold Kai close and press his lips against the alien’s plump ones.

Chanyeol shivers.

Dinner is done by the time light footsteps sound behind him. “You took a long time,” he says. “Did you use up all my hot water?” Chanyeol takes a huge drink from his beer and turns.

Holy alien mothership.

Kai is completely naked in the middle of his kitchen. It’s everything Chanyeol had seen the day before…and more. What he’d believed was another tattoo running down Kai’s pelvis is now an open slit and a thick, ridged purple cock juts out from it (no balls). Kai’s golden fingers are wrapped tightly around it, stroking slow and hard.

“Hyung.” The Korean word comes out of Kai’s plush lips as a needy whine.

Chanyeol spits beer all over the place. The honorific, the sound. Both will fuel Chanyeol’s dirty imagines until the day he dies. “What the fuck?”

“Did I say it wrong?” Kai asks clearly confused, but doesn’t stop stroking. “It’s your native language, correct? I apologize. I should’ve researched your files further and perfected the pronunciation.”

Chanyeol wipes beer off his mouth and chin. “I meant, what the fuck are you doing naked?” And stroking the scariest, most wonderful cock I’ve ever seen. Fuck. “And what do you mean my files?”

Kai lets go of his erection. His ridged cocks bob up and down with the motion, the head bulbous and shiny with precome. Chanyeol is about to combust. “I took a moment to review your world information base more thoroughly, and it says copulation is an acceptable form of payment and apology. I didn’t know what you liked, so I searched your personal files and recent visited sites.”

It takes a moment for Chanyeol to make sense of what Kai has just said. “What? No. No no no. I told you we’re on Earth. No payment, no apology. Certainly not like this!”

Kai frowns. “Is it that I’m not appealing to you? I should’ve asked what type of partner you prefer, but your files only showed males, so I assumed—”

“It’s not that!” Chanyeol’s mind is spinning. An alien just hacked into his laptop to research his porn preferences so he could then pleasure Chanyeol correctly. He can only gasp and make odd noises.

Frustration is evident in Kai’s face. Even his erection is wilting, cock turning smoother and thinner like a tentacle. “I even selected a similar form of reproductive organ, so you’d be more comfortable.”

Chanyeol wants to open the fridge and shove his head inside. It’s the only way he’ll be able to cool off. “Listen, it’s not you. Believe me I am very tempted, but…you don’t have to do this to apologize, okay? And I don’t need any payment for helping you out. It’s a kindness.”

“A kindness? It’s not a concept my species knows.”

“Help without expectations.” Chanyeol explains, then quickly flails his hand at kai. “Now could you please put some clothes on?”

Kai stares. “You are aroused.”

“Of course I am!” Chanyeol rakes his fingers through his hair. “You are gorgeous and naked. I’m a weak, weak, human. I’m sorry.”

A flash second and Kai is unbearably close, settling his hands over Chanyeol’s chest. The buzzing touch goes all the way down to Chanyeol’s cock. “So, you want this?”

Chanyeol closes his eyes. Kai is an alien. A hot as fuck alien, but an alien nonetheless. Chanyeol’s brain needs to get itself out of that track, because no way is he doing the dirty with an extraterrestrial. No matter how much his body is craving this. “Kai, please.”

“No payment, no apology,” Kai says, repeating Chanyeol’s previous words. “But what if I want this?”

Chanyeol whimpers. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“Your internet has many instructional videos about copulation,” Kai leans in closer and whispers. “I did my research and I am very curious.”

“Oh god.” Chanyeol shivers hard as Kai’s hands roam all over his front. There are so many reasons why this is the worst idea ever. He could spend all the hours until Kai’s departure listing out why they shouldn’t do this or…he can spend them letting his body feel and letting his heart race.

Kai seems to sense him giving up, because pulls back and says, “Fuck me, hyung.”

A jolt courses through Chanyeol’s body and goes straight to his cock, filling it up even more. He pulls Kai close, caressing his golden cheek with one hand and tilting his head back softly. Their lips come together naturally and unhurriedly. It’s almost timid the way their mouths move together, tongues coming out to tease only.

When they pull back, there’s undeniable wonder in Kai’s eyes. The alien licks his slick lips. “More.”

