Chapter Text
The next day Bin texts the dance team, telling them what had happened. They are all completely blown away by the fact that they’ll be able to perform in front of a real live audience for the first time. They are a little less thrilled when they find out they only have three weeks to prepare.
“Three weeks! To prepare three dances?” Myungjun exclaims.
“Look, I know just as well as the rest of you that it isn’t a lot of time. All the more reason we should be spending it working instead of standing around being surprised.” Bin answers.
“You’re right, Bin. It’s just that Myungjun and I have college applications to do. It’s gonna be hard to find time to get together. Maybe we should turn down Dongmin’s offer.” Jinwoo says and Myungjun nods.
“Better to not perform at all then have it fall apart mid show.” He agrees. Suddenly, Sanha pipes up.
“That’s ridiculous! We talk all the time about how all we’ve ever wanted is to perform for an audience and now that we finally have the chance, you guys wanna back out? I don’t think so.”
“I agree with Sanha.” Minhyuk chimes in. “Just think. This is probably gonna be our one shot to perform together as a group before you guys graduate. The chances of us ever having an opportunity like this again are ridiculously small.”
“But how! Mungjun’s gonna be starting his auditions for schools and I have about thirty college essays to get done. We’ll have to meet in the middle of the night or early mornings before school starts. Are you willing to do that?” Jinwoo asks.
“I am.” Sanha says, raising his hand. Minhyuk raises his immediately after.
“It’s our dream to perform together. This might be our only shot.”
Bin raises his hand as well.
“We’ve got one shot. Let’s not throw it away.”
Myungjun’s hand joins the raised ones.
“We’ll figure a way to work around our college stuff. Minhyuk’s right. This is our dream.”
Jinwoo looks at all of his friends with their hands held high in the air and, reluctantly, he raises his hand as well.
“If we’re gonna do this, we do it as a team.”
With that sorted, the boys get to work. They spend every spare moment they can in the dance room. Sometimes they practise individually or in smaller groups if not all of them can make it. Bin and Dongmin barely see each other in person during the weeks of hectic practise. They text frequently and they talk on the phone nearly every night before going to sleep.
They don’t really talk about much of anything. Just inane chatter mostly. An excuse to hear one another’s voice. One night, after reiterating Myungjun’s experience at one of his vocal auditions Bin asks,
“Where are you applying.” Dongmin hums quietly. He’s been quiet through most of the phone call tonight. Bin had just assumed that Dongmin was tired. While the dance team was preparing frantically for their performances, Dongmin had been making sure that every other part of the showcase went according to plan.
“You know, the usual places. Some universities here, some Ivy League schools overseas. My parents want me to be a lawyer or if I can’t get into Harvard, they want me to go into business like them.”
Bin feels his heart drop into his stomach at the thought of not being able to see Dongmin in person for four or more years. These past weeks had been hard enough and they still see each other at school sometimes. But if that’s what Dongmin wants then he has to be supportive.
“But, Bin. Can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course. You can tell me anything.” Bin replies.
“Today I went and auditioned for KNUA. I didn’t tell my parents I was going. I didn’t even tell them I applied.”
Bin sits up in his bed, a little shocked at this act of rebellion but happy nonetheless.
“Music school? For piano?”
“Yeah. They’re supposed to have some of the best professors in the world. It’s my dream school. If I actually got in… Well, I don’t know. I guess I’d have to find a way to convince my parents that it’s worth it.”
“You’ll get in. I’m sure.”
“You’ve never even heard me play, Bin.”
“Well, yeah. But you’re you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Dongmin asks with a laugh.
“You’re amazing. And I’ve seen you talk about piano. There is no way you could have that much passion for something and not be good.”
Dongmin laughs a little on the other side of the phone.
“And when it comes to convincing your parents. I wouldn’t worry too much. If they can see in you even a fraction of what I see then they’ll know how happy it would make you They’d never take that away from you.”
“Thanks, Bin. You’re pretty amazing yourself.”
