[fic] Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi – SJM – All Great Love Stories Start With the Kitchen Sink

[rabenhorst]

Title: All Great Love Stories Start With the Kitchen Sink
Author: fonulyn
Rating: PG
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi
Warnings: Do I need to warn for awkwardness?
Disclaimer: I own no one, only my dirty imagination.
Summary: The new handyman seems to break more things than fix, but Zhou Mi is inexplicably fond of him anyway.
Comments: I started this a long time ago, forgot about it, and now found it again! \o/ I had a sudden urge to write Qmi and I hope it’s still enjoyable although I am a little bit rusty. I am also incredibly tired so if you notice some horrid mistakes, please do point them out.

It all begins when Zhou Mi opens the door. Of course first the doorbell rings and Zhou Mi almost trips over his own legs while stumbling up from the couch, the magazine he’d been reading missing the table by an inch and plopping down on the floor instead. He also straightens his shirt and glances at the mirror to see if his hair is presentable, since he has an image to maintain and he doesn’t want to look like he just went through an explosion. Pleased enough with what he sees, he smiles at his own reflection. He’s read from somewhere that doing so improves your mood, drastically, and there can be no harm in trying, at least. Then, he opens the door. And he finds himself face to face with a young man, almost his height and presumably almost his age, with big brown eyes and a thick mop of chocolate hair that probably never stays straight, even if he wants it to. Zhou Mi tries to wreck his mind to remember if he has ever seen this person before, but he comes up with absolutely nothing. He knows a lot of people, but usually he is good with names and faces, so he comes to the conclusion that it really isn’t anyone he is supposed to know. Usually, this is when the person knocking on the door should say something, at least as far as Zhou Mi has understood the usual social protocol. There’s nothing, though, except for silence, and Zhou Mi is beginning to feel like he’s being carefully watched. It only lasts a few heartbeats though and before Zhou Mi can politely break it, the person in front of him does. The awkward silence turns into an awkward greeting. ”Uhm. Hi.” He shuffles his feet a little bit, barely noticeable, and apparently tries his hardest to cover his nervousness. Zhou Mi offers him a bright smile. He is good at that, people like his smile. And he likes sharing his smiles with people, they don’t cost him anything. ”Hi!” He even waves a little bit with his hand, not even pausing to think if it’s silly or not. Apparently it isn’t a bad idea since instantly it makes the young man return the smile, even if he still seems a little bit uncertain how to react and what to say. Zhou Mi waits, and soon enough he gets a reply to his unvoiced questions. ”I’m. Uhm. Kyuhyun. Cho Kyuhyun. My aunt? Your landlady? Sent me. Yes. Kitchen sink?” Eloquent. At first Zhou Mi has no idea what it could be about. His landlady is a sweet older woman, who always tries to make sure everything works and what, kitchen sink? Suddenly Zhou Mi’s brain makes the connection. The kitchen sink needs to be repaired and he called his landlady about it earlier that week. Now that he knows what it’s all about Zhou Mi smiles even wider, gesturing for Kyuhyun to come inside. “Oh! Yes! Come in! I’ll show you the way,” he promises, leading the way to the kitchen. Kyuhyun trails along right behind him. Zhou Mi isn’t quite that surprised when he opens the door the following Tuesday and finds Kyuhyun standing behind it again. This time the smiles they exchange are more familiar, and Kyuhyun doesn’t even hesitate before he nods by way of greeting. “Hi.” “Hi!” Zhou Mi quite literally beams at him, happy to see the nice young man again. He realizes that voicing the thought like that makes him sound like an old grandmother but he doesn’t bother, Kyuhyun really is a nice young man. As well as good looking, on top of that. It’s not always that your average handyman is so attractive. At least that is what Zhou Mi supposes. This time, Kyuhyun manages to come forth with his business more eloquently, too. “The shower?” He begins, but before Zhou Mi has the time to say anything in between he already goes on. “I need to change the showerhead. Renewing the stuff, or something.” “Oh.” Zhou Mi doesn’t even know it was broken or anything but hey, he isn’t going to object getting a new one. Renewing, was it? Maybe they want to make sure the apartments stay in good shape for the future, who knows. In any case he waves a little at his new friend. “Sure come in!” Somehow Zhou Mi feels it’s polite to sit on the countertop next to the sink, even if it’s barely wide enough to be sat on, and watch Kyuhyun work. To keep him company. At least that is what he tells himself. If he enjoys the sight, well, that is only a plus. Kyuhyun isn’t exactly hard