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HONESTY GAME
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Changkyun comes up to him first, hand on his shoulder as Kihyun is cooking. He just dips to smell the pot that Kihyun is stirring on the stovetop and squeezes his shoulder. "Smells good." And that smile of his, so close, catches Kihyun off guard for a second, that he does a double-take after Changkyun leaves.
Alright, he'll take it, Kihyun thinks. Not sure what that was, but he keeps stirring.
Minhyuk is next. He's eating Kihyun's food like there's an orgy in his mouth and actually moans aloud. "Fuck me, this tastes amazing," he says. And aims a look at Kihyun that practically pins him to the wall. Minhyuk's head rolls back, along with his eyes, seemingly in so much pleasure to be eating Kihyun's food that Kihyun has to wonder what the hell is going on.
Changkyun is sitting next to him, giggling under his breath, as Minhyuk groans again. "I think you're the best chef in the whole freaking world." And Changkyun distinctly sees Kihyun's cheeks get pink before he makes an excuse to return to the kitchen.
And if that wasn't enough, when he gets back, Changkyun has finished his portion and is looking at him with fluttering eyelashes, asking, "There's more, right?" while pushing his bowl out for Kihyun to refill.
When Kihyun doesn't move at first, Changkyun raises an eyebrow in challenge. "You know when you charge forward into the center on stage? and it's powerful, and you look strong and explosive and your vocals tear down the house? I just want to tell you I think that's super sssuper sexy—Now can I have more please?" His eyes flicker with cuteness and the only way to stop it is to take his bowl.
Kihyun isn't sure what to say, he wants to laugh out, but the fact that his roommates are being so nice today is making his heart kind of flutter.
And it's not over. Kihyun is working out that night, houhou'ing on his rowing machine when Hyungwon stops in his open doorway. He can hear Minhyuk in the living room, but Hyungwon is just staring at Kihyun instead.
"Can I help you?" Kihyun asks, unsure why Hyungwon didn't just walk past.
"Just looking."
Kihyun's eyes narrow suspiciously. "At?"
"You."
Something about how little artifice that answer holds is prickling at Kihyun's skin, and he tugs his machine a little harder. "And?"
"Nothing," Hyungwon says. "I think your shoulders are getting wider."
Kihyun would think he was kidding to say something so nice. Honestly, maybe he still is, because that's Kihyun's favorite compliment—besides being complimented on his voice—and Hyungwon knows this. Usually Kihyun would stand up proudly, but—maybe it's Hyungwon's soft eyes on him—but tonight it makes him a little shy actually.
"And I think your stupid small feet are cute. Done." Then he runs away.
But it doesn't stop. Nowhere near.
When Kihyun comes out of the shower later, towel tied around his hips, there are more members in his living room than expected. They're watching Changkyun and Jooheon race each other in some ultimate tournament of a videogame, three versus three, so that when Jooheon actually manages to win, Hyunwoo and Hoseok are both jumping up and down with Jooheon, while Minhyuk stands frowning beside Hyungwon. Changkyun turns when he sees Kihyun, and runs straight for him, barreling into Kihyun’s chest and knocking him into the couch—"Wh-what?" Kihyun doesn't understand. There's a happy Changkyun suddenly straddling his hips, his hands on Kihyun's shoulders, thumbs massaging along Kihyun's collarbones. "Didn't you just lose?"
"Yup," Changkyun replies, but he's beaming.
"Did you bet money or something?"
"Yup. Just lost ten bucks. But I've got you to cheer me up."
Kihyun blinks for a moment, unsure how to react. It's a little odd having all the members visit at this hour, and even more odd to see them all looking back at him. He sees Hoseok smiling with his head perched on Jooheon's shoulder and it's beautiful to have them together again. But this doesn't make sense. "Is something going on here?"
"Nothing," Changkyun says. And Kihyun can tell it's a shitty lie, but when he follows it up with, "Just wanted to touch you a little," which is so—honest—again, it kind of punches Kihyun in the gut. Changkyun dips and nuzzles under Kihyun's jaw and tells him, "Ohh, you smell good. You always smell good. Especially after a shower. Like now." And he inhales and sniffs at his skin until Kihyun has goosebumps.
