Title: La Douce Deni

[trinkdufreak]

Title: La Douce Deni part 6
Pairing: OnHo (Onew and Minho)
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Minho is a college freshman and has a crush on a junior named Onew. What happens when the usually popular jock asks the people-phobic nerd Onew out on date?
A/N: part 6 for this fic~ thank you to those that have been avidly reading this! hope you enjoy ^^ WARNING this one is like suuuper lonnngg cuz I dont freaking know.

Christmas break was coming up.
This meant more than a month off from school, plenty of time to go home and spend the holidays with one's family. It meant Minho could go home and visit his grandparents, his parents, and his older brother. He got to sleep in his old room, eat his step-mother's cooking, and relax in the neighborhood he knew and loved. Minho looked forward to Christmas, sitting around with his dad and brother watching a soccer game while his step-mother made dinner and his grandmother and grandfather looked over the family photo albums. He anticipated waking up on Christmas day and seeing the snow outside his window and having the annual snowball fight with him and his brother versus everyone else. He loved spending the new year with old friends, not actually getting drunk for once and just playing silly board games till the new year arrived. He liked the apple cider his grandparents always brought home, the new year parade that went through his street, and most of all the New Year kiss.

No matter how much of a playboy Minho actually was, he would only kiss a person he actually liked on the New Year, and that had happened twice so far.
One time it was girl he had been crushing on for all of his junior year of high school. They had been dating for three months. But Minho had liked her for a whole year. And when he got to kiss her on the New Year, he had been very happy about it.
The only other time, and actually his most precious time, was his first kiss. With his first love. A boy who used to mean more to him than anything else. But they had moved on from one another.
He would never forget his first kiss that was stolen from a blushing angel...
“Minho when are you leaving for break?” Jonghyun asked him casually as they left their drama class. Minho blinked for half a second too long as his mind broke away from his daydreaming.
“Hm?” Minho asked.
“When you leaving for break?” Jonghyun asked again, not thinking much of it.
“Oh um, my last final is this tomorrow. So probably the next night.” Minho mentally calculated the timing and also reminded himself that he needed to call his parent to tell them when to come get him...or maybe he could have Kyuhyun give him a ride?
“Oh cool, just wondering because me, Key and Onew are heading out tomorrow night! Only an hour drive to where we live!” Jonghyun chirped and smiled.
“Only an hour? Where do you live?” Minho became curious, because he too only had to drive an hour out to home. And when Jonghyun said his town's name, Minho felt the excitement thrumming in his chest. If Jonghyun lived in the same town as Key, then Key lived where Onew lived. And Onew only lived about twenty minutes from him.
Onew only lived twenty minutes from him!
Minho felt obligated to tell Jonghyun that he only lived twenty minutes away from him. Jonghyun seemed ecstatic about this!
“What?! All you have to do is cross that one green bridge over the small river! And you're in my town!” Jonghyun and Minho high-fived with big smiled plastered on their faces.
“This means we can party on New Years!” Jonghyun said and Minho completely agreed with that. The pair immediately stared talking about going to the parade together, what they could do for New Years, going skiing and other fun sports. Minho suggested going snowboarding, and Jonghyun suggested a scary movie night.
“What are you two so happy about?” a deep voice spoke up from behind them. Minho quickly turned around to find Onew giving them a curious gaze. It was getting colder now, which meant thicker jackets. Onew had recently been wearing a very puffy gray jacket and had opted for warm scarfs to cover his neck. Because of the cold, Onew's paler skin had become more flush, his cheeks and nose a soft pink. He was absolutely delectable. Not to mention that Onew had broken his glassed, and he could only had spare contacts, meaning no frames to hide his beautiful dark eyes.
And Minho had no problem in making it a known fact that he loved the way Onew was looking these days.
“Hey sexy!” Minho smiled, and smiled wider when Onew's gaze shifted in to a glare.
“Hello Minho.” the junior spat. Minho still thought that this was progress. He was actually greeted now, and called by his name. And the best part was that Onew actually texted him back! Never anything nice though, just what he wanted to eat, and to leave him alone, and rejecting Minho's offers for dates. But still, progress.
“Miss me?” Minho wiggled his eyebrows as Jonghyun snickered and said he would see them both later and left for his next class.
“No I did not miss you Minho, considering we just had a class together. Unless you're too stupid to realize that.” Onew said and began walking.
“Yeah we have a class together but,” Minho hopped in front of Onew to derail him further, he wanted to continue seeing that cute face of his, “we don't sit together. You sit all the way in the back,” Minho tried his best to put on a cute face as he played with Onew's scarf, “I missed you~” he whined.
“And how old are you?” Onew rolled his eyes and swatted Minho's hands away from his scarf.
“Old enough to take you to an R-rated movie tonight! Date?” the freshman clapped his hands together in excitement.
“No.” Onew said with a dead tone and continued on his path. Minho pouted, even though he knew that was going to happen, and followed Onew to lunch.
Lately, Onew had been semi-pleasant with Minho. He still go rejected everyday when he tried to ask him out on a date, and Minho tried once every day. Onew still insulted his intelligence, but with more humor attached to it so Minho wasn't so insulted. He still called Minho a playboy, but Minho was done denying that and went with it. But ever since his episode of being late to pick Onew up from class, the two could actually have conversation. It was awkward at first, but they had grown in to it.
Minho always started off on the asking how the previous class had gone, what was happening in the future class for the evening, and how did Onew feel about that.
He asked what Onew wanted to get for dinner, and what movie he could bring over for after dinner.
And he asked one random question about Onew a day, whether it be dreams, favorite colors, or fears.
Minho had once asked if this was Onew's way of opening up to him, and Onew had denied it.
“I'm just giving up.” the junior had said with a very serious face. “You seem to not be going away. And I'm tired of trying to make you to. Its too much effort. I'm not opening up. I'm just giving up.” Onew had said and left it at that.
