![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Music Man Part 3
Finally finished this part. I'm so easily distracted, it's terrible.
"So, I hear that you gave some credentials to Hangeng."
Sungmin pulled a lollipop from his mouth and smiled up at Kyuhyun who was standing over him, arms crossed, a small smirk pulling at his lips.
"SM University, class of 2003, Magna Cum Laude. Would you like my card?"
"No, thank you, Heechul already showed it to me. And your degree. Actually, I think he showed the whole town."
Sungmin laughed, swinging his legs, the hanging porch bench that he was sitting on squeaking in protest.
"I looked it up," Kyuhyun said, "Because I was curious."
Sungmin's giggles stopped. "Really?"
"I found something interesting." Sungmin slid over and Kyuhyun sat next to him. "There is no SM University."
The sweet treat found it's way back into Sungmin's mouth, the tangy saccharine taste attempting to erase the bitterness of fear rising in his belly.
"Are you sure you looked hard enough, Kyuhyun-ah? It's not that well known...unfortunately."
"I'm a librarian," Kyuhyun reminded him, tugging the lollipop from the con man’s mouth and placing it in his own, "I do research for a living. If it's not in my database, it doesn't exist."
"You took my lollipop!"
"What?" Kyuhyun's grin widened, "I thought you liked giving them out to everyone."
"Wrapped ones. Uneaten ones. Now I have to open another."
Kyuhyun laughed and stuck the lollipop back through Sungmin's lips. "There, now you can taste me too." He stood and patted Sungmin's head. "You're doing good things right now, so I trust you. I won't tell anyone. Just don't make me regret it."
Kyuhyun leaned down and kissed him, and the other man found that he couldn't breathe, that his brain was overloading slightly as Kyuhyun's lips moved around the lollipop. When did this happen, Sungmin thought vaguely, I'm supposed to be the one in charge.
The voice coach pulled away, smirk still evident, and pecked Sungmin's nose, leaving a small sticky imprint of lemon lips. "For later," he whispered, and Sungmin thought he might faint.
~~~~
"I hope you realize how lucky you are right now."
"Yes, Heechul-hyung."
"And I also hope you realize that this does not mean that I am less angry with you."
"I know."
"And I also hope you realize-"
"That we're proud of you."
Henry looked up as he heard his father finish Heechul's sentence. He smiled and tried to stand up but Heechul pushed him back down onto the chair, "Sit still. Your hair will not be done if you fidget. And that is not what I was going to say!"
"He means it anyway," Hangeng assured his son, "I'm glad you're going to play in front of every one."
Henry grinned. "Me too!"
"Make sure you thank Sungmin-ssi for the opportunity."
"I know. You've told me like five times already."
"Sorry."
Hangeng reached out, intent on ruffling his son's hair, but stopped as Heechul bit out, "If you even brush your fingertips on one strand, lover of mine, there are certain things that will not be happening between us for quite some time."
Hangeng kissed Henry's forehead instead, chuckling.
~~~~
"I can't breathe," Ryeowook gasped, "I changed my mind, I don't want to do this."
"You'll be fine," Yesung said, "Really, Ryeowook, as soon as we start to sing you'll be fine."
"But leading up to that," Ryeowook moaned, planting his forehead into his palms.
Henry looked up from tuning his violin and came to sit by both of them, instrument still in hand. "It'll be okay. If you lose where you are, I'll just start playing your part and you can jump right back in!"
Ryeowook tried to smile.
Sungmin blew in through the door, Kyuhyun following close behind. "Are you ready? I'm so excited, you're all going to be brilliant!"
Ryeowook groaned, and then wished he hadn't because both Sungmin and Kyuhyun were by him in a second. "Ryeowook what is it?"
"He doesn't want to do this," Henry said, already back to fiddling with his violin strings, totally unperturbed. Ryeowook wanted to hit him.
"Don't be silly," Kyuhyun next to his brother, "You all sound incredible together; you don't need to be nervous."
Ryeowook let out a muffled moan and Kyuhyun just patted him on the head, “He’ll be fine,” the coach said to Yesung, who had started to look genuinely concerned, “C’mon Ryeowookie, pull it together, I know you want this.”
“I know,” the boy sighed.
