Work Text:
“What did you do to Danny?”
They’re on a break from dance practice. Kibum is curled in the corner of the sofa, scrolling through his phone. He looks small, cute, and a little angry. Minho wonders if tucking a blanket around him would get him to calm down.
“Nothing, I didn’t do anything to Danny,” Minho replies. “We worked out together yesterday. He’s a fun guy!”
“So much pain,” Kibum reads aloud. “I can’t get out of bed. Hashtag day after. Hashtag two thousand burpees later. Hashtag sheep bros. Hashtag no pain no gain bro.” He flashes his phone at Minho, displaying what appears to be a blurry selfie of his friend.
Minho laughs. “No pain no gain, see? He’s fine.”
“No, he isn’t!” Kibum argues back. “I said you could invite him to the gym. I didn’t say kill him!”
“Please don’t kill Danny,” Jinki says placidly but firmly from his place on the floor with his legs against the wall. “He already agreed to collab on my next album. I would like him alive and well.”
“If you’re going to murder anyone at the gym,” Taemin adds, leaning over the sofa arm to spy on Kibum’s Insta feed, “hyung, you have to invite me. I want to watch.”
“No one is murdering anyone at the gym!” Minho says, in what he feels is a calm voice. He can tell from his members’ reactions that it perhaps came out louder than he planned. “I like Danny a lot. He’s a good guy!”
None of this is a lie. Minho really does like Danny Koo a lot. It’s impossible not to like a guy who loves Kibummie as much as Danny seems to, who makes him smile like that. And compared to many of Kibum’s boyfriends over the years, who Minho had dutifully been polite to and dutifully pretended to like and dutifully pretended to be sad about when they broke up: Danny is, without question, a huge step up. Minho should be happy Kibum’s finally dating someone who’s smart, kind, talented, funny, and genuinely seems to appreciate Kibum the way he deserves. Minho should be happy. He will be happy. He’ll overcome it.
“So what happened,” Taemin presses.
Minho sighs. “He asked for more weight. I was spotting. He kept saying like—” Minho switches to English for the full effect “—yo bro, let’s get it, bro, lay it on me, bro.”
Kibum rolls his eyes.
“If someone wants to work hard, I’m not going to stop them!”
If Kibum’s eyes could roll right out of his head, Minho is pretty sure they’d be rolling out the door, like Taemin’s eyeballs in the “Married to the Music” MV.
“Anyway,” Minho continues, ignoring the lump in his throat, “I really like him. I think he’s good for you.”
Kibum glances up at Minho skeptically, which annoys Minho. He’s trying. Can’t Kibum tell that this time he really means it?
“I really am glad you guys are dating,” Minho says, just to clarify. “He’s a good guy!”
Taemin and Jinki both burst out laughing, which is unfair of them.
“Oh honey,” Kibum sighs, shaking his head. “We’re not dating!”
Minho frowns, confused, even as his heart does a little flip. It shouldn’t matter to him that Kibum isn’t dating someone. “Why not? He’s perfect for you!”
“Now you’re trying to micromanage my love life?”
Minho looks around. Taemin is staring between them, expectantly, like he’s watching a show. Jinki’s eyes are closed, like he’s meditating, though he’s probably faking it. The staff are ignoring them all, in some kind of heated discussion over the practice footage. And Kibum is—Kibum. Annoyed. Cute. Staring at Minho with a mix of irritation and fondness.
“Danny has a boyfriend back in the States,” Kibum says, quieter. “And I’ve sworn off homewrecking.”
“For now,” Taemin interjects.
“For now,” Kibum agrees. “But Danny did ask me if you were single, Minho.”
“Hyung, wake up,” Taemin stage-whispers, shaking Jinki’s shoulder. “Minho is blushing!”
Jinki remains motionless, eyes closed. “If he’s still pretending he’s not in love with Kibum, I’m going to keep meditating, Taemin-ah.”
“WHAT?” Minho and Kibum yell in unison.
Taemin gives a sad, dramatic sigh. “Unfortunately, yes. You see what I had to put up with while you were gone.”
Minho launches himself off the couch and tackles Taemin to the ground. “I’ll give you something to complain about, you little shit!”
“Break’s up, it’s time for dance practice,” Kibum says, ignoring them, as he stands and stretches delicately. “And if you have to stay late, I’m not staying. Danny and I are going out for ice cream and none of you are invited.”