[fic] Minho/Key – SHINee – Who Cares About Soccer? – Part 4/4

[rabenhorst]

Title: Who Cares About Soccer?; Part 4/4
Author: fonulyn
Rating: NC17
Pairing: Minho/Key
Characters: Jonghyun, Onew
Warnings: --
Disclaimer: I own no one, only my dirty imagination.
Summary: Kibum has no idea how a one night stand suddenly turns into a messy romance. Apparently nothing is as it seems when it comes to the country’s own superstar soccer hero Choi Minho.
Comments: So the last part, as I promised! :D I hope you’ll enjoy it, and thank you all so much for sticking with me through this! ♥

Part I, Part II, Part III “Kibum, get your feet off my table.” The way Jinki says it is resigned, though, as it’s a conversation they’ve had a million times and will probably continue to have for another million times in the future. They both know that Kibum will grudgingly move his feet off Jinki’s coffee table, but only for the next fifteen minutes, after which they’ll be right back where they started. Unless Jinki kidnaps Kibum’s legs and holds his feet on his lap. It’s all Kibum’s elaborate plan for foot rubs. He can’t even deny. “You’re not being fair,” Kibum complains. “I brought you food, and I brought you donuts, and you just insist on being a dick? I thought we were friends!” Jinki laughs, drops down on the couch and automatically grabs Kibum’s ankles to pull his feet on his thighs. “Don’t even try to lie, you’re only here because your hotshot boyfriend doesn’t have time to entertain you and you’re bored.” “No,” Kibum insists. “Don’t even try to make me that guy. Just because Jonghyun ditched us for his girlfriend doesn’t mean I’d do the same.” At least always. Besides, they’ve all known about Jonghyun’s date for weeks, especially as it had been the number one topic he would not shut up about. Jinki doesn’t say anything, just digs his thumb into the sole of Kibum’s foot. Kibum winces and yelps, but after the spike of pain it actually feels relaxing. “Okay. Minho has a game on tonight. He told me to watch it, it’s on channel seven. And I am not going to sit through torture like that alone so you’re hired as help.” “Wow.” Jinki tries to whistle, but it’s sort of hard when he’s grinning brightly. “You’re so whipped. So totally whipped. You’d even watch soccer for him?” “Well,” Kibum says. He purses his lips, obviously not too happy about the fact. “I haven’t seen him in almost two weeks. Two weeks, Jinki! He’s been stupidly busy with practices and interviews and there was some gigantic photoshoot just last Wednesday for some new brand of coffee he got signed up for. And apparently the game is important? So I figured I could do him a favour. For once. I mean, he is my boyfriend.” Finally, Kibum cuts the ramble with a sigh. “Okay. I miss him.” He grimaces. “How pathetic can I be. I miss his stupid face and I want to see him, even if it’s only on TV.” Smiling, Jinki pats Kibum’s legs. “Hey, think positively: he’s the captain of the team so they’ll have an interview with him, too. More time to ogle his stupid face!” Kibum laughs. “True. And then we can get hammered while rating their asses, right?” “Right!” Jinki agrees. “Who would watch soccer for any other reason than butts?” There are ridiculously few chances for Minho and Kibum to meet during the next couple of months. It’s also ridiculously hard for Kibum to live through that without going insane. It should be illegal, if he’s asked, that just when you get into an amazing new relationship you won’t have any time to spend enjoying said relationship. Thankfully they manage to catch phone calls, at least, and sometimes he gets stupid goofy texts from Minho when he’s supposed to be in the middle of practice or a press conference. To keep himself busy meanwhile, Kibum has taken it onto himself to re-decorate parts of Minho’s apartment. Minho’s new interior designer is how he introduces himself to the grumpy concierge, too, who slowly begins to look at him like an acceptable human being. Kibum spends most of his free time in Minho’s apartment planning what he could do to make it look more homely, more inviting. He keeps texting Minho pictures of wallpapers or different shades of paint, careful not to just make the place according to his own tastes. Still he can’t deny, it’s turning out pretty nice and exactly the kind of place he would like to spend more time in, if given the choice. It’s not like he’s planning a future together forever with Minho, not yet, but maybe he wants it a little more than he is even prepared to admit to anyone, including himself. He’s only putting so much effort into the apartment because he has professional pride. That’s his official excuse. And well, maybe if he’s completely honest, he misses Minho a little. Just a little. By the time they manage to arrange time for each other, Kibum is ready to climb the walls. He’s spent the past three days holed up at home drawing up suggestions for a demanding client that makes him want to tear his hair out. So when Minho finally texts him and asks him if he’s free on Thursday evening, he accepts immediately. They grab dinner in a nice low-profile restaurant that’s just unknown enough to grant them some privacy. Not that they’d try anything funny during the dinner, anyway, but it never hurts to avoid curious photographers. After, Minho asks if Kibum wants to go straight back home – to either one of them – but Kibum suggests they take a walk. He still feels like he’s vibrating out of his skin, having been stuck inside for so long, and he figures that fresh air could do some good. They’re passing a park when Minho grabs Kibum’s hand and pulls him in through the gate, and he doesn’t let go even when they slowly make their way through the labyrinth of plants neither of them recognizes. The air is cool and crisp, and Kibum tucks his free hand into his pocket to keep his fingers warm. “You know,” he smiles softly, looking up at Minho through his lashes. “I had sort of imagined this day a bit differently.” “You thought that we wouldn’t even leave the bedroom, right?” Minho throws in a guess, a goofy grin dancing on his lips. Kibum laughs. “Right. Trust me, I had elaborate plans on what I wanted to do to you.” He pauses for a moment, squeezing Minho’s fingers as he goes on. “Still do. But I like this, too.” There’s something so genuine in the moment, just the two of them sharing comfortable silence as they walk down the narrow path, and he never thought he’d enjoy it so much. Eventually they reach the other side of the park with its big iron gate, their steps slowing as if they’re reluctant to go back into the real world beyond the fence. “Come here,” Minho says, his voice so low it’s barely audible. There’s the screeching of brakes somewhere near them, the continuous sounds of cars passing, an occasional person shouting something. Yet Kibum’s attention is on none of that as he steps in, so close their chests are touching and he only has to tip his head to bring their faces equally close. It’s Minho who closes the last distance and connects their lips, kisses Kibum softly. Kibum’s fingers twine in the front of Minho’s jacket, holding on to him, while Minho brings a warm palm to cup Kibum’s jaw. The kiss is slow, so slow it makes Kibum ache and he doesn’t know what to do with this surge of emotion. He whines in the back of his throat as Minho slides an arm around him to pull him close, to hold him. It’s the only sound he makes before it ends and they pull back, ever so slightly, their lips still almost touching. “I’ve wanted to do that all day,” Minho whispers, his voice raspy and low. “Can I take you home?” Which home, Kibum almost asks, but something in the way Minho says it makes him shiver and he just smiles, smiles so hard it almost hurts. “What are you still waiting for?” Minho’s bed is heavenly. Kibum is never going to leave it ever again. Not in this lifetime. It’s so fluffy and comfy and there’s nothing so nice when it’s cold outside than to burrow underneath the fort of blankets and cuddle in the best pillows on earth. So maybe Kibum is being a little dramatic, but he does love the bed. And he loves waking up in it, a distant ache in his muscles pleasantly reminding him of all the walking and …other activities from the previous night. He’s so relaxed he’s on the brink of falling back asleep and only the thought of coffee is enough to make him consider leaving his heavenly resting place. However, Minho is nowhere to be seen, and that’s what makes