The last restraint breaks.

🌟 🌠 🌟

Grabbing Kai’s waist, Chanyeol pushes him up against the nearest vertical surface, which turns out to be the fridge, and slots their bodies together from chest to groin. The alien clings to Chanyeol’s shoulder and his purple eyes go wide for a second, probably at his naked body touching the cold stainless steel. Chanyeol moves, grinding his clothed erection against Kai’s naked cock, and the alien’s eyes roll back in bliss. Kai’s moan echoes quite nicely in the kitchen, so he grinds up again wanting to hear more.

Chanyeol pulls the fully naked alien in for a rougher kiss, full of deep licks and not-so-gentle lip bites. The needy whines leaving Kai’s mouth set Chanyeol’s blood on fire. Maybe it’s because it’s been so long, maybe it’s because Kai is the most gorgeous man to ever want him, but Chanyeol could just come from this. From touching and grinding and listening to Kai’s fucking sweet noises.

The alien’s soft skin shivers in want with every brush of Chanyeol’s fingers. He lets his mouth wander across Kai’s jaw, and when Kai gasps and throws his head back, he sucks delicately at the alien’s neck.

“Is this how humans mate?” Kai says, running his fingers through Chanyeol’s hair and playfully pulling.

Chanyeol grinds up hard, making Kai gasp. “Eager much?”

“Curious,” Kai whispers against Chanyeol’s ear and nips at the cartilage.

“Fuck. Okay, hold on.” After wrapping Kai’s long legs around his waist, Chanyeol carries him upstairs. They almost fall (twice), too distracted with their kissing and touching and getting rid of Chanyeol’s clothes, but eventually fall onto bed laughing.

Chanyeol is more than curious as well as he wraps his fingers around Kai’s purple dick. The ridges down the shaft throb with each stroke, and though there’s no sack at the root, Kai seems equally sensitive when Chanyeol presses his fingers along the slit.

“Hyung,” Kai whines. “Fill me up.”

Chanyeol chokes and his dick throbs. “Fucking hell. What kind of videos did you research for this?”

Kai grins and thrusts into the tight ring of Chanyeol’s fingers. “The ones you like,” the alien says, voice breaking into a moan when Chanyeol tightens his grip.

Chanyeol lets Kai chase his own pleasure for a moment before letting go. “Turn over.” He reaches for the lube and a condom in the bedside table, but freezes up when he looks back.

Kai waits on all fours, ass on full display. He’s completely smooth, and instead of a puckered entrance, there’s a pale circle that reminds Chanyeol of the suction cups of an octopus’ tentacle. Holy shit.

Fascinated (and a bit scared), Chanyeol touches it with the pad of his index finger. It’s moist and a little sticky, and when he applies pressure it opens up easily. Chanyeol slides the first finger to the knuckle and curls it a bit, applying pressure to the walls. Kai moans at this and his ass suddenly clenches, suctioning the finger. Chanyeol gasps at the incredible pressure. He’s not going to last at all.

Opening Kai up is easy as the alien seems to have full control of his inner muscles and secretes a sticky substance, which is weird but useful. Chanyeol would comment on it, but he doesn’t want to ruin the mood. Kai is flushed and eager, pushing back onto Chanyeol’s fingers. His purple cock is heavy between his legs, dripping lavender-colored precum all over the sheets.

“Please, hyung,” Kai says. “I’m ready.”

Chanyeol slides on a condom and spreads lube over it. He rubs the tip against the round suction cup of Kai’s entrance, and then pushes inside. He gasps and holds tight onto Kai’s hips. The alien’s walls mold perfectly to his cock, and when he slides out and thrusts in again, the suction makes his head spin.

Kai squirms underneath him, gasping at each thrust. Chanyeol picks up the pace, hoping to bring them both as much pleasure before the inevitably quick end. The wave keeps building and it’s about to crash over and spill out except the pressure around his cock is too much so there’s nowhere to go. Chanyeol cries out and slumps over Kai’s back twitching as he experiences his first dry orgasm.

Chanyeol groans. “Fuck!”

Kai reaches back with a hand and grips onto Chanyeol’s hand. “Did I hurt you?”