They chat for a little while longer before bidding each other good night. Bin has practise early in the morning and he needs to be well rested, Dongmin insists. Bin would have been happy to stay up and chat all night but his boyfriend does make a solid point.
Performance night creeps up on them all faster than they can believe. Since the rest of the school has the option of staying in class or skipping and going to the showcase, nearly the whole school is there. Currently most of the students are milling about the floor. They investigate the different booths, each displaying different type of art. There are paintings and sculptures and pottery and drawings and all kinds of other things.
Meanwhile, the dance team is crowded into a classroom turned green room going over their set one last time.
Myungjun and Jinwoo go off to stretch for the performance while Minhyuk helps Sanha with a particularly tricky part of the choreography. Bin is standing in the corner under the prettiness of stretching. In reality, he’s texting Dongmin.
From: Dongmin
Good luck out there today!!!! Not that you need it at all.
To: Dongmin
wut? ur not even gonna wish me luck in person?
From: Dongmin
Isn’t it bad luck or something?
To: Dongmin
no?????? i think ur thinking of brides on wedding days
From: Dongmin
Hmmmm. I’m pretty sure it’s bad luck.
To: Dongmin
doesnt matter. idc. come here and wish me luck in person
From: Dongmin
On my way!
True to his word, Dongmin shows up outside the green room about five minutes later. He pokes his head in the door with a smile.
“How’s everything going in here? It’s packed out there. I think we might have a full house.” He says brightly. Sanha pales considerably and dashes out of the room toward the bathroom. Minhyuk follows close behind muttering something about nerves.
“Sorry.” Dongmin says sheepishly.
“It’s okay.” Jinwoo consoles.
“We’re all just a little nervous. This is the first time we’ve ever performed.” Myungjun adds. Dongmin nods in understanding.
“Well, I just came by to wish you all good luck. I know you guys are going to do awesome. You’ve been working hard for this. There’s no way you could have this much passion for something and not be good at it.” He says, echoing Bin’s words from a few nights before.
“Bin, can I talk to you for a moment. Outside?” He adds.
Bin is a little surprised but he follows Dongmin outside, ignoring his friends’ obnoxious wolf whistles.
“What’s up?” He asks, once they’re out in the hallway.
“Not much. I thought you wanted me to come wish you luck?” There’s this smile on his face that to any outsider would look completely innocent. Except Bin knows Dongmin and he knows that smile and it means nothing good.
“Didn’t you just wish us all good luck? I mean you made Sanha throw up in the process but you tried your best.”
“And what if I had something special for you?”
“Well, that’s not very inclusive. Isn’t that the schools MO? Be tolerant and inclusive? What would they do if they found out that their own Student Council President was leaving people out? His own friends at that!”
Dongmin rolls his eyes and then he’s grabbing the front of Bin’s shirt and pulling him in, pressing their lips together, hard.
Bin tenses up briefly before relaxing into the kiss. Dongmin’s lips are just as soft and warm as he had imagined them to be. And he had imagined them a lot. Ever since the night of their near kiss he’s been thinking about how Dongmin’s lips would feel pressed to his own. He wondered from on their first date at the ramen shop if he would taste like ramen. After the movie he had wondered if he would taste like popcorn. In every moment of quiet calmness between the two of them, he had wondered what it would be like to kiss Dongmin and now that it was actually happening, he could barely believe it.
Dongmin presses his lips harder against Bin’s, gently poking his tongue out to run along the seam of Bin’s lips. Bin easily grants him access, anticipating finally having an answer to what Dongmin tastes like.
Turns out he tastes a lot like summer. Warmth and green tea. Sunlight and vanilla. Dongmin’s hand grips his shirt a little harder and he pulls away from the kiss for a moment. Then he leans in to press a peck against Bin’s lips once, twice and then he’s untangling his hands and stepping away fully. He looks mussed. His cheeks are bright pink and his lips are a little kiss swollen and slick with spit. He blinks at Bin who knows that he must look pretty much the same if not worse. Then Dongmin smiles this coy little smirk.