Kibum decide finally that he could drag himself out of bed as well. He carefully wraps himself in a soft blanket, wincing as his bare feet hit the cold floor. He seriously needs to find some warm slippers to keep beside the bed. And another pair for his own bed, back at home. The less comfortable one. As soon as Kibum reaches the doorway to the living room, he spots Minho standing there in front of the TV. He shuffles closer, appreciating the sight of Minho dressed only in some sweatpants slung low on his hips. “Please tell me there’s some coffee,” Kibum mumbles as he steps right behind Minho and slides his arms around his waist. “I can’t function without coffee.” He presses his face between Minho’s shoulder blades, soaking in the warmth as it gets him more and more relaxed. There’s no reply, though, Minho’s body rigid against his, and that’s what makes him pull back and frown. “What’s going on?” There’s no reply, and only then Kibum registers that the TV is on even if it’s so silent it’s hard to focus on the words spoken. He steps to the side to see the picture past Minho’s form, his eyes flying wide as soon as he spots what’s on screen. “Oh my fucking god!” All traces of sleep are gone in an instant as he sees it: a picture that very clearly portrays Minho and him, in the park last night. His face isn’t clear in the photo but Minho’s is, and the guests on the morning show are heatedly discussing who the other person in question might be. Kibum is already scanning the lines of his own body, trying to decide if he could pass for a girl since he is wearing a loose jacket and he’s only seen from behind. The attempts turn out to be in vain when the picture disappears and the next one flashing on the screen has their side profiles, and even if blurry they’re still recognizable. They’re smiling at each other, obviously smitten, and the chances of explaining it as something else seem to diminish in a split second. “They’ve been looping this for a while now,” Minho speaks finally, silent and resigned. “It’s on several channels.” There’s a stone cold weight settling deep in Kibum’s stomach and he can’t really process a word he hears on TV. He nods, slowly, swallowing to steady his voice. “We… could still try to deny it?” “Kibum,” Minho turns to face him, finally. He’s smiling, but it’s so forced it makes things just worse. “There’s nothing we can say.” He reaches out and hooks his palm behind Kibum’s neck, gently pulling him closer into a one-armed embrace. He presses his face against the side of Kibum’s head and holds his breath for a moment, before exhaling, slowly. “I need to call my manager,” he eventually says, “and you need to go home. If we’re lucky they don’t yet know who you are.” There’s nothing else to do and Kibum quickly gets dressed, tries to make himself look as presentable as he can, and slips out of the apartment while Minho is still on the phone, going through a very frustrating phone call from the sound of it. There’s no doubt the paparazzi will eventually make it past the concierge, but for now the corridors are blessedly empty and Kibum manages to get out of the building without attracting attention. Kibum knows it’s the logical thing to do. He knows that it’s best to split, if they don’t want to feed the press even more, and that Minho needs to do some emergency damage control with his managers. He knows, in all honesty, that this is the sensible thing to do. Yet he sort of feels like a child sent back to his room. If Kibum thought it was hard before, not being able to see each other, this is a million times worse. No one has figured out his identity, yet, and he’s thankfully free of any kind of attention when it comes to the swarming paparazzi. Unlike Minho, who seems to be surrounded by the press at all times, even more intensely than he’s used to. They’re still trying to explain it away, apparently, as all the public announcements Kibum has seen are worded very carefully in ways that deny all accusations. There’s even one article saying the photographs are photoshopped, to stain Minho’s reputation to damage his career. It doesn’t seem to be accepted that well, but it at least creates a slight anti-movement to the original scoops. Kibum isn’t certain what he should feel about this all. He did want Minho for himself, publicly, didn’t he? So isn’t this one twisted way of getting exactly what he’d been asking for? Then again, it’s not like he actually has Minho, not when he can’t even think about approaching Minho’s apartment in fear of being spotted and connected to the scandal. Besides, if anything, it’s not the way he hoped things would happen. It’s not like he expected anything less than a scandal, considering Minho’s standing. But he had hoped they’d be able to discuss things and talk it through to know they’re on the same page. Right now he has no idea what Minho thinks. Of any of this. He doesn’t even know if Minho still wants to date him. And it’s not really something they can discuss via hasty text messages. All of that boils down to frustration and anger, and Kibum finds it hard to keep calm. He keeps snapping at people over everything and nothing, but most of all he’s angry at himself for losing his cool like this. It wouldn’t be the first time a relationship goes to hell even when he had high expectations of it. But this time, it’s different. Minho is different. At least so he keeps telling himself. “Are you sure you want another shot already?” Jonghyun frowns, his eyes shifting between the bottle of tequila in his hand and his best friend lying on the couch, head down over the armrest. “I sort of bought us all the mild stuff to start with? And you just downed like three shots in one go.” “I had plenty to eat,” Kibum groans, righting himself until the world is actually right side up. “I’m not even drunk yet and you’re failing in your best friend duties.” He is definitely gotten well on his way to inebriated, after he appeared on Jonghyun’s doorstep less than two hours ago. He’d decided that if he’d spend one more evening alone moping in his apartment he’d go crazy. With a huge sigh, Jonghyun plops to sit down on the couch, just moving Kibum’s legs out of the way enough to make room for himself. “Want to talk about it?” He looks genuinely concerned and it doesn’t even fade when Kibum tries to grab the bottle and whines when it’s kept out of his reach. “C’mon Jjong you need to help me cure my heartbreak,” Kibum grumbles, leaning heavily against his friend’s shoulder, as if it would get him closer to the liquor he’s still casting longing glances at. All he gains is a snort from Jonghyun. “Did you guys actually even break up?” he asks, and when Kibum stubbornly stays silent he heaves another deep sigh. “Stop just assuming things! That’s what you’ve been doing straight from the beginning! What was all of the ‘he doesn’t really want me’ crap? He totally did want you. So why the hell would he give up on you now?” Kibum closes his eyes, but the pause is brief before he answers. “Because I sort of ruined his reputation and possibly his career and–” Jonghyun shuts him up by finally shoving another shot in his hands. He waits until Kibum has downed it before he grabs his shoulders, even gives him a little shake as if to emphasize his point. He looks Kibum straight in the eyes, speaking slowly to try and make every word sink in. “Kibum. You did not drag him out to a press conference to force-kiss him. From what I’ve heard – and seen! – he was pretty into it. You’re making it a way bigger deal than it is!” Maybe there is some sense in that. Kibum isn’t certain if he’s willing to admit that, though. Instead he shamelessly falls down on his friend’s thighs, blinking up at him. “Let’s cut a deal,” he suggests. “You get me properly drunk tonight, and confiscate my phone so I won’t do anything idiotic later. And I promise I’ll think about this like a sensible adult as soon as I get rid of the epic hangover.” Jonghyun considers him for a moment, lips pursed thoughtfully. Finally he nods, reaching for the bottle he set aside. “Alright, it’s a deal.” They get absolutely shitfaced and neither of them goes to work the following day. They spend it lying in a heap on Jonghyun’s bed, still fully clothed and shopping channel running on the background. Several naps, three painkillers and a gallon of coffee later, at eight in the evening, they finally talk. Kibum still isn’t completely convinced that his relationship isn’t doomed to die