Intricateorchid

Habits

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:17:17 GMT

Title: Habits
Length: Oneshot
Author: intricateorchid
Rating: Rated R for sexual situations.
Pairing: Jonghyun/Kibum
Genre: Not really angst, not really fluff, not really smut... But something in between. With a dash of humor.
Disclaimer: At most, I would only own Voodoo dolls of SHINee. And even then, they are not within my possession.
Summary: Kibum has been building up a strange habit lately...

Kibum thinks he started doing this during the pre-debut days, when “SHINee” was yet to be named. Back then, he was shoved into a group with four other boys—Jinki, a clumsy boy who turned out to be older than him (Kibum couldn’t look at him for days after accidentally calling him “dongsaeng”); Minho, a quiet and reserved kind of guy who Kibum didn’t know much about; and Taemin, a really talented and cute youngster.
Oh, and there was Jonghyun.

It started off a bit awkward at first. When Lee Soo Man put them together, they were all shy smiles and clumsy handshakes. But pretty soon, they grew closer and closer than ever. Their clumsy handshakes grew to be constant skinship, and their curt, one-sentence replies eventually became all-night conversations revolving around school, family, the future, and… you guessed it. Girls.

They all slept in a single room. Jinki had his first pick of the beds, seeing as how he was the oldest out of all of them (but of course, Kibum begged to differ). “Mine! Mine!” he cried, claiming the single twin bed by collapsing on the new sheets. That left the two bunk beds on the side. Before the second-oldest got to choose, Minho interrupted and reasoned in his smart-alecky tone that since he’s the one that wakes up all of the members, he should have one of the bottom bunks. The other four thought it was fair, since Minho needed to be the first to reach the floor in order to wake them up. Just as Jonghyun was about to choose the other bottom bunk, Taemin chimed in and said that it should be meant for him. Something about being young and having an overactive bladder. And so, Jonghyun and Kibum were stuck with the top bunks. It wasn’t all that bad. Jonghyun actually liked it, because Jinki wouldn’t flail around and elbow him in his sleep. Kibum liked it at first too.

But then, he started to develop this habit.

Kibum had a bad case of insomnia. Maybe it was because he always slept with his mother. He was an only child so he needed it. He needed constant attention and love. He needed to sleep in someone’s arms. But here, it’s not as though he can go cuddle in his team mates’ arms. Or in his manager’s for that matter.

So at night, when his insomnia kicked in and everyone else went to sleep, Kibum would lay there in bed and stare at the ceiling. He would lay there and think of things—what his parents were doing, what life outside SM academy was like (he forgot what normalcy was already), and what would happen after debut. His mind jumped from subject to subject and Kibum would toss and turn, trying to focus on fluffy sheep after fluffy sheep. One sheep… two sheep… Huh… I wonder if I would make enough money to buy those shoes I’ve always wanted. No. Wait. Concentrate, Kibum. One sheep… two sheep… Hey! I could buy mom and dad that place downtown! Where was I? Oh yeah. One sheep… two sheep…

This went on until his mind was exhausted with thoughts. That meant that at most, Kibum got only an hour of sleep before Minho would shake him gently and sing, “Rise and shine!”

After the fifth night, Kibum couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t dance properly, he snapped at his friends… He needed sleep. But as much as he tried (which was not much), he couldn’t get his brain to calm down. But he tried and tried that night.

Kibum pressed the small button on the side of his watch. The time lit up, flashing green light in the dark room.

Already 2 in the morning.

He sighed a little and shifted onto his side, his back facing the wall. Jinki, just barely within Kibum’s line of vision, thrashed around in bed, kicking the blanket off his body only to grope around for it in the dark and pull it back up. Kibum chuckled at his friend. He was goofy even in his sleep.

When silence ensued after that, Kibum was surprised to find that Taemin wasn’t bothered by Jinki’s unusual antics. In fact, he didn’t think Taemin noticed at all. Instead, the kid remained fast asleep under the covers, curled up into a ball in order to stay warm despite the fact that it was 90 fucking degrees in the room (Taemin refused to turn on the air conditioner). He snored just a tiny bit while he slept, and while Kibum usually thinks it’s annoying, as with anything, Taemin just made it endearing.

Minho, Kibum imagined, was probably sleeping peacefully underneath the top bunk. He slept like the dead—his back flat against the bed, arms straight at his sides. He made no sound. No movement. But when the sun rises, his eyes blink open and he’s up and ready to go. It was a bit scary at times, but usually, this trait was pretty envious.

And then there was Jonghyun.

Jonghyun went to bed shirtless again. You could say this was annoying. I have abs too, but I’m not showing off, Kibum scoffed to himself.

Kibum closed his eyes and let out a fake yawn. I’m sleepy, he told himself. But he wasn’t. He knew he wasn’t. So when his eyes burst open in frustration, Kibum didn’t know why, but they first landed on the teammate sleeping in front of him.

It irritated him how Jonghyun was sleeping so peacefully. Although Kibum could barely make out Jonghyun’s sharp features in the dark, he could imagine it—the long eyelashes fluttered closed against his cheeks, the steady heaving of his strong chest with each intake of air, the parted lips. Damn, he wanted to be like that right now. Asleep.

Jonghyun groaned a little and shifted in bed, and Kibum tore his eyes away and turned to the wall again. He checked the time.

3:47.

I must have been staring at Jonghyun for a good hour. But still, Kibum couldn’t fall asleep. He figured it was pretty ironic, considering how teenagers sleep in so late and whatnot, but he realized that this made no sense and that he shouldn’t be thinking. He should be sleeping.

As he tried to fall asleep, some foreign sound made it to his ears.

It was singing.

It was Jonghyun.

Kibum was scared as shit at first but he decided, What the hell, it’s not like I’m gonna fall asleep anyways, so he listened. Kibum realized he sort of liked this. This odd sleeping habit of Jonghyun’s. He closed his eyes, just for a moment, and let himself drown in his teammate’s voice.

When his eyes finally opened, sunlight greeted him.