They fell into a comfortable silence as Ryeowook collected himself until Henry walked over to Sungmin curiously, “Hyung, you have something shiny on your nose.”
~~~~
Sungmin had conned a lot of towns. He had convinced a lot of people that they sounded good, that they could easily pass an audition (in a group or even solo) and land a record deal. But this was the first time that he had cobbled together a a bunch of boys that were good. Really, really good.
Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that Ryeowook and Yesung sounded so spectacular. And Henry...Henry blew Sungmin's mind away. For a small second, Sungmin wished that he was legitmate. He would totally buy any CD that these three put out.
A hand slid over the small of his back and Sungmin smiled, allowing Kyuhyun pulled him closer. "You're amazing," he said.
"I didn't do anything," Sungmin protested, "You did all of this."
"I would have never been able to convince the three of them to perform together. You have incredible people skills, you know that, right? I'm pretty sure that you could get anyone to do anything."
I can, Sungmin thought, and for the first time, the idea left a sour taste in his mouth. So he just smiled, and leaned further into Kyuhyun's arm, watching the townspeople ooh and ah over the boys, the girls melting into puddles around him as the music echoed off of buildings.
Leeteuk walked up to them, his eyes tearing, shaking in his excitement as he whispered, "Lee Sungmin, you are the best thing that has ever happened to this town. We've wanted them to sing since forever and then you...you just come along and..." He burst into tears and Kangin wrapped him in a hug, patting his head.
The con man walked away, trying hard not to think about the money Leeteuk had given him that morning for Ryeowook's "plane ticket." I need to find Zhou Mi, Sungmin thought, and his body started tingling as the whole town burst into applause as the trio finished and then began another song.
Zhou Mi was standing with Donghae and Eunhyuk, slightly away from the rest of the crowd. Out of sight from both Heechul and Hangeng, actually, and Sungmin found it slightly amusing.
None of the three noticed him so he poked Donghae's shoulder until the boy turned his dazed eyes to him. "Oh! Hi, Sungmin-ssi."
"Hello. Enjoying the performance?"
"They're spectacular," Donghae agreed, and turned his attention back to them.
"Imagine if you all sang together."
All three boys turned and stared.
“I...I don’t mind singing,” Eunhyuk said, “But I’m no where near as good as they are.”
“What are you good at?” Sungmin asked.
Eunhyuk considered this. “Dancing,” he said, “But they don’t need a dancer.”
"Why not?” Sungmin asked, “Imagine if you all sang and you all danced. Together.”
"I could...sing with Henry?" Zhou Mi asked, "In front of people? In front of Hangeng?'
"Yes," Sungmin nodded, "in front of the world."
Zhou Mi turned back and stared at Henry, obviously extremely hopeful. Sungmin turned to Donghae and Eunhyuk. “I will set everything up for you. You six will just have to come up with an audition piece.”
“We’d argue too much,” Donghae said. “We’d never agree on anything. We’d especially never agree on a leader...don’t boy bands have those?”
“Zhou Mi can do it,” Sungmin said, “Because you respect him and Henry likes him, and the Ryeowook and Yesung respect Henry. Think about it.”
~~~~
The end of the performance had everyone screaming. People were shaking Sungmin’s hand enthusiastically as he tried to make it back to his trio of performers, and when he finally saw Henry’s head (the perfectly styled hair was easy to spot,) he sighed in relief. He grinned walking up to him, intent on clapping his back heartily, but stopped when he saw that Henry was standing next to Zhou Mi. And the two of them were standing (cowering) in front of Hangeng.
It didn’t look promising.
“Henry...” It sounded to Sungmin like Hangeng was creeping past his feeling of “disappointed” and was edging more towards angry...or hurt. Heechul looked downright apoplectic.
“Appa...appa, please just...he really isn’t-”
“We’ve been dating behind your back!” Zhou Mi burst out suddenly and Sungmin mentally facepalmed. “And...and we’d rather do it...in front of you...your back...I mean not...behind it.” He gulped, clutching Henry’s hand to his heart in desperation. “Please.”
Heechul crossed his arms, breathing heavily through his nose.
“And...and I’m really sorry for all the trouble I caused. And lying. And anything else that I’m forgetting.”
