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“C’mon Ji, everyone is gonna be there! We’re gonna look fucking dumb if we show up without our bassist, you know?” Mark says, slinging his arm over Jisung’s shoulder. Jisung scrunches up his nose, a frown on his lips.
“I dunno, Mark.. you know that I don’t like the crowds. I barely get through the shows without having a meltdown afterward.” He says, and Mark shakes his head.
“Nah, I think you’ll be fine. Plus…. Haechan said he would be there too.” Jisung pushes Mark’s arm off his shoulder in a huff.
“What do I care about you and your little fling?” He bites, and Mark grins at him.
“Well, you know who goes wherever Haechan does.” Jisung’s eyes widen, and Mark smirks. “Ah ah ah, I knew that would get your attention.”
Jaemin bounces into the conversation, his wild tawny hair flopping into his eyes. “Are we talking about Junnie and our little Ji’s massive crush on him?” Jisung sighs, throwing himself down onto the couch in the garage.
“Why are you so mean to me!” He laments, and Jaemin just laughs, tackling Jisung into a hug, cooing at him and squishing his cheeks.
“I think it’s so cute how pathetic and soft you get around Junnie, only for him to ignore you.” Jaemin teases, and Jisung frowns, pushing Jaemin off of him onto the floor. “Hey! Ow, fuck you, Park, that hurt!”
“Stop making fun of me then.” Jisung mutters, and Jaemin heaves himself back up onto the couch, wide chocolate brown eyes boring into Jisung’s. Sometimes, Jisung swear that Jaemin can see his innermost thoughts. His fears. It creeps him out how aware Jaemin is.
“You know Junnie just likes to play hard to get, right?” Jaemin says, and Jisung sighs.
“I get that. I just feel like a fucking idiot sometimes.” Jaemin shrugs.
“Sometimes feeling like an idiot is the path to success.” Jisung scrunches his nose.
“Just because you and Jeno are in some weird pseudo married relationship that none of us understand where Jeno acts a simp half the time…” Jaemin barks out a laugh, shaking his head.
“I wasn’t speaking from personal experience, I was trying to make you feel better.” Jaemin points out and Jisung throws an arm over his eyes, sighing deeply.
“Tonight?” He asks a bit louder, directed towards Mark. Mark laughs.
“Yeah, it’s at Yeonjun’s place. I’ll text you the address.” Jisung makes an affirmative sound.
What is he getting himself into?
It’s not that he hates parties, per say. They’re just incredibly overwhelming experiences that he would rather go without, but with his band mates…
Jisung sighs as he pushes the door to Yeonjun’s house open, shouldering his way through the throngs of people he only vaguely recognizes.
Yeonjun’s a friend of Mark’s from school, or something, Jisung doesn’t really remember. But he’s so socially connected anyways that the parties usually always end up here.
The chain on his belt jingles as he walks through the house, peering over people’s heads, trying to locate the other members of his band. Finally, after about 15 minutes, he spots a familiar hot pink head of hair, and he sighs in relief. Thank you Jaemin, he thinks, for having the most recognizable hair color in the world.
He pushes through the last people blocking his way,and he stops dead in his tracks, eyes wide.
Renjun.
His back is turned to Jisung, so he can see the spirals of constellations that litter his arms, the way his crop top lifts just so to show the milky expanse of skin on his back, the constellation of Aries creeping up his side.
“Yo, Sung! You made it!” Mark calls, his arm slung around Haechan’s shoulder, a beer in his hands. Jisung winces, but he nods, plastering a smile onto his face.
“Yeah, sorry. I got caught up with a string.” He says, and his heart stops when Renjun turns at the sound of his voice.
Renjun’s makeup always catches Jisung off guard. Not that Jisung doesn't have a trusty kohl liner in his case, but it’s just so… effortless with Renjun. The glitter, the upward flick of eyeliner, the gems placed ever so carefully under his eyes.
The lip gloss that makes him look just SO kissable.
“I didn’t realize that you managed to convince the kid to come along.” Haechan comments, making Jisung frown and step closer.
“I’m not a kid.” He mutters, and Haechan just laughs, tossing his head back.
“Sure thing, Jisung. Whatever you say.” He says in a playful but cold tone, and Jisung huffs. Haechan’s always been like this to him, and he doesn’t think that he will ever really understand it.
“That’s new.” A smooth finger presses against the skin under his lip. Jisung blinks in surprise, looking down. Renjun’s intense brown eyes gaze up at him, his eyeshadow shimmering under the lights.