“Almost killed me.” Chanyeol chuckles at Kai’s distressed whimper. “I’m fine, just…not so tight.” He grips Kai’s ass and squeezes until the alien relaxes his hold.

A bronze blush spreads over Kai’s neck and ears. “Better? Can you…continue?”

“Give me a minute.” Or five.

Chanyeol kisses the back of Kai’s neck as he slides an arm around the alien’s chest to tease his golden brown nipples. They turn hard and nubby at his touch, and Kai lets out a pleased sigh as he arches into the touch. Chanyeol is still hard inside of him, but oversensitive, so he sticks to grinding slowly against Kai’s ass.

The alien tries moving faster, but Chanyeol holds him still. “You like that?” He whispers and drifts his hand lower to grab hold of Kai’s hard cock. He spreads the precum along the shaft. “Like me inside you?”

“Yes,” Kai hisses and keeps still as Chanyeol plays with his cock and grinds against him.

Sensations start to build up. Unable to hold back, Chanyeol starts to move once again, fucking Kai in long, deep thrusts that have the alien crying out. Chanyeol keeps stroking Kai’s ridged cock, making it pulse harder each time. Kai lowers his shoulders onto the bed, keeping his ass up and open for Chanyeol to fuck him harder. And he does.

“That’s it, gorgeous. Feel it,” Chanyeol growls. “Come for hyung.”

Kai tenses up and his eyes shoot wide open. The filthiest moan comes out of his mouth, and he grips hard onto the pillow as he comes. There’s a second of pressure around Chanyeol’s cock, but the alien seems to remember himself and doesn’t tighten too much.

Chanyeol keeps jerking him through the orgasm, fascinated at the cock ridges turning smoother with each stroke. When Kai slumps onto the bed, Chanyeol pulls out, takes the condom off, and quickly strokes himself to completion. He pumps every last drop of his come out, watching it splash over Kai’s bronzed and sculpted ass. Fuck if this isn’t the hottest thing he’s ever done. He groans and falls to the side. Breaths deliciously hard, body relaxed to the max, he pulls a grinning Kai closer and allows himself a minute to enjoy.

Clean up can wait.

Or, by the way Kai’s hand drifts down lower over Chanyeol’s abs, why clean up when round two was being requested?

🌟 🌠 🌟

A loud and insistent knocking wakes Chanyeol. The warmth of Kai’s body beside his is too tempting to ignore, so he nuzzles the golden skin of the alien’s neck and shoulder. But the knocking comes again. What the fuck? Why was someone trying to break his door so early in the morning?

Chanyeol slides off the bed, smiling when Kai huddles the sheets closer around him. He slides on some boxers, a shirt, and then hurries downstairs. He yanks the door open and frowns at the men in black suits standing on his porch. “Can I help you?”

A badge is flashed too fast for him to see. “I’m special agent Joon, CIA. This is my partner Chen. We’re investigating the escape of a high level criminal that ran away through this area. Could we ask you a few questions?”

Took them long enough. Keeping calm, Chanyeol steps outside and closes the door behind him. “Sure thing. Ask away.”

The agents glance at each other, and the first one takes off his glasses. “The criminal escaped the night before last. We believe he might’ve passed through here. Have you seen or heard anything out of the ordinary?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“What did you do that night?”

Chanyeol tries not to sweat too much or hesitate with his answer. “I was out celebrating with my team. Little league. Came home close to midnight. Went straight to bed.”

“What about yesterday?” Agent Joon presses. “Anything unusual?”

Chanyeol swallows, then grins. “If you count the unbearable heat spike, then yes. But that’s not unusual in these parts.”

The agents do not seem amused. They press with a few more questions, but when it’s evident Chanyeol won’t say anything much, they say their goodbyes. “We’ll keep in touch, Mr. Park.”

Chanyeol raises a hand and watches them drive away, their black van throwing plumes of dirt into the air. It’s only after the dust has settled that he realizes he never gave the agents his name. Which means they knew him before they even came knocking on his door.

“Fuck.” Chanyeol goes back inside and races upstairs. “Kai.” He shakes the alien. “Kai!”