He was being honest. Sungmin didn’t know how he felt about being honest; it seemed like it might be causing Zhou Mi a bit more trouble than the truth was worth.
“How do I know that you’re being honest right now?” Hangeng asked, “How do I know that you aren’t joining this...this band for the sole purpose of...of Henry.”
Sungmin decided that it was time to step in. “I asked Donghae and Eunhyuk and they said yes for all three of them before Zhou Mi ever-”
“I am joining it for Henry.”
Sungmin decided that Zhou Mi had a death wish; the boy needed counseling...or something.
“Then our answer is no,” Heechul hissed through his teeth, making a grab for Henry’s arm.
“Please just...look, yes, I did a stupid thing.”
Heechul nodded emphatically.
“But I’m sorry. It was idiotic, and dumb, and I want to make it up to you.”
“That isn’t going to happen by way of dating Henry,” Hangeng said, coming to stand beside Heechul.
“I understand that. Please let me prove to you that I’m serious; I’m really not a troublemaker by nature.”
Hangeng crossed his arms and looked back and forth several times between Zhou Mi and Henry.
Sungmin deemed intervention immediately necessary. “Allowing Henry to practice with the other five doesn’t mean that you’re allowing them to date,” he said, giving a reassuring squeeze to Henry’s shoulder. “It also doesn’t mean that you have to take Henry off punishment, or even that they’ll be alone together. I will be there and so will Kyuhyun. If anyone does anything stupid, which I don’t think they will, you will hear about it.”
“You can even come if you want,” Zhou Mi pleaded.
The mayor’s foot was tapping irritably, almost in time with the grinding of his lover’s teeth.
“Give him a second chance, Hangeng-ssi, you never know.”
Hangeng took a breath, mulling it over in his head for awhile. Then he turned to Heechul. “You know what,” he said softly, “This is going to be your decision.”
Henry looked like he was going to cry. Sungmin didn’t blame him; Hangeng had all but sealed the boy’s fate.
“Heechul-hyung, please,” Henry entreated, “I will do whatever it takes, whatever you ask me. Please let me do this. With him. I really want this.”
Sungmin felt a little guilt and he decided that he really needed to have a psychological discussion with Shindong. He was never this soft about the jobs he pulled. Ever.
Heechul looked at Hangeng, who seemed slightly happier now that he had passed the ruling onto someone else, and just smiled. Heechul nodded. “On several, very important, if you don’t follow them I don’t care how old you are I will take you over my knee and spank you like a five year old conditions.”
Henry was holding his breath.
“First, you are never alone together. And yes, I know that’s what people who date do, but you,” he pointed at Zhou Mi, “need to prove yourself.”
They both nodded. Sungmin was sure he was hearing things.
“And by never be alone, I mean lots of other people there; one of your friends in another room doesn’t count. Two.” Heechul cleared his throat. Sungmin clenched his jaw to keep it from dropping open. Was Heechul being awkward?
“Two is come and walk with us for a minute,” Hangeng offered, holding out his hand.
Sungmin had a sinking feeling that there was perhaps something more going on in this odd family than they let on. “Come on,” Sungmin draped an arm around Zhou Mi as he watched Henry led away, “Let them have some time. Looks like there’s something else they have to talk about.”
~~~~
Sungmin wasn’t sure how it happened.
The town was alive, and he had to give himself a pat on the back. He had heard a few mothers and fathers whisper softly to each other, “Thank God for this boy band, thank the dear God in heaven. My children could be playing Wiis right now.”
The whole day had sort of ended in a blur, really. Henry had come back looking positively ecstatic and run off to find Zhou Mi. Hangeng had fervently thanked him for indirectly doing wonderful things, and Heechul had even bothered to nod his appreciation. The man was surprisingly quiet for the rest of the evening, looking content to hold Hangeng’s hand and rest his head on his lover’s shoulder. It made Sungmin terribly curious.
Kyuhyun had found Sungmin watching Henry attempt to dance and play his violin at the same. Sungmin thought that maybe with a little practice, it could become the kid’s thing. Heechul was laughing at him, but if Sungmin was going to be honest with himself, there was an affection between Heechul and Henry that hadn’t been there an hour before. He’s stake his whole conning career on it.
It was a beautiful sight to behold.
