[fic] Minho/Key – SHINee – Resurgence – Chapter 5/8

[rabenhorst]

Title: Resurgence
Author: fonulyn
Rating: NC17
Warnings: infidelity
Pairing: Minho/Key
Characters: Minho, Key, OCs
Disclaimer: I own no one, only my dirty imagination.
Summary: Some mistakes can’t be avoided, even when they keep repeating over and over again. The thing is, Minho doesn’t even really want to avoid falling into the same old trap. That is what makes it Minho’s biggest mistake. What makes him Minho’s biggest mistake.
Comments: Now we finally get a glimpse of Kibum’s pov :)



Part I Part II Part III Part IV

Kibum feels that throughout the whole pregnancy Minho has suddenly turned him into a support-person, like he’s a part of the family in some twisted way. At first Kibum is reluctant but soon he gives in, so Minho keeps him updated continuously. Most of all, Minho simply needs someone to share things with. He has no friends he can talk to about this; he can’t discuss anything personal with his co-workers and his few drinking buddies are still single and not interested in baby-talk.

Not that Kibum expected to be interested, in the slightest. It’s not his child, he doesn’t even know the soon-to-be mother, and he’s essentially the home breaker in this scenario. Still it’s hard to resist the unadulterated enthusiasm practically radiating from Minho, and at first he simply doesn’t have the heart to ruin that.

Inexplicably he eventually realizes that he’s actually looking forward to those reports, holding his breath excitedly when he hears about complications or treatments. Maybe something shifted when he finally got to visit his sister and the new baby during a free weekend, or maybe he simply grew into it, he doesn’t know.

When she calls a few days later, he almost blurts out that Minho’s child is supposed to be born any day now. Only in the nick of time he manages to hold back and swallow the words, realizing it wouldn’t sound quite right. You know, I’m seeing this guy and his wife is giving birth soon!

His family doesn’t know much anything about his life in the city, and he has very good reasons for that. All they need to know is that the checks keep coming monthly. That was the reason he first moved into the city, to find a stable income to support his family as well as he can. How he ended up with one of the richest men in the country was pure coincidence, but he considers himself lucky. After all there’s no other way to earn as much as he does with as little effort.

It’s the perfect deal.

Or at least it used to be, back when life wasn’t complicated. Now he feels, more often than not, that he might’ve gone astray somewhere along the way. But this is the only thing he knows, all he’s ever done. He has no chances to get a job that isn’t flipping burgers, and that way he wouldn’t have anything left to send back home. This, he keeps telling himself, this is the only way.

Kibum knows his sister suspects something is up but he pretends to be cheery and doesn’t bite into any of her attempts to trick the information out of him. He knows she means well, but he isn’t ready to tell her everything, to shock her by spilling the beans about the mess his life has become. “I’ll come by as soon as I can, okay?” He tries to soothe her, but it only makes things worse.

The static of the phone crackles a little as Hyein is silent for a second, before trying once more. She still sounds tentative, but also determined, causing a tinge of home-sickness surface out of nowhere. “Kibum. Are you okay?”

“Sure I am,” he tries to sound nonchalant, even if they both know he’s holding back tears. Somehow talking to her seems to underline his own bad life-choices every time. She has a loving husband, wonderful children, a respected job, and what does Kibum have? A messed up business-slash-pleasure relationship with a man almost three times his age? A painful pseudo-love story with a married man he just can’t let go? Neither of which seem to be quite healthy.

If he was a stronger person, more selfless and noble, he would’ve managed to break things off with Minho. But each time, his selfish and desperate needs win. It stopped being about sex long ago, turning into the craving of human contact, the shameless need to be close to Minho and feel like he’s special to him, on some level at least. Kibum knows he’s weak, but he refuses to show the cracks in his shell, pretends like they don’t exist.

“Everything is fine.” He repeats, but knows she doesn’t buy it. “Just some… relationship issues.” It’s vague enough and he has no intention to elaborate on that any further.

She’s silent for a good while, again, before speaking in gentle, measured words. “Are you sure he’s worth the worry?”

For a second, Kibum hesitates. There is really only one answer he can give. “…yeah. He is.”





Another thing that escapes Kibum’s understanding is how they suddenly ended up abandoning the hotels and instead meeting up in his apartment. He remembers inviting Minho over once, but he’s not certain what the special occasion was. After that, Minho has been dropping by unannounced more and more often, and somehow Kibum doesn’t even mind.

Then, Minho’s son is born.