That was good enough for Minho, the easier the leeching project the better! And he really enjoyed getting full eye contact from Onew now. He was kind of glad those glasses were broken...
“So!” Minho began as Onew sat across from him. Today they had chosen a pizza parlor off campus for lunch. Onew's last class had been canceled and Minho had no more classes for the day. They could take their time and eat as they pleased
“My last class was boring, and you should know because you were there, I don't have my English class today so there are no further events. Random fact I like to drink hot chocolate when I'm sick even though it won't help me, and I like to drink earl grey tea with lemon and honey in the mornings.” Onew cut off Minho before any questions could be asked.
Minho urged himself not to choke the junior with that stupid scarf of his.
“I hate it when you do that.” Minho hissed.
“I hate it when you ask the same questions over and over.” Onew retorted while looking at the parlor's menu. His eyes flickered from the menu up to Minho's, upping a brow with a challenge. Minho stuck out his tongue in annoyance. And Onew smiled with a small laugh.
That was another thing, Onew was smiling more often around Minho. The freshman assumed that Onew had made a prompt decision to try and kill Minho's heart with that amazing smile of his. And that every time Onew smiled, he knew exactly what he was doing, and that was trying to give Minho a fucking heart attack.
His heart stuttered and gave out for a fraction of a second as the older boy smiled and laughed lightly. That smile reaching his cheeks and making his eyes disappear...
“What do you want for Christmas?” Minho blurted.
“Nothing.” Onew sighed, not missing a beat.
“Well give me your home address so I can send you something!” Minho pushed. He didn't miss the way Onew's face stiffened for a second, contemplating before he spoke again.
Onew rushed in a breath quickly said the sentence like it hurt,
“I'm going to be staying with Key during the break.” Minho had to quickly remind himself not to say 'I knew that' because Onew did not know that he knew that. So he played innocent and asked why not at his own home. Watching Onew continue to contemplate in his head, his lips piercing and his brow scrunching just slightly.
“I...I don't...” Onew sucked in a deep breath, and closed his eyes, “I don't have parents.” Onew whispered only low enough for Minho to hear.
Minho held back his smile, because he knew this was hard for Onew to say aloud for several reasons. But he was kind of sort of happy at that moment. Onew was trusting him with personal information. He kept calm, masking his radiating happiness with a calm face that showed he was listening to Onew and waited for the older man to continue.
“They...they...” Onew bit his bottom lip, glancing up at Minho suddenly to send him off guard. And Onew searched Minho's face carefully, and for quite awhile. He was looking for something that Minho was unsure of, but he patiently waited, and finally after their drinks were delivered and their bread basket Onew opened his mouth.
“Um, my parents,” he began as Minho started chugging back some soda, “they died when I was twelve. So I live with Key.”
The audible sound of choking and spitting soda from Minho's throat made a few nearby tables turn toward them with concern. Minho hacked up a lung and coughed till his face turned pink, trying to calm himself down. When his airways seemed clear and his shirt mostly rid of stains, he turned back to look up at Onew who was giving him one of his famous glares.
“Are you okay?” Onew asked questioning.
“Fine.” his hoarse voice replied and sipped on the soda that had threatened to kill him not one minute ago. He ignored Onew's gaze that claimed he was weird and chugged back the last of his drink.
“ So um.. you were saying? “ Minho asked.
“My parents died.” Onew said with a straight face. And this time it didn't throw Minho off, just irritated him a bit...no actually it irritated him a lot. Onew was straight face lying to him. He wasn't letting Minho the truth about his parents. He wasn't telling Minho how his parents had abandoned...
and his thoughts slowed down and the anger ceased.
Maybe Onew wasn't ready to tell Minho that. Maybe it was too hard for him to say out loud. It was obviously tough for him to even say that he had no parents, it must be ten times harder to say that his parents had left him behind...
“I'm sorry that happened.” Minho said quietly, letting Onew think he believed him. He didn't bother to ask how they died, knowing it would be difficult for Onew to make up a story on the spot.
A small part of him wants to tell Onew that he knows everything. That he knows about his abandonment at twelve, the five suicide attempts, how deep his doubt of humans went.
But then a larger part of himself knew two things; Onew would tell him when he was ready. And Onew would be pissed and lose all trust for Minho if he found out that the freshman knew so much already by finding out behind his back. It would be like he'd been lying to Onew. And he couldn't do that. So he chewed on a bread stick, thinking of what to say to get them out of this gray mood.
“So, what do you want for Christmas don't say nothing that is not an option.” Minho pointed an accusing finger before the words could get past Onew's lips. He really thought Onew was cute when he pouted like that, and his eyes got all dark and dangerous. Like he wanted to stab Minho's eyes out. He was so precious like that.
Onew huffed and crossed his arms in defiance, averting his eyes to look at the very interesting ceiling and think about what exactly he wanted.
And Minho knew when he had figured it out, because a sly grin eased its way on to Onew's lips. And even this evil smile made Minho's heart skip a beat.
“Don't bug me.” Onew said. Minho threw a questioning look.
“Don't bother me all of Christmas break. Don't text me, don't call me. Nothing.” Onew said.
Well, Minho did not like this gift.
“Why? Why can't I? Can you give me one valid reason? This is stupid. I don't like it. Why can't I call you? At least text you, I mean how can I not text you to see how you're doing? This is lame. I hate it.” Minho stuffed a bread stick in to his mouth to shut himself up from continuing to rant about how completely stupid this was. He chewed the bread with anger, not even appreciating the garlic flavor and the soft texture.