---

After that night, Kibum kept doing it. He kept watching Jonghyun as he slept, waiting to hear that voice again. It was stupid and childish, because he couldn’t go to sleep without mommy’s lullaby. But he realized he needed it. Kibum never told Jonghyun. He can just imagine his expression—“You watch me when I sleep?” Jonghyun would choke. And then he would probably ask the manager to switch bands or, at least, change the sleeping arrangements. And then Kibum would have to find another antidote. He didn’t think watching Minho, Taemin, or heck, Jinki, would really help much.

So in the day, Kibum would act normal (or as normal as he could) and would save this… indulgence for night. He kept this up even after debut, when he became “Almighty Key” and the cure for his insomnia was dubbed “Bling Bling Jonghyun”. And after the level of skinship between him and Jonghyun grew, Kibum realized this had a really bad effect on the already-bad habit.

He never really thought of anything while he stared at Jonghyun. He would just stare. But now, his thoughts wandered and wandered deep into the gutter. It didn’t help that Jonghyun still went to bed shirtless. Maybe Jonghyun knew this habit of his, because he was being deliberately teased. Kibum couldn’t just watch Jonghyun anymore. Instead, his eyes trailed all over Jonghyun’s body, from the wisps of his hair to the curve of his toes when they peeked out from under the covers.

His thoughts were worse. Dirty. Forbidden. Kibum blames it on the wet dreams he’s been having. The ones that had Jonghyun more than just shirtless, and the ones in which they were more than just friends. But in the end, they all came from one source—Jonghyun. (It could also be Kibum’s crazy mind, but he didn’t think this was reasonable). But even as his thoughts grew darker and darker, he kept up that same façade in front of his friend. Jonghyun never knew the possible consequences of those innocent touches or the effects it had on Kibum. All he knew was Kibum was more well-rested than ever, and as long as he wasn't screaming your ears off, that Kibum was a happy Kibum.

But one night, Kibum just reached his limits.

Screw this.

If it wasn’t for the stupid sleeping arrangements, he wouldn’t have been staring at Jonghyun. He wouldn’t have been thinking of his friend in that way.

“Fuck you, teenage hormones,” he groaned to himself as his hands traveled to the waistband of the fan-sent boxers he had on. Kibum glanced over to Jonghyun for a second, his palms perspiring in fear of being caught.

Shit, what the fuck am I doing?

But as messed up as this was, he couldn’t stop. Kibum’s hands kept traveling, lower and lower, until they reached his erection. He let out a low hiss as his hands stroked his cock and he closed his eyes, trying to ignore the pounding of his heart. With every pump, he kept eyeing the door, just waiting for Taemin to wake up and go on one of his midnight trips to the bathroom. Kibum kind of wanted it. He wanted to be caught. He wanted to find some way to stop this habit of his before it got any worse. But there was silence. A dreadful, deafening silence.

Those dirty thoughts that haunted him appeared right before his eyes, and he could feel it. Kibum could feel Jonghyun’s warm hand on his cock, pumping faster and faster, even though he knew it was just his own. He could feel the soft breath on his cheek, the gentle kisses moving so slowly down his chest. But it was probably just the pillow or the blanket, ghosting against his skin. But he still kept his eyes shut, lost in his own fantasies.

That’s why he didn’t notice that he was being watched.

Jonghyun caught onto Kibum’s habit a week or two ago, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he let Kibum carry on with it since he knew that without him, his friend would be getting little to no sleep. Actually, it was more of just an inkling he had. Kibum has been in a better mood than before, so he figured that his presence was a blessing. As it always was.

He still kept it a secret, though. That he watched Kibum too. When Kibum finally managed to fall asleep, that’s when Jonghyun’s eyes shot open. Jonghyun didn’t know why he does it. He figured that it’s just out of curiosity—what did Kibum think was so fun about watching people while they slept? So he kept watching. And watching.

When Jonghyun heard a small mumble come from Kibum’s side that night, his body stilled. Did he catch me?

And that’s when he dared to open his eyes and glance over.

Kibum wasn’t awake. Jonghyun could see the shadow move slowly, as if Kibum was wary. As if Kibum was scared. And as Jonghyun watched, he heard something that sounded like a small moan. Sure enough, it came from Kibum whose silhouette was seen against the wall, lips parted, head thrown back. Jonghyun was sure something was wrong with this scenario, but he didn’t know what part of it was—the fact that his friend was masturbating in their shared room, or the fact that he was watching him masturbate. But he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t stop watching those hands move frantically beneath the bed covers. He couldn’t stop watching the small shivers that racked Kibum’s body with every long, painful stroke. There was something mesmerizing about the sight of Kibum looking so vulnerable and impure. The room was dark, but like Kibum, Jonghyun could also imagine what his friend looked like. He knew that Kibum was probably biting his lips, his cheeks flushed red, desperately trying to keep his moans in. One hand would be at his chest, fondling and caressing it as Jonghyun’s lips would, and the other would be at his length, pumping it up and down slowly. Jonghyun wondered if Kibum was thinking of him right now, with each erratic breath and each jerk. If Kibum‘s moans were because he was imagining Jonghyun’s hands at his cock.

Jonghyun was going mad. Since when did he ever think of him in this way? With each thought of Kibum, his body grew hotter and hotter. And when he watched his friend let out a soft moan while he came— when that sexy sound sent the blood straight down to his groin—that’s when Jonghyun realized.

He’s got the hots for Kibum.

---

SHINee still went on as usual. Kibum still didn’t know he was being watched and Jonghyun still didn’t have the guts to confront him about it (and humiliate both of them in the meanwhile). Something changed after that night, though. As much as Jonghyun tried, he couldn’t stop watching Kibum. It became a habit of his too. That habit was so familiar to Jonghyun, it happened when he least expected it. In public especially, his eyes began to follow Kibum around. They would be doing a photoshoot or performing onstage, and the next thing he knew, he had to scold himself for staring at Kibum again. It happened too many times for him to count. This, he heard from Jinki, was termed “the Jjong stare” by fans who thought his love for Kibum was so fucking obvious. That worried Jonghyun. Is it really that obvious? So occasionally, he would step back from the skinship a little, even though it had no effect on what happened at night.

