Chapter Text
Minseok hadn't been paying much attention to what was playing on the radio, only vaguely noting the colors that came along with the voices of whatever idol happened to be singing. Occasionally, he'd glance down to see the song title when one was especially pretty, but otherwise he went about his work without really listening.
Then, it came on- right as a couple of customers walked up to the counter, of course, so he couldn't even look to see the name of the artist. His voice was a pretty, golden amber colour, swirling about in the corners of Minseok's vision, simultaneously unobtrusive and entrancing. He made the teenaged girls' drinks as quickly as he could, grabbing the chocolate chip muffin the blonde had requested from in the glass case. The song was over by the time he finished, though, and a wave of disappointment washed over him as the next idol’s navy coloured voice washed over him, instead.
Minseok smiled briefly as Junmyeon walked in not long after, filling the room with a soft green. "Hey Hyung, been busy today? You seem a bit distracted." He asked, as Minseok stood there instead of automatically moving to start his usual order like he normally would.
"Saw a pretty voice on the radio." Was all Minseok said, finally turning around to make his friend's drink.
Junmyeon hummed in understanding, "Who was it? It's been a while since I saw you like this, so their voice must have been really nice."
Minseok frowns, handing him his paper cup and a couple of bagels. "Dunno, I was busy making drinks for some customers and couldn't look." He sighed, flopping into his seat behind the counter, and pouting at his friend. "It was such a pretty colour, too. Like honey, but almost shimmery? I've never seen anything like it before."
Junmyeon hums again, taking his drink and moving to a table near the counter, where Minseok joins him. "Ah, you've always had a bit of a thing for unique voices haven't you, hyung?"
Minseok ignored him. "I'll have to make sure to start mixing paints as soon as I get home, I don't want to forget what it looked like." He's got a whole room of paintings he's done with the color of people's voices. Junmyeon has the one Minseok did for his boyfriend Sehun, though- he'd insisted he buy it from him as soon as he'd seen the deep greens and nearly-black blues. It had been pretty big, but Minseok honestly would've just given it to him- not that Junmyeon has to worry about finances. He's got plenty of money.
He thinks about the metallic gold paints he has at home, none are quite the right color, but he's sure he'll be able to mix up something close. He sighed again, slumping forward into the tabletop. "I'll probably never see it again."
"Oh, quit being so dramatic, hyung. You'll figure out who it was, I'm sure." Junmyeon says, rolling his eyes.
Minseok is startled awake in the middle of the night only a few days after that by golden shimmer behind his eyelids, and quickly sits up in his bed, twisting towards where his phone sits on the nightstand, playing music softly. Of course- just his luck- the song comes to an end before he can get his phone unlocked. After that he can't get back to sleep, though, so he turns on the lights and climbs out of bed. He wants to finish that painting.
It's on a larger canvas than he normally uses, even bigger than the Sehun one. It's the inside of a little cottage full of old books, candles, and lots of pretty, leafy plants. There are a couple of flowers in the window sill, and just outside is the silhouette of a pretty generic looking man, his back to Minseok to keep his face hidden. Oh, how Minseok wished he knew what he looked like.
It couldn't be helped, though. He'd wait. Soon- hopefully- he would figure out who it was. Until then, though, he would wait as patiently as he could for the next time he saw that pretty, soft gold. And possibly complain to Junmyeon that he'd missed it again .
Minseok can't have the radio on when he's driving, the colors far too distracting for it to be safe. Everyday noises are distracting enough, he thinks, jumping at the bright red-orange flash of somebody's horn. The silence is driving him insane, though, and he finds himself wishing for that warm, golden honey voice.
Minseok hates himself for developing such an obsession over a celebrity, but it's been so long since he heard such a nice voice. The last had been Han's, but they'd broken up so long ago, and his was so different from this. He still calls him every once in a while- it really is nice to see his pale pink voice- and he can't help wishing he could hear it in person again, but Han moved back to China a few years ago. He had a girlfriend now, too- most of Minseok's friends have partners, actually.
He's relieved when he finally pulls into his spot behind his little cafe, he's glad to be able to get to work. Opening up his business is always Minseok's favorite part of the day, it means the whole building is filled with the scent of baking bread and cakes- his only other employee, Baekhyun, gets here even earlier than him to start working. He doesn't stay, though, opting to leave as soon as he's done to get back home to his boyfriend. Minseok's only met Chanyeol a few times, but the man is giant, even taller than Sehun. He seems like a nice guy, though he’s easily excited, and stumbles over his own too long limbs like a giant puppy.
"Hyung!" Baekhyun calls from the back, "Do you mind if I stay a bit later than usual, today? Chanyeol's parents are visiting."
"Stay as long as you need. You can stay at my place if you need to, too." Chanyeol's parents were glad to know he was dating somebody at first, slightly less glad to know it was a boy, but still happy for him, and downright disappointed when they met Baekhyun. The two still aren't sure what they had been expecting, but apparently Baekhyun wasn't it.
"Thanks, hyung."
Minseok turns on the radio just in time to catch a brief flash of gold and he freezes, the last bit of his name was on the screen. Soo. He stares for another few seconds, waiting, hoping for the rest his name. It doesn't come. "Dang it!"