“I just...” Onew began softly, and it was like whatever he was going to say, he stopped and started a new sentence, and whip of anger lashing out suddenly
“Just give me a month to myself! Can't you? Do you realize how annoying you can be?” the words were regretted right after they slipped past Onew's lips. The older boy seemed shocked for a second as he heard his own harsh words. But he recovered, Minho saw this, Onew set his jaw in place and was going to act like he really meant what he said.
He was annoying? Ouch.
If he had said that three months ago, when Minho had just began his pestering, then Minho wouldn't have taken offense. If Onew hadn't opened up to Minho, let Minho see the pleasant person he could be, then he wouldn't have found those words so hurtful.
If Onew's actions hadn't given him so much hope that maybe he liked Minho back, then he wouldn't have been so angry.
It was one of Onew's shorter rants of hate toward him. But for some reason, and maybe it was because Onew had actually began being kind to Minho, this sentence hurt. And it angered Minho even more.
“Fine. I won't bother you during break.” Minho growled, his eyes dead and trying so hard to contain the real anger that was fuming inside him. He was annoying. Onew sighed at him, rolling his eyes like Minho was a dramatic child.
Minho tried to calm himself down, trying to convince himself that this was Onew being his usual careful self. He tried to tell himself that Onew didn't mean it.
“Minho, look I just—“
“I said fine. Did you not hear me? Fine. Okay. I got it. Done.” Minho's voice was getting louder, his anger pushing past his barriers. He really needed Onew to stop talking to him or he was going to burst.
“Calm down! It's not like—“ Onew tried to fight back, but he wasn't going to win this time.
“Like what?! Like I will miss you?!” Minho's voice had several people’s attention in the restaurant. He didn't care.
“Because obviously I will! You know how much I like you, if my words haven’t been enough Onew, I'm sure my actions have! And you know, I kind of think you like me too.” he knew he had hit a spot there. Watching Onew's eyes widen slightly in horror, “ Maybe not like I like you, but I know you consider me a friend dammit. I know you do. And you can't deny that. We've hung out for over three fucking months. But fine!” Minho didn't know when he had stood up, but he pushed away from their table and charged to the end where Onew sat.
“I won't annoy you Onew. God forbid I annoy you and show how much I care. I won't send you a Christmas text, a happy New Year's text. I'm not going to care if you call me. I'm not going to care about you at all. I promise you Onew, I will stop annoying you. I promise.” Minho knew his words were getting to him. He felt triumphant, if only for a moment. He stayed composed as he watched Onew's bottom lip being pushed out slightly, his face in a very obvious pout.
Onew turned to look up at Minho, his pout mixing with a glare. And Minho really hated that face. The face that told him he was hurting Onew, and Onew was hating him for it.
“You're so mean.” Onew said, trying to hold back tears.
“Look whose talking.” Minho spat back. He was not going to give up on this fight. Onew had just said hurtful things, that he was annoying and now he wanted to say Minho was being mean? No way.
“I was trying to tell you...”Onew actually blubbered, and swallowed back more tears even as some glided down his cheek. Once again, Minho saw that Onew had one thing to say, and had decided to say another instead.
“Well, I'm not even going to miss you. I hate you. I can't wait to be so far away from you.” Onew's tears continued to glide down his cheeks that were turning slightly pink in that adorable way.
“Yeah sure you won't Onew. Sure you won't.” Minho rolled his eyes, “Let's face it Onew. You are going to miss me. Its going to be so annoying how much you are going to miss me.”
“No I won't!” Onew defended. And Minho scared him as he rushed forward and got in his face. His nose inches away from Onew's. His eyes raging with force.
“Yes. You. Will. You are going to miss me. You are going to miss my company, my face, my smile, my every act of doting upon you. You are going to miss me and there is nothing you can do about it.” he hissed. He knew he sounded cocky, but oh well.
He took deep breaths, calming down, being able to see what he was doing. He could clearly see Onew's tears now, this close to him, he could make out the sadness and hurt falling down Onew's reddened cheeks. Minho hated himself.
He waited for Onew to retaliate for a second, waited for the great comeback that Onew always had stored for him. But he watched as Onew actually had to rack his brain for an answer, like Minho was right or something.
Like Minho was right? Like what Minho had just said was completely right and Onew was sitting there realizing he was right and wishing he wasn't? Oh there was no way...
He hated that he was less angry now. And how he was regretting every mean word that had come out of his mouth no more than a couple of seconds ago. But he couldn't back away now, couldn't turn around and back track on what he had just said. Because maybe he had said them in a very nasty and mean way, but damn they were true.
“I'm not going to miss you.” Onew's tears were continuing to fall down his cheeks, the rim of his eyes turning red.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Minho said and retreated back to his seat at the table. And they sat in angry silence until the pizza came. But they didn't touch it, only continued to throw angry glares back and forth and Minho had to ignore his growling stomach. Onew's eyes finally dried and Minho sipped on his third cup of soda.
After sometime, Onew carefully reached forward and took a slice, bringing it to his mouth and biting off at least half of the slice. Well he had been just as hungry as Minho had been.
“Don't bother coming to dinner with me. I'll be busy packing.” Onew said after his slice.
Oh that was right, Onew was leaving tomorrow with Jonghyun and Key. So then, right now was the last time he would see Onew for a month?
“Well I'm going to miss you.” Minho muttered and finally picked up a slice and easily stuffed it in to his mouth.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Onew said back, making Minho stop mid chew to throw mental darts at him. And once again his short temper got the best of him. And he didn't bother to notice that his temper was only ever this short when he was around Onew...
“Well just so you know I'm really not going to text you.” Minho said.
“Good.” Onew sighed.
“I'm not going to call you.”
“Good.”
“I'm not going to contact you whatsoever.”
“Good.” Onew leaned forward with emphasis and snatched the piece that Minho was aiming for.
“I'm going to drink as much as I want. And sleep with whoever I want.” fuck his life why did he just say that?! He wished he'd never said that.