He doesn’t know what to do. Changkyun is cuddly, but usually not with him. But it's nice, so he cradles the younger's head and looks up in question at the others.
Hyunwoo is blushing, and Jooheon smacks him in the arm, apparently to make him say what he's trying to say. The leader looks Kihyun in the eyes and says, "Your pecs,” which are currently on display since Kihyun is shirtless, “They're really good. Rowing is working for you," Hyunwoo remarks. And Kihyun knows something is going on now, but he can't freaking detect what. This is driving him nuts.
Kihyun clears his throat. "Thanks," he says. "You're not too bad yourself." He tries to joke but Hyunwoo just blushes and smiles at him.
Minhyuk plonks on the couch next to Kihyun, head falling onto his shoulder while the remote in his hand is pointed at the TV. "How about a round of karaoke? So Kihyun can sing?"
"At this hour?" Kihyun laughs.
"Just because you sing so well," Minhyuk says. "Just one song. I feel like it suddenly."
"Suddenly, in the middle of the night practically, you want to hear me sing?"
But Minhyuk just smiles. "Yup."
"He doesn't need karaoke," Jooheon declares, flicking through his phone to find a song. "This is good enough," he says as a tune starts playing. "You know this one?" he asks Kihyun.
"Uh. Yeah, I do, of course," Kihyun replies, but singing right now is just—weird.
He misses the first verse and Changkyun whines at him, "Singgg~" like a bratty child. He even pounds his fists into Kihyun's chest, but then he follows it up with a kiss to Kihyun's neck. It seriously makes him shiver, but since there's six pairs of eyes on him all waiting, Kihyun figures he might as well do what they want. So he sings, while crowded into couch cushions with Changkyun in his lap.
He's sure some of his notes are shaky, but he gets more confident towards the end of the song, even with Minhyuk's hand stretching out over his chest to caress his skin idly.
"Your voice," Minhyuk says after Kihyun's last note, "is so beautiful. Our main vocal god." He's smiling and petting Kihyun's chest and though Kihyun feels thoroughly confused, it feels so nice that all he can do is nod.
"Best vocal in all the world," Jooheon adds, and Kihyun wants to go there and strangle him.
"Stop it, you know you're better," he manages to say.
"Nope," Jooheon protests, with a smile that's cheesy and wide and shows off his pimples. "'Seok, tell him."
"Best vocal ever. Even your lisp is cute. Whenever I hear our songs, it cheers me up to hear it."
Kihyun scoffs at that though. "Don't put it on so much." Not believing a word for once.
But to his surprise, Hoseok drops to his knees in front of him, hand on Kihyun's knee and says, "Cross my heart. I love your lisp. Believe me."
"And that's why you make fun of it so much, I'm sure," Kihyun jokes.
But Hoseok looks honest when he shrugs and says, "Yup." So Kihyun has no comeback for that. Too quickly he's distracted by the youngest in his lap again, who sticks his index finger in Kihyun's mouth and pulls down his bottom lip—that certainly gets Kihyun's attention.
"Play with me," he whines.
"Play what?"
His fingers are still bopping Kihyun's bottom lip. "I dunno."
"Are you attention-starved?"
"Yes," Changkyun says stubbornly. "I always want your attention. Always."
Minhyuk chuckles at his side and pinches Kihyun's nipple. "Now you're just exaggerating," he tells Changkyun.
But the youngest is adamant. "I'm not. He," meaning Kihyun, "does this sharp thing with his eyes when he's staring at you. And it feels like needles or a blanket or something. Something intense." He comes so close to Kihyun's face suddenly, that Kihyun sucks in a breath from shock. "I like it. I like his eyes," Changkyun says, staring right into Kihyun's eyes.
Kihyun stares back for a few moments, transfixed, before realizing that's weird and looks away.
"Honestly," Hyunwoo steps in, "I like it when he looks like this." He gestures towards Kihyun. "Wet hair, fresh-looking. It's sexy."