“Hm?” Purple eyes blink open. The lazy smile spreading across his face, turns into alarm quickly. “What is it?”

“They know you’re here.”

Kai draws a sharp inhale and disappears from the bed.

Did he super-speed leave? “Wait!” Chanyeol yells.

The alien reappears right beside Chanyeol, a thousand apologies and regrets written across the galaxies in his eyes. “I have to leave, Chan Ion.”

“I know, but…” Chanyeol swallows. What can he say that doesn’t sound completely demented and irrational? That he wants Kai to stay? That he is falling hard for the alien? They can’t just part ways now, when everything is starting.

“It’s the middle of the day and they’re no doubt watching the house.” Chanyeol grabs Kai’s hands. “Wait until night, okay?”

“Sound logic, human,” Kai says. Chanyeol doesn’t even mind, because Kai quickly steps closer and wraps his arms around Chanyeol’s middle.

“Your last hours on Earth,” Chanyeol murmurs. “What would you like to do?”

Kai tightens his embrace, his palms pressing against Chanyeol’s back, and then sliding lower. And lower. They drift over Chanyeol’s ass and grip the soft flesh there. “What we did last night…can it be my turn?”

Chanyeol’s cock twitches with rapid growing interest. “You want to top me?”

“If that means I get to touch you inside,” Kai’s fingers press right over Chanyeol’s hole, “and drill you onto the bed like you did to me, then yes.”

Chanyeol moans. “I haven’t…done that in a while. But, yes, please.”

Kai uses his super speed to get Chanyeol back on the bed, naked and spread-eagled in record time. The alien devours his mouth as he grinds against Chanyeol’s ass, making him moan each time the flared head of his ridged cock nudges at the tight entrance. Fuck. How is that going to feel inside of him?

Chanyeol moans, eager and needy when Kai’s hand drifts down his abs, pausing to tease his cock with some lazy pulls, before moving on. Kai’s fingers are soft, but insistent as they massage around Chanyeol’s rim. “Show me how to prepare you, hyung.”

Oh, fuck. “Lube,” Chanyeol gasps. “Get the lube.”

It’s a mad scramble to find the bottle which had rolled off the bed last night. Once found, Chanyeol quickly spreads the gel on his fingers before raising his legs and exposing himself to Kai. The alien licks his lips, and Chanyeol groans at the ideas his brain comes up with for that tongue. He spreads the now warm gel around his hole and gets one finger in to the knuckle.

The last time he indulged in a little ass play, he’d ended up frustrated at only having a plastic dildo to fill him up. But now he’s getting the real thing, an alien dick. It has him hurrying with prep. When he has two fingers steadily pumping in and out, Kai whimpers. The alien is flushed in tones of bronze, and his eyes sparkle steadily.

“Want to try?” Chanyeol asks, breathless.

Kai isn’t shy or hesitant about sliding in one of his fingers alongside Chanyeol’s, testing the warm walls with steady pressure. It’s a few moments until he finds Chanyeol’s prostate and presses hard.

“Oh my god!” Chanyeol’s hips fly off the bed. The alien panics and starts to pull away, but Chanyeol grabs his hand and holds it while he fucks himself on Kai’s fingers.

Kai gasps. “Can I…I want…”

Chanyeol let’s Kai’s hand go. “Yes. Please.”

Kai kisses him first, hard and fast, and then settles over him guiding his purple cock with one hand. Chanyeol’s mouth drops open at the initial push, and all air goes out of him when the flared head pops inside. But the delicious torture begging when Kai starts to slide in. Holy hung aliens.

“Hyung?” Kai asks.

“Move.” Chanyeol’s breath goes out in a rush. “Please, move.”

Kai starts out slowly, moving his hips in tiny motions and watching Chanyeol closely.

It’s a bit embarrassing being so closely observed while trying not to fall apart. Heat flashes up Chanyeol’s cheeks and down his neck. His cock jerks across his lower abs, spreading precum across them. He’s so hard. Kai’s cock feels like…well, like nothing he’s ever felt before. Chanyeol could count each ridge as it goes into him, dragging along his walls, and making him twitch in pleasure.