"Hyung? What's wrong?" Baekhyun calls, peeking his head out the door to the back.
"I keep missing the name of this idol. I only just managed to see the end of his name this time." He sighs, turning away from the radio. "Oh well. Do you need any help?" Minseok's a pretty good cook, even if he doesn't do it often.
"No, not today. You can put these in the case, though. They're done." Baekhyun hands him a tray of pretty golden croissants. Minseok sighs: they're almost the color of his voice.
Baekhyun raises an eyebrow, a teasing grin spread across his face. "What was that, hyung? You're not falling for the bread now, are you?"
Minseok glares, pouting at his friend. "Shut up."
Minseok appreciates having Baekhyun around at his house that night, it distracts him from trying to come up with whatever _Soo's name could be. Baekhyun requires a lot of attention, after all, his presence demands it all on it’s own. It's Minseok's favorite thing about him. "Hyung! Can we order pizza, please?"
Minseok's already on the website, putting in his order, and there's no way Baekhyun can't see it.
"Sure, Baekhyun-ah. Let's order pizza." He says, indulging his friend- he can practically see the boy’s metaphorical tail wagging excitedly. "Do we wanna just get cheese? Or do you want something different?"
"Hmm… Cheese! Extra." Of course. Baekhyun's ordered the same thing every time for as long as Minseok has known him. Minseok orders for them and puts on the anime he knows his friend has been watching. It doesn't really interest him, personally, but he watches it anyways, listening to all of Baekhyun's commentary and the occasional sarcastic remark.
A bit later, after the pizza's gotten there and they've eaten, Baekhyun is yawning, slumping down on the couch, his eyes drooping. "Alright," Minseok smiles. "Let's get you to bed, Baekhyun-ah." Baekhyun mumbles something and whines, so Minseok lifts him up, carrying him off to his bed. He'll just sleep on the couch. When Minseok sets him down on the bed he immediately rolls onto his side, curling into a ball.
Having Baekhyun over makes Minseok feel kind of like a dad, caring for the younger boy and playing along with him. He lays down on the couch, his cat hopping up to curl into his side. Tan usually hides when Baekhyun is over- he's too loud and moves around too much for the poor feline. Now that his friend is asleep though, the cat seems to have chosen to reappear.
Today's been eventful, but somehow he thinks tomorrow will have a lot more for him to deal with. He already knows Chanyeol will be stopping by in the morning to talk to Baekhyun, and that Junmyeon would stop by as he does everyday, maybe with Jongdae this time. He can't help but feel like there's more than that, though, that something exciting will be happening soon. Minseok looks at the painting hanging next to his bookshelf, admiring the soft golden hues. Maybe it'll have something to do with him.
Minseok is so busy the next morning that he doesn't get to turn on the radio, he wakes up at 4:30 to drive Baekhyun to work, and the other is already bouncy and excited and ready for the day. How he functions like this so early in the day is beyond Minseok. When they get to work, he makes the mistake of offering to help Baekhyun with his baking and spends the next couple of hours until he had to open the shop mixing together dry ingredients and, on occasion, cracking open an egg. Today is a busy day, and he only sometimes has a few minutes to sit between customers. Junmyeon does, in fact, bring Jongdae with him and, luckily, things settle for a while so he can sit with them- though, at that point he's more concerned about giving his tired feet a break from standing up all morning then anything concerning pretty voices on the radio.
"How he you been, Hyung? It's been a while since we've spoken." Jongdae says.
"Pretty good, today was a little exhausting, but it's been a while since we've had a busy day, so it's alright. I think Chanyeol will probably stop by, Baekhyun spent the night with me last night, and those two can hardly stand being away from each other for more than a couple hours." Minseok sighs, already tired at the thought of how loud it'll be with the tall man around.
Jongdae grins. "Maybe I'll stay here and wait for him to show up, then. I haven't seen him much recently." Minseok smiles a bit, thinking about all of the awkward flirting going on between the couple and Jongdae. Baekhyun and Chanyeol have been trying to lure Jongdae in for months now, though he seems oblivious to their advances. In fact, he's surprised Baekhyun isn't out here hanging all over him already. He must be busy with something else. They sit around for a bit longer before Minseok is inevitably dragged away by the need to assist the customer who's just walked through the door. Jongdae does stay after Junmyeon has left- just as Minseok had expected- and Chanyeol actually does happen to come not long after. Minseok drags Baekhyun out of the back so he can go sit with them and watches the couple attempt to make advances on his friend with a smile.
He watches Baekhyun grab onto Jongdae's upper arm and lean up against him, fluttering his eyelashes and giggling. Chanyeol gives a pleased smile and pets both of them on the head. "My boys." He smiles, making literal heart eyes at them. Jongdae flushes and gives him a cute little grin.
Minseok turns to the radio, flipping it to the station he uses for in the shop, happy that things seem to finally be slowing down. He plops himself onto a stool and lays on the counter, pleased with the color of the woman on the radio's voice and smiling at his friends. It's been a good day.
He's not paying much attention to what's playing, but he bolts up from his seat when his vision is painted a familiar tone of gold. It's him. After so much time he almost hesitates to look, though he doesn't understand why. He does, though, and stares at the name of the person he's been thinking about for so long. Do Kyungsoo.