On the other hand, Kibum was still unaware. He knew he was too obvious so sometimes, he ignored Jonghyun even when he really didn’t mean it. When the cameras stopped rolling, he still refrained from being too friendly with Jonghyun so it wouldn’t seem as though Kibum was acting completely different. It would be too suspicious that way. But after the lights were off and all the members were tucked in bed, Kibum would let his guard down and stare at his friend, as if everything—his trust in him, his love, his lust—could be sent through his eyes.

There was another night, during the Amigo days, when Kibum couldn’t keep up this face anymore. When night came and when he was sure all of the other members were sound asleep, he gazed at Jonghyun and let everything come out.

“I love you so fucking much,” he would whisper into the dark. And with that, he would explain everything. Why he kept ignoring Jonghyun, how the skinship hurt him in some ways, and why he couldn’t stop staring at him at night. And unknowing to Kibum, Jonghyun listened. When he heard that word fall from Kibum’s lips, his heart jumped in his chest.

Should I wake up?

Should I tell him I love him too?

But Jonghyun stayed in bed, pretending to be asleep. His eyes were shut tight, and although his hands itched to reach out to poor, broken Kibum, he couldn’t. They were only five feet away from each other but Jonghyun knew that it was too far away for him. He couldn’t do it. Jonghyun couldn’t tell Kibum that he loved him back. He couldn’t tell him that he knew Kibum has been watching him. He couldn’t tell him that he has been watching him too. He couldn’t tell him. Not yet.

It was sad seeing Kibum the next morning. Kibum was all smiles and laughter, grinning for the camera and joking around casually with the other members. It made Jonghyun happy to see Kibum well, but it hurt a bit inside. It was as though that confession was never made, as though their relationship never changed at all. When Kibum smiled as he caught his eye, Jonghyun felt used.

They were friends by day, lovers by night.

--

As SHINee’s schedule grew busier and busier, they rarely returned their apartment. Especially when they flew overseas, the bunk beds were gone and replaced by hotel beds instead. The members no longer shared a single room. They were split up in pairs. Jinki shared a room with the manager, taking his responsibility as leader, and Taemin called dibs on the next room with Minho. That left Kibum and Jonghyun, yet again.

It was the first time Kibum felt nervous when night approached. It was odd. Just him and Jonghyun in a room together. Alone. Kibum suffered a small pang of guilt, watching his friend like this when it was just the two of them. Regardless of that, he turned to face Jonghyun, the hotel bed creaking softly as he flipped to his side.

“Hey.”

Kibum froze. Jonghyun was awake.

“Are you sleeping?” he heard the other whisper.

Kibum stayed as still as a rock.

Fuck, he’s awake. He’s awake. I’m screwed. He knows I’ve been watching him.

His mind was so busy with thoughts of restraining orders, he didn’t hear the creak of the other bed as Jonghyun got up. He didn’t hear the soft pitter-pat of feet as Jonghyun walked quietly over to the side of his bed.

“Can I sleep here tonight?” Jonghyun asked quietly, shaking Kibum out of his trance. Kibum nodded, stunned at the turn of events, and then he realized that it was too dark for Jonghyun to see his response. His sweaty hands grabbed Jonghyun’s wrist and tugged him down onto the covers. The bed dipped as Jonghyun crawled on clumsily, creaking even more as Jonghyun felt around for the blanket and pulled it over him and Kibum.

“Are you crazy?” Kibum mumbled, hoping to hide his nervousness, “This is a twin bed. There’s no way two people can fit on here.”

Yes, I’m crazy. So fucking crazy, Jonghyun thought to himself.

But he smiled in return and didn’t say anything. He didn’t think his heart could calm down after mustering enough courage to ask Kibum that simple question. It would be hard facing Kibum in the morning, but just for a minute, he’ll bask in this moment.

As Jonghyun stared at the back in front of him, he realized that this was the perfect time to confess everything—that he knew Kibum has been watching him, that he watched Kibum too, and that he has fallen so fucking hard for him. But he pushed all of those thoughts to the back of his head. Jonghyun breathed in the smell of the hotel bed, now smothered with Kibum’s strong scent. Even while they were on the same bed, Jonghyun still couldn’t stop watching him. He kept eyeing the back of his neck, staring at the bit of skin peeking out underneath Kibum’s hair. Kibum was the treasure, the prize—unattainable, untouchable. And here he was. Right before him.

Jonghyun slowly felt his way over to Kibum, his hands wandering ever so slightly. He swallowed, his heart pounding in his ears as he debated on whether or not to do it.

Should I get it?

Should I finally get the prize?

His hands reached out, hovering over Kibum’s body.

“Are you gonna do it or not?” Kibum mumbled. Jonghyun snapped out of his doubt and grinned. He let his arms wrap around Kibum’s waist, pulling the boy closer to his chest. Upon feeling Kibum’s skin against his own, he let out a content sigh. Kibum was warm.

It didn’t take long for Kibum to fall asleep. And just before his eyelids fluttered closed, he heard a warm voice against the back of his neck.

“Let’s make this our new habit.”

A/N: Oh my god, my first oneshot. Oh my god, my first SHINee fic. Oh my god, my first piece of writing that's higher than rated PG-13. I feel... dirty. xD
It was embarrassing trying to reread it. My friend dared me to write this. IN YOUR FACE. I DID IT. But it was really fun and really enjoyable. I know there are a lot of flaws and my writing is really rusty, so please critique me! Thanks for reading!

Celebrities--a different kind of alien.

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:07:52 GMT

Title: Celebrities (A different kind of alien)
Length: Chaptered; Series. (2/10?)
Author:intricateorchid
Rating: PG-13 for swearing. [This chapter] Will progress.
Pairing: Kihae [Hyuksu and Kangteuk if you squint]
Genre: Romance, Drama, a dash of failed humor.(Which largely resembles crack.)
Disclaimer: All I own is my poor imagination.
Summary: Lee Donghae works for the most prosperous magazine in South Korea. Although he hates celebrities with a passion, he's willing to enter actor Kim Kibum's life for the sake of a good article.

