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Minho is sixteen and Kibum's just broken up with his first boyfriend. Nobody says it out loud, but it's obvious, because Minho never sees Kibum crying but he always looks like he just finished doing it in secret. There's a part of Minho that wants to do, say, something to comfort him, but probably any acknowledgment would make Kibum mad at him yet again. The hyungs are probably right when they tell Minho to try to leave Kibum alone for a little while.
–
Minho is twenty and everybody else is asleep already. Minho should be asleep, too–they have an early schedule in the morning–but it's been weeks since the last time he had a moment to himself and who knows when the next time will be? Maybe he's even taking it slow, stretching it out, one hand on his dick and the other on his stomach, his neck, or just close to his mouth so he can bite his knuckles to keep quiet. It's good, really good, and Minho's lost in it, so it's a complete shock when Kibum's voice hisses down impatient from the top bunk, "Oh my god, will you fucking finish already so I can get some sleep?"
Minho hits his head on the bed with how hard he jerks, and he comes instantly. Kibum doesn't say anything else. In the morning Minho tells everyone he banged his head because of a bad dream.
–
Minho is twenty three and sometimes he looks at his best friend's lips and wonders. Not wondering anything specific, just…wondering.
"Did you always know you were gay?" he asks Kibum once, and Kibum lowers his phone and shoots him the kind of long, pointed look that means Minho is being an annoying straight boy again. "Never mind," Minho starts, but Kibum sing-songs, "Baby, I was born this way."
–
Minho is twenty six and the worst thing in the world happens. And everything keeps going on afterwards. They all keep going on, bonds knitting together closer and tighter despite and because of everything, always leaving room for that empty space between.
–
Minho is twenty eight and it's the first time he's seen Kibum in two years. Kibum is making a face, bitching and moaning, and part of Minho wants to shake him and ask him what's wrong with him, but it's nothing compared to the part that just wants to hug him. Kibum clings tightly, like he missed Minho every bit as much as Minho missed him. Minho doesn't know why Kibum made him wait like this, except that Kibum was made to drive him crazy.
–
Minho is thirty and people keep talking about marriage, but Minho already has someone he loves, someone he's bound to for life, someone to rely on and laugh with and smile about. He has a phone full of pictures and videos. His own apartment is nice, but it's mostly a place where he sleeps, a place to keep his stuff. At Kibum's apartment he has a side of the bed and his own toothbrush and the kids don't treat him like a guest.
If Kibum was a girl, Minho would have realized he was in love a long time ago. If Kibum was a girl, he would have married her already. It's not any different, really.
"It's very different, actually," Kibum objects, but he lets Minho kiss him anyway, slow and sweet, hand softly cradling the back of his head. Minho likes bickering with Kibum but he thinks maybe he likes kissing him even more.