“Still want me to be inclusive?” He asks with a raised eyebrow. Bin just shakes his head dumbly, still a little in shock at his boyfriend’s sudden boldness. A stage hand pokes his head out from the stage door and yells toward the green room.
“Five minutes!”
“You better get going.” Dongmin says, like nothing even happened between them. Bin still feels shell shocked. How on earth is he supposed to dance now. He’s not gonna be able to think of anything but Dongmin.
The boy in question looks around quickly before leaning in to press one last kiss on Bin’s lips before whispering “Good luck!” and then darting away down the hall to tend to his duties.
Eventually, Bin gathers his wits about him and heads into the green room to gather Myungjun and Jinwoo and the three of them head backstage. Minutes later Sanha and Minhyuk join them.
“Where on earth were you two!” Myungjun scolds.
“Look, we would have come back earlier but Bin and Dongmin were making out in the hallway and we didn’t think it would be very kind to interrupt.” Minhyuk shoots back. Bin feels the tips of his ears heat up as Jinwoo lets out a long low whistle.
“Damn, getting that student council president lovin’ there, Bin?”
“Don’t make our sweet and innocent first kiss into something gross, you asshole.” Bin responds, blushing even harder.
“Innocent, my ass.” Minhyuk mutters under his breath.
Bin shoves him in retaliation but before he has time to come up with a comeback the stage hand is ushering them into the wings to get ready to head on stage.
The stage lights go out and the kid that had just finished her monologue scurries off stage. The dance team heads out and gets into their positions.
Honestly, as soon as the stage lights turn on Bin’s mind clears out as he lets the pounding music guide his body through moves he’s been practising relentlessly for weeks. There are a couple mistakes here and there but overall their performances go well. They complete their last number with barely a hitch and they even get a standing ovation for their high energy performance.
The team stumbles off the stage, sweaty and still filled with adrenaline. They jog their way from backstage to the green room, getting congratulated by the crew and the volunteers along the way. The team whoops and hollers their way down the hall, jumping around with arms slung over shoulders and plenty of high fives.
They’ve been cooling down for a couple minutes when the green room door flies open and Bin finds his arms full of a very happy Dongmin. He’s got his arms slung around Bin’s neck and his fingers tangled in his sweaty hair and Bin nearly falls over backwards with the force of the hug. He wraps his arms around Dongmin’s back, holding him close.
Dongmin kisses him twice on the lips. Just two short pecks before he’s smiling far too hard to accomplish any real kissing. Sanha pretends to throw up in the corner of the room and Minhyuk laughs.
“That was amazing! You guys were amazing!” Dongmin says, pulling away from Bin slightly to address the rest of the group. Bin doesn’t let him go far though, keeping his arms linked around Dongmin’s back.
“Minhyuk, those spins in the second number were amazing! And I had no idea you could do flips! It was so cool. Jinwoo, Myungjun. That part in the first song. I’ve never seen anything like that! The finale of course was just absolutely amazing! Sanha your part was phenomenal. And you were all so in synch! Honestly, it was so amazing.” Dongmin gushes, turning to each member of the dance team in turn.
“What about me?” Bin pouts, tugging at Dongmin’s sweater to get his attention. His boyfriend turns back to him with a smile and kisses him on the cheek.
“You’re always amazing to me.” He say with a wink. Bin can’t even find it in himself to be mad at the cheesiness. He’s just completed his first dance performance in front of an audience, he’s surrounded by his friends and he’s got the most wonderful, beautiful boy in his arms. Nothing could possibly ruin his day.
“Come on, you guys. You did some amazing work here today. Let’s go out for ramen. My treat.” Dongmin says and the dance team goes wild. They all start gathering their stuff, slapping Dongmin on the back in thanks as the go.