“Come on,” Kyuhyun whispered into his ear, “Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” Sungmin asked.
“Away from everyone else.”
Sungmin thinks that maybe that’s how it started. Kyuhyun’s hand in his, pulling him away from everyone. Kyuhyun’s hands cupping his face, pushing him against a tree. Kyuhyun’s hands coming around him and Kyuhyun’s lips falling upon his own.
“Do you want to know something?” Kyuhyun asked him through breathless kisses, “Tonight was the happiest I have ever seen anyone in the town. Tonight was the first night I saw Heechul look at Henry like he was his own son and not Hangeng’s son that he had to impress. Tonight was the first time I saw Ryeowook stand on a stage and sing his heart out in front of someone that wasn’t me. I saw Kibum smiling, actual, full faced grins. Sungmin...” Kyuhyun pulled away, “You walk into this town and you...you just changed everyone. Everything is upside down and I don’t...you fixed it. This. Me. I like you. A lot. I don’t know why you lied about where you’re from but I’ve decided that I don’t care. Whatever you are, whoever, it doesn’t matter to me any more. I just...I want you. If you’ll have me.”
Sungmin stared at him for a minute. It was potentially a very dangerous thing, liking someone. He had conned this man, this entire town, and yet he had an attachment to these people that he had never experienced with anyone.
“Please,” Kyuhyun whispered.
Sungmin smiled and stroked Kyuhyun’s hair back.
He liked the librarian. Liked the voice coach, the man who left sugar lip imprints on his nose and investigated his background secretly. Oh yes, Sungmin liked Kyuhyun a lot, actually, his voice, his hair, his-
“Okay, so is that a yes?”
Sungmin blinked. “Did I just say that out loud?”
“Yes.”
“Oh...well...yes...then.”
Kyuhyun grinned and as Sungmin shut his eyes he came to a life-altering conclusion.
Quite honestly, Kyuhyun was worth more than all the money he had ever swindled.
When he was able to think again, as they made their way back to the townspeople, hand in hand, Sungmin felt terribly better about himself.
Shindong is never going to let me live this down, Sungmin thought, and as the sweet shoppe owner caught sight of the entwined hands he grinned and winked. Sungmin just smiled. He had a lot to fix, of course. But watching Henry play his violin and Donghae attempt to dance to it made him think that this town did have something here.
Maybe, he thought, maybe I can help them yet.
Kyuhyun sat them in front of the bonfire someone had lit, and they took some of marshmallows that Shindong was handing out to everyone. Through messy, sticky, kisses and too much laughter Sungmin knew for certain that staying here with Kyuhyun, with all of them, was better than anything else he could have done with the rest of his life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
So I've decided it's better to just have four parts than leave things out that I want to write. And I'm sort of floating away from the musical, but that's okay. Cuz this is only based on it anyway. And I refuse to write an ending in which the band sucks. Because there's no way that they could ever sound bad.
Comments would be lovely.
<3 <3 <3
*ships you all magical cookies that can taste however you like, like the gum in Willy Wonka, except not in the trial stage*
Um...yeah...
"So, I hear that you gave some credentials to Hangeng."
Sungmin pulled a lollipop from his mouth and smiled up at Kyuhyun who was standing over him, arms crossed, a small smirk pulling at his lips.
"SM University, class of 2003, Magna Cum Laude. Would you like my card?"
"No, thank you, Heechul already showed it to me. And your degree. Actually, I think he showed the whole town."
Sungmin laughed, swinging his legs, the hanging porch bench that he was sitting on squeaking in protest.
"I looked it up," Kyuhyun said, "Because I was curious."
Sungmin's giggles stopped. "Really?"
"I found something interesting." Sungmin slid over and Kyuhyun sat next to him. "There is no SM University."
The sweet treat found it's way back into Sungmin's mouth, the tangy saccharine taste attempting to erase the bitterness of fear rising in his belly.
"Are you sure you looked hard enough, Kyuhyun-ah? It's not that well known...unfortunately."
"I'm a librarian," Kyuhyun reminded him, tugging the lollipop from the con man’s mouth and placing it in his own, "I do research for a living. If it's not in my database, it doesn't exist."
"You took my lollipop!"