Then Kai speeds up. Chanyeol lets go and gives into the sensations. He is a fucking mess in no time. There’s an alien plowing him into the bed, eliciting the most sinful and erotic moans that Chanyeol didn’t even know he was capable of. There’s no doubt it’s the best fuck he’ll ever have. He doesn’t want it to end, but his orgasm keeps building and building, a coiling heat deep inside of him that’s about to burn him up.

“Will you come for me, hyung?” Kai asks, as he bites along Chanyeol’s clavicle and fucks him harder, as if he sensed the impending end. “Will you come, Chanyeol?”

It’s the first time Kai says his name right, and the thrill of it has Chanyeol shouting as comes hard. Kai fucks him hard through the orgasm, his rigged dick rubbing hard against the clenching walls and sending electric shocks of pleasure all over Chanyeol’s body. He comes for the longest minute before his vision goes white and he slumps onto the bed, into a mess of his own come, too exhausted and blissed out to care.

Kai pulls out. Hot liquid splashes across Chanyeol’s ass and inner thighs, making him groan. The alien smirks and lowers himself until his lips are right over Chanyeol’s. “I’ve marked you as well.”

Chanyeol can only chuckle as Kai kisses him and steals his breath once more.

🌟 🌠 🌟

Night comes too soon. Chanyeol busies himself preparing a backpack with bottles of water and some snacks for Kai to take on his trip to Mars. The alien has already promised to stop on his way back, but even with Kai’s super spiffy alien ship it takes two weeks to the red planet and two weeks back. An entire month without Kai, which Chanyeol can totally do (maybe), and after they’ll have a few more days (hopefully a lot more days) while Kai rebuilds the truck. But after that…

This was supposed to be a fling, dammit, but now the thought of never seeing Kai again fills Chanyeol with a heavy sadness. Taking care of Kai and making sure he stayed hydrated filled Chanyeol with purpose. The alien’s curiosity, his incredible remarks about his alien society, and even the occasional haughtiness, livened Chanyeol’s entire weekend. Who would’ve guessed the cure to his terminal singleness would be an alien?

Chanyeol chuckles sadly, closes the backpack, and heads outside to the garage. Kai sits in his spaceship’s tiny cockpit and smiles when Chanyeol hands over the backpack. He settles it beside his feet and pats it. “Thank you.”

“I’ll miss you,” Chanyeol blurts out.

Kai’s eyes sparkle as he stands and pulls Chanyeol’s mouth to his. The kiss is chaste, but lingering. It leaves a pleasant buzz on Chanyeol’s lips. “I’ll be back soon,” Kai says and loosens his hold.

“You better.” Chanyeol steps back.

A teasing grin and star-filled eyes that start to twinkle light up the heaviness of the moment. “Take care, hyung.”

Chanyeol laughs and shakes his head. He raises a hand in farewell as he continues moving back. The circular hovers higher and starts moving out of the barn garage. A strong roar of engines becomes louder, and for a moment, Chanyeol is confused. Kai’s ship is pretty much soundless, so what is going on?

In storm of dust, five black cars skid into the backyard, lighting up the space in red, blue, and white. Men in heavy gear exit each vehicle and aim huge guns at Kai’s ship. Agents Joon and Chen are there too, taking cover behind one of the front cars. Chanyeol has a second to freeze in shock, before he reacts and runs in front of them.

“Don’t shoot!”

They do. A hail of bullets pings off the ship’s underside as it takes off and zooms into the atmosphere. Chanyeol hits the ground and turns in time to watch the saucer fly away with half of his heart. He doesn’t even get a full minute to mourn the loss before someone yanks him to a stand.

The guard holds him in a tight grip, while Agent Joon strides over. “Mr. Park, you are hereby arrested for harboring an unidentified life form.”

Chanyeol gapes. “Are you serious?”

Agent Chen does the honors of cuffing him, twisting Chanyeol’s arm a bit too hard. His protests fall on deaf ears, and struggling only earns him a punch to the stomach before he’s shoved in the back of one of the cars. He’s alone, without his phone, about to be carted off to who knows where. Yet all Chanyeol can think about is Kai. Did he make it to space all right? Did he find chocolate chip cookies Chanyeol sneaked in the backpack? Will he really come back?