It was Onew's turn to pause mid chew, looking at Minho with questioning eyes, scrutinizing what Minho had just said. Did he really mean that? Of course not.
It seemed that he'd pushed the right button, and Onew jumped up from the table, hastily putting on his jacket to leave.
“I hate you.” Onew spat as he shoved one arm in to a sleeve.
“I love you.” Minho quickly said back. But it was ignored.
“I am not going to miss you. I hope you have a great break. And keep your promise. Don't call me, don't text me, don't give a flying fuck about me.” fresh tears made their way down Onew' cheeks. Minho stood up, and he really didn't know what he was doing anymore. He wanted to hurt Onew for hurting him, but he hated seeing Onew hurt. He retaliated so quickly to Onew and whatever he did, feeling such raw emotions. But he wished he didn't. Especially when he was angry, because all he did was upset Onew, all he did was push him away.
And he had really pushed him away this time, and he was wishing he hadn't with all his might. Really wishing that he could go back a little bit and not say such stupid things.
“Wait.” Minho gasped, panic leaping in to his heart, making his stomach drop. Onew was leaving, and he wouldn't be able to see him for a month. A whole month with no Onew.
“Oh shut up. Goodbye Minho.” Onew hissed and threw his bag over back and began to storm outside. But a hand wrapping around his wrist stopped him, and the hand tugged forcefully to make him fall backwards. Minho quickly wrapped his arm around Onew's waist, holding him close, ignoring Onew's protest and struggle.
He hated how he retaliated so quickly to Onew. He really did. He hated how crazy he made him.
He leaned over and his lips tenderly pressed a kiss to Onew's cheek. He moved his lips to Onew's ear, whispering what he could before Onew pulled away. Quickly saying what he felt and what he would feel for the next month.

Be safe. I'll miss you. I'm sorry. I love you. Don't be angry. I'm sorry. I love you. I miss you. Be safe.

And he let Onew pull away, let him shove Minho away with a quiet goodbye and storm out of the restaurant. Leaving Minho to sit at the table by himself, once again regretting the mean things he'd said, once again tearing him apart.
He really needed to learn how to control his anger.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next two days came and went. The night that he knew Onew was leaving was hard for him. But he sat quietly in his room, swirling a cup of noodles as he thought about it.
He ignored Kyuhyun's request to drink to celebrate finals being over, he ignored the twenty missed calls from people inviting him to parties. All he could think about was that Onew was leaving right then, he was putting his things in to Jonghyun's car and leaving for a over a month.
Kyuhyun had agreed to drive Minho home, after all they lived streets away from each other.
“Of course! You're my favorite little brother!” Kyuhyun had announced happily and ruffled Minho's hair before asking him for gas money like the tight wad he was. But Minho coughed up twenty bucks and the next day they packed up what they would need for home and stuffed it in to the trunk of Kyuhyun's car.
Kyuhyun played his indie music and sang the whole drive. While Minho watched the gray clouds roll around. They were dark and deep with hidden things. Rolling and rolling, not sure of where to go. And there was this sky full of them, as far as the eye could see. They looked so threatening with thunder and lightning, but were calm and peaceful.
This is how it felt to love Onew.
Minho's emotions were just being rolled around and around and he was so lost in them. And still there were dark secrets he wasn't aloud to know, but there his love was. Rolling around and around forever, as far as the eye could see. There were dark moments of thunder and lightning. But he only wanted to love Onew. That was all.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
His dad was happy to see him, so happy he picked him up and threw him in to a pile of snow in their front yard. It was lovely to have cold and wet clothes as he unloaded his luggage up to his room.
His room was just as he remembered, clean but cozy. All of his posters of his bands were still up, his clothes in his drawers, and the curtains his mother had bought for him when he was still a baby.
He loved those curtains. There were so many memories wrapped up in these curtains.
But he didn't ponder on them too long, he had an older brother to greet.
His brother acted like they hadn't spent the last year apart and ordered Minho to go get him some juice, but when he returned they caught each other up on their lives.
Donghae was four years older than Minho, and wasn't only his older brother but his best friend.
He could tell his brother anything and know he wouldn't judge him or hate him for it.
It was his brother who he first told about dating a boy, and his brother had asked if that boy was making Minho happy. It was as simple as that.
His parents hadn't cared either, loving Minho regardless and then following up with 'the talk' that Minho by then really didn't need.
And finally Minho was able to tell someone about the moment he saw Onew's smile, someone who would understand.
“He's got mom's smile Hyung.” Minho murmured. He had sprawled himself on to Donghae's bed, making himself comfy with a pillow tucked under his chin. His brother sat at a desk, turned around in his chair. Minho had told him everything there was to tell. How Onew was a pain in his ass, how Onew was all he could think about, how he wanted to better himself all for Onew. And it all started with that smile...
“You mean...” Donghae stared, trying to comprehend what Minho was claiming.
“They've got the same smile...not like..the same. But...” Minho sighed as he tried to explain and it wasn't coming out the way he wanted it to. As he turned over on to his back and tried to think, he spotted a picture on his brother's bed side. It was simple, of his brother and he when they were younger, and their mom squished between them. She was smiling, as she always did, receiving kisses from both of her sons.
“You know how you use to feel when Mom smiled? That feeling you got, right here.” and he ran his hand over his upper chest. He looked up to his brother, who was smiling now.
“I see what you mean.” Donghae smiled also, “he makes you feel like that huh?”
“Yes. He does. When he smiles...” Minho waved his arms when he was at a loss for words.
“I just feel so...GAH! You know?” he knew his smile was dorky looking at the moment, but he didn't care in front of his brother.
“So what, you feel like...you can fly?” Donghae asked with a humorous.
“Yes!”
“Like you can touch the sky?”
“Yes!”
“Like everything is perfect? Like there can be no wrong done? Like everything is going to be alright?”