Prologue & Chapter One

“Oww, my head.”

“You’re such an idiot, Eunhyuk.”

“It’s not my fault!”

“What do you mean it’s not your fault? The door said ‘pull’. Anyone in their right mind would PULL.”

“Ahem.” A man with short black hair coughed to get the attention of the two men, friends obviously, arguing. “May I help you?” he asked with a patient smile.

“Yes, Kangin,” Donghae replied appreciatively. “Can you please tell this idiot beside me that they label doors for a reason?’

Kangin opened his mouth to monotonously repeat the words, but Eunhyuk quickly interrupted with an “oh, shut up”. The secretary raised an eyebrow but did nothing except lean back on the rolling chair, his arms folded behind his head. The job was indeed taking a toll on him. For a minute, he thought two sane people walked through the doors. Clearly he was wrong.
“So, what do you need, Donghae?’

Donghae shrugged. “Oh, you know. The chief called me and all.”

Eunhyuk, who was staring off blankly, chose this time to chime in with his question.

“Hey Donghae,” he whispered rather loudly, “do you ever wonder why the secretary is male? I mean, from what I’ve seen on TV and stuff, shouldn’t it be a woman? You know…red lipstick? Manicured nails? Holding a nail file in her hand and all?”

“I don’t know. I never really thought about it,” he whispered back, sneaking a few weird glances at Kangin. “The chief hired him. Now that I think about it, the majority of the people that work here are male, aren’t they?”

“I can hear you guys you know,” Kangin grumbled.

Donghae cleared his throat. “We were just waiting for you,” he chuckled nervously. “Show us the way, please.”

Kangin stared suspiciously at their shady grins, but without a word, he got up from his seat and motioned for Eunhyuk and Donghae to follow. He led them through a long hall, stopping at two gigantic doors with the golden words “Editor-in-Chief Park Jungsu” embossed nearby. The chief was always one for these small details. Just a month ago, he wanted a doorbell that sang “Hail to the Chief”. But of course, due to some tight budgets, the most he could invest in was a sign with his name written in gold.
With two routine raps on the door as a signal, Kangin pushed it open and motioned for the visitors to come in.

“Lee Donghae is here, sir,” Kangin announced sternly, that professional edge to his voice cutting through the thick air. Donghae took no notice of these customary actions; after all, he’s been in here for as long as he can remember. Eunhyuk on the other hand, had to be elbowed to keep him from staring around in stupor. The room was quite simple and other than the plants, the great taste in furniture, and the huge frames with the latest magazine covers posted on the walls, it wouldn’t be all that fascinating. But it was the size of the room that left Eunhyuk dumbfounded. Donghae couldn’t help but to think of what Eunhyuk’s face would’ve been like if that doorbell was installed. He was pretty sure it would be no different from that expression Eunhyuk has when he watches anything with Kim Junsu in it. No, not that I-want-to-sex-him-up face, but the holy-shit-he’s-bigger-than-God face.
Donghae soon realized that strangely enough, Eunhyuk had never seen the chief either. If Donghae wasn’t acting as the messenger for the two, then they would text or e-mail each other, but from what he knew, they never spoke to each other directly. Now that he thought about it, he doesn’t even think Eunhyuk saw him for his interview.

“Jungsu, sir?” Kangin asked, clearing of his throat loudly.

The big chair turned slowly to reveal a young thin man with sharp features. His hair was dyed a nice shade of brown with vivid highlights, and his skin was pale, smooth, and bright. If Eunhyuk saw him on the streets, he would’ve thought he was a high school student. A very good looking high school student, if he might add. The man seemed far too young to be the chief of the most popular magazine in South Korea. Was this some kind of joke?

“Yes, yes, just a moment,” the man said with a charming grin. “I have some… matters to attend to.”

The next thing they knew, they were facing the back of a giant leather chair that completely blocked their view. Kangin would have waited like a loyal dog, but he knew from the obvious Click! Click! Click! sounds in the back of the room that the “matter” wasn’t important at all.

“Jungsu, sir, can you please turn off the game system? You have visitors,” Kangin growled sternly, his eyebrows twitching in annoyance.

The clicking noises increased in speed and Eeteuk, his voice laced with concentration, shrieked, “H-hold on! I’m almost past this level!” After they heard the sound of a game controller hitting the floor in frustration, the chair turned around again. Eeteuk cleared his throat and brushed the wrinkles off of his suit before giving his secretary a playful grin.

“What’s up with the formalities, Kangin? We’ve known each other for way too long to be talking like that! Did you forget my name already? Because I’m pretty sure I had it labeled on the door.”

Kangin, who was clearly trying to avoid Eeteuk’s eyes, replied in the same curt manner as he always does.

“It was labeled with your birth name, sir. And I’m just doing my job. Nothing more.”

Donghae stifled his laughter when he saw Eunhyuk’s shocked expression. At least when he walked in, the chief wasn’t busy making snacks using an Easy Bake oven. But Donghae had to admit, even though he thought Eeteuk was incompetent at first, Eeteuk proved him wrong. The chief was just a couple years older, but he knew how to manipulate the readers and give them what they wanted.

Donghae couldn’t help but shiver slightly. Eeteuk was a scary man. He was a great man, but he was scary as hell.

“Oh, Eunhyuk! What a pleasant surprise!”

Eunhyuk winced and mumbled a small “hello”, still stupefied to see the man behind South Korea’s most popular magazine of all time. This was him? This was the genius that makes everyone shit their pants in fear?

“Please excuse me,” Kangin grumbled. He gave a quick bow to Eeteuk before he left, shutting the door tightly behind him. Once the door clicked in place, Eeteuk faced the two.

“Sorry about Kangin,” he apologized. “He didn’t have a stick up his ass back in high school.”

“No, no! It’s perfectly fine!” Eunhyuk replied.