An insistent pounding in his head wakes Chanyeol up. He presses a hand to his temple and sits up. The room is gray and bare with a clear full wall hosting a door. The tray on the floor is full of food once again. It means another day has passed. It’s been hard to keep track, but he guesses it’s been a full week already.

There’s a routine to captivity. It starts with breakfast, usually a slop that’s supposed to be oatmeal and watered down juice. Then a guard takes him to another room where Agent Chen spends an hour questioning him. Depending on how well that goes, they give him lunch. Then it’s a choice of light torture (lowering the temperature until his room is freezing cold or raising it until it’s unbearably hot) versus heavier torture (getting beat up). Agent Joon comes next with more questions. Again, dinner depends on how satisfied the agent is with Chanyeol’s answers.

After that comes the worse part as Chanyeol is left completely alone. The silence coupled with the nothingness in his room is unbearable. Chanyeol usually talks to himself, but even that’s not enough to stop his overly creative his mind from summoning horrors.

Chanyeol shakes his head, momentarily forgetting the headache, and groaning when it sets to pounding again. It’s the most awful he’s felt and that includes the second day beating that left him with a black eye and bruises all over. But he has to be strong. He has to. Someone will come for him, his friends, or his parents. He will get out and he’ll be there waiting home for Kai to return. Because he promised. Kai promised.

So, Chanyeol crawls to the food tray and eats.

The day is uneventful—questioning, torture, food, more questioning. Chanyeol sits across from Agent Joon and waits for another round of questions to start. They’re on the third round, and the agent usually does five.

“Can you describe the creature?”

“Beautiful.”

“Was it aggressive?”

“Only in bed.”

“Did it harm you in any way?”

Chanyeol smiles sadly. “Stole my heart.”

Agent Joon doesn’t react to the answers, no matter how outlandish or crude Chanyeol gets with them. It’s obvious the agent doesn’t believe a word he’s saying. Perhaps they’ll label him crazy and let him go.

“Why did you harbor an extraterrestrial?”

“Because he needed my help.”

Agent Joon sighs. “Mr. Park these creatures are capable of incredible things, one of those being mind control.”

“I helped him.” Chanyeol growls.

“No, Mr. Park.” The agent shakes his head. “This thing manipulated you, used you so it could fix its ship and leave before we could capture it. Why are you defending it? It abandoned you.”

Chanyeol’s eyes start to sting. Kai needed him, wanted him. The agent is simply twisting everything so Chanyeol breaks. But he won’t give them the satisfaction. Breathing deep, he gets his emotions under control. “You know…his ass sucked me in so good while we fucked I dry orgasmed.”

Agent Joon stands. “Crudeness will get you nowhere but right back to—”

The lights blink suddenly. An electric hum gets louder and the lights flash brighter. They go dark for two seconds and then flashing bright again.

“They’re here.” Agent Joon pulls out his gun and inches towards the door. He yanks it open and rushes outside, leaving Chanyeol chained to interrogation table.

“That’s not ominous at all,” Chanyeol murmurs.

A few minutes pass in silence, and then something falls in the hallway outside. There’s the sound of something heavy being dragged. The hairs on Chanyeol’s body stand at attention and his heart sets off racing. What the fuck is going on?

Echoing footsteps come closer and two figures appear at the door. It’s two men in white suits and reflective glasses. Chanyeol has never seen them before and instinctively pulls back from them as far as the chains allow.

“Come with us,” the two figures say and the cuffs around Chanyeol’s hand spring open.

Chanyeol is about to scream for help when all doubt and fear vanishes from his mind. He stands and follows the two men down familiar hallways. They pass other guards standing at attention beside doors, but no one stops them. In fact, no one seems to even notice the three of them. It should worry or freak out Chanyeol, but there’s a strange calmness flowing through him.

Exiting the compound into a full sunny and hot day should be more momentous. After weeks of gray concrete and glass, gazing at the desert landscape brings tears to Chanyeol’s eyes, but the emotion feels…muted.

The men in suits watch him, as when Chanyeol gives them his full attention, their suits shimmer and change into a very familiar form. When they take off their glasses, star-filled eyes the color of the sun blink back at him.