"What?" Kyuhyun's grin widened, "I thought you liked giving them out to everyone."
"Wrapped ones. Uneaten ones. Now I have to open another."
Kyuhyun laughed and stuck the lollipop back through Sungmin's lips. "There, now you can taste me too." He stood and patted Sungmin's head. "You're doing good things right now, so I trust you. I won't tell anyone. Just don't make me regret it."
Kyuhyun leaned down and kissed him, and the other man found that he couldn't breathe, that his brain was overloading slightly as Kyuhyun's lips moved around the lollipop. When did this happen, Sungmin thought vaguely, I'm supposed to be the one in charge.
The voice coach pulled away, smirk still evident, and pecked Sungmin's nose, leaving a small sticky imprint of lemon lips. "For later," he whispered, and Sungmin thought he might faint.
~~~~
"I hope you realize how lucky you are right now."
"Yes, Heechul-hyung."
"And I also hope you realize that this does not mean that I am less angry with you."
"I know."
"And I also hope you realize-"
"That we're proud of you."
Henry looked up as he heard his father finish Heechul's sentence. He smiled and tried to stand up but Heechul pushed him back down onto the chair, "Sit still. Your hair will not be done if you fidget. And that is not what I was going to say!"
"He means it anyway," Hangeng assured his son, "I'm glad you're going to play in front of every one."
Henry grinned. "Me too!"
"Make sure you thank Sungmin-ssi for the opportunity."
"I know. You've told me like five times already."
"Sorry."
Hangeng reached out, intent on ruffling his son's hair, but stopped as Heechul bit out, "If you even brush your fingertips on one strand, lover of mine, there are certain things that will not be happening between us for quite some time."
Hangeng kissed Henry's forehead instead, chuckling.
~~~~
"I can't breathe," Ryeowook gasped, "I changed my mind, I don't want to do this."
"You'll be fine," Yesung said, "Really, Ryeowook, as soon as we start to sing you'll be fine."
"But leading up to that," Ryeowook moaned, planting his forehead into his palms.
Henry looked up from tuning his violin and came to sit by both of them, instrument still in hand. "It'll be okay. If you lose where you are, I'll just start playing your part and you can jump right back in!"
Ryeowook tried to smile.
Sungmin blew in through the door, Kyuhyun following close behind. "Are you ready? I'm so excited, you're all going to be brilliant!"
Ryeowook groaned, and then wished he hadn't because both Sungmin and Kyuhyun were by him in a second. "Ryeowook what is it?"
"He doesn't want to do this," Henry said, already back to fiddling with his violin strings, totally unperturbed. Ryeowook wanted to hit him.
"Don't be silly," Kyuhyun next to his brother, "You all sound incredible together; you don't need to be nervous."
Ryeowook let out a muffled moan and Kyuhyun just patted him on the head, “He’ll be fine,” the coach said to Yesung, who had started to look genuinely concerned, “C’mon Ryeowookie, pull it together, I know you want this.”
“I know,” the boy sighed.
They fell into a comfortable silence as Ryeowook collected himself until Henry walked over to Sungmin curiously, “Hyung, you have something shiny on your nose.”
~~~~
Sungmin had conned a lot of towns. He had convinced a lot of people that they sounded good, that they could easily pass an audition (in a group or even solo) and land a record deal. But this was the first time that he had cobbled together a a bunch of boys that were good. Really, really good.
Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that Ryeowook and Yesung sounded so spectacular. And Henry...Henry blew Sungmin's mind away. For a small second, Sungmin wished that he was legitmate. He would totally buy any CD that these three put out.
A hand slid over the small of his back and Sungmin smiled, allowing Kyuhyun pulled him closer. "You're amazing," he said.
"I didn't do anything," Sungmin protested, "You did all of this."
"I would have never been able to convince the three of them to perform together. You have incredible people skills, you know that, right? I'm pretty sure that you could get anyone to do anything."
I can, Sungmin thought, and for the first time, the idea left a sour taste in his mouth. So he just smiled, and leaned further into Kyuhyun's arm, watching the townspeople ooh and ah over the boys, the girls melting into puddles around him as the music echoed off of buildings.