It’s understandable, Kibum thinks, that for a couple of weeks after that Minho sticks to his family and doesn’t have time for anything else. When the break begins to stretch even longer and longer, he can’t help the slight irritation that begins gnawing at him. Apparently he’s good enough to be a support person for Minho whenever he needs to complain or simply have some company, like during the past stressful months. But as soon as the baby is born he’s thrown aside like he’s not needed anymore.

The worst part is that he feels it might be true. Minho might not need him anymore, not as much as he needs Minho.

Firmly, Kibum tries to push the thought aside, to ignore the gnawing doubts and just go on like before. He’s not used to having this much free time but he has to keep company to the boss more and more rarely these days and it leaves him alone quite often. It feels like the walls of the apartment are closing in on him, crushing him, and sometimes he simply needs to get out so he won’t go insane.

A part of Kibum has already gone as far as to think that Minho will be gone for good now, so when there’s a rough knock on his door he first thinks he’s imagined it. No one would be stupid enough to knock when there’s a doorbell right there, but somehow Minho has never used that and that’s why he instantly knows who it is.

Kibum doesn’t even care that he’s in his comfy home-pants and a huge t-shirt – probably left in the apartment by no other than Minho – as he leaps up from the couch and reaches the door in a flash. He swings it open and true enough, it’s no other than Minho standing there, smiling at him like he’s just won the lottery.

…with a sniffling bundle in his arms.

Admittedly it’s somewhat a shock when Kibum realizes Minho is holding the baby, proudly presenting the tiny face to him. “Say hi to Jungwoo, Kibum,” Minho suggests, his voice low and barely audible, yet laced with suppressed emotion.

Kibum stutters, but finally settles for an indignant huff as he opens the door even wider. “Come inside. You look like a madman who has managed to kidnap someone’s kid.”

Obviously Minho doesn’t mind the comparison as he steps inside, reaching to grab the back of Kibum’s head as soon as he’s close enough. The kiss that follows is slow and savouring, exactly like you kiss someone after you haven’t seen them in way too long. It makes Kibum’s toes curl in all the pleasant ways and he almost forgets that there’s anything odd in the situation.

Then, the bundle is pushed into his arms and he finds himself holding a happily gargling baby that is staring right up at him. The boy has Minho’s eyes but otherwise he couldn’t look more different, obviously taking after his mother’s side more. The sight is absolutely adorable, and soon Kibum realizes he’s smiling as well. It would be impossible not to.

“But why did you bring him here?” He looks up at Minho. “What did your w–”

“She’s not home and I was left alone with the baby,” Minho cuts in, reaching out to gently brush his fingers down the child’s soft cheek. “I’ve wanted to introduce you for weeks now, but I never had the chance.”

Somehow it makes irresistible warmth splash in Kibum’s chest. He’s smiling in earnest now, so much his cheeks hurt from it. When did his life come to this? It’s not like he should even be holding the child, much less playing happy family together with Minho for a few hours whenever his wife is gone. Still, the thought alone is so tempting he can’t bring himself to discard it completely.

“Do you want something to drink?” Kibum asks and when Minho nods, he gestures vaguely towards the kitchen. “Help yourself. I’m going to get to know the little fellow.” He turns his back and waltzes back towards the living room, the baby still gargling in his arms.

They spend the whole day together, and when Minho finally leaves after dark, Kibum almost wants to ask him to stay.





It seems like that sums up the very essence of this push-and-pull between them. Please, stay is what they both struggle to say but neither ever voices it out loud.

They don’t know how to break the barrier they’ve built between themselves and what they yearn for. Yet neither of them can let go, either.

---
(1589 words)


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soooo? progress? lmao let me know what you think!

Comments

[smileyone91.livejournal.com]

I've honestly just started reading Shinee fics, and I stumbled upon this one. It is so well-written and the plot is driving me crazy (in a good way!). I can't wait to see what happens next!

Please keep up the amazing work~

P.S. Also, I was wondering how did Minho not managed to get fired after Kibum says his name is Part III? I was curious about that...

[fonulyn.livejournal.com]

aww, thank you so much! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying this! :D and welcome to the wonderful world of shinee ficcage! ;D

oh, I'm not sure if it's explained later (I'm old and forgetful, haha) but; basically the boss wants Kibum, right? and he sees what's between Kibum and Minho. so he's afraid that by getting rid of Minho he'd also end up without Kibum. so he rather shares him than has none of him. does that make sense? I'm tired, I have a feeling my explaining skills are dying XD