After a short, awkward exchange of grins, Eeteuk turned the chair again, staring at a frame of SMTown’s latest issue on the wall. This maneuver allowed Eunhyuk to catch a glimpse of the small television situated behind the chief’s chair. He leaned in to get a closer look at the game console, but decided not to after Donghae stepped on his foot as a warning. Hey, not his fault for wanting to know what game system God uses…

“As you two know,” Eeteuk started with a strong sense of pride in his voice, “SMTown is the top magazine in South Korea for celebrity gossip. I pride myself in our reporters for being able to get any story.” He looked in Donghae and Eunhyuk’s direction and gave them a small smile. “Do you two know why our magazine publishes fake names instead of letting you use your own?”

“Because… you don’t want us to be a celebrity?” Eunhyuk chimed in, getting elbowed in the ribs as a reward.

“So we can go undercover when we need to,” Donghae stated in his place.

Eeteuk grinned cheerfully, confirming the answer. “Bingo! This is why our magazine is the best!”

The chief took this moment to sit up and scoot his chair closer to the desk. Eeteuk’s former nonchalant grin was gone and his face hardened painfully. His expression was fierce and his piercing gaze commanded attention. Yes, it was then that Eunhyuk realized why so many soiled their pants once Eeteuk’s name came up.

“Now I have a mission for you, Donghae.”

Donghae’s head perked up when he heard his name.

“Do you remember that hotshot actor, Kim Kibum, who debuted 2 years ago?”

Donghae chose to ignore Eunhyuk’s cheeky grin and the little “wink wink, nudge nudge” action he gave him. Oh, how I wish I can forget.

“From what I heard, Kim Kibum is one of the toughest cases to crack. Everyone thinks he’s perfect. Even the directors won’t give us some dirt on him! ‘Calm and professional,’ they say!”

If only they saw that outburst two years ago, Donghae scoffed to himself.

“Anyways, there’s a rumor going around that in high school, he used to be quite a delinquent. Imagine the readers we’ll get if we uncover that story! ‘Celebrity Heartthrob Can’t Escape His Past!’ His fans will go crazy!”

“I don’t want to seem ungrateful,” Donghae stammered, fearing the chief’s wrath, “but why am I doing this story?”

He was answered with a cold stare—Who would dare turn down this story? the chief thought to himself—and Donghae wanted to kick himself for asking. After a couple of seconds, the chief’s eyes broke away.

“Well, Kyuhyun’s in charge of international celebrities, so he’s already in China chasing after Zhou Mi for a story. Henry’s in Canada visiting his family, and Shindong’s taking a quick break. And Sungmin… god, I don’t know what he’s doing. He says he has a part-time job he wants to focus on or something. As for Eunhyuk here,” Eeteuk smirks with a quick glance towards Eunhyuk, “I think he’d be more interested in following DBSK.”

Eunhyuk jumped. “Hey! How do you know about—”

“Believe me,” Eeteuk grins wickedly, “I know everything.”

Donghae and Eunhyuk gulped.

“So pretty much,” Eeteuk chirps again, returning to his regular sunny disposition, “you’re the only one I trust not to succumb to Kibum’s so-called ‘charm’. The few lady reporters we have are dying for this story, but it’s only because of their own selfish desires."
“Tch, women,” he scoffs with a shake of his head.
“You would think a few years on this business would make them despise celebrities forever. But no, once a good looking face appears on screen, they immediately turn back into the fangirls of their past.”

And the question of “why Eeteuk rarely hires women” is answered.

“Well then, are you ready for the mission, Donghae?”

Before he could snap out of his thoughts, Eeteuk exclaimed, “Good! Great! You’ll start tomorrow—take the rest of today off to change your style and disguise yourself."
"Wait! But--"
"Kibum goes to this one club every Monday. I’ll give the name and directions later. There’s no deadline, but I expect you to report to me every other Saturday and tell me your progress. Did you get it all down? Yes? Good. I think you two can show yourself out. Good luck! Ta ta!”

And with that, the chair revolved once again, leaving Donghae and Eunhyuk with blank stares after the clicking sounds resumed.

They silently bowed to the back of the leather chair and left.

“Good luck with your boyfriend,” Eunhyuk smirked.

“…Shut up.”

//

The rain fell rhythmically onto the cold pavement, and the sky was obscured with dark, hazy clouds. He could feel the sad air around him, and it sent chills down his back.

Where was she? Where could she be in this weather?

As he walked, the flickering of a nearby streetlamp accentuated his features. He had a very handsome face with sharp features, but those eyes…
Were those tears?
Or were they just drops from the mournful rain?

And then he saw her. She was sitting on the swings of an old playground, her legs pumping slowly. He stopped for a moment to watch those beautiful downcast eyes as she swung back and forth somberly, her feet barely touching the wet sand below. Her head shot up as she heard his footsteps, and she quickly stumbled off of the swing, trying to get away before the man approached her. But it was too late. Those strong hands caught her wrist.

“Why are you avoiding me?” he whispered, as if he was scared of her answer.
But he heard none.
He said it a little louder now.
“Why are you avoiding me?”

She turned away, not wanting to meet his gaze because she knew… She knew those eyes would be dark, angry, and hurt. And she knew that if she were to look into them, she would fall in love all over again.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

It came off as a soft whisper, as though it was never meant to be heard in the first place. For a moment, he didn’t know who said those words. He was trying to find out the answer for himself. They both said nothing for a moment. They just stood there, absorbing the cold of the air and the beating of the rain on their skin. Without warning, he pulled her into his arms and relished her warmth.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Underneath his arms, he could feel her body relax, and he felt her own arms hugging him back. She closed her eyes to appreciate this moment.
Now this… this was what she fell in love with. This was the man she fell head over heels for.

The man broke away from the contact, and softly held her chin.
“I love you,” he mumbled, leaning in for a kiss…

And Donghae changed the channel. God, that guy was everywhere. Kibum on this channel, Kibum on that channel. When had this drama premiered? Two years ago? And yet, the reruns got higher ratings every time.This might just be his anxiety talking, but he was really starting to get irritated seeing Kibum, especially when he knew that the "angel" on-screen would be in near reach. After seeing advertisements and advertisements with Kibum, he walks home to find that even the TV has gone against him. Is the entire world falling in love with Kibum or something? Because from what he thinks, he seems to be the only sane person that has not bowed down to the heartthrob. Well, not yet anyways.