on the eyes. For a moment, Zhou Mi silently watches the way Kyuhyun fumbles with his tools, picks up a screwdriver only to put it back and take a wrench instead. Finally he can’t hold back, the question bursting out of him. “You need help with that?” “No I’m fine.” Kyuhyun waves aside. His eyes are still trained on the showerhead and one can almost see his brain working. Zhou Mi purses his lips thoughtfully. “It’s good you understand these things.” He sounds a little tentative. Even if Kyuhyun certainly is better at this than he is. Which in all honesty isn’t much. “Yeah well.” Kyuhyun tries to shrug it off as casually as he possibly can. “I’ve helped my aunt ever since I was a kid. First with my father and now alone.” He seems honest, the corner of his mouth quirking upwards as he glances away from his work. “You must be talented!” Zhou Mi smiles, and somehow he misses the way Kyuhyun blushes. Maybe because right at the same moment the showerhead comes loose and Kyuhyun automatically tugs on it, his elbow hits the tap and water is flooding into the bathroom. It’s like a mini-fountain, spraying everywhere: on their clothes, on their hair, on Zhou Mi’s beauty products, on the fluffy brightly coloured towels, on the floor and on the walls. Zhou Mi shrieks in surprise but then he takes one look at Kyuhyun, who sits there in the middle of the floor, soaked wet and droplets of water flying around him. Kyuhyun looks completely devastated. And Zhou Mi laughs. He laughs so hard his stomach hurts and distantly he realizes that after a while Kyuhyun is laughing too, together with him. It takes long before either of them manages to actually close the waterflow, and even longer before they manage to mop up the floor. They’re still grinning when Kyuhyun finally attaches the new showerhead, Zhou Mi keeping close watch so that the accident won’t happen again, as if he could keep it from repeating merely by the sheer force of his will. “Talented, indeed!” Zhou Mi’s eyes are dancing with amusement. Kyuhyun knows he should be insulted but somehow he isn’t. He just pretends to throw the wrench at the other man. “Shut up!” “Says the waterman! I heard of snowmen but not watermen, before,” Zhou Mi teases. He quite likes the way Kyuhyun’s eyes sparkle when their gazes meet. “You’re not any less wet than I am,” Kyuhyun nods towards the other man’s soaked t-shirt pointedly. They’re grinning and know that the same stupid dirty joke passed both their minds, even if neither voices it out loud. Finally Zhou Mi relents. “True.” He shrugs, pushing himself off the wall he has been leaning on. “C’mon I’ll lend you some clothes.” They aren’t quite the same size but close enough for some of his casual shirts to be just fine. He pads into the bedroom, straight to his closet, Kyuhyun following close behind. “If you don’t mind half-worn shirts, there are some on the chair,” Zhou Mi instructs. He has to bend far into the huge closet to find some loose pants. The closet was one of the reasons he desperately wanted to get this apartment in the first place. Finally enough space for his clothes! And accessories, too! Kyuhyun stares at the shirts for a second. He even leans closer to take in the hint of scent on them, the sign that they have been on Zhou Mi, against his skin. Quickly, he grabs two of them. A few days later, Kyuhyun appears back again, with neatly folded and cleaned clothes he hands back to Zhou Mi. “I am eternally grateful that I avoided pneumonia thanks to your dry clothes.” He knows he sounds sarcastic. And he knows that Zhou Mi will still spot the honest thanks laced within. Zhou Mi grabs the clothes and smiles like it’s the best present he’s ever gotten. Even if they’re technically his own clothes that are just being returned. And if there is a worn t-shirt missing, with Zhou Mi’s scent on it, it really isn’t Kyuhyun’s fault he forgot it home. …underneath his pillow, hidden inside the pillowcase. He forgot. Honest. “Now that I’m here,” Kyuhyun begins, shifting his weight from one foot to another. “I could take a look at the balcony door? It seemed kind of wonky.” “Wonky?” Zhou Mi seems surprised but he invites Kyuhyun in anyway, tells him to go to the small living-area-combined-with-a-kitchenette while he brings the clothes to his bedroom. When he’s back, Kyuhyun is on his knees in front of the glass door, fiddling with it. Zhou Mi goes closer and notices that it indeed is wonky. It’s not in its slot properly, going a little askew. “Oh wow. I didn’t even notice!” He is honestly stunned, his eyes wide. “I happened to look at it the last time,” Kyuhyun avoids his gaze. He is still adjusting the door, lifting it and changing the angle. It seems to work a little bit better now, even if it still might need some work. Zhou Mi doesn’t know, he’s learned a long ago to rely on other people when it comes to fixing things. It simply isn’t his forte. Somewhere in the middle of Kyuhyun working on the door, Zhou Mi disappears. He is back soon, but doesn’t join