a horrible death in the hands of the unwanted publicity. Yet he does feel a little better about it. If anything, he’s determined to see things through. Even if Kibum has been expecting a call or a text, anything, it still comes as a surprise when Minho suddenly texts him with an address and a time, asking him to meet up. There’s really nothing personal in the message, just the necessary details, and it sort of feels like a pre-breakup text. At least it’s enough to make all the doubts, both rational and irrational, raise their ugly heads again and send Kibum’s nerves on edge. He tries to ignore the sinking feeling in his gut, tries to focus on Jonghyun’s encouraging words, but all he can think of is the terse ‘I need to call my manager’ and how Minho hasn’t called him even once during these few days. The rational part of him reminds that Minho must be busy, that there’s a lot to do and he’s been doing more than probably ever for his public image in the past week. The doubtful part of him stays awake late at night and thinks about the look of shock on Minho’s face at the headlines, the clipped words and the lack of contact after. As a result, Kibum hardly gets any sleep and when it’s time to head for the designated meeting place – a fancy four star restaurant; he doesn’t really understand how it’s supposed to be a good idea – he is tired and cranky to begin with. Weaving his way through the bustling crowd doesn’t make it any better, he gets bumped into numerous times, and by the time he arrives at the front of the tall building he’s already cursed all of humanity into the deepest pits of hell. There was even one guy who obviously tried to grope him, using the busy crowd as an excuse, and that is just not okay. He is nervous, he can’t deny, but he covers it up the best he can as he tells the waiter his name and is brought to one of the private cabinets to the side of the large dining hall. The waiter politely opens the door for him and informs he will leave them alone as instructed, before turning to leave altogether. It all feels like some sort of a mob meeting, and the thought makes Kibum huff as he slips into the room and closes the door behind him. If he expected to see Minho first thing, he’s proven wrong as he comes face to face with an older, angry looking man he recognizes to be Minho’s manager. “Were you followed?” he asks gruffly, looking at Kibum as if he’s the source of all of his problems. In a way, Kibum supposes, he is. “How should I know,” he scoffs, “I wasn’t aware I needed to pull off secret agent moves. Isn’t it sort of your job?” The man seems to get even angrier at that, the scowl on his face deepening. “Do you think this is a game?” he asks, as he steps closer to Kibum. “Do you think th–” “Hey, stop.” There’s a hand on the man’s shoulder that makes him stop mid-sentence, and Minho finally makes his presence known. “You promised there would be no threatening, and no intimidating. None of this is his fault.” The weary look the manager shoots at Minho makes it clear he’s disagreeing with that last statement, but he doesn’t comment on it. Instead he retreats to the back of the small room, and sits down heavily at the surprisingly large table. It leaves Minho and Kibum in an illusion of privacy, even if they both know they’re being monitored and their every word listened to. “I’m really sorry, Kibum,” Minho lowers his voice as he steps closer, places a palm on Kibum’s upper arm. “He didn’t think this was a good idea, but I really wanted to see you. This,” he pauses, sighs, and closes his eyes as he goes on, “isn’t something I want to discuss over the phone.” That makes Kibum feel like the earth drops out from under his feet, his stomach flipping unpleasantly. “Okay,” he manages, instead of blurting out something he’d regret. Something like please don’t break up with me. “So talk.” “He,” Minho begins and nods vaguely towards the direction of his manager, “thinks we can still explain it away. The pictures aren’t so clear, and he thinks we have plausible deniability.” Kibum arches an eyebrow. He’s seen those pictures, and while they might not have been crystal clear they were enough to make them identifiable. And Kibum doesn’t think he looks enough like a girl to pass for one, if that’s the take they’ll be going for. Though the angle doesn’t exactly show them kissing, so maybe they’ll try to explain that away and make them into childhood friends meeting again? There are a million thoughts in Kibum’s head, and none of them make much sense. The pause only becomes evident when Minho leans in, gaze searching Kibum’s face. “What are you thinking?” he asks. “Do you want me to tell him I’ll come clean about it? Or do we try to explain it?” That’s the question. If Kibum is honest with himself, his first instinct is to tell the truth and put an end to the speculations. But he’s seen the force of publicity and the press, and quite honestly, he’s not quite sure if he wants to deal with all of that. He’s not sure if he wants to make Minho deal with all of that. With a sigh, he shakes his head a bit. “I don’t know. I…” “I promised, didn’t I?” Minho interrupts him, softly. “Not to hide you if things got serious.” “I know.” Kibum smiles. He looks up, finally, and the manager be damned he reaches out to hook his fingers into Minho’s jacket to pull him close. “But it’s not my call to make. It’s your career, Minho. It’s your life. We’ve only been together for what? A few months. Are you sure you want to endanger years of professional training for it?” A part of Kibum doesn’t even believe what he’s saying. But all of this feels so big. It’s gotten out of his hands, and he doesn’t know how to rein it back in anymore. All he knows is that he doesn’t want them to end up in the middle of an even bigger media shitstorm, not when things are still on a somewhat manageable level. Slowly, Minho nods, and slides his arms around Kibum. It’s only a moment later that Minho leaves with his manager, leaving Kibum alone in the room. He agreed to wait for a while, not to be seen exiting the place together with Minho at this point, so he flops down on one of the comfortable seats. This whole deal is giving him a massive headache, and he groans as he massages his temples to get rid of it. He might be quite well known in his own area of expertise, but he’s suddenly immensely grateful he isn’t actually famous. Dealing with this shit would get tiring so fast. The waiter comes back and asks Kibum if he wants something so he orders a coffee, not really in the mood for anything else. He’s told that the room is already paid for, generously, and coffee is included in the services, before the waiter scurries off to get him his drink. Bored, Kibum grabs his bag to fish out his phone. Maybe he can amuse himself online, or call Jonghyun or Jinki to complain about the unfairness of everything. Except his phone isn’t in his bag. It’s alarming but Kibum tries not to panic. After digging through his pockets and emptying the bag on the table, one item at a time, he has to admit he does not have his phone with him. It has happened before that he’s forgotten his phone home but… His stomach turns unpleasantly and he quickly stuffs all of his belongings back into his bag, and almost bumps into the waiter in his hurry to run out of the restaurant. He goes home and rummages through all of the places he can think of. No phone. Now, it’s actually time for panic. In his haste Kibum only grabs the same bag he had with him earlier, as he hurries out of the apartment. Following his first impulse he heads to Jinki’s, knowing he’d only feel claustrophobic in his own place right now. Jinki is home, thankfully, opening the door after the second ring. “I lost my phone,” Kibum says by way of greeting, his voice hitching slightly higher as the terror is only now settling in. “What if someone found it? There are pictures in there!” “What?” Jinki’s eyes fly wide. “You lost it? When? How? What happened?” He only gains a feeble explanation as an answer to the questions so he herds Kibum inside, makes him sit on the couch and take a few deep breaths before plying the whole story out of him. There’s not much to tell, though. Kibum had his phone in the morning, and at the restaurant he noticed it was gone, and he has no idea what happened to it in between. “You met Minho, though?” Jinki asks, and goes on as he gets an affirming nod. “What did you agree on?” “I told him to cover things up,” Kibum