“M-my lip ring?” He stutters, and Renjun hums, nodding. Jisung chews on it, pulling the dark metal into his mouth a little bit. “Y-yeah I suppose it’s new since the last time we came across each other.” Renjun tilts his head to the side, black hair falling into his eyes.
“Nose stud too.” He says, tapping it with his finger. “Pretty.” Jisung’s eyes widen at the feeling of Renjun’s fingers on his skin.
“Oh that’s a… lot older.” Jisung laughs nervously at the proximity of Renjun to him. “Like a few m-months? I just changed it, maybe that’s what you’re seeing.” Renjun hums, a glimmer in his dark brown eyes.
“Maybe so.” He says, shifting back on his heels so he’s out of Jisung’s personal space. “I’m thirsty. Come with me.” He grabs onto Jisung’s hand, and before Jisung can even react, he’s being pulled back through the crowds of people.
Jisung turns his head, looking back at his band in desperation, but the smirk on Jeno’s lips makes him lose hope. Did they plan this? What even is this? Haechan waves at him with a grin before Jisung loses sight of everyone he knows.
Renjun pulls him through the throngs of people, his hand slightly cool to the touch compared to Jisung’s perpetually warm fingers. The plethora of rings decorating his delicate fingers dig into Jisung’s, and Jisung chews on his lip ring again.
“Cut that out if it’s new.” Renjun says, looking back at him, kohl lined eyes glimmering under the lights. “You’re gonna fuck it up, and it’ll look ugly.” Jisung scrunches his nose, but releases his lip ring from his mouth, making Renjun’s lips turn up into a slight smile. Renjun pulls him fully into the kitchen.
One of Yeonjun’s friends…. Soobin? Jisung thinks, greets Renjun as they enter the kitchen. “Oh, hey, Jun!” Renjun just glares at him, and Soobin holds his hands up in surrender. “Hey, quit it. I’m just being nice. I’m leaving, promise.” Soobin makes a quick exit, and Jisung looks back, watching the older boy leave the room.
“Uh….”
“My ex. Don’t even think about asking.” Renjun says, dropping Jisung’s hand and pulling the cupboard by the fridge open, inspecting it. “Where did Yeonjun say he… ah!” Renjun pulls out a bottle of something Jisung doesn’t recognize, a triumphant look on his face.
“What is that?” Jisung asks, looking at it in confusion. Renjun just grins.
“You’re over 21 right?” Jisung frowns. “No?”
“I am.” Jisung amends, shaking his head. It just feels bad that Renjun doesn’t even know that about him. “It’s just… nothing. It’s nothing.” Renjun shrugs, taking the cap off the bottle and taking a long swig. He swallows once, twice, and Jisung can’t help but watch him, chewing on the opposite side of his lip from his lip ring.
“Wouldn’t matter anyway, I’m not above getting minors shitfaced.” Renjun comments, holding the bottle out. “Plus, you’re in a band, right? You’ve seen some shit. You can handle your booze.” Jisung takes the neck of the bottle from Renjun’s fingers, trying to not shiver at the contact he makes with Renjun. He should be over this obsession with Renjun, but he can’t help the way that the older boy makes him feel. It’s embarrassing, and his bandmates make fun of him constantly, but he’s just…drawn to Renjun.
He tilts his head back, taking a long swig of the alcohol. He coughs, spluttering a little bit at the unfamiliar flavor. “The hell is this?” He asks, wiping his mouth. Renjun just laughs, reaching his hand out to take it back. Jisung shakes his head, taking another drink from the bottle.
“BIrthday cake or some shit. I dunno, Yeonjun keeps some weird ass vodka flavors in here and I’m the only one who dares take ‘em.” Renjun says, picking at a chip of black nail polish on his fingers.
Jisung makes a face, wiping his mouth again. Renjun looks at him for a long moment before grabbing onto his hand. Jisung looks at him in surprise, and Renjun just winks, pressing a finger to his lips before pulling him out of the kitchen.
“C’mon. I know a place.” Renjun tilts up, whispering in Jisung’s ear. A shiver runs down Jisung’s spine, and he has to close his eyes to keep his composure. Renjun pulls him down, down, down a long hallway before pushing a door open with his hip.
Jisung freezes. Isn’t this…. A bedroom?