Leeteuk walked up to them, his eyes tearing, shaking in his excitement as he whispered, "Lee Sungmin, you are the best thing that has ever happened to this town. We've wanted them to sing since forever and then you...you just come along and..." He burst into tears and Kangin wrapped him in a hug, patting his head.
The con man walked away, trying hard not to think about the money Leeteuk had given him that morning for Ryeowook's "plane ticket." I need to find Zhou Mi, Sungmin thought, and his body started tingling as the whole town burst into applause as the trio finished and then began another song.
Zhou Mi was standing with Donghae and Eunhyuk, slightly away from the rest of the crowd. Out of sight from both Heechul and Hangeng, actually, and Sungmin found it slightly amusing.
None of the three noticed him so he poked Donghae's shoulder until the boy turned his dazed eyes to him. "Oh! Hi, Sungmin-ssi."
"Hello. Enjoying the performance?"
"They're spectacular," Donghae agreed, and turned his attention back to them.
"Imagine if you all sang together."
All three boys turned and stared.
“I...I don’t mind singing,” Eunhyuk said, “But I’m no where near as good as they are.”
“What are you good at?” Sungmin asked.
Eunhyuk considered this. “Dancing,” he said, “But they don’t need a dancer.”
"Why not?” Sungmin asked, “Imagine if you all sang and you all danced. Together.”
"I could...sing with Henry?" Zhou Mi asked, "In front of people? In front of Hangeng?'
"Yes," Sungmin nodded, "in front of the world."
Zhou Mi turned back and stared at Henry, obviously extremely hopeful. Sungmin turned to Donghae and Eunhyuk. “I will set everything up for you. You six will just have to come up with an audition piece.”
“We’d argue too much,” Donghae said. “We’d never agree on anything. We’d especially never agree on a leader...don’t boy bands have those?”
“Zhou Mi can do it,” Sungmin said, “Because you respect him and Henry likes him, and the Ryeowook and Yesung respect Henry. Think about it.”
~~~~
The end of the performance had everyone screaming. People were shaking Sungmin’s hand enthusiastically as he tried to make it back to his trio of performers, and when he finally saw Henry’s head (the perfectly styled hair was easy to spot,) he sighed in relief. He grinned walking up to him, intent on clapping his back heartily, but stopped when he saw that Henry was standing next to Zhou Mi. And the two of them were standing (cowering) in front of Hangeng.
It didn’t look promising.
“Henry...” It sounded to Sungmin like Hangeng was creeping past his feeling of “disappointed” and was edging more towards angry...or hurt. Heechul looked downright apoplectic.
“Appa...appa, please just...he really isn’t-”
“We’ve been dating behind your back!” Zhou Mi burst out suddenly and Sungmin mentally facepalmed. “And...and we’d rather do it...in front of you...your back...I mean not...behind it.” He gulped, clutching Henry’s hand to his heart in desperation. “Please.”
Heechul crossed his arms, breathing heavily through his nose.
“And...and I’m really sorry for all the trouble I caused. And lying. And anything else that I’m forgetting.”
He was being honest. Sungmin didn’t know how he felt about being honest; it seemed like it might be causing Zhou Mi a bit more trouble than the truth was worth.
“How do I know that you’re being honest right now?” Hangeng asked, “How do I know that you aren’t joining this...this band for the sole purpose of...of Henry.”
Sungmin decided that it was time to step in. “I asked Donghae and Eunhyuk and they said yes for all three of them before Zhou Mi ever-”
“I am joining it for Henry.”
Sungmin decided that Zhou Mi had a death wish; the boy needed counseling...or something.
“Then our answer is no,” Heechul hissed through his teeth, making a grab for Henry’s arm.
“Please just...look, yes, I did a stupid thing.”
Heechul nodded emphatically.
“But I’m sorry. It was idiotic, and dumb, and I want to make it up to you.”
“That isn’t going to happen by way of dating Henry,” Hangeng said, coming to stand beside Heechul.
“I understand that. Please let me prove to you that I’m serious; I’m really not a troublemaker by nature.”
Hangeng crossed his arms and looked back and forth several times between Zhou Mi and Henry.