“Yes and yes and yes!” Minho half shouted, his smile reaching the corner of his eyes. That was exactly how he felt when Onew smiled. Exactly.
“Well what about when he's not smiling? What about when he's pouting? Or angry?” Donghae asked, further sending Minho in a smiling frenzy. His cheeks were going to hurt after this.
“Oh! Hyung, he's so cute. He makes this face when he's pouting, and his lips. Ugh. And then he'll try and glare at me, but it only makes him cuter...” and Minho remembered when he'd last scene Onew pout. And he remembered the cause.
He stopped smiling, a deep sigh expressing his guilt.
“I've hurt him though Hyung. I've made him cry...he just..he says things with out thinking! He'll say such mean things to me, and I just...I don't know. I just react instantly and then I'm saying shit that’s mean and he's crying and I'm hurt cuz he's crying and I feel bad but he started it! He makes me feel...he makes me feel so much. Like I've never felt before.” Minho could make out those eyes that glared at him, that pout that amused him. Those harsh words that criticized him, those snarky remarks that made him frustrated.
“And I'm acting out these feelings like I never had before. I'm Minho! I'm calm and collective! I don't lash out, I'm never confused or frustrated or flustered over being late. But he just...” Minho had to catch his breath. Since when did he get worked up over words? Never.
“and then he smiles...Hyung. You have got to see his smile...” he could feel himself still smiling, still lost in dreamland.
“Well then just marry him why don't you?” his brother laughed and mentioned that their grandparents should be arriving soon. The brothers headed downstairs to the living room to be there when their grandparents arrived.
“He wouldn't marry me Hyung. Haven't you been listening? He hates me!” Minho laughed and plopped down next to Donghae who turned the television on, immediately finding the soccer channel.
“Sounds like he's just playing hard to get.” his brother mumbled back, but the pair sat in silence as they noticed one of their rival teams was playing. They both sat up and scooted forward, their bottom lips automatically tucked in to their teeth and their eyes squinting in concentration.
They wanted whatever team was playing their rival to win. They didn't even really like the other team playing, but as long as their rival lost, they'd be happy.
Minho felt his brow crease in distaste when the rival team scored a goal. His brother's growl of disapproval heard from beside him.
“You boys never change do you? Scowling at a television set, absurd.” a gentle yet firm voice said from behind them. Minho and his Donghae turned their heads to find their grandparents arriving through their front door.
“You don't understand! Soccer is life! Why did I marry you?” their grandfather barked as he hauled in a suitcase from outside. Minho and his brother were instantly up to help them gather their things and put them in to their guest room.
Minho took a moment to hug his grandmother. They were his mother's parents, and his grandmother's smile was something close to his mothers. Not only that, but her whole personality was similar. The way she spoke gently but honestly, the way she always tucked Minho's hair behind his ear to see his face. And they way she always found a reason to smile no matter what situation she was in.
Maybe that was a reason he was so attracted to Onew? Because the older man didn't smile so often, and he locked his smile away for specific moments and special people? The opposite of his mother and grandmother...
“Hi my favorite!” his grandmother cooed and instantly had Minho in a warm embrace.
“Hey! What about me?!” Donghae yelled from down the hallway.
“You are the eldest, isn't that good enough?” she called back playfully. Minho laughed and brought in her suitcase. He had no doubt missed his grandmother. And missing his grandmother made him miss his mother. And missing his mother made him miss her smile, always present and warm.
And of course it made him think of Onew, his smile rarely ever present, but still warm.
They had a snow fight, and his grandfather claimed he should get a senior advantage. He and Donghae won like always, although the final players were Minho and his brother versus his step-mother. So they gently put snow down her back instead of pounding snow in to her face.
They had a great dinner together, his step-mother was an amazing cook, and they caught each other up on how their years had been.
His step-mother was a preschool teacher, so she shared plenty of stories of silly children and how glad she was for the break.
His father was a construction worker, and made the family laugh with a few of the jokes that had been shared during his work.
His grandparents listened, not having too many stories. They were the kind of couple that had a few close knit friends from forever ago, and only went on outings every so often. They enjoyed each other's company immensely and kept to themselves. They were retired now, so what was the point in not being lazy and not being able to sleep in together with all of their free time?
Donghae was already out of college, his new job finally taking off. He was interning to be a network sports director for soccer. He was the guy who helped edit how the live games looked to people watching from home. He very much so liked his job, and his boss had hinted at a promotion. Maybe not the head director, but probably right under him.
While Minho was studying to be a sports editor. He wanted to cover every shot of every soccer game there was known to man, even with teams he hated. He loved writing about the action and reliving the intense moments. It was what he lived for. With both oh his sons going into the sports industry, his father hoped for some free tickets.
“I'm still in college dad!” Minho laughed and his brother added that he had only just started his job.
“Yeah and plus, Minho still needs to marry his precious Onew~” Donghae said loudly and purposefully. The statement made his step-mother's eyes widen in delight and his father upped a brow in curiosity. Minho glared at his older brother next to him and mentally threw curses his way.
“Who's Onew? Cute girl at school?” his step-mother smiled with a hopeful gaze.
“Do I actually get to meet this one or is she not something serious?” his dad followed after. His parents didn't exactly know Minho was...active in his sex life. His father did however know he had many girls and boys falling at his knees since a young age. His step-mother wasn't used to it yet, even after five years with him. She though that every person that was mentioned in Minho's life was his future spouse.
“Tell us Minho! What's she like?” his grandfather added before he even had a chance to speak.
“Slow down! One question as a time!” Minho laughed but kicked his brother under the table in revenge. Donghae grunted at the pain and Minho felt satisfied to then answer all of their questions.
“Cute?” his step-mother smiled.
“Yes.” he answered with a bigger smile than hers.
“At school?” his grandmother's turn.