"Just come out of the shower," Hyungwon adds. "Totally."
"He has abs these days," Minhyuk says, running his hands boldly down his belly, making Kihyun tremble.
"So sexy," Hoseok agrees, his hand pushing higher on Kihyun's thigh, under his towel.
And Kihyun is seriously blushing now. Not sure how much more of this compliments-torture he can handle. His stomach keeps flipping over and his heart won't stay still. "Guys," he manages to say. He's trying to make his voice stern but it comes out more like a whine. "What is all this? Tell me what's going on."
"It's—"
"Nothing," a few of them try to say, before Hoseok steps in.
"We're starting a new tradition," he explains finally. "No more presents for our birthdays, like we agreed, but we're doing a weekend of honesty instead."
Kihyun didn't even notice it was his birthday in a few days. "What does that mean?"
"Means if we want to say something, if it pops into our heads, even if normally we wouldn't say it, the whole point is to say it," Jooheon says. "It was my idea. Do you like it?" He's positively beaming with happiness.
"Why didn't you do this for Minhyuk?"
"Well, you're the first. I got upset that we couldn't trade gifts for his birthday so we came up with this instead."
"And aren't you glad?" Hyungwon chuckles. "First victim," he nods towards Kihyun.
"I feel attacked," Kihyun tries to joke.
"Don't," Hoseok says. "It's about just—honesty. That's all."
"It's fucking cute when he blushes," Minhyuk cuts in, taking Kihyun sharply by the jaw and turning him to face him. "Look at this. Seriously." He's smiling in Kihyun's face. "I might kiss him he's so cute."
And though Kihyun's eyes go wide, Changkyun mewls, "Ohhhh, do it. Do it," urging him on, which only serves to make Kihyun's heart skip.
So Minhyuk does it! He actually does it—Kihyun can't believe it when his lips land smack against his own. His eyes are so wide and he would have ducked—he would have run away but he can't. He's trapped between the members—with Minhyuk's mouth on his. Fuck.
It takes him a few moments, seriously, because this is too much—but then Minhyuk breaks away. Kihyun hadn't kissed him back and you can see it on his face that he's sad. Nonetheless he pets Kihyun's hair. "He's just surprised, right?" he asks Kihyun, though he's talking about him in third-person. "He likes being kissed," Minhyuk says. His eyes are soft and unguarded, asking, "You like being kissed, right?"
Kihyun gulps. He can't lie when they're all being this way. So yeah, "Yeah, I do," he admits timidly. This game is going to be the death of him, he's sure.
Minhyuk pecks him again and this time Kihyun pecks back. It feels really weird, with a shiver down his spine and a knot in his chest, but he likes it anyway.
Changkyun pulls his face back to him, as if Kihyun is their toy. "I've always wanted to kiss you. Probably since we first met," he says, and he can hear a few gasps in the background. "I think you're pretty." He's so fearless to say it too, that Kihyun barely remembers how to breathe with Changkyun so close to him. He's just looking into his eyes, kind of trapped there, waiting. Watching as Changkyun's gaze drops to his mouth. Until finally, Changkyun runs his index finger down Kihyun's lips again. "I wanna kiss you. Right now," and he doesn't stop. He takes Kihyun by the nape, pulling him closer and brings their mouths together. It's sweet actually, not like Kihyun had expected. Changkyun kisses so sweetly, puckering and molding their lips together slowly. Just a hint of tongue that flicks at Kihyun's lips before pressing close again. Not tight, not forceful, just really slow and sweet, so that even in Kihyun's daze he can't help but follow and kiss back.
Changkyun smiles contentedly when he pulls away. "Always wanted to do that." And Kihyun—he knows he should be angry—he wants to be, probably in any other situation he would be, but he bloody can't . It was so sweet being kissed by the youngest that his heart feels like a freaking marshmallow. And Changkyun's adorable crooked smile... he can't take this. He cards some of Changkyun's fringe backwards, just to show him it's ok. Changkyun beams, "I like the Honesty Game," and a few of the others chuckle at him.