Sungmin deemed intervention immediately necessary. “Allowing Henry to practice with the other five doesn’t mean that you’re allowing them to date,” he said, giving a reassuring squeeze to Henry’s shoulder. “It also doesn’t mean that you have to take Henry off punishment, or even that they’ll be alone together. I will be there and so will Kyuhyun. If anyone does anything stupid, which I don’t think they will, you will hear about it.”
“You can even come if you want,” Zhou Mi pleaded.
The mayor’s foot was tapping irritably, almost in time with the grinding of his lover’s teeth.
“Give him a second chance, Hangeng-ssi, you never know.”
Hangeng took a breath, mulling it over in his head for awhile. Then he turned to Heechul. “You know what,” he said softly, “This is going to be your decision.”
Henry looked like he was going to cry. Sungmin didn’t blame him; Hangeng had all but sealed the boy’s fate.
“Heechul-hyung, please,” Henry entreated, “I will do whatever it takes, whatever you ask me. Please let me do this. With him. I really want this.”
Sungmin felt a little guilt and he decided that he really needed to have a psychological discussion with Shindong. He was never this soft about the jobs he pulled. Ever.
Heechul looked at Hangeng, who seemed slightly happier now that he had passed the ruling onto someone else, and just smiled. Heechul nodded. “On several, very important, if you don’t follow them I don’t care how old you are I will take you over my knee and spank you like a five year old conditions.”
Henry was holding his breath.
“First, you are never alone together. And yes, I know that’s what people who date do, but you,” he pointed at Zhou Mi, “need to prove yourself.”
They both nodded. Sungmin was sure he was hearing things.
“And by never be alone, I mean lots of other people there; one of your friends in another room doesn’t count. Two.” Heechul cleared his throat. Sungmin clenched his jaw to keep it from dropping open. Was Heechul being awkward?
“Two is come and walk with us for a minute,” Hangeng offered, holding out his hand.
Sungmin had a sinking feeling that there was perhaps something more going on in this odd family than they let on. “Come on,” Sungmin draped an arm around Zhou Mi as he watched Henry led away, “Let them have some time. Looks like there’s something else they have to talk about.”
~~~~
Sungmin wasn’t sure how it happened.
The town was alive, and he had to give himself a pat on the back. He had heard a few mothers and fathers whisper softly to each other, “Thank God for this boy band, thank the dear God in heaven. My children could be playing Wiis right now.”
The whole day had sort of ended in a blur, really. Henry had come back looking positively ecstatic and run off to find Zhou Mi. Hangeng had fervently thanked him for indirectly doing wonderful things, and Heechul had even bothered to nod his appreciation. The man was surprisingly quiet for the rest of the evening, looking content to hold Hangeng’s hand and rest his head on his lover’s shoulder. It made Sungmin terribly curious.
Kyuhyun had found Sungmin watching Henry attempt to dance and play his violin at the same. Sungmin thought that maybe with a little practice, it could become the kid’s thing. Heechul was laughing at him, but if Sungmin was going to be honest with himself, there was an affection between Heechul and Henry that hadn’t been there an hour before. He’s stake his whole conning career on it.
It was a beautiful sight to behold.
“Come on,” Kyuhyun whispered into his ear, “Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” Sungmin asked.
“Away from everyone else.”
Sungmin thinks that maybe that’s how it started. Kyuhyun’s hand in his, pulling him away from everyone. Kyuhyun’s hands cupping his face, pushing him against a tree. Kyuhyun’s hands coming around him and Kyuhyun’s lips falling upon his own.
“Do you want to know something?” Kyuhyun asked him through breathless kisses, “Tonight was the happiest I have ever seen anyone in the town. Tonight was the first night I saw Heechul look at Henry like he was his own son and not Hangeng’s son that he had to impress. Tonight was the first time I saw Ryeowook stand on a stage and sing his heart out in front of someone that wasn’t me. I saw Kibum smiling, actual, full faced grins. Sungmin...” Kyuhyun pulled away, “You walk into this town and you...you just changed everyone. Everything is upside down and I don’t...you fixed it. This. Me. I like you. A lot. I don’t know why you lied about where you’re from but I’ve decided that I don’t care. Whatever you are, whoever, it doesn’t matter to me any more. I just...I want you. If you’ll have me.”
Sungmin stared at him for a minute. It was potentially a very dangerous thing, liking someone. He had conned this man, this entire town, and yet he had an attachment to these people that he had never experienced with anyone.
