Chapter Text
A stupid selfie of Minho holding a pink, stuffed bunny while smiling handsomely at the camera lights up Jisung’s phone screen.
Perfect timing. Jisung was about to crash out due to boredom. He clicks the speakerphone so he can keep folding his clothes.
“Hi, baby.” Minho’s voice is all sweet and soft.
“Oh my!” Jisung squeals. “Do you know how attractive you sound right now?”
“All I said was hi?”
“You are the hottest man in the world.”
Minho chuckles. “I’m so lucky that the prettiest boy is complimenting me today.”
“I always compliment you.” Jisung rolls his eyes. “Anyways, why did you call me?”
“Wanted to know if you’re busy.”
Jisung looks over at the pile of laundry on his bed that he was about to fold.
“Nope!”
“Really?”
“Why don’t you wanna believe me? Aren’t you trying to get me to do something?”
He pushes his clothes into a neater stack so it takes up less space on his bed. There. He’s basically halfway done now.
“Minho? Are you still there?”
“Yeah, um,” Minho exhales on the other side. Why does he seem nervous? “I found an injured bird on the side of the road. Do you think you can – can you come help me?”
Jisung giggles. “Of course, baby. Although, I don’t know how helpful I’ll be.”
“I just need you, Sung.”
Jisung closes the lights in his apartment and grabs his keys from the bowl by the door. “On my way, Min.”
He hangs up and tries his hardest to stop smiling.
-
The bird is a small thing. One of its wings lay flat on the ground, the injured one, Jisung supposes. Its other wing flaps hard, as if trying to lift its body with just one wing.
Jisung sighs and crouches down to get a closer look. “Hey, buddy boy. How did you get like this, huh?”
Minho chuckles quietly behind him. “Are you talking to the bird?”
Jisung turns to face him, his mouth set in a frown. “Maybe we should call the animal shelter nearby. I don't want to accidentally hurt it.”
Minho nods in agreement, pulling out his phone. “Hi, is this Center for Paws?” He squats down next to Jisung. “We found a bird on the sidewalk with an injured wing. Is there a way we can bring him to you guys or have someone come by to pick him up?”
Minho’s free hand creeps towards the back of Jisung’s head, fingers brushing through the strands absentmindedly. Jisung hums and leans into the touch, listening to Minho’s soft voice.
“Yeah, ten minutes is fine. Thank you so much, we’ll see you soon!”
Minho clicks off the phone and sighs. “I guess we just gotta watch this guy until they get here.”
Jisung nods and stands up. From this point of view, he can tell how stressed Minho is by the stiff set of his shoulders. He reaches out and starts massaging them.
“Are you sad, Min?”
Minho shakes his head, still watching the bird. “Just a little worried.” He chuckles half-heartedly. Jisung scrambles in his mind to try to make things a bit better.
“Hey, do you think birdie will enjoy a little snack?”
Minho makes a questioning noise before turning to find Jisung holding out a small, half-eaten pack of crackers. He smiles for the first time since Jisung got here, and Jisung internally celebrates.
Jisung tears off a small piece of cracker and places it gently in front of the bird’s beak. He watches the bird roll over a little before opening its mouth to take the cracker into its mouth.
They both share fond looks watching the bird eat. When a worker from the animal shelter comes, they pick the bird up gently in a little stretcher. They ask Minho and Jisung a few questions about where and when they found the bird, and Minho answers these calmly.
Jisung decides to add that he fed the bird a cracker.
The worker lets out a shocked laugh before saying sadly that they should not feed an injured bird.
Jisung gasps. “I am so, so sorry. I was trying to cheer him up with some food. I am so sorry. It was a little piece, not the whole cracker, not that that makes it any better, but…”
The worker holds up a hand. “You’re all good. Just remember for the future. I’m sure if the bird ate it and didn’t spit it out, it’s probably fine.”
Jisung looks at Minho, who looks like he’s trying his hardest not to laugh. He smacks him lightly, and Minho holds his hand in a weak attempt at comfort. They wave goodbye to the worker as they drive away.
“Minho! What if I kill the bird?”
Minho rolls his eyes. “A little cracker isn’t going to kill it. Besides, like that guy said, if it was really bad the bird wouldn’t have eaten it so quickly.”
Jisung pouts. “Still. You should’ve stopped me.”
Minho starts walking along the path towards Jisung’s apartment, tugging their hands along. “How would I know? I would’ve done the same thing.”
Jisung catches up to him, turns to him with earnest eyes. “Really?”
“ ‘Course.” Minho ruffles Jisung’s hair.
Jisung clutches onto Minho’s arm and hums happily as they walk. His heart flutters when he realizes Minho is walking him home, that he didn’t need to ask Jisung before doing it.
It’s quiet while they walk, then:
“If they arrest you for murder, you can put me as your accomplice.”
“Minho!” Jisung groans, hitting his arm.