As the rest of the boys gather their things, Bin pulls his boyfriend back into his embrace. Dongmin naturally buries his face in Bin’s neck, not caring that he’s nearly drenched in sweat. Bin kisses Dongmin’s neck and then moves up to his cheek, nudging him with his nose until he untucks his face from Bin’s neck. Then Bin presses a sweet kiss to his lips and Dongmin responds immediately. He tangles his fingers in Bin’s hair, tugging lightly, causing Bin to part his lips.
Suddenly, there’s the sound of someone clearing their throat from the doorway to the green room. Bin and Dongmin part and look toward the sound.
The rest of the dance team are standing there with their bags, heads poking into the room, unimpressed but fond looks on their faces as Dongmin blushes and Bin offers them all a cheeky smile.
“Y’all can make out on your own time.” Myungjun chirps from the doorway. “At this rate the ramen place’ll be closed before we even get there!”
“Alright, alright. We’re going.” Bin grumbles, taking Dongmin by the hand and gathering his things.
They head out of the school like that. Bin and Dongmin are hand in hand, Minhyuk’s got his arm slung around Sanha’s shoulder on one side of them and Jinwoo and Myungjun are shoving each other back and forth down the street, trying their best to make the other fall over. All of them are still pumped full of post performance adrenaline as they make their way to the ramen shop. The sun is setting, dying the sky orange and casting long playful shadows across the pavement behind the boys. Bin doesn’t think he’s ever been happier.
epilogue
They don’t live in a penthouse apartment, nor do they live in a cottage in the mountains. Once both Bin and Dongmin are finished university the manage to secure themselves a nice mid sized apartment in a quieter part of the city. It’s not too far from the metropolis centre but it’s also not terribly contested with traffic all the time. And the landlord allows cats, which is a bonus.
It’s Bin’s day off from teaching at the dance studio that he and Minhyuk own up town and he has spent it lounging around in his sweatpants reading the book that Dongmin had recommended he take a look at. He’s been hooked ever since the first page. He lounges on the couch, their tiny grey cat is curled up on his lap, purring loudly. They sun is just beginning to set when he hears the door slide open. Gently he lifts the cat off of him and lies his book face down on the coffee table before standing and heading to the door.
Dongmin’s hair is ruffled and his face is flushed from a long day. The sleeves of his white button down have been rolled up to his elbows and there are marker marks all over his hands and forearms. He slips his feet out of his shoes and waddles up the stairs and into Bin’s waiting arms.
“How was work?” Bin asks, smoothing down Dongmin’s ruffled hair. Dongmin just groans into his shoulder. Bin smiles and walks his boyfriend slowly into their living room before depositing him gently onto the couch and heading into the kitchen.
“That boy is a menace!” Dongmin calls to him from where he’s splayed out on the couch. “Seriously, you should have a long talk with Jinwoo about parenting techniques because his child lacks any form of focus at all.”
Bin hums to show Dongmin he’s listening, filling up a glass with water and bringing it into the living room.
“Twenty minutes! It took us twenty minutes to actually start the lesson! That’s nearly half of our time together!” Dongmin exclaims. Bin sits next to him on the couch and offers him the glass of water with a smile. Dongmin thanks him and takes it, sipping gratefully.
“But is he improving?” Bin asks. Dongmin nods, swallowing his gulp of water.
“Quickly, too. He can almost play through all of Moonlight Sonata, hands together at about half speed, which is pretty impressive with the amount of time he’s been playing.”
“Well, that’s good then.”
“But imagine how much better he would be if we actually got to use the whole lesson instead of him spending almost half of it stabbing me with felt pens!” Dongmin says exasperatedly before placing the half finished glass of water on the coffee table.
“I’m just glad that I don’t have a show tonight. I don’t know if I’d be able to stay awake through the whole thing.” He picks up Bin’s book, places a scrap of paper from the coffee table between the pages before closing it and putting it back.
“One of these days I’m gonna buy you a bookmark so you won’t ruin all of the spines on my books.” He says before leaning back into the couch with a sigh.