Donghae let out a tense sigh. “I’m ready,” he said to himself. He really didn’t know why he was so nervous. Lee Donghae was one of SMTown’s top reporters! Eeteuk can give him any story (although he rarely got any big assignments) and he would have it done at least two days before the deadline, freshly printed and drenched in gossip. Some part of Donghae feels as though this story wouldn’t be any different from the others; that he would get to the bottom of this way before anyone else could and would show that heartthrob to be a monster. But for some reason, these what-if questions kept on running through his head.

What if he remembers me from that time?

What if my cover’s blown?

It’s stupid, it’s stupid, he tells himself. Why would he remember such an amateur reporter from back then? And besides, it’s not as if Donghae wants to impress Kibum or anything, right?
Right. He's just following the chief's orders.

Donghae anxiously checked himself one last time in the mirror, fixing his shirt collar and tightening his tie just a tad bit more, even if his apprehension was already choking him. He was one of those reporters who rarely did work outside the office, so he had no idea why he had to go through such a drastic transformation. After all, he doubted whether or not even his own mother can recognize him anymore.
The reporter sighed one last time as he looked at his dressy ensemble. I’m really more of a T-shirt and jeans kind of guy, he thought to himself. But he figured a job was a job.
And so, with a flick of his newly-died auburn hair and a slight fiddle with his big aviator sunglasses, he was out the door with more than 2 hours to spare. So first, before starting his mission, Donghae decided to drop by Eunhyuk’s place for some moral support, even when he knew Eunhyuk’s definition of “support” was nothing less than pushing someone off a cliff. But in this situation, Donghae can tolerate anything.
Even Eunhyuk.

A/N: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I haven't updated in so long! T___T
My muse took a very very long vacation. I was really unhappy with my writing style and I got really frustrated, but I guess that in the end, it's better to practice. So I'm very sorry if my writing doesn't seem very "unprofessional". I'm just writing to make you guys (and myself) happy. ^ ^ I have to confess that I thought of discontinuing this story many times. I really liked the plot myself, but I guess it didn't appeal to much readers. But I'll continue to add to this story, because I know a select few are interested and I don't want to let them down. Thank you so very much for reading! You don't know how much I appreciate it!

And yes, I promise, Kibum will make an appearance next chapter.

Celebrities--a different kind of alien.

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:16:04 GMT

Title: Celebrities (A different kind of alien)
Length: Chaptered; Series. (1/10?)
Author:intricateorchid
Rating: PG-13 for swearing. [This chapter] Will progress.
Pairing: Kihae [Hyuksu in this chapter if you squint]
Genre: Romance, Drama, a dash of failed humor.
Disclaimer: All I own is my poor imagination.
Summary: Lee Donghae works for the most prosperous magazine in South Korea. Although he hates celebrities with a passion, he's willing to enter actor Kim Kibum's life for the sake of a good article.

The pounding of footsteps. The bright flashing lights. Snap! There goes one picture. Snap! There goes another. “Excuse me! Excuse me! Kim Kibum! Do you have any comments on your next drama?” “I heard you have an actual off-screen romance with your co-star! What do you have to say?” “Kim Kibum!” “Mr. Kim!” “Come back! We still have to ask you!”

A figure, shrouded by his cap and dark sunglasses, pushed his way through the paparazzi. Two bulky men accompanied him, their hands full with screaming girls and meddlesome reporters. You could taste the sweat on the man’s skin; you can feel his haste to get to the limo--his only safe sanctuary away from the crowd. He could hear the cameras’ shutters, the reporters’ questions, the girls’ chants of his name. He didn’t care for this. He wanted to get away. The man stared at his feet as he increased his pace, not daring to look up at the crowd. God, reporters made him sick to the stomach.. Faster, faster; run away from these people. They don’t know you. They only know your character on the screen. They only know your words, your looks, and your so-called “relationships“.

He gave a brief glance up. Bingo! The car door. He stuck his hand out to grab the handle, but was it just his imagination, or did it seem further away? No. That’s not it. He was being blocked by the hordes of girls around him; grabbing, pulling every inch of him like he was a lab animal. “Oh my god! I just touched Kim Kibum!” He heard the girls’ shrieks.

I’m the one that should be screaming, he thought. He hated this. He hated it. If there was a way you can be an actor without being famous, tell him now or he’ll shoot someone. Of course he appreciated the fans. Of course he knows that the reporters are here to make a living. But does he care at the moment? No. Not when they stare at him like he’s in a freak show. Not when they’re treating him like he’s not even human, like he doesn’t understand what it’s like to be normal.

People were tugging on his clothes; touching his skin. No matter how close he tried to get to the limo, his attempts failed. The persistent reporters still bombarded him with questions, and he gritted his teeth, reassuring himself not to punch them in the face. Just as he managed to do so, one of his fangirls grabbed his cap. “Gimme that! That’s mine!” said another. “No! I saw it first! It’s rightfully mine!” “No! He planned on giving it to me from the start!” “Whatever, bitch! It’s mine!”

The yowls and screeches caught the cameras’ attention, the flashes switching quickly over to the melee. . All of his fangirls were tumbling around on the concrete, pulling and yanking on each other’s hair. Though he didn’t care to look, he knows his cap is being torn to shreds. What lies will they fabricate this time, he wonders. What will the next headline be? And then he thinks to himself,

Damn, I don’t have time for this.

He ran in the opposite direction, not bothering to look back to see whether or not he was being chased. He hated this life. Sure, the money was good. Sure, the work was nice. But he didn’t think it would be a packaged deal—money and fame.

