Innocent Days

Chapter 10c

Warning: MEHRONG!

“Excuse me? What the hell, Kibum, I can’t do that, this is sick... I’ve spent so many years in denial and now you want me to do that? And with Minho? I just can’t.” Jonghyun was blinking not believing what Key had just suggested.

“Why? It is the most logical thing to do. Fair and square! If you love me so much as you say you do, overcoming yourself and doing this, is the least you can do for me -and you know it. And don’t forget that there are circles out there that do it all the time. You may deny it right now but you’ll see it will be good for you too.” Key was pouting, which made it difficult for the other boy to resist.

“But it is so…! Where do you think it will lead? And it isn’t a solution, it will resolve nothing.”

“Well, I can’t say beforehand where it leads, but it’s the only thing all three of us can do together to get some clarity. Actually maybe we should invite Onew too, he has assets that could be of help and he is definitely someone who could put things into the right… order.”

“You are kidding, right?”

“Nah ok, maybe involving Onew from the beginning would really be too much. But this has to happen first and then we will take it from thereon, playing it by ear. Promise me that tonight you will come to our room, Jonghyun.” Key was staring intensely into his eyes and he didn’t really have a choice but to agree.

“Alright.” He mumbled anxiously and it was decided.

---

Contrary to the expectations the concert actually had gone well. Minho didn’t even know how he had been able to pull himself together and focus, but he had just blanked his mind and gone through with it. Like a happily smiling zombie. The sleep he had gotten before had been of major help and he silently thanked Onew for taking control earlier. Too bad that Onew couldn’t go into his mind and sort the raging chaos in there as well, because the minute Minho got off the stage and the high from the performance faded, he realized that everything was still as messed up as it had been throughout the whole day and the fun they all together had on stage and all the love they had received from the fans hadn’t changed anything in reality.

The ride back to the hotel was a silent one, and although he still didn’t have the courage to look at Key or Jonghyun he could feel the anxious glances both threw at him. He knew he had fucked up galore and he didn’t know for the life of him how to make things right again, except for vanishing from the surface of the planet but his contract with SmEnt effectively prevented that. The guilt he was constantly feeling was threatening to choke him and he expected a major outburst, which he didn’t have a clue on how to meet, the second the door to their room would close behind Key.

Needless to say that he was a wreck of nerves again.

So when the time had come he just went to stand by the window hugging himself while fixing his gaze on the night sky and just waited for the inevitable to come. He heard the door click shut and braced himself, but Key at first didn’t make a sound. Then he heard footsteps approaching him until his expressionless face could be seen behind him in the mirror-image on the windowpane. The silence was broken by Key’s deep sigh and to his surprise two arms came up to wrap firmly around him and a warm body pressed into his.

“We have to talk.” Key whispered softly into his nape.

“I… I don’t deserve to talk to you anymore, not even look at you –either of you.” came from Minho’s mouth. “Why? Because you made out with him?” and now Minho was sure that Key knew -the way Key was acting though was too confusing. Minho had expected him to yell and curse him and in the worst case scenario even cry, but Key was calm and collected. “It’s me who doesn’t deserve you in the first place and Jonghyun deserves neither of us anyway…” He was interrupted by the sound of a knock.

“This is him probably.” He murmured and left Minho to go and open the door, which revealed Jonghyun indecisively standing in the threshold. Key just took his hand and led him to the bed. “Sit.” He ordered and went back to Minho to also take his hand and pull him behind him to the other side of the furniture. “You too.” When Minho complied he went to the foot of the bed and sat down cross-legged in the middle of it.

“As you know we have a problem.” He began stating as a matter of fact. “And I think that the only solution to it is to talk it out between the three of us laying all of our cards on the table. We can’t afford the luxury of wallowing in misery and leave things awkward and unresolved between us. Our job forbids that. So I thought that from now on we‘re gonna meet every night and everyone will be truthfully and honestly discussing his feelings, while the other two will try to be understanding and supportive without any personal gain, just like a self-help group would do. I know it seems very difficult right now and Jonghyun thinks my idea sucks, but I think that we all owe it to ourselves to try. And if you agree Minho, and seeing that it was my suggestion, I will also be the one to begin.” At that he paused and waited for a reaction from the younger boy.