Kyuhyun at the door. He stays in the kitchen area, making a huge mess by the sounds of it. Kyuhyun is kind of curious and tries to sneak a peek over his shoulder every now and then, but he doesn’t want to get caught staring. Even if he has to admit that Zhou Mi’s rear end is quite a nice sight. Kyuhyun is already done with the door and he stands up, wiping his hands on his pants. He doesn’t have the time to take a single step before Zhou Mi appears. With a pile of something …pink on a small tray. “I made cupcakes!” Zhou Mi announces. “Sit down, I’ll make tea too!” He practically pushes Kyuhyun towards the small table and down on the nearest chair. Not that Kyuhyun would’ve resisted in any case. There’s no way in the world that he’s turning down free cupcakes, any kind of food, or Zhou Mi’s company. Not necessarily in that order. The cupcakes are overly sweet, but Kyuhyun eats seven of them anyway. It’s not his fault that Zhou Mi keeps pushing another of them at him each time he’s finished with one, and he can’t really say no. Not even when he’s beginning to feel sort of sick, and knows he can’t bear to see another cupcake for at least a week. Zhou Mi is happy that his baking abilities are appreciated, at least. He feels like he’s repaying for all the things Kyuhyun has fixed – or attempted to fix – with this, at least a bit. When Kyuhyun leaves, Zhou Mi carefully packs the last remaining three cupcakes into a plastic box. Briefly, Kyuhyun considers getting rid of them as soon as he’s home, but somehow it seems like a sacrilege. He ends up eating them all. Less than a week later, Kyuhyun is back. He’s standing in the doorway like all the previous times, progressively less awkwardly, as if he’s beginning to be more certain of his welcome. This time it’s the oven that is broken, or seems to be broken until Kyuhyun just figures out that the fuse has been blown. It makes Zhou Mi feel sort of stupid since he isn’t that incompetent, he’s perfectly capable of living on his own. Somehow he’s just begun to wait for Kyuhyun to appear whenever something isn’t working properly. Which, come to think of it, is sort of silly since everything that Kyuhyun has fixed in the apartment is something Zhou Mi could have very well handled alone, as well. He wouldn’t have gotten to enjoy the good company then, though. During these few weeks he’s learned so much about Kyuhyun, even if the answers to his questions are always somewhat short and clipped. But he asks a lot of questions, and since Kyuhyun always says at least something, the puzzle has begun to complete. Eventually, Kyuhyun relaxes enough to be a little chattier. He’s painting the railings of Zhou Mi’s balcony – there was nothing wrong with the previous paintjob as far as Zhou Mi is concerned, but he lets Kyuhyun have his way – and talks to him about how he’s majoring in modern music, even if he’s not sure that it’ll be the correct career path for him. He’s also interested in computers, and has assembled several for his own use as well as for his friends. That is what prompts Zhou Mi to suddenly cut into the monologue. “Oh! You’re a computer genius?” he asks, enthusiastic, and sits up straighter against the wall. Kyuhyun is hunched in front of the railing, the brush still in his hand and with white pain smudged over his cheek. Actually, more of the paint seems to be on his clothes than on the railings. He arches an eyebrow, looking unsure of where this is headed. “…yes?” “Oh good!” Zhou Mi claps his hands together, delighted. “My computer has been sort of collecting dust since I don’t know what’s wrong with it? I mean, I can work with it as long as it actually starts but now it gives me a blank screen and I don’t know what to do with it? I’m pretty sure my friends think I’m dead or kidnapped or something since I haven’t updated my Weibo in like a week!” “Does it give you the blank screen after the startup or doesn’t it do anything at all?” Kyuhyun asks. He’s not even trying to cover up his gleeful grin. Now this is something he’s actually good at! “I don’t think it– Wait!” Zhou Mi stops mid-sentence, heaves himself up from the floor and grabs Kyuhyun’s hand to tug him upright as well. Now the paintbrush is lying on the floor, leaving a stain, and their hands will possibly be glued together if they aren’t careful, but Zhou Mi simply drags Kyuhyun further into the apartment. “I’ll show you!” For the next twenty-five minutes, Kyuhyun works his magic. Granted, he might make a few impressive looking loops that aren’t strictly necessary but is it his fault if he wants to finally look competent at something he does? Since this, this really is something he could do even blindfolded and one-handed. Finally, he clicks the net browser open and it pops up with at least a dozen open tabs ready and waiting for Zhou Mi. Obviously it all seems more than a little miraculous as Zhou Mi honest to go squeals in happiness, grabs Kyuhyun’s face between his palms and kisses him. It takes a moment for Kyuhyun’s brain