sighs. He leans his chin in his palm, frowning at the coffee table. “I just thought… I’m not sure if I could handle the constant publicity, you know? I’d end up being the scandal boyfriend and Minho’s career might suffer from it, and we wouldn’t get a second of peace from the scandal. And I, well, as much as I hate to hide, I’d hate that too.” Slowly, Jinki nods. He reaches out to grab Kibum’s hand, coevally nudging his shoulder encouragingly. “C’mon, don’t dwell on it. Maybe your phone is at home, and you didn’t find it. Or maybe you lost it and someone found it but didn’t know where to return it.” Kibum laughs. “You optimist.” “I know,” Jinki grins, “one of us has to be!” Kibum ends up sleeping on Jinki’s couch. Not that he gets much sleep to begin with, he keeps tossing and turning, with only short naps in between, until he gives up in the early morning. He heads to the kitchen and makes coffee, as strong as he can manage so it’s still drinkable, and raids the fridge for food. He’s in the middle of making scrambled eggs when Jinki drags himself into the kitchen as well, to pour a mugful of coffee, eyes squinted almost shut. “It’s strong, be careful,” Kibum warns, already moving the eggs on two plates. He briefly considers adding something else, but decides he’s not in the mood for taking any chances, and non-burnt eggs is pretty much the highlight of his cooking abilities right now. So he sets the plates down on the table, gaining a grateful smile from Jinki. They eat in silence, drinking all of the coffee before making more, and only then cautiously return to the living room. Jinki gives Kibum a sideways glance as he reaches for the remote control. “Are you sure you want to see?” he asks, and only when he gets a nod he turns the TV on and flips onto the main entertainment channel. For the first hour or so there’s nothing. There are regular celebrity news and gossip, some hot music videos and an interview. Kibum is already beginning to breathe a bit easier when the next features begin to scroll across the bottom of the screen and he spots something. “Oh my god is that me!?” He practically jumps up from the couch, dropping down on his knees in front of the TV to get closer to it. “Shit. Shit shit shit.” He barely registers it when Jinki moves to sit next to him, right there on the floor, as he’s too distracted by what he sees. There are pictures, ones that he clearly recognizes are from his lost phone. There’s one slightly blurry picture of him and Minho grinning at the camera, both in their underwear, from when he spent the weekend at Minho’s apartment. There are a few more or less similar pictures of them together and separately, but what really makes his world stop is the last one. The one single picture he took of them kissing. Minho had laughed and said it’s so teenaged to take pictures like that, but he had looked secretly pleased anyway, and Kibum had done it. Now the photo is right there, mocking him for ever thinking it was a good idea. He closes his eyes and holds his breath, tries to count to ten in his mind before freaking out and making it a bigger deal than it is. It’s only Jinki’s surprised intake of air that makes Kibum snap back to reality. “Look!” Jinki says, never averting his gaze off the TV. “That’s your building! You live there!” Indeed, one of the reporters is explaining something standing right next to the building where Kibum lives and hell, it feels violating. Kibum has no idea what the law says but things like this should be illegal, goddamnit, they’re making him a public target without his consent. Besides, since they seem to have his phone, his address isn’t the only thing that’s common knowledge now, but also all the contacts he has saved there. “What the hell am I going to do,” Kibum sighs. It’s not even really a question, he knows that Jinki can’t make his decisions for him or change the reality to make everything undone. And he hates the feeling of being helpless, not being in control of his own life. Jinki pats his arm, offering him a smile. “Hey, you can stay with me as long as you need. They’ll eventually get tired of waiting out there.” Even if it’s far from ideal now, things could be even worse, Kibum knows that. At least he has a place to stay and hide, and he can even do most of his work from Jinki’s apartment if it comes down to that. Easily, he leans his head on Jinki’s shoulder and as he receives a gentle pat on his thigh he smiles. “Thank you.” “Now let’s watch something else,” Jinki decides quickly. “I’m never going to watch the entertainment channel again, I promise!” The next day, Kibum spends holed up in Jinki’s apartment, not even setting foot outside. It might be exaggerated, but he doesn’t really feel any intense need to get out of there anyway, not when he knows the press now is on the lookout for him. He borrows Jinki’s phone and calls Jonghyun, and they all end up bickering over takeout burgers. For a moment, life feels completely normal again. Nothing makes Jonghyun shut up, ever, and he keeps needling Kibum about his famous boyfriend and how he’s the most famous scandal girlfriend today. His approach helps, as backwards as it might sound, and Kibum starts grinning somewhere around the seventh time of telling him to shut the hell up. He knows that had he been alone he would’ve already gone mad over and over. The next days go similarly, without interruptions until the ringing of the doorbell on the third day. Jinki has just left for work so Kibum immediately assumes it’s him, having forgotten something important. It wouldn’t be the first time, and it won’t be the last, knowing Jinki and his memory. With a sigh Kibum gets to the door, and once again he is surprised by Minho standing there, looking right back at him. It seems to be a pattern his life has fallen into. “How did you find this place?” It’s the only greeting Kibum manages, surprised to even be seeing Minho there. He can’t really be blamed if his mind doesn’t catch up immediately to accumulate to the new situation. It seems to amuse Minho, judging by the way the corner of his mouth tilts up. “I remembered where your friend Jinki works and called there, asking for his contact information,” he supplies helpfully. “He told me I could come here since… well, I can’t exactly call you.” That makes Kibum flush, embarrassment burning red on his cheeks. “I have no idea when I lost that thing.” He looks up, straight into Minho’s eyes. “I’m sorry, I really am. I know I told you to cover it up and then I go and make it impossible and –” “Kibum,” Minho interrupts, placing a hand on Kibum’s shoulder as he pushes past him and pulls the door shut behind him. “Let’s go sit down, okay? This is really not a discussion for the corridor.” Immediately, Kibum snaps his mouth shut and nods, before following the other man into the living room. They sit on the couch, angled towards one another, but there’s a clear space between them that Kibum doesn’t dare to gap. He fiddles with his fingers, pretending to be immensely interested in the shape of his own fingernails. “So,” he forces out, “what do we do?” There’s a pause but then, Minho reaches out and grabs Kibum’s hand in his. Now it’s his turn to toy with Kibum’s fingers, and Kibum makes no move to stop him. For once, he manages to wait for an answer patiently, gives Minho space and time for considering his words. Eventually, Minho blurts out a sentence Kibum didn’t expect at all. “How about I take you out on a date?” It’s spoken quick, as if he wants to say it but he’s not quite sure about the reaction it’ll spawn, so he does it fast like he’d rip off a band aid. For a second, Kibum just stares. “What?” “You know,” Minho goes on, smiling as he looks up and coevally twines their fingers together. “In a proper restaurant. I know you want that. No pizza joints this time, but an actual five star restaurant.” At first, Kibum feels like he’s trapped in a dream, his reactions slow as his mind is desperately trying to wrap around the foreign concept. “What about the paparazzi?” he asks. “They already got their scoops.” Minho shrugs a little. “They’ll get tired. It’s no fun writing about us if we just act normal and pretend none of it bothers us.” Kibum tightens his hold on Minho’s hand; he doesn’t want him to think he doesn’t want this. He wants this, all of this, with surprising intensity. The damage with the publicity is pretty much already done, so wouldn’t it be terrible for it to be for nothing, to let