“Yes.” he nodded.
“Girl?” his step-mother bit her bottom lip in hope.
“No.” Minho chuckled. His step-mother pouted and grumbled about not having enough girls in the house these days.
“Meet?” his dad asked and gave his playboy son a knowing look.
“Well I'd like you to.” Minho sighed. Truthfully he did, if it was up to him he would have Onew right next to him at that very table, and whispering sweet nothings in to his ear while his family adored him. “Serious?” his grandfather asked. His looked at the eldest man straight on.
“I love him.” Minho felt kind of proud when he said that. Because he had never said that kind of thing in front of his family, better yet his elders. It was always 'she's cute' or 'he is nice...'
This time was so much different. His dad clapped his hands in joy after Minho had said that and began to make imaginary wedding preparations with his step-mother squealing in delight at the hope of babies coming in to the house.
“We are men! We can't do that!” Minho stopped her from beginning to start on baby names.
“Adoption is the same thing Min! And you better get a girl!” she pointed an warning finger at him.
“No.” he teased and he and his brother laughed as she cried out a long 'Why?!” in a little girl's voice.
“You married a man with two sons, my father is the youngest of three sons, my oldest uncle has two boys, and my other uncle has four boys. My oldest cousin just had a boy as his first born!” Minho pointed out with a playful grin. His father looking off in to the distance with the realization of the truth about his family.
“So!” his step-mother was like a child sometimes...
“So, we are family of boys, we only bring in other people so we can make more boys! What makes you think I'm going to adopt a girl?!” he ignored her pouting face and continued to semi-scold her.
“Pleeease? For me?” and she tried to make a cute face. And at first he didn't think it was that cute, but he noticed his father melting at the sight. He sighed, knowing what he said next would make both of his parents happy and content.
“Okay mom. Fine. If I marry Onew and we adopt kids, I will get a girl.” Minho used the secret weapon of calling her mom. She immediately swooned and smiled, completely satisfied and ignoring Minho's obvious tone of sarcasm.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next few days were peaceful, minus Minho thinking about Onew all day long. He constantly had to throw his cellphone on to his bed so it wouldn't mock him.
Minho and Donghae slept in until their step-mother marched upstairs and shook them awake, they ate well, relaxed with their father and grandfather on the couch in front of the television. In the late afternoons Minho and his brother wandered to the supermarket for their dinner ingredients, and if they ran in to old friends from school they go to discuss Kyuhyun's annual New Year's party.
It was a party that was boys only, and Kyu was strict about this. His rules were strictly only alcohol his parents allowed, only people he invites himself, and no sluts that kiss butts.
It was meant to be a way of them partying but being safe with the watchful eye of Kyuhyun's parents, and nobody ending up pregnant later on. Kyuhyun was very honest with his parents, and this was his way of having his cake and eating it too. It was one of the parties that Minho looked forward to because he was able to remember it the next day. Plus both Minho and Donghae got to reunite with old classmates and have good times. It was a win for all situation.
Minho was fiddling with his cellphone once again while he and his brother were in the supermarket.
“Min, do you think mom wants spicy chicken? Or should we get the chicken and hope she has the spices? Maybe both? She's a magician cook so maybe both..Min? Min!” Donghae's voice reached out to him and Minho snapped his phone shut and stuffed it quickly in to his pocket.
“What's up?” Minho asked, totally bewildered. He put on a normal looking face while his brother threw him an annoyed gaze.
“Can you stop texting your wifey for a second and help me shop please?” his brother teased and Minho scowled at his choice of words.
“He is not my wifey! And I'm not texting him!” he retorted, but felt a small blush warming his cheeks as he said this. His brother laughed and continued to pick out what kind of chicken they would need. Minho snuck a glance at his phone now and then. Although there was really no point. He couldn't text Onew, and Onew definitely wasn't going to text him.
He had thought about contacting Key or Jonghyun. Either calling or messaging one of the two. But he figured Onew would find this to be cheating and then Onew would be upset.
Minho had mentally decided three things; first, that he was really going to put forth an effort to not upset the older man anymore. He was going to try his absolute hardest to not intentionally make Onew cry or be upset.
Second, he was going to stop asking things about Onew to Key, and let himself find out about Onew like any other normal person. This also meant not calling Key during the break and finding out what Onew was doing and if he was safe or eating well or if he'd mentioned Minho in any way...things that were on his mind all day and every day.
And he had finally decided he was going to try and be calm from now on. This tied in to his first decision, and he was very proud of himself for it. He was going to learn how to keep cool and not go all angry monster and fussy girl like on Onew. If Onew upset him, he was going to stay calm and not react so harshly.
With these decisions in mind, he tucked his phone away and enjoyed his families company through out the break.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Christmas was fun and heart warming. He woke up to the snow falling outside of his window. He knew he was up early, because the sun was not fully up yet, and there was no bright light shining in to his bedroom window yet. He got up anyways, wondering if there were any other early birds like him.
The kitchen was occupied by his father. The older man gently smiled at his youngest son and offered Minho a hot cup of cocoa.
His father always had a hard time on Christmas, his mother's birthday, and both Donghae and Minho's birthdays. Those four times of year his father was up early in the morning with a cup of coffee, or brandy, or cocoa to drink his thoughts away. Sometimes it was Donghae who caught him, sometimes Minho, sometimes no one. But either of the boys were happy to sit with their old man and remember the woman who would make everything alright, even when she wasn't there anymore.
This particular Christmas his father was having a tough time. He was realizing both of his boys were growing up in to men, they had all moved on with their lives. His father wondered if he was the only one who would wake up sometimes and think she was still alive, was he wrong for moving forward?
“No Dad. We all think about her. You're not alone.” Minho said. His dad seemed a little more comforted with these words.