to catch up. Wow. Kisses. Wow, kisses. Either Zhou Mi is a really good kisser, or Kyuhyun has just been waiting for this moment long enough that it feels like sort of an epiphany now that it finally happens. Kyuhyun makes a small sound in the back of his throat and it makes Zhou Mi pull away, even if Kyuhyun does his best to chase him to not let him get away. He almost falls off the computer chair right then, but Zhou Mi’s hand on his shoulder keeps him steady enough to regain his balance. Zhou Mi looks sort of sheepish, a flush colouring his cheeks and he bites his lower lip for a second in a way that makes Kyuhyun want to just kiss him again. Possibly keep kissing him for a good while still. He’s got time. He’s got plenty of time. But then Zhou Mi is talking and the plan is ruined – for now – and Kyuhyun tries to focus on the actual words. “I hope you didn’t think…” Zhou Mi hesitates, making a slight flaily motion towards the computer. “Not because of the computer!” Kyuhyun laughs. “Shut up.” The next kiss is, if possible, even better. Sometimes, when Zhou Mi does his grocery shopping he buys something nice for his landlady. Mrs. Cho is a sweet woman, and always seems so delighted when he appears with a little bouquet of flowers or some sweet treats from the bakery. This time is no exception, and Mrs. Cho is already smiling brightly as soon as she spots Zhou Mi on the other side of the door. “Zhou Mi! How good to see you,” she coos, ushering him into the apartment. “How have you been? Oh you shouldn’t have, you keep spending all of your money on an old woman like me, you should save some for yourself, too!” She takes the flowers, though, already fussing over them to put them into a vase. “It’s no problem, I wanted to,” Zhou Mi says, as he sets down the box of cupcakes on the table carefully. “And I felt like I needed to thank you for all the help in the apartment! Kyuhyun has been very helpful.” “Kyuhyun?” she asks, confused. “What has he been up to?” Now it’s Zhou Mi’s turn to frown in confusion. “Uhm. First you sent him for the sink?” “Oh yes!” Mrs. Cho smiles brightly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “But that was so long ago, it must be months now! It’s no problem, darling, not at all. I hope he managed to unclog it for you.” “He did,” Zhou Mi replies happily. He’s pushed down into one of the comfortable chairs, and she’s fussing over making him some tea. “He’s been wonderful, really. Just last week he painted the railings of the balcony, and I know I shouldn’t have asked but he fixed my computer too, and I was getting really desperate with it. He isn’t really a handyman with other things but he knows how to – ” His babble is cut short as Mrs. Cho looks at him oddly, again. “Painted the railings? That’s not even in the five year plan, dear. I only sent Kyuhyun in to fix the sink for you. That’s all.” It sort of feels like all the thoughts still in Zhou Mi’s mind at once. “Oh.” It’s later the same day when Kyuhyun lets himself into Zhou Mi’s apartment – with his spare key, it’s not like Zhou Mi felt the immense need to open the door for him every time when he had two perfectly functioning keys – with some takeout containers he hands to Zhou Mi like an offering. “The bathroom door is squeaky but I figured we could eat first,” he offers. They’re halfway through their dinner when Zhou Mi casually speaks up. “I met your aunt.” He fishes a particularly delicious looking piece of chicken from his takeout carton, but keeps Kyuhyun in his peripheral vision to keep an eye on his reaction. Kyuhyun stills, slightly, and pauses his chewing for a moment before swallowing the rest of the mouthful. “Oh?” There’s not a mean bone in his body, really, but Zhou Mi still sort of enjoys this. A lot. He can barely hide his grin. “She told me some very interesting things. Apparently,” he pauses for effect, purposefully making a show of enjoying his food. “She only sent you to fix the kitchen sink.” Kyuhyun is silent for so long, and starts to look so uncomfortable it’s verging on panicking. That is when Zhou Mi has mercy on him and allows the smirk to break free. “You planned all this?” There might be a slight flush on Kyuhyun’s cheeks as he ducks his head as an answer. “Yes.” “Was there anything wrong with the oven in the first place?” Zhou Mi goes on. He shifts a little closer to Kyuhyun. “No.” Kyuhyun sets the carton of food down on the plush carpet they’re sitting on, carefully keeping his eyes on it. “I might’ve sabotaged it. A little.” He looks up, then, a stubborn set to his jaw. “But the railings needed paint! And the door is squeaky.” It finally makes Zhou Mi melt, completely, and he nudges Kyuhyun’s shoulder with his own. “You’ve got to let me pay for it, you know.” Kyuhyun smiles, a little awkwardly, and a lot relieved. “No, really. I wanted to.” In the end Zhou Mi pays back with pink cupcakes and strawberry flavoured kisses. And whenever something in the apartment needs to be fixed, Kyuhyun is the man for the job.