it go to waste? He’s not going to get rid of the press now even if he stays away from Minho, as now he’s a part of the scandal. So he has to venture further. “What about your boss?” For a second, Minho’s face darkens. “Don’t worry about it.” He obviously tries to play it down, but this won’t work if they’re not on the same page, both of them. So Kibum scoots closer, until their knees bump. “Be honest with me.” Minho doesn’t look up, but after a heartbeat he speaks up. “My contract is being discussed right now. Sportswear dropped me, and so did Dream Coffee. But some advertisers seem to be just excited, for them all publicity is good publicity.” He takes a deep breath. “I don’t know what happens with the K-League, but I don’t think they’ll get rid of me this close to the finals. And I can’t really be kicked out of the national team now.” There’s another pause, during which neither of them even dares to exhale too loud. It’s Minho who breaks the silence again. “For now, it’s not as catastrophic as it could be. Next year? I have no idea.” Slowly, Kibum nods. At this point, there’s only one question he needs an answer to. “But you still want this?” He knows Minho just asked him out on a date, on a public date, and is sitting here with him, holding his hand throughout it all. Yet he needs to hear it. To make it real. The smile that rises on Minho’s face is nothing but genuine. “Yes,” he says, “yes I do.” ~epilogue~ The new restaurant downtown turns out to be even more fabulous than its five-star rating leads to believe. It’s swarmed by customers from the day it’s opened, and it’s impossible to get a reservation unless you book it two months in advance. That is, unless you are Choi Minho. There are aspects of Minho’s fame that annoy Kibum more often than not but he can’t deny that this one is a definite perk. They’re treated like royalty as soon as they set foot into the establishment, and the luxurious treatment continues through the whole dinner. The food is heavenly, too. It doesn’t really take much to impress Kibum; he still loves their pizza dates or visits to that specific burger joint. Yet he has to admit that this is fantastic as far as dinners go. Of course the prices reflect that, and he doesn’t even want to know how much Minho spends on the wine alone. The lights are dimmed for the candles to create the atmosphere, and Kibum wonders if it’s always like this here or if Minho specifically pulled some strings to get the mood more intimate. It’s one of the things he’s learned to appreciate in Minho during the past year, how the other man is an old fashioned romantic deep down inside. So Kibum kicks Minho’s ankle under the table, ignoring the indignant squawk he gets for it. Minho almost spills wine on his shirt, only managing to save his glass from impending doom the last possible second. “C’mon, Minho,” Kibum grins, although it’s more fond and less amused, even if Minho is sputtering at him and trying to retain his dignity. “What’s the occasion?” he asks, taking a calm and collected sip from his own glass. He’s been waiting for Minho to spill the beans throughout the whole dinner. It’s impressive how fast Minho can collect himself, and he just hums and turns back to his food. “Can’t we just say we’re celebrating our anniversary?” He asks nonchalantly. His tie is a little askew, the only thing out of place in his otherwise impeccable outfit. “Our anniversary was two weeks ago,” Kibum scoffs. “And you forgot it.” This time, Minho doesn’t even try to cover up his rightful indignation. “I was in Italy for the game! I sent you a card, it’s not my fault it arrived late.” It’s a talk they’ve had approximately thirteen times since, and yet they fall into the easy routine of it. Kibum huffs, but the corner of his mouth ticks upwards. “You sent me a card,” he says, in the flattest tone he can manage. “I expected at least a bouquet of a thousand roses and a new designer handbag.” His fingers are itching to reach over the table to straighten Minho’s tie, but he holds back and instead twirls the ruby liquid in his glass. This time, Minho doesn’t even grace Kibum with an answer. They both know he’s complaining just for show, and the only indication of Minho even hearing the words is the way his lips curl into a smug grin. He must be thinking of the way they celebrated their anniversary right after Minho got back home. It had been memorable. The easy mood is disturbed with a sudden flash, and Kibum doesn’t even need to turn his head to know it’s the woman sitting three tables away from them. She had taken a couple of pictures as soon as they entered the restaurant, before the butler had politely asked her to stop. Kibum can’t help the flare of irritation at the way they can’t even enjoy a meal together in peace. Kibum doesn’t even realize how he’s tensed automatically, not before Minho reaches to place his hand on top of Kibum’s, his foot nudging Kibum’s ankle under the table. They’re such small gestures but the effect is instantaneous: Kibum takes a deep breath and allows the tension melt off. He will not let anyone ruin this for them. Especially not when he’s getting better and better at ignoring the paparazzi. “C’mon, Kibum,” Minho says, a smile curling his lips. “Let’s take a look at the dessert menu.” Eventually, it’s ridiculously easy for Kibum to forget about the camera, to let himself relax and focus on the rest of their dinner. Most of it is because of Minho, who has learned to be very effective in distracting Kibum from whatever threatens his mood. The double chocolate soufflé helps, though. Two hours later they’re curled up on the couch, shower-fresh and relaxed. They’re idly watching the flames dance around the charring wood in the fireplace, one of the many improvements Kibum did to the apartment to make it a home instead of a place to live in. Another improvement was getting rid of the old couch and buying a new one, so soft they can practically sink into the cushions. That’s what Kibum is doing now, feeling like he’s floating on clouds. Minho’s head and shoulders are pillowed on his lap, and he keeps toying with Minho’s still damp hair lazily. “Should we go to bed?” Kibum asks after a long while, even if he’s enjoying the silent moment so much he wouldn’t want to break it. “You have that interview in the morning and you might want to catch some sleep before that.” “No,” Minho says. “It got cancelled. I’m actually having a free day tomorrow, imagine that!” “A free day you’ll spend being anxious about the Champions League final and then swearing at the TV throughout the game?” Kibum throws in a guess, grinning as he tugs on Minho’s hair slightly. He gains a swat on his arm for it, but it’s so half-hearted it doesn’t seem like Minho really minds. “I’m sorry, I think I’ll pass. I have better things to do than watch how you obsess over grown men running after a ball.” “You should learn to see the beauty of the game,” Minho says. He reaches up, hooks his palm behind Kibum’s neck and pulls him in for a short kiss. It’s chaste, mostly them smiling against each other’s mouths, and when it ends Minho brushes his thumb over Kibum’s lower lip. “It’s a marvellous sport.” “Sweetie.” Kibum only goes for pet-names when he needs the added dramatics. “The only way you can make me watch soccer is to have them play shirtless.” Minho laughs. “I doubt they’d agree to that.” He shifts on his place, throws his long legs over the back of the couch, without giving up on his comfortable pillow. “It’s almost midnight when the game airs. We have all day for stuff you like.” “All day?” Kibum asks. He brushes his fingers down the side of Minho’s neck, before resting his palm on a broad shoulder. “All day.” “Alright.” Slowly, Kibum nods, shifting into a more comfortable position. He’s so pleasantly relaxed he might just drift off right here, at least for a while. Maybe it’s the sleepiness that causes his judgement to lapse, or maybe he is just in too good a mood, but before he even realizes it he’s speaking again. “I’ll watch the game with you. Just this once.” Minho makes a content noise into the fabric of Kibum’s shirt, and sneaks an arm around him in a slightly awkward embrace. They both know that Kibum will bitch and moan throughout the game, and pick on every single thing he can think of. And as always, Minho will tell him to shut up, growl at him in annoyance and try to convince him of the magnificence of soccer. They will both enjoy it. They always do.