“Please,” Kyuhyun whispered.
Sungmin smiled and stroked Kyuhyun’s hair back.
He liked the librarian. Liked the voice coach, the man who left sugar lip imprints on his nose and investigated his background secretly. Oh yes, Sungmin liked Kyuhyun a lot, actually, his voice, his hair, his-
“Okay, so is that a yes?”
Sungmin blinked. “Did I just say that out loud?”
“Yes.”
“Oh...well...yes...then.”
Kyuhyun grinned and as Sungmin shut his eyes he came to a life-altering conclusion.
Quite honestly, Kyuhyun was worth more than all the money he had ever swindled.
When he was able to think again, as they made their way back to the townspeople, hand in hand, Sungmin felt terribly better about himself.
Shindong is never going to let me live this down, Sungmin thought, and as the sweet shoppe owner caught sight of the entwined hands he grinned and winked. Sungmin just smiled. He had a lot to fix, of course. But watching Henry play his violin and Donghae attempt to dance to it made him think that this town did have something here.
Maybe, he thought, maybe I can help them yet.
Kyuhyun sat them in front of the bonfire someone had lit, and they took some of marshmallows that Shindong was handing out to everyone. Through messy, sticky, kisses and too much laughter Sungmin knew for certain that staying here with Kyuhyun, with all of them, was better than anything else he could have done with the rest of his life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
So I've decided it's better to just have four parts than leave things out that I want to write. And I'm sort of floating away from the musical, but that's okay. Cuz this is only based on it anyway. And I refuse to write an ending in which the band sucks. Because there's no way that they could ever sound bad.
Comments would be lovely.
<3 <3 <3
*ships you all magical cookies that can taste however you like, like the gum in Willy Wonka, except not in the trial stage*
Um...yeah...
no subject
And the last bit is like hands-on-cheeks cute. *sigh* Will be sitting here smiling for awhile.
no subject
Smile all you want!! I'm glad that this has made you grin!
<3
no subject
i love that lollipop scene...... i wish that would happen in real life.....
is heechul henry's parent or brother?
cause he said heechul-hyung before........
AH WHO CARES! KYUMIN IS ADORABLE AND YOU ARE AHMAYZING!
~
no subject
I shall be clearing up their relationship in the last part :)
<3 <3 <3
(thank you^^)
no subject
<3 <3 thx much ^^
no subject
LOVE~~
KYUMIN~~~~
*dances*
\o//////////
♥!!
no subject
*joins in*
<3
no subject
I'll just start now (when it's almost over) >.>
At least now, Zhoumi has a chance to prove himself to HanChul.
Kyumin is just soooo adorable<33 The con-man finally fell in love.
Can't wait for the next (and last) part^^
no subject
<3 <3
no subject
This is so deliciously sweet~
^_^
no subject
no subject
SUNGMIN CHANGED! AND SUCH A SWEET KYUMIN SCENE!
I was melting at Kyu's words; OMG WHY SO SWEET?!
Thank goodness for MiMi and Henry! They are just so asdfgh adorable! And that HanChul finally allowed them to be together.
(oh gosh, forgive this incoherent comment)
no subject
glad you liked <3 <3 <3
no subject
i thought Kyuhyun was oing to say something that would destroy the con but then it was okay. *phew*
and will Sungmin go contact a real agency?!?!?!?! because thats the only way he can fix this...the only way he won't really be conning themmm....since he likes them all so much....and they're good.....
^^
no subject
<3 <3 thx for the comment!
no subject
Dom-Kyuhyun. YUM XD
there are certain things that will not be happening between us for quite some time."
I swear I platonically love Heechul
coz I love the 5 gods and Yesung and Hae and my heart cannot take more I swear x.xWe've wanted them to sing since forever and then you...you just come along and.
Awwwwwww Teukkie... *glomps him and hands him back to Kangin
CHANGE YOUR MIND SUNGMIN DAMN IT!!
Thank God for this boy band, thank the dear God in heaven. My children could be playing Wiis right now.”
Where are they? Mount something on the edge of South Korea? O.O
I don’t know why you lied about where you’re from but I’ve decided that I don’t care.
My heart is slightly breaking x.x