"Wh-attt?" he pouts and looks around. "Isn't this what it's about?" But that's a question not even Hoseok has an answer for. Yes, it's too much to be kissing each other, but at the same time, they can't really fault their sappy youngest for being honest. Changkyun pouts still and jabs his finger at Jooheon. "You. You said, I remember you said once—that when Kihyun sings, sometimes you want to crawl into his mouth and live there. You want to kiss him too! Come kiss him!"
"I—well," Jooheon staggers for being called out. "I was obviously exaggerating," he chuckles. "But, if we're being honest about that, about kissing... I want a little more than that. So I won't," Jooheon ducks his head.
"—You what?" Hyunwoo's head whips towards Jooheon.
Jooheon's face is scarlet. That had surely been too much to say, right? The moment made him open up too much. Hyungwon's hand smacks into his shoulder, and he feels ashamed, but he won't budge an inch. He just has to live with saying that now. He'll look at the floor until it passes.
"Wait—" Kihyun interrupts. "What does that mean?"
Jooheon won't look up, too shy. "Nothing," that part is a lie. "Just, it means I love you too much. All of you, for the record, so don't ask again." And Hyungwon's palm claps him on the shoulder again. This time he squeezes to let him know it's ok.
"For the record then," Hyungwon says, with a rather bold look in his eye that he aims at Kihyun. "I love you too." And though he's saying it to Kihyun he's too far across the room for Kihyun to do anything. Jooheon curls himself into Hyungwon's chest to hide and Hyungwon holds him.
Minhyuk laughs. "For the record, I love you also," he tells Kihyun.
Changkyun scoffs. "I don't need to say for the record." He pinches Kihyun's chin to look at him again. "I'll give you a kidney or something." And though he's making one of his deadpan jokes, it's actually not really a joke and everyone can tell. Kihyun exhales a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.
Thankfully Hoseok kind of saves him, his fingers biting into Kihyun's thigh again. "I love you, but you already know that. Or else, you better." As if it's a threat he's saying. And, well yeah, Kihyun knew, but hearing it again, from so many of their members—his absolute favorite, most cherished and loved people he'll ever have in his life—yeah, he knows and it makes Kihyun's lip tremble. His eyes prickling and getting watery.
"Kihyun." Hyunwoo grabs his attention. "I love you too. It's ok that we're saying this stuff, right?" He asks to check that Kihyun isn't too uncomfortable, since his own belly is swimming with butterflies. Not really sure this Honesty Game was that great of an idea if it's going to get so mushy.
Kihyun's eyes brim over with tears and one actually escapes down his cheek. Minhyuk wipes it away for him, then grabs Kihyun's chest with his giant hands and rocks him closer to his body to comfort. "I can't even remember the last time I saw him cry," he laughs while soothing touches across Kihyun's skin. They're talking about him in third-person again. Maybe that makes it easier, Kihyun wonders.
Either way, he's sitting there feeling like the biggest, watery baby, heart all tangled, because his members are saying all this stuff. And it's not like Kihyun didn't know, of course he knows they appreciate him, but since they never say it... the emotion of hearing it finally is just coming flooding out of him. "Stop it," he yelps. "I hate this game!" And though he says it, more tears stream down his cheeks.
"Kihyun," Hyungwon warns him. "I swear if you don't stop crying, I'm gonna say more things to make it worse. You better stop." Because his own eyes are getting a little glassy.
Kihyun bursts out blubbering, "No, you stop!!"
And Hyungwon laughs. "Fuck, he's so cute. I can't—" Hyunwoo saves him with a hand smacking into his back to make him straighten up.
Hoseok laughs. "You big babies are gonna make me cry. First time I visit you idiots in ages, and this is what you do?"
Jooheon smiles and comes to peck his cheek, and though Hoseok loves it, he bats him away, saying, "Not me. Jeez, go attack Kihyun instead."
So Jooheon does then, crowding on the other side of Changkyun, with just enough room to pull Kihyun's face to him.
"Cook-cook for me later?" he winks and they all start laughing.
Kihyun wails and hits him in retaliation, while Minhyuk and Changkyun tackle him away from their precious Honey-bee.
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THE END.