---
(7652 words)


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SO.
1. I spent a day on Wikipedia reading about the Korean soccer league to make this at least semi-plausible. Yes, soccer is barely mentioned, but I wanted it to fit!
2. It also pains me to call it soccer it’s football goddamnit. And I don’t know why I feel so strongly about that since I find the game incredibly boring, haha.
3. This fic was started a year ago (yes now you may laugh) and it was supposed to be an oneshot where minkey have an one night stand and then bump into each other again. See how well I do oneshots /SIGH
4. During the writing process I went from omg this fic is my babyyyyy ;___; to I HATE THIS THING LET ME BURN IT repeatedly. I hope it doesn’t show.
5. I love writing their friendships ;; it’s the best.
6. These notes are soon as long as Eunhyuk an average fic if I won’t shut up now.
7. What shall I write next? 8) aka too many projects

Comments

[neezoy.livejournal.com]

Oh god I loved the added last bit that I didn't get to read before! Gah, they're so cuddly and awesome and couply in this 'verse it just plays with my feels something immensely. You always know how to get me back in a minkey mood, hun <3

I think you captured their personalities and dynamic splendidly in this overall, Kibum's sass and Minho's calmer, teasing temper. And once again you showed why they fit together so perfectly, so magically, even though they're so different.

For a second there I was prepared for Minho to propose in that restaurant there, but I'm glad they didn't. It would have made it too cheesy, and broken the realism a bit since in Korea you can't (yet) (although I do hope that they stay together forever and ever and adopt kids and all sorts of cheesy awesome stuff yes).

Thank you for this fic! It's one of the awesomest minkey fics out there, which I told you it would be in the beginning when you gave me the first scenes as a present. And you managed to make it awesome all the way. I'm so in love with this, I'm fully prepared to accept it as my headcanon (if SHINee had never happened XD).

<3

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Ah I'm so glad you did! I originally only wanted to write them on their date in the restaurant but it refused to be written so I wrote the bit at their home instead to make it a bit longer x) I love them being all coupl-y~~ Ah and I'm so happy to hear it got you in a minkey mood ;;♥

haha I didn't even think of a proposal before you mentioned it! I mean, Minho probaby will propose at one point, maybe when they've been together for ten years and he thinks that it's finally time to put a ring on it, be it official or unofficial (they can have their own private ~wedding ceremony~ either way). And they'll adopt a dog or two, and probably eventually get to kids as well, and it'll be the cheesiest romance of all times. Even the public will learn to love Kibummie since they'll notice how the two are so adorably smitten with one another even after decades and...... what am I even rambling XD

Thank you, really! For reading the fic, for giving me feedback on it, for kicking my ass when this didn't want to be written, for just everything :D ♥ Without that, I doubt it'd ever been finished (or maybe it'd taken another year still).

♥♥♥

[123shots.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh excuse me while I cry

Reading this last chapter and watching things happen I was so afraid it was going to have an ending where they broke up or things went badly. It was very scary. But vnjfnjvgkbnkg there was so much amazing minkey goodness in this story I cant even honestly convey my thoughts. I love this fic to bits. It's adorable, funny, (somewhat) heartbreaking and just super perfect <3 It makes me really happy. As do their characterizations. Minho is perfect and I think you really nailed his personality here, it's genuine and cute and A+
Also I can appreciate the time you took to really make this realistic, and especially with Key's feelings in this last chapter, everything just felt so real and emotional. Very well done.
I cant wait to read this story through again (it's a new favorite) <3

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

//holds you while you cry

It sorta needed to be a bit scary so that their happy ending would feel happy too, instead of just continuous sugary mush, right? XD I'm so, so happy to hear that you liked it! ♥ I'm literally almost having tears in my eyes right now just reading your comment how pathetic is that, haha?

Thank you, so much!! ♥♥

[snazzy-bop.livejournal.com]

i loved this so much c':
every time i saw an update i had to take a moment to squeal because omg this was just so great
the jinki kibum jonghyun friendship was just fabulous and the fact that kibum is an interior designer makes my heart fly
and minho is such a good guy, i can't think of many people who would do that for a relationship that had been going on for a few months..

this was just wonderful, thank you for sharing!

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Awh thank you so much! ;; haha I enjoyed writing the friendships so much, and before he even knows Minho will be included in the whole bunch, too~~ :D I'm so glad you enjoyed this!

[spankmyjesus.livejournal.com]

BAHAHAHAHA AS LONG AS EUNHYUK OH MY GOD. I AM IN HYSTERICS.
This was so brilliant! My one-shots turn out like this also, so you're not alone babe.
I call it soccer...

♥

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

it slays me just remembering hyukkie's "I'M LOOOOONG! >:(" he is so adorable seriously. and long. very long.

haha and thanks! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with the problem XD

...I call it jalkapallo to be exact, haha.

♥

[spankmyjesus.livejournal.com]

YOU ARE SO GOOOOOORGEOUS! Heechul. I miss him ;~;
You most definitely are not haha

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Heechul is epic ;; I want to watch Full House again, now.

[spankmyjesus.livejournal.com]

Me too :( I can't find a decent download any where though </3

[juliettely.livejournal.com]

Oh my god. Halfway through the fic, I think I forgot how to breathe and I was holding my breath until the last paragraphs ;alfhaksflh

You have an amazing way with words, and you can tell so much straight to the point despite not writing too descriptively or colorfully and I really like it because the situations are easier to imagine. I was actually waiting for a whole slew of drama, especially since Kibum would be angsting about the unnecessary attention given to him, but looking back I think their conversation towards the end (before the epilogue) was quite realistic. I don't think there should be a whole career vs Key drama so I appreciate the simple yet very relatable dialogues (ugh I could go on and on about your dialogues sob).

I'm sorry for gushing sobs. But you've made me an emotional wreck at work XD. Thank you so much for writing!

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you, so much! ;;♥ I don't even know what to say, I'm so glad you enjoyed the descriptions and the dialogues! It's a mystery to me how my fics seem to turn out so long even though I'm not one of the authors who can write paragraph upon paragraph of poetic descriptions, haha.

No no, never apologize for gushing, it's all good~ I really am happy you liked this! :D ♥

[smileyone91.livejournal.com]

Again THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WRITING THIS. It's perfect on so many levels. I was flailing and smiling throughout the entire thing.
I'm so glad they got their happy ending, I was really worried that they would break-up before getting back together again (or not get back together at all //sobs). I loved seeing them all lovey-dovey and couplely, that's the minkey I love best.
I really think you are one of the best minkey fic writers out there. I get so many feels from reading your stuff and you capture Minho and Key so well.
adkfjalfjalksjdfs You probably think I'm weird because I like it so much, but this was an amazing fic and I really can't wait to read more from you!