---
(3539 words)


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it’s been so so so very long since I last finished anything qmi so forgive me if I’m rusty ;; I just really miss them and I wanted to write at least something! I have other works in progress, too, but I’m just so incredibly slow that nothing has gotten finished, haha.

Comments

[0kyuhyunnie0.livejournal.com]

I loved this to bits! You're not rusty at all!!

Seriously, I feel so fluffy inside right now ♥♥

Every time Kyuhyun is on Mimi's door is so cute, the awkward guy with a plan xDD Fixing (or unfixing ^^) things and trying to "seduce" Zhou Mi. And they're so cute together! The unexpected shower, the shared shirts, the cupcakes...

I’m pretty sure my friends think I’m dead or kidnapped or something since I haven’t updated my Weibo in like a week! THIS is epic.

And of course it's not the computer, Mi, of course not... ^^

I told you, I love how you write them. Thank you for doing it again, sweetie!

next time don't make me wait so long

xoxo

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

I am so, so glad that you liked it, dear! ;;♥ It's been sitting in my wip folder unfinished for a good while now and I'm happy I managed to finish it, finally :D

haha somehow I loved the thought of Kyuhyun having a totally sneaky plan to be around Zhou Mi! Even if he's not exactly the perfect handyman XD BUT HE'D TRY! For Mimi, definitely 8D

Admittedly, I love Mi and his weibo XD

Thank you for reading and commenting! :D Means a lot to me! Awwwh and I really, really hope next time won't take so long! ♥

♥♥

[catherine-leite.livejournal.com]

;A;
finally a qmi fic for like aaaaages!
and a very good one indeed!!

Kyuhyun was so cute and zhoumi's awkward stumbling over the couch....

and then mi with cupcakes!! pink cupcakes!!!! it's precious!
then kyuhyun showing off his skill....lol....

this pairing is really the cutest ever!!!
You've done a perfect job!
I LOVE YOU

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

There doesn't seem to be much Qmi lately ;; It's saaaaaaaad ;;

I'm really glad to hear you liked this! :D Everything about the pairing is super-cute and it's good to know I managed to at least convey some of it, haha!

THANK YOUUU~♥♥ :D

[iluvsuju95.livejournal.com]

awww.. so fluffy i'm smiling like an idiot right now... keep writing qmi fic! qmi needs more love and updates.. hehe ^^ thanks for the wonderful fic <33

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Keep smiling! ;D haha yes, I hope I manage to write more Qmi in the near future. I've written so much of it, but that's already a while ago and there needs to be something new!

Thank you for your comment! ♥

[organized-hell.livejournal.com]

waaa qmi ♥ I've been qmi deprived for so long; no one writes qmi fics anymore so thank you so much for this ♥ I loved how clumsy Mimi was and awkward!kyu is a classic. Your fic was super adorable and something I needed! Thank you again, it was really awesome ♥♥♥

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

I'm Qmi deprived too ;; I'd love to read a good fic every now and then but there's not much of it posted, really :( But I'm really happy to know you enjoyed this one! :D I really missed writing them, I hope I can get back to the swing of things~

Thank you~♥♥

[zhoukyu.livejournal.com]

awwww finally qmi again!!!!! thank you so much!!!!!! it was so fluffy and cute!!!!!!

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D I'm glad you enjoyed~~ ♥

[ashheemi.livejournal.com]

Loved it!

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[baekhoes-garden.livejournal.com]

Loved this! I'm no longer into Super Junior but a good Qmi story will always get my attention. I love them so must and most fics lately are quite angsty so to see this cute one made my day.

I think this was super cute and not over-done at all. I'm glad Kyuhyun correctly fixed everything even if that sounds weird because in fics when it's done wrong I get really sad because of extra costs added and time wasted...

Thanks for writing! I hope you write again soon

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

I've noticed the trend to angsty fics lately, and I'm personally not in the mood to read much of it so the lack of fic to read making me sort of sad. But I'm really glad if I managed to make you smile with this one! ;D

Thank you for reading and commenting! I'm... really bad at finishing anything these days, it seems, but I'm definitely planning on writing stuff :D