Renjun just laughs, shaking his head. “There’s a balcony! C’mon. It’s just out the window.” Jisung can’t help the relief that makes his shoulders sag. It’s not that he wouldn’t LIKE sleeping with Renjun, but…
Renjun pushes the window open, taking the bottle of vodka with him as he goes, Jisung follows not soon after, dropping down onto the balcony.
The music is still audible from outside, even if it’s much muffled, and there’s shrieks and screams of joy that echo through the area outside of Yeonjun’s house. How Yeonjun has all these parties without pissing off the neighbors…
“Pretty sure his ‘rents pay off the neighbors to stay in hotels or some shit when Yeonjun decides to have a party. I dunno, I don’t ask questions.” Renjun says, and Jisung realizes that he had been speaking out loud. He flushes a dark red. He NEEDS to not do that around Renjun. “Here.” Renjun says, holding the bottle back out to Jisung.
“Thanks.” He says, taking the bottle back and taking another few swigs from it. The alcohol is starting to have an effect on his body, making him feel a bit lighter, a bit bouncier.
“What do you do in your band? I’ve never asked, and I feel bad.” Renjun says, leaning against the siding of the house. Jisung hums, taking another drink.
“Bass. Lead singer with Mark. He’s the higher tone, I’m the darker one.” Renjun whistles in appreciation, a grin on his lips.
“I figured you were guitar of some sort.” He comments, reaching over to grab onto one of Jisung’s necklaces. “Don’t bass players not use picks?” Jisung shakes his head, willing himself to calm down from Renjun being in his space again.
“Nah, I use a thicker one than Mark does.” He says, and Renjun gets a wicked look in his eyes. “Not-!” Renjun bursts into laughter, the sound pealing through the air.
“Oh my god, the look on your FACE!” Jisung huffs, taking another swig of the vodka.
“You’re so mean to me.” He mutters, and Renjun leans forward on his hands, his face dangerously close to Jisung’s.
“Don’t pretend you don’t like it when I’m mean to you, Park.” Renjun croons, and Jisung feels the flush creeping up his neck again.
“Who said that I like it?” He bites back, and Renjun’s smooth fingers press against his right cheek, before moving up to tug on the industrial piercing in his right ear.
“Your ears go all red when I toy with you. They always have. You have such a cute little tell, it’s fun to exploit.” Renjun says, his lips practically brushing against Jisung’s ear. Another shiver runs up his spine, and he nervously goes to take another sip of the bottle, but Renjun steals it back before he can.
“Hey!” Jisung complains, a whine in his voice, and Renjun just tilts his head back, taking two long drinks. “Woah, slow down. You’re gonna get smashed.” Renjun sets the bottle down, shrugging his shoulders.
“Not a party if someone doesn’t get shitfaced. Plus, you’re getting there too, Jisung.” Renjun says, before he leans his head back against the siding, heady eyes boring into Jisung. “When’s your next show? I’d like to see you play.”
Jisung blinks, running a hand through his messy black hair, the strands sticking together from the sweat pooling from the hot summer night. “Tomorrow night. At The Black Dog.” Renjun lazily smirks up at him.
“Get me front row?” Renjun says, and Jisung can’t help the laugh that leaves his lips.
“Not gonna seduce the security guards to get it yourself?” Renjun shakes his head, leaning forwards so he’s staring at Jisung, his chin in his hands.
“Why, when I can seduce the bass player to the same end? Plus, you’re way cuter than any old security guard.” Jisung coughs, covering his mouth with his hand. Renjun lets out another pealing laugh, and Jisung can’t help but stare at the line of Renjun’s neck as he does.
“Uh… yeah I can probably do that.” Jisung says dumbly, and Renjun hums, a satisfied smile on his lips.
“Give me this as a way of getting in.” Renjun says, reaching forward and wrapping his fingers around the pick on Jisung’s necklace again. Jisung blinks, looking down at Renjun’s hand.
“I don’t think that’s really–”
“Jisung. Give me the necklace. I’ll wear it to your show.” Renjun says, leaning in closer. “Should I make a little poster like your fangirls?” Jisung gulps, but he reaches back behind his neck, fumbling with the clasp of his necklace. The chain drops into Renjun’s hand.
It’s a pick from his first ever show with the band. The only one he’d managed to find again. Had his dad drill a hole into it and put it on a necklace. Renjun’s eyes turn up into a smile, and he looks down at the necklace.
“Thanks, Park. I’ll see you at the show, then?” Jisung nods dumbly, looking up at Renjun who stands, his fingers curling around the necklace and shoving it into his pocket.