“And its okay to move on. Mom wouldn't have wanted you to mope about 'like an old sponge, no body wants an old sponge” he quoted what his mother would always say to make them smile when they were feeling down. They both chuckled at their own memories playing through their heads. Minho's mother had a way of bringing you up in the worst situations, of making bad dreams fade away, of smiling so that everything was alright. The two men stood in the kitchen, trying their hardest to hold on to whatever memory they had left.
“I just miss her.” his dad whispered with a small hiccup in his voice. Minho nodded in agreement and held back tears as his father warmly patted his shoulder.
They both looked up when a set of heavy footsteps came in to the kitchen. Donghae waltzed in with his hair still askew and a sweater tightly wrapped around himself, he looked up in surprise.
“Oh, you guys are up.” Donghae muttered, his eyes still wide. He took in the atmosphere and his eyes softened with realization.
“Did I miss the old sponge party?” he smiled gently. Minho and his father laughed.
“Yes you did! It was pretty intense.” Minho played right along.
“But here, have a cup of hot chocolate, join in!” their father didn't miss a beat. And the three of them stayed gathered in the kitchen with their mugs until their grandfather woke up and demanded some pancakes be served to him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It was the night before New Years. Minho could feel the buzz of the people's excitement all around him as they shopped for party decorations and drinks and games. He and his brother were out once again, but this time not at the supermarket. Donghae had offered to go out and buy some of the alcohol for Kyuhyun's party. He had a strict list that he had to stick to, since Kyu's parents had agreed to it. He also offered to go ahead and buy extra plates and napkins, and of course some apple cider for the sober living people.
“Ew, don't get mango cider! Who drinks that?” Minho protested his brother's reach amongst dark green bottles. He had never heard of mango cider, but it didn't really sound too tasty.
“Oh shut up! They need variety don't they?” Donghae gave Minho an annoyed look and purposefully grabbed the unwanted bottle.
“Whatever, are we going to get the other drinks now?” Minho checked off 'cider' on their list.
“Yeah let's go.” Donghae nodded in the direction to head toward. While his brother was walking ahead, Minho quickly checked his phone, it had been buzzing in his pocket non stop for the past ten minutes, but he didn't want to be teased by his brother about Onew anymore.
He had three missed calls and several texts, all from Key. He scowled in wonder, why was Key calling him so much?
He quickly redialed and waited.
“Oh thank god Minho!” Key's voice panted in to the receiver. Minho was already shocked and now even more so, what was wrong?
“Hey Key whats up?” Minho checked to see where his brother had gone.
“Please tell me Onew is with you!?” Key shrieked in desperation, and time stopped.
There were quite a few things implied in that one sentence. Did this mean Onew was missing? How long had be been missing? Had he run away? Oh god Onew was missing and no one knew where he was. He could be hurt or lost and damn Onew for fear of other people because that meant he wouldn't ask anyone for help. God knows where he'll end up and what if somebody takes advantage of him?
“N-n-no. He isn't...” Did he dare even ask?, “Why? Is he not with you?” Minho was trying so hard to keep his voice steady and not freak the fuck out at this exact moment.
“He left last night after he and Jonghyun were talking and I can't reach him on his phone! I thought he was only going out for a walk but it got late and I wasn't sure and I got worried so I called and texted him but he hasn't answered me!” Key was sobbing by now, his breathing ragged and Minho had to pay close attention to understand everything.
“He never answered? What did Jonghyun talk to him about?” he asked.
“Stupid Jonghyun won't tell me!” and Key's voice rose in volume but wasn't directed at Minho anymore as he continued, “Don't you look at me like that you poor excuse for a human! Unless you are going to tell me where my cousin is then don't talk to me!” Minho faintly heard a groan of protest and some words exchanged on what he assumed was Jonghyun's half and then Key was screeching something unintelligible. But Key finally returned to a normal tone with a gasping like he was trying to hold back his tears.
“Minho he won't tell me where the hell Onew went and I know he knows because he keeps telling me to not worry and that he is fine but how can I not worry Minho! You know how he is and I can't find him! It's been a whole night where the fuck would he have gone! He doesn't go places like that! Even while he is all distant from people he wouldn't just leave like that at home!” Key's gasping had gone from the gentle to full on sobbing. He was sucking in air and trying to jumble the words out and sniffling like crazy,
“Minho I don't know what to do I already looked all over town and hes not here! Help me please!” the last note coming out in broken cries.
“I'll look around as much as possible. Right now I'm going okay? Try to get something out of Jonghyun call me back in a couple of minutes okay? Okay. I'm going to find him!” Minho growled the last part with determination.
He snapped his phone shut and looked up to find his brother staring at him with a confused gaze.
“I have to go. Hyung I'm sorry but I need to-to—” Minho tried to get out his sentence. And like the amazing brother Donghae was, he smiled and tossed Minho his car keys.
“Go ahead Romeo, but try to be home in time for dinner.” Donghae warned and turned around to continue down the aisles of the store. Minho didn't even think to say thank you at that moment, he just ran outside and found his brother's silver car. He didn't remember starting the car or backing out, but he was zooming the car forward and heading to the bridge that connected his town and the town that Jonghyun had said Key lived in.
He needed to find Onew. All of the worst situations were running through his head. What if someone started bullying him? Onew had a temper, what if he blurted out the wrong thing and then got beat up? What if he is just sitting on the side of the road lost and confused and too afraid to ask anyone? What if guys try to hit on him and take him places? Why did he even leave Key's house? What in the hell would make him just leave and never come back over night? Had he been kidnapped? Was he running away because he hated Minho?
The ringing of his phone made him jump and swerve a little bit on the road.
“Key?” Minho answered expecting to hear the man's voice shrill and panicked.
“No, Jonghyun.” a deeper and much more calmer voice answered him.
“Jong if you know where Onew is, why won't you tell Key?” Minho yelled into his phone, all the while his eyes scanning as he drove.