The man let his feet take him away. He didn’t care where they led him to; he just wanted to escape. He ran and ran until he felt himself slow down his pace to a steady jog, finally stopping completely. His sweaty hands grabbed his sunglasses and tore them off. What was the point of wearing them anyways? It wasn’t as if it made him completely unrecognizable. Besides, there was no sun, and here, there was nobody in sight. After cautiously looking around and finally acknowledging the lack of people, the man smiled a bit to himself.

“Kim Kibum! Wait!”

The actor’s face instantly turned into a scowl once he saw the camera. After 15 minutes of running, they still managed to track him down?! Unbelievable! These people are relentless! He was glad though, for there was only one reporter which meant only one person to deal with. He assumed the rest gave up after the first block. To his dismay however, the man was from the most renowned of all magazines. Shit, can’t they leave him alone?

“Can you tell me about your next drama, sir? And what about your co-star? I heard you two were together, can you confirm this sir?” That was it. He broke.

“Fuck! Can’t a guy live in peace?! I hate people like you! What do you get out of this, anyways? The joy of having other people’s lives posted on the board for others to see? I have my life and you have yours! I have a right to privacy! Just because I’m in some damn drama doesn’t mean that gives you permission to prod around in my life! Celebrities aren’t fucking aliens! We’re just as human as you!”

The reporter stood there in shock. Even the man himself was surprised at his outburst. Was he too harsh? No, it was the reporter’s fault anyways. This was bad. He slipped up and showed the real him. Well, it’s not as if the guy has proof he said that, right? No microphones, no video cameras, no tape recorders.

He ran away before allowing the man--and himself--to come to his senses. There was no time for that. He needed to go and live his “prosperous” life as a celebrity. Oh yes. He loved this.

“Celebrities. They think they’re ‘all that’ just because they’re famous. No difference between this and high school if you ask me,” Donghae muttered to himself, wiping his camera lenses with the hem of his shirt as he walked to the bus station. He’s been in the journalism business for six years and nothing ever changes. The names may change and the faces may change—“plastic surgery,” he sings—but the celebrities are all the same. They’re all fake, like those Barbie and Ken dolls. Aliens! They’re aliens sent to brainwash us and use horrible entertainment to make us suffer! Aliensss!

He stops at the bus station and sits next to an old lady on the bench, smiling and whispering a small “thank you”. You see, he thinks to himself, do you think celebrities would do this? They would probably throw her in front of a bus for all they care. Tch, charities, maybe. But that's just for show.
When his thoughts start straying, his eyes land on a gigantic billboard of Dong Bang Shin Ki towering over the city. This time, they were advertising cell phones and surely enough, soon, the entire female population (including a couple men) would have the exact same brand. Man, if only they really knew about DBSK, he thinks, with a sneer. But then again, compared to other cocky celebrities, they’re not all that bad. A bit psychotic maybe, but… not bad. Well, as much as he hates celebrities, they’re the people that keep food on his table, so he’s not gonna complain. Not much, anyways.

“Donghae! Lee Donghae!”

Donghae tears his eyes away from the billboard to see Eunhyuk race towards him and he stumbles up from his seat in order to greet his friend. Although Eunhyuk was older, he was a newbie in this business so he was sent to work under Donghae for a couple of months. Right when they met, Donghae knew that he could not work with this person. And surely enough, he couldn’t. They argued like cats and dogs over celebrities. Donghae hates their guts and believes that they’re just normal people who were brainwashed to believe that they’re “better”.

“Acting and singing is just a job,” he says. “I’m a journalist, but I don’t get that fame. Plumbers don’t get that fame. So why the hell do they get it?”

Eunhyuk however, treats celebrities like an entirely different species.

“They’re talented and so, they’re born to be elite.”

To which Donghae replies, “Bull shit.”

Those few months of pain were over, but they still hung out in and outside of work. Even now, he has no idea how or why he became best friends with Eunhyuk. He figures it’s just one of those things you have to accept in life.

“You forgot your belt at my apartment last night, baby,” Eunhyuk says loudly, adding a toothy grin and a sly wink. The people around them glanced at them weirdly for a second and the old lady that sat next to Donghae scooted back. The crowd took a moment to double-guess their relationship—Friends? Lovers? Friends with benefits? Bingo. Friends with benefits.

“What the hell! Stop making it sound so wrong,” Donghae shrieked hysterically, grabbing the belt from Eunhyuk’s hands and whacking him on the back. Eunhyuk screamed with laughter and jumped around the station, bumping into a few people in the process. After standing a good distance away from Donghae, he scolded coolly, “We’re in public, darling. Don’t swear. It’s H-E-double hockey sticks.”

“Oh yeah? Keep talking and I’ll kick your A-double snakes,” Donghae muttered bitterly, looping the belt through his jeans with irritation. Just as he was about to fasten the belt, he noticed it was a bit… different. His belt should have been broken in a lot by now, since he doesn’t throw anything away and rarely buys anything either. Years of loyalty to this belt meant it would be old and worn. He might have money to buy new things, but that doesn't mean he does.
Donghae checked the area near the buckle for his name. Yeah, he happens to have an unhealthy obsession with labeling things also. You know, it’s just in case someone like Eunhyuk steals it or some aliens take it or something. And yes, as a matter of fact, he labels his underwear too. His name’s embroidered on it, actually.

“Eunhyuk! You bastard! This isn’t even mine!” He chucked the belt back at his friend, who quickly dodged. Years of soccer certainly did Eunhyuk some justice, especially when you had a friend that couldn’t take a joke.

“Aww, I didn’t think I’d be caught that fast.” Eunhyuk smiled wickedly, brushing some imaginary dirt off his shoulders. He picked up the leather belt and stuffed it into his pink bag, earning a grimace from his friend. Eunhyuk gave that customary “I like it—deal with it” look which had Donghae scoffing in reply.

“Oh! I do happen to have something of yours, though.”

“What? My heart? Are you finally giving it back, you jerk?” Donghae mocked.

“Ha ha. Hilaaaaarious. But no, I won’t give it back. How about I give you this instead?” He whips out a big yellow pad out of his man purse and waves it in the air.