Chanyeol lets out a huge breath as his emotions crashes over him coming fully online once more. He doubles over and falls to his knees. Another expelled breath ends somewhere between a laugh and a sob. “You’re aliens.”

The cuffs springing open, the unnoticed escape, the suppressed emotions. It made sense weird alien juju was involved. But who were these two and why had they rescued him? What did they want?

“You are safe, human.” The small one’s gold eyes flash. Unlike the stars in Kai’s eyes, this one has mini suns that burn bright with alien power. “We came looking for our cousin and found him halfway to Mars. He asked for our help.”

Chanyeol gasps. Halfway to Mars? “Kai? Do you mean Kai? Did he come back? Where is he?” He couldn’t sound more desperate and needy if he tried.

The tall one with the midnight hair and the same golden eyes nods. “Our cousin had to take care of some humans that were threatening your home. We volunteered to collect you and erase your trace from the other human’s minds.”

“Erase…?”

“They will not remember you.”

Oh. So that’s what Agent Joon meant by mind control. Did Kai have this power also? Or just his cousins? Cousins. The word clicks something in Chanyeol’s mind. “Are you guys…Luhan and Yifan?”

“Yes,” they answer in unison. Creepy as fuck.

“Ok, okay.” Chanyeol stands and dusts his hands. The two aliens stare at him without saying a word. “I…I need to get home now. Thanks for, um, saving me.”

“I can see why Kai likes this human,” the small one says.

The tall one nods. “He’s very…peculiar. It’s too bad we can’t dissect him.”

“A shame,” they both say.

Chanyeol almost pees his pants when they take a flash step towards him and shove something in his face. He closes his eyes and cringes, waiting for the blow. But it never comes.

In front of him, dangling from the tall alien’s huge fingers are the keys to his truck. He reaches out with a trembling hand and takes them.

“We’ve grown a new transport for you,” the tall one says, and points downhill to the facility’s parking lot.

Chanyeol really wants to ask what they mean by grown, but the need to race home is stronger.

The small alien nods. “Kai is—”

“Waiting,” they say at the same time.

Not wanting to stick around Kai’s creepy alien cousins or the facility, Chanyeol breaks into a run.

🌟 🌠 🌟

The new truck is weird. The extra buttons, compartments, and weird touchscreen has Chanyeol both confused and eager to discover what each does. However, none of that matters, because Kai is waiting for him. Chanyeol stops on the pedal and races home, skidding along the desert roads.

The sight of his two story ranch home at the end of the drive has Chanyeol letting out a sob of relief. On the porch, instead of a pile of boxes, there’s a figure clad in a black spacesuit.

Chanyeol screeches to a halt, uncaring the truck is half out of the driveway, and jumps out. He approaches the alien waiting for him, heart in his throat and pulse too loud in his ears. Stopping at the bottom step, he remains in the sun.

Kai stays on the porch, where there’s shade. He looks unsure, but smiles softly nonetheless. “I returned your kindness.”

Chanyeol’s heart beats faster. “Is that the only reason you came back?”

Kai shakes his head, pink bangs falling across his forehead.

A step, then another. Chanyeol steps onto the porch and pulls Kai into his arms. “You came back.”

Kai wraps his arms around Chanyeol’s neck, and tilts his head. “Your world information base explains the hero who saves the damsel in distress gets to keep her. Does it work if the one in distress is male?”

The answer startles a full laugh from Chanyeol, and he pulls Kai closer. “Yes, it works, but technically, your cousins saved me.”

Kai blinks his pretty purple eyes, while his fingers dig into Chanyeol’s hair and pull lightly. “So, I don’t get the reward kiss?”

Chanyeol grins and kisses Kai so hard, they’re both panting for breath a minute later. “Hyung will give you more than that.”

It’s still strange and uncertain this thing between them, but Chanyeol spends the night and all the following days giving Kai his body, his heart, his soul…everything.

(LJ Post)

Welcome to puppies in love! If you couldn't tell, this will be a fic exchange for Exo with the silliest pairing ChanKai (or KaiYeol).

This mirror is for all the fics that were too long to fit on our LJ account. You can read them here, but all comments should be left on the original LJ post!