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

absdjkf thank YOU for reading and commenting! ♥ I'm so glad you liked this! It was tough to write at points, but I really wanted to get it done since I enjoyed it nevertheless. And it's so good to know you enjoyed it, too!

I don't think you're weird at all ;; You're nice and wonderful and thank you for the comment! I'm not sure what I'll write next, I have so many unfinished projects, but I am sure I will write at least something ;D

♥

[trulyaproblem.livejournal.com]

*sigh* this is the best ending that could have possibly happened. I was tense wondering if Minho would blame Kibummie, which also would have been plausible, but I loved this story. It's so nice and cute, and I love that Minho really just wanted to date Kibum. :)

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D I'm glad~~ You're right, it could've played out in so many ways, but this is the story I set out to write for them :)

[kpopforlife.livejournal.com]

Weeee I liked this one a lot. I'm not a big minkey fan but it fit them perfectly. And I liked that there was a balance of the Minkey relationship and Key as a person with his friends. It made it flow really well. It had a nice dose of realism (and how uncool fame is) and it just made me all happy and stuff inside. <3

Sidenote, thank you for waiting to post until you had the story finish/almost finished. I love having stories to follow that I know will be updated regularly rather than having to wait months and months for the next installment. It makes it easier and more pleasurable reading for your readers but I know how hard it can be to hold off as a writer so kudos...

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I always feel like there aren't enough friendships in fics. I am guilty of that, too, I don't always include other characters beside the main couple but I feel like it's important to show we all have other social contacts, too :D Plus I love writing their friendships, haha, so it's sort of self-indulgent as well.

Ah, I can understand that, totally! I don't like to post unfinished stories since I'm always afraid to let people down with it. As a reader, I've seen way too many good fics be abandoned, and I don't want to do it, myself! This time, I had this done before I began posting, except for the epilogue and some editing work I did on it. But mostly done :D

[bangles25.livejournal.com]

ahhh i'm so glad it all worked out for them yayyy! loved it, as always. ^^

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Thank youuu~~ :D I have to admit, I am glad for them too, haha!

[stolenflower.livejournal.com]

OH MY GODDDDD
I COMPLETELY FLIPPED OUT WHEN THEY WERE DISCOVERED AND I WAS CHANTING OVER AND OVER AGAIN 'DONT YOU DARE MESS THIS UP CHOI MINHO, DON'T YOU DARE' and when key hid away with onew, i thought 'dammit minho, you couldn't do this one thing right' but then minho kept coming to him and showing that he still loves key and so i was like 'okay i still like you' and forgave him.

BUT THEN KEY FUCKING LOSES HIS PHONE
I WAS SCREAMING AND LOSING MY MIND AND TRYING TO CONVINCE MYSELF 'NO HE DIDN'T LOSE IT, JJONG KEPT IT FOR HIM!!!!' BUT NO HE REALLY DID LOSE HIS PHONE AND OMFG IDK IF IT WAS A GOOD OR BAD THING BUT I GUESS GOOD BECAUSE IT MADE MINHO WAKE UP AND ACCEPT THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND HELL YES THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN WAIING FOR

okay that was like the most beautiful ending ever and i'm so happy they decided to stay together and go through this. yes, continue loving each other 5ever cause you're wonderful and i want you to make an army of beautiful babies.

a million hugs and kisses for writing and sharing this bb (even though it put you through a year of pain). it's super awesome and i love it and once again you amaze me with your wonderful. <333

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

haha aww don't be too harsh on poor Minho, he was trying his best! He did want Kibummie, and he didn't lie to him at any point :D Besides they are meant to be, of course *coughs* 8)

Losing the phone was definitely one of the turning points! Who knows what would have happened to them, otherwise? I guess we'll never know, haha.

I don't even know what I'm saying anymore I just am really reeeeeally happy that you liked this! ♥ And no worries, they will definitely end up having a soccer team of their own when they begin with the kids 8) (I just love self-indulgent kidfic ok)

It wasn't all pain! It was fun too. But I can't deny, at some points I was ready to tear all of my hair out XD I'm so glad you liked and anjksndfg you're too nice to me! ♥

[viena-soma.livejournal.com]

happy ending... ~~~ ^^

actually i kind feel disappoint with Minho... he is such a asshole in my POV... XD... but in the end he such a lovely boyfriend.. he choose Key instead her popularity.. and they are don't care about paparazzi...

i most fond in Kibum chacarater.. i understand everything about his tought.. XD... deny his feeling about Minho.. he don't wanna feel hurt again..

ah.. i love it

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Aww Minho isn't an asshole. He's just human and he was in a pretty difficult situation, which he tried to handle the best he could!

I have to admit I'm most fond of Kibum too ;)

Thank you for reading, and commenting! :D

[emesmyra.livejournal.com]

This is so precious.. I can't even believe it.. Too adorable!!!!

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

haha I do enjoy writing fluff XD

Thanks for reading and commenting! :D

[ismera91.livejournal.com]

loved this so much :) not my fav pairing but you made me love it from the start :) can't wait to read some more of your fics...going to eat dinner first and then come back to trolling your fic list :P

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Ah I'm glad! :D Hopefully you'll like the other fics, too, and learn to enjoy minkey even more ;)

Thank you! ♥

[salome620.livejournal.com]

and they live happily ever after... yay! for a while there, after the scandal broke out, i thought it's gonna ruin them. thank goodness they didn't. constant Minho... ugh! so romantic. (*sighs contentedly*)

i also love Kibum's friends, they're the best. always there for him, in their different adorable ways.

Slowly, Kibum nods. At this point, there’s only one question he needs an answer to. “But you still want this?” He knows Minho just asked him out on a date, on a public date, and is sitting here with him, holding his hand throughout it all. Yet he needs to hear it. To make it real.

The smile that rises on Minho’s face is nothing but genuine.

"Yes," he says, "Yes, I do."

aw...

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

haha what can I say, I am a romantic and it shows XD and I do feel like Minho would be sort of traditional and romantic in his thinking, too~~

Ah, Kibum's friends were such a pleasure to write, I totally loved it :D

Thank you so much for reading and commenting! ♥

[loveshineebang.livejournal.com]

Glad that they could face the problem...
Minho is indeed strong and more brave to face it...
And proud that key isn't crying although he feel miserable...
Key also lucky to have onew as his friend x)
Btw, minho is really serious to key and finally key get his happiness... :)

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

They're all strong in their own ways, and good friends are always needed :D

Thank you for reading and commenting! :)

[mhn77.livejournal.com]

yiss this was everything I needed in my depressed state. something fab and romantic without being cheesy, and borderline tiny bit of angsty.
also, you are just a fabulous writer. I love your style, and with my own barely-existing writing venture I caught myself several times thinking, if only I could do this.../sigh

I love you much ♥

PS. 2. THIS SO MUCH f.o.o.t.b.a.l.l.