“Great stuff, by the way. I would have taken some of your stories, but y’know, I just love you too much.” Eunhyuk grinned cheekily. “You love me too, right honey?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Donghae muttered. “Give me that!” He yanked the book away from Eunhyuk and stuffed it in his back pocket with relief. Thank god, oh thank god. A reporter is nothing without his pen and paper. He found it just in time too, seeing as how the bus is pulling up to a stop.

“Hey! Where are you going?” 2 years as an Eunhyuk-interpreter taught him that it really meant “Don’t leave me!” This guy… he was like a 5-year-old. Well, Donghae acted like one too. More like 5 ½, actually but you know, he was never one for details.

“The chief called me for a new project or something.” A moment of awkward silence ensued and Eunhyuk took that moment to plead with his big watery eyes like a kicked puppy. Donghae was about to step on the bus when he turned and sighed, “What… wanna come with?”

Eunhyuk’s face brightened instantly.

“Well, if you insist,” Eunhyuk giggled, jabbing at him with his elbow. Donghae scoffed. As if it’s not obvious, he thinks to himself. But honestly, Donghae couldn’t blame him. I mean, it’s not everyday you get to ride a bus with a guy this hot. Man, if I was a celebrity, the world would be a better place. Better yet, it’d be alien-free! I would be like… a modern superhero. Without leotards, of course. I would have a theme song, a costume, and an awesome name that incites fear. A name… I need to think of a catchy name…

“Donghae!” No way, what kind of a suggestion is that? What kind of hero uses their own name?!

“Hey! Donghae! Hurry up and get on the bus! The driver’s waiting!” Donghae snapped out of his thoughts when he felt someone kick his rear.

“Right... uhh… sorry.”

As soon as they stepped onto the bus, they headed towards the farthest seat. There were only 7 people on the bus, but reporters always needed to be careful. Letting someone hear your story before it’s published is like suicide. News spreads like wildfire. All reporters want their name to be published first, to be the cause and create the effect. They want big headlines, glossy photos, and juicy information. The magazine business is an endless competition to see who gets the story first. Donghae loved it.

After they sat down, Donghae opened conversation.

“So, is there anything you have for me?”

“No,” Eunhyuk frowned, shaking his head, “not much. All the good stuff is gone. I swear, sometimes, I just want to sell the celebrities drugs or something just to get some news. If you can’t find some news, you gotta make it, am I right or am I right?” He joked. “But there’s not much new stuff. Kim Ryeowook is releasing a new single soon. It features that one guy… uhh… Yesung?”

Donghae raised an eyebrow.

“That crazy singer who has a weird fetish for philtrums?”

Eunhyuk grabbed a notebook out of his bag to check his sources.

“Yeah,” he nodded, “that’s it. And that hotshot actor, Kim Kibum is gonna film another drama soon.”

He laughed cruelly while Donghae choked on his spit.

“Whoa there, boy. I know you have a crush on him and all, but no need to kill yourself over it,” he uttered with that irritating smugness in his voice.

“Shut up, hyung. That guy has gotta be the bitch of the century,” Donghae seethes, crossing his arms sullenly.

“What, are you still holding a grudge against him? After two years? Come on, that guy’s a lady-killer with his million-dollar smile. Damn, I’d kill for that smile,” Eunhyuk mutters, sulking in his self-proclaimed ugliness. “Heck, I’d kill just to have him as a friend. I mean, all the ladies would come rushing.”

He took a moment to stare at Donghae disdainfully from head to toe. “But no, instead I have someone like him,” Eunhyuk grumbles to himself, just loud enough for Donghae to hear.

“Don’t look at me,” he glared. “I’m not the one they’re running from.”

Donghae hears an unconcerned “sure, sure”.

He clears throat loudly and stares at his nails, feigning disinterest. “Oh, that reminds me,” he starts, “I saw your boyfriend a while ago.”

Eunhyuk bursts with excitement, “WHERE? WHERE?!”

Donghae tried stifling his laughter after the excited expression on his friend’s face darkened. Gotcha.

“What the hell?! BOYFRIEND?!”

“Hyukkie-baby, don’t swear. It’s H-E-double hockey sticks,” he laughs haughtily. “Your boyfriend was advertising cell phones on that billboard. Huhh.. I wonder how big his ---“

“EWW, DONGHAE,” Eunhyuk screams as he clasps Donghae’s mouth shut with his hands. “Just because you can’t get any doesn’t mean it’s right to check out a billboard.”

He hears Eunhyuk scold him but he pays no heed because the bus has reached the last stop. Donghae jerks Eunhyuk’s hands off his mouth and runs off the bus, shouting a loud “thank you” to the bus driver while ignoring his friend’s frantic cries pleading for Donghae to wait. They both knew Donghae wouldn’t leave him, but it was fun to tease.

Once Eunhyuk appeared, pink man-purse and all, the two quickly strode over to the corner of the street. The air was familiar, a bit stuffy yet cold and drenched in the sounds of conversation and car horns. Donghae and Eunhyuk have been down this street far too many times. It was murky and grey, but to him, it was full of life.

“One copy of SM Town, please,” Donghae requested to the clerk.

The man handed the magazine to Donghae and politely declined the money. “No need for money, Donghae sir! You’re a frequent customer, so it’s on me. Have a great day!”

Donghae rolled up the issue with a smile and went on his way.

“We’re here,” he heard Eunhyuk call.

Donghae looked up and surely enough, they were. The building was tall and modern with a slight antique feel. Through the glass windows, he could see the bustling environment inside. Even from out here, he can taste that warm scent of freshly printed paper. This was it. This place was the celebrities’ kryptonite.

This was his home away from home.

A/N: Holy moly, first ever Kihae fic. This is my second time writing and I'm still really rusty. I can hear my joints creaking in pain. :( I would REALLY appreciate constructive criticism because I know there's a lot of room for improvement. This plot was written for Yunjae/Jaeho before (under the title "Writer's Block), but I discontinued it because I thought it didn't really fit the characters well. I'm having more fun with this one, hahaha. The prologue is similar but the story will be completely different from what I had planned. I hope you enjoyed!! Comments make me happy! :D