“Yeah… see you at the show.” Jisung says, and Renjun turns to go back through the window back to the party, but he hesitates, turning his eyes back to Jisung. Before Jisung can even react, Renjun presses a kiss to the mole next to his eye, and another to the one under his lip, before pulling back and leaving in a swish of the scent of vodka and Renjun’s perfume.
Jisung leans back against the side of the house, his heart beating through his chest.
What the fuck just happened?
True to his word, Renjun makes it to the front of the crowd, staying there the entire set. Somehow, despite everything, Renjun knows every single word to the songs Jisung has written, the ones that tell his life story, the story of his brothers in this band.
Jisung ducks down to grab his water bottle near the end of the set, taking a long sip from it as Mark rags on about something or rather. Mark’s much better at handling all the in-between talks, flirting with the crowd, telling jokes with Jaemin. Jisung catches Jeno’s eye from behind the drum kit, and the older boy just winks at him, spinning a drumstick in his hand. Jisung scrunches his nose up at him, turning back to set his water bottle down on the floor near his amp again.
He catches Renjun’s eye, and the older boy waves his fingers at him, and Jisung can’t help the smile that breaks out across his face.
Got my pick? He mouths at Renjun, and the other boy just rolls his eyes dramatically, pulling the necklace with the pick out of his shirt, wiggling it at Jisung with a laugh.
“Maybe if our bass player will stop flirting, we can get on with the show, eh?” Mark says into the mic, and Jisung startles, nearly kicking his water bottle off the stage.
“Fuck, Mark! You’re gonna make me take an eye out one of these days if you keep scaring me.” He says into the mic, straightening up, noodling a bit with his strings, the heavy sound of his bass reverbing over the amp.
“See a pretty face to your liking?” Mark asks, and Jisung flushes a dark red. “Aha, caught you! You guys don’t know this, but Jisung likes pretty men. Especially tattooed ones.” Jisung shakes his head, his fingers sliding over the strings of the bass.
“What about singers!” He hears a familiar voice call out, and a snort comes through the mic situated above Jaemin’s keyboard.
“Oh, musical talent is such a turn on for our baby bass. Isn’t that right, Jisung?” Jaemin teases, and Jisung sticks his tongue out. “You got a good voice, Renjun?” Jaemin ignores Jisung’s pleading look, a glimmer in his lined eyes. “Why don’t you come give it a whirl, I’m sure Mark can take a break from singing his little heart out.”
“Sure can. Ayo, Gyu, can you get Renjun up here?” Mark says, and Jisung’s head snaps up, wide eyes making contact with Renjun, watching as the older gets help up onto the stage. “Jun, you know this one, right?” Mark starts to play something on his guitar, and Jisung groans, shaking his head.
Wrapped Around Your Finger.
The one jokingly called the Whipped Anthem by his bandmates.
“Course I do, Lee. Gimme that mic.” Mark detaches his mic from the stand, handing it to Renjun. Renjun takes it before stalking over to Jisung, a wicked grin on his face. “Gimme a beat, Jeno. Let’s get this show started.”
The familiar music pulses through Jisung’s body, his fingers moving of their own accord, the muscle memory taking over as Renjun takes matters into his own hands, singing directly to Jisung.
Renjun’s voice so perfectly complements Jisung’s in a way that Mark’s couldn’t, the light breathy tenor wrapping itself around Jisung’s harmonies. Halfway through the second verse, Renjun reaches up, tangling his fingers into the hair at the nape of Jisung’s neck, forcing Jisung to use the same microphone as him.
Jisung can practically taste the mint of Renjun’s breath. There’s a twinkle in the older boy’s eyes that hadn’t been there yesterday, or any other day that Jisung had been caught staring at him.
The last deep note of his bass sounds, but Jisung finds himself unable to focus on the sound of the roaring applause.
He’s more concerned with the sloppy kiss that Renjun pulls him into, the taste of mint and liquor on Renjun’s tongue, the fingers tugging on his hair to pull him closer.
Too soon, Renjun pulls back, a dopey grin on his face. Jisung’s sure the same expression is mirrored on his own expression, but he can’t be sure when all he can think about is Renjunrenjunrenjunrenjun–
“I think I’ll keep your necklace.” Renjun breathes out, and Jisung can’t help but nod.
He can keep the necklace forever if it means Jisung gets to keep him.