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The stage lights are burning, and, from the shadowed wings, Kyuhyun’s periphery catches the ballet dancers swirling around on the polished stage.
But he is not watching them.
Zhou Mi stands beside him, leaning back against the wall. Even under the dim backstage lights, he finds a way to look impossibly good. His sharp jawline catches the stage glow; his lashes casting delicate shadows across his high cheekbones.
“You’re staring,” Zhou Mi murmurs, not taking his eyes off the ballet dancers.
“You noticed,” Kyuhyun whispers back, a teasing lilt in his voice.
A shared laugh passes between them before Zhou Mi finally looks over, meeting Kyuhyun’s gaze. The intensity in his eyes is undeniable: like he had been waiting for a corner dark enough, or a moment long enough, where they can let down their guard and give in to their desires.
As the strings begin to swell, Zhou Mi’s hand finds the front of Kyuhyun’s jacket, tugging him deeper into the shadows, where the stage lights didn’t shine on them.
Their mouths meet in a delectable kiss, fully charged with electricity. Every nerve in Kyuhyun’s body tightens with awareness. Zhou Mi’s hand glides up his chest, his thumb brushing the line of his collar as if to claim him.
Kyuhyun feels Zhou Mi smiling against his lips when he exhales, taken by surprise at how desperately he had needed this.
There is heat surging thick between them.
Kyuhyun’s fingers thread around Zhou Mi’s waist, drawing him closer, and Zhou Mi answers in kind, tilting his head and deepening the kiss with a teasing touch of his tongue. In that moment, the stage, the dancers, even the possibility of being seen, vanished entirely.
“Not very professional,” Zhou Mi murmurs against Kyuhyun’s lips, though he made no move to pull away.
Kyuhyun swallowed, his breath uneven. “You pulled me in first,” he counters, sliding his hands into Zhou Mi’s back pockets with a mischievous grin.
“That doesn’t mean you had to kiss me like that,” Zhou Mi said, eyes glinting with amusement — and something darker, something hungry.
Kyuhyun’s hands tightened, cupping his ass possessively. “If you didn’t want it, you would’ve stopped me,” he murmured.
Zhou Mi leans in closer again, lips brushing