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

aww sweetie ;; you do know that if you ever need to talk I'm always here and always willing to try cheer you up? ♥ ilu♥

haha and honestly I'm somehow in the mood for stupid romantic stories lately, hence i keep writing stupid romantic stories XD I think they work pretty nicely as mood-lifters too, at least for me, so they're definitely needed~ plus I can't write anything too angsty, lmao.

//hugs you~♥ thank you so much ;; means a lot to me you liked this, and like my stuff in general!

LMAO it's football! seriously you have a foot and you kick a ball with it. what's so hard about that!?!

[koukaiaru.livejournal.com]

fgdbhzjknsl i'm so late OTL. you already know most of this but i l-o-v-e-d this so much ;~;. the epilogue is so sweet. and i really like how you went about their outing and all ;~;. overall this fic is one of my favourite minkey fics ever i love their characterisations and i think you did a great job on it. i love some bits of it so much, you've put the humour into it so well, and key is just so key in it ;~;. and the progression of their relationship is so natural even though they started with the last step haha. i'm sorry this is so short and so late, nothing i can say here will ever show my true love for this fic ;~;. and i'm so happy you managed to finish it after a year ;~;. *glomps*

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

no worries bb, really :D the fics won't run away and late comments are appreciated as much as early ones!

there were a couple of alternate routes I could've taken with the outing, but I figured this'd be the best. like, try to make it somehow realistic without blowing it up to huge huge drama? idk, something like that, haha.

ahhh and I'm so glad the characterizations worked and all ;; for some reason I often end up writing in Minho's POV so writing this from Key's was refreshing :D something I need to do more, in the future~~

*hugs* I don't even know what I'm saying anymore! but thank you bb ;; so much! ♥♥♥

[koukaiaru.livejournal.com]

well i'm really with you on the minho pov cause all of my minkey fics except for the latest one are from his pov hahahaha XD (lol minho's easy). but yeah you did really well with key's pov! i love it ;~~~~;.

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

haha Nee said the same, too, that it's easier to write Minho's pov so fics tend to end up that way XD so Minho indeed is easy, I suppose! ...out of the fics I'm working on, most are in his pov too what is this sorcery lmao! I guess beyond blue skies is in Key's pov? and some porny stuff I've written... oh and resurgence, partly!

but thank you :3 I should return to the Key pov. I def wanna! maybe for the mechanic!ho :D tho I want some jjong&hoho friendship banter in it so I guess I should try switching povs in it. but I'm just babbling now, seriously... //zips mouth

[velvet-liquor.livejournal.com]

It's been a while since I've last landed on that journal, being primarily a fan of your Dir en grey fics (of course, what else?). But seing as there is absolutely nothing new out there (LJ is dying, everyone is leaving), I decided I would give those KPop fics a try. I mean, I like your plots, I like the way you write, the characters shouldn't be a bother, and.. Key is freaking adorable anyway. Though, had it been me, there would have been Taemin. Cute motherfucker ♥ He's like a baby, so young, making all of us feel like pedos...Jonghyun and Taemin would make a cute couple. Or Jonghyun and Key? Hmm, tough one. Anyway, I'm rambling xD

All of that to say that I finally decided to read this one (chapter fics will always draw me in), and that I actually liked it!
First of all, Key is sweet, oh so sweet and cute, having fits and trying to deny he's totally smitten. Cute. Really cute. And he has really nice friends :) It's heartwarming to see he has supportive friends like this :)
I liked how Minho didn't even try to impress Key, but managed to anyway. And I definitely loved their hot moments ;) and I loved how Minho struggled to let Key set the pace because he wanted nothing more than to just press up into him, to go deeper, and when Key finally did it, he just put an arm around him to keep him there.. Mmh ♥

Oh and really, one year to write this all is no laughing matter xD it took me three years to write a 6.000 words oneshot XD so I don't even know how long it will take me to actually finish my D'espa story .____. No. fucking. idea...

AND YES. FOOTBALL. YOU DAMN AMERICANS TRYING TO TARNISH OUR SPORTS AND CHANGE THEIR NAMES. FOOTBAAAAAALL. Our football is more football than their football is. Tsk. And I don't like football either XDD But I understand your frustration.

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Truth to be told, I do miss writing Dir en grey and I miss the fandom in general, but it sort of died around me and I got tired of trying to fight to keep it at least partly alive so I sort of drifted away :| Who knows, maybe the fandom revives once, but it would require for the band to be more active too and all. So we'll see. But I'm glad you gave the kpop fics a try, too! I'm really flattered, too! :D Aw and Taemin, I love him, I don't know how he slipped away from this one! (and ramble away :D)

Key is my bb I love writing him the most :D I'm so glad you enjoyed reading this one! I put a lot of heart into it since I really wanted that the story would be told, so it's very rewarding to hear that~ and mmmh also happy you enjoyed their togetherness ;)

I AM SO SLOW. SO SLOOOWWWWW. I don't know how it happens but it always seems to take me a year to finish anything XD haha I used to be able to write a fic a day, I must be getting old. Aw and good luck for finishing your story! You can do it!

IT IS FOOTBALL GDI. I saw someone (on tumblr maybe?) say that American football should be called handegg instead and I agree so much.

But yes! Thank you for reading, and for commenting! :D

[velvet-liquor.livejournal.com]

I only have andrew_in_drag to entertain me with Dir en grey love, and now I crave Kyo/Toshiya like crazy (after aaaall those years spent yearning for Kaoru and Die)... Everyone is dying on LJ, everyone... .___.
But maybe you could try writing them again? ♥ *puppy eyes, wiggling tail and all* You know it would feel good, oh so good. Like the good old times.

I also suppose unfinished stories will stay unfinished?

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

It's so sad to see lj quieting down :( I'd love to read some good fic too, it's been ages!

I can't promise anything but I could try! I have a couple of works in progress, actually, maybe I should try to finally finish them. It's getting harder and harder for me to finish anything though so I don't dare to promise anything for sure.

The unfinished stories I've written with seinen_no probably will be left that way. We don't really write together anymore, and I'm not sure if it'll happen again, I'm afraid. I never wanted to begin posting unfinished things to begin with since I hate it when an author abandons a fic I've liked but it happened and there's no going back now :| Sorry.

[velvet-liquor.livejournal.com]

It's sad, indeed. I miss the good old days, when you had to check jrockyaoi all the time because it was easily flooded with new stuff. Now, you can check about once a week...

Well, if you try, that's good :) unfinished fics are getting frustrating, and it feels good to finally finish them and publish them (I have waaay too many in my Google Drive).

Alright, I guess it can't be helped. I'll just treasure the finished fics, then ;) (I think it will be time to read Spread Your Wings for the umpteenth time.. ♥ That one is definitely one of my favorite ♥) And hopefully, you will keep writing, too ;)

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

Oh, those were the days. There were so many fics to read, there wasn't even time for all of them always. Sigh.

I have so many unfinished fics it feels almost suffocating so yeah it'd be nice to get some out of the way! But work's been tiring me out so there's not much energy left for writing, sadly.

Thankfully there are quite a few finished ones :D I still re-read them myself, too, at times, haha. Ah and writing Spread Your Wings was so emotional, I still remember it so clearly ;; I'm happy that you like it! ♥