“Where are you right now? Driving?” Jonghyun ignored his question. Well that was annoying.
“Yes! But why aren't you telling Key—“
“How far have you gotten? To our side of the bridge yet?” Jong cut him off mid freak out. Minho sucked in a breath and tried to compose himself before he began cursing.
“Not yet, but I'm almost there!” Minho looked up at the street signs to confirm this. He was no more than two stoplights away from the bridge and the river that separated Minho's town from Jonghun's town. It was a wide green bridge but not so long. Minho could make it out ahead of him faintly.
“Okay well park the car before you actually get on the bridge.” Jonghyun huffed like he was telling someone to not forget his chocolate on their trip to the grocery store.
“What? Why? Is Onew there?” Minho squinted automatically and tried to focus on the green mass that was inching closer.
“Probably. Knowing him he got scared and didn't cross. He's probably stuck in the middle somewhere and not sure of whether to turn back around or keep going. Be nice, don't freak out like a desperate mother. Text Key when you find him.” Jonghyun quickly added the last part and then hung up before Minho could ask what in the hell all that meant.
He finally pulled up and parked the car where the bridge started.
The two main lanes had cars rolling traveling to and from his town, the far right and left of the bridge was sidewalk where bikers and people could walk across peacefully. The right was mainly for leaving the town, the left was for coming in to it.
Minho thought about it and began to walk against the traffic of people on the left. His eyes scanning quickly every faced that passed him. He kept walking and his heart kept pounding every time he looked a person and found they weren't Onew. Was Onew hurt? Was he crying? Was he angry and frustrated because he was lost?
Minho's heart was about to break out of his chest when he reached the end of the bridge, and there was still no sign of Onew. He frantically looked behind him wondering if maybe he passed him. Where was Onew? Minho really needed to find him.
Fate has a way of laughing at us, playing with us, and then being nice for no reason at all.
Minho turned back the way he was walking and felt his heart give out with a loud thump.
Onew's hair was being gently pushed away from his face, he was wearing a thick brown jacket that hugged him nicely. He was leaning over the railing of the bridge, just looking in to the water. And it reminded Minho of when he had first seen Onew back in the school's theater.
Onew looked like he was just in his own world, not caring about anything else. But you really couldn't tell with all the walls he had up.
Minho whipped his phone out and muttered a simple “I found him.” in the receiver when Key answered, and hung up and began walking toward the figure that gazed in the water still.
“You should of called Key. He was worried.” Minho said when he finally reached him.
Onew looked up in surprise, and Minho's heart gave out all over again. Onew's tears were not overwhelming, but they were delicate and slowly caressing his cheeks as they made their way down. His pout was unmistakable, and so was his small whine of desperation as he yanked Minho to him in a hug that told Minho he was so grateful to see him.
He smiled and gently and wrapped his arms around Onew's waist, patting his head when he heard small sniffles in to his shoulder and shushing him that everything was going to be okay.
“I didn't know what to do! I forgot the way home and I didn't know where you lived so I was stuck here and I was so scared Minho!” Onew's voice was very small and Minho could just imagine the cute pout that was on his little nerd's lips. He didn't really hear what Onew was saying then, he was so caught up in the fact that Onew was safe in his arms and just in his arms and no where else.
He squeezed his nerd a little tighter before he gave a final sniffle and pulled away. Instantly Minho's thumbs were stroking Onew's tear streaked cheeks and neatly tucking his hair away to see those beautiful brown eyes. Onew just looked up at him, searching his face while Minho continued to dote upon him like he always did.
“I'm glad I found you...” Onew murmured.
Minho chuckled a little bit under his breath, “No silly, I found you.” Onew gently laughed and a smile tugged at his lips.
“I'm glad you're okay. Key called me and I got so scared I went looking for you...” Minho breathed gently before kissing Onew's forehead with out caring whether or not he wanted him to. Onew froze up instantly, muscles tightening and eyes bulging.
“Did you really stay out here all night?” Minho ignored his reaction and sighed in annoyance when Onew nodded that indeed he had stayed at the stupid bridge all freaking night during the winter which meant he must be freezing and why did Onew have to be so stubborn sometimes? He reminded himself to not say that out loud and stay calm, Onew probably only wanted warmth and comfort right now.
“Come on, we should eat and we can talk okay?” the younger held out his hand for Onew to take. And what a miracle it was that Onew nodded again and gingerly took the offered hand, and the two began walking in to Minho's town toward his car. He mentally began to think of places he could take his nerd to have a nice meal and where they could talk. Someplace with really good chicken...
And Minho wondered if maybe he should take Onew to his house and introduce the love of his life to his parents, and his brother, and his grandparents...
His step-mother made amazing chicken, he could sit with Onew in their dining room where it was quiet...
He drove down the street he knew would lead him to his cross street. And from there it wouldn't be too far a drive down to his own street and his house...
He wondered if maybe Onew would like his family, if maybe his family would love Onew?
He kept driving, his heart beginning to beat faster just thinking about his older brother approving of Onew. He thought of his dad shaking his hand, of his step-mother drowning Onew with love and affection. He pictured Onew being maybe apart of his family...was it too fast?
He made a right and drove them in to the main part where all the shops and restaurants were. He parked in front of small local diner.
Yeah, maybe next time.

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A/N: okay I know that was long and I hope I didn't bore anyone with that lol. i am already started on the next chapter cuz I'm so excited for it and SHIT IS ABOUT TO GO DOOOOWWNN!! sorry for my french. so yeah and Im working on this one shot with an alien Minho and human Onew and yeaaahh~ still slowly typing up my god story. its much more elaborate than i thought, so many plot lines and demons and killing and betrayal and punishment...ayjayjay. anywho hope you enjoyed this fic, thank you for reading and comments are much appreciated and loved~ <333