Bin stands up from his spot and perches himself on the back of the couch behind Dongmin, one leg on either side of his head. He reaches down to massage Dongmin’s neck at the base of his skull causing his head to loll forward and to the side against Bin’s thigh. He lets out a soft groan as Bin’s fingers skillfully work at a particularly tight knot of muscle. Bin moves to massage under Dongmin’s ears and then down to the tops of his shoulders close to his neck.
When Dongmin lets his head tip all the way forward, Bin can see the mark he’d left at the top of his spine the night before. He lets his fingers brush over it gently and he feels Dongmin nuzzle his nose into his thigh, just above his knee.
“Are you trying to butter me up or something?” Dongmin asks, sleepily.
“Can’t I just do something nice for you after you’ve had a stressful day at work?” Bin asks innocently, brushing his fingers over the mark one more time. Dongmin reaches over his shoulder and grabs Bin’s hand. He pulls so that Bin is leaning forward, his chest pressed to the back of Dongmin’s head. Dongmin plays with Bin’s fingers, stopping to play with the simple silver band that adorns his left ring finger.
“Hmmmm. I suppose you can.” He says before bringing Bin’s hand to his lips and kissing his palm. Bin runs the fingers on hand through Dongmin’s silky hair.
“I did have something I wanted to ask you though.”
Dongmin leans back, further into Bin’s chest with a childish whine, draping Bin’s arm across his chest caging himself in. He bites at Bin’s forearm teasingly, to show his displeasure but not actually wanting to hurt Bin.
“Myungjun is performing tonight, downtown and he asked if we would come. I told him I’d see if you were up to it when you got home.”
Dongmin whines again, a little louder and bites Bin just a little harder, jutting his lip out in a pout.
“Oh come on, you big baby. You can handle it. Plus it’s not like we have to go out after.”
Dongmin sighs but Bin can sense his resolve cracking.
“Alright. We should go and support our friend.” He says, letting go of Bin’s hand and sitting up.
He heads to their bedroom to get a change of clothes for the evening and a towel so he can shower and Bin follows him, grabbing his own clothes and towel along the way.
“Oh and guess what?” He says as the two of them putter around their bedroom, gathering their things.
“What?” Dongmin responds from inside thigh closet where he’s searching for some pants. “And if you say, “No, you have to guess.” I swear I will walk out on you right now.”
Bin chuckles at his grumpy boy friend.
“Sanha called me to ask where I bought your ring. I think he’s gonna propose to Minhyuk soon.”
Dongmin pokes his head out of the closet, visibly brighter than just a few seconds ago.
“Really? And I always thought it was gonna be Minhyuk who would propose.” He says with a contemplative hum, exiting the closet with a clean pair of jeans in hand.
He scoops up the rest of his clothes and his towel and heads toward the bathroom only to be intercepted by Bin, towel in hand, looking at him with a mischievous smirk. Dongmin glares at him suspiciously.
“Awe, come on. It’ll save water.” He says with a lascivious grin. Dongmin purses his lips and glares harder.
“Fine.” He agrees and Bin’s smile brightens into a blinding grin. “But no funny business! I’m exhausted.”
Bin pouts, but follows Dongmin into the bathroom anyways.
“Gosh, are you sure you’re gonna be able to handle your own kid?” He asks with a teasing smile.
“It’s a little late to back out now. I mailed in the adoption papers this morning.” Dongmin answers. “Plus,” He says turning to face his husband with that smile that’s never stopped being the most beautiful one Bin has ever seen. Even after all these years.
“I’ll have you. And you’re going to make a great dad.”
Bin smiles back and steps forward to kiss his husband before closing the bathroom door behind them.
It’s not a cottage in the mountains or a penthouse suite. They don’t have enough room for a baby grand and Dongmin doesn’t have as much time to bake or read as he would like but every day he goes out to a job he’s passionate about and comes home to a man he loves. Bin doesn’t drink coffee and they don’t have a picture window and he rarely gets up before the sun is high in the sky but he’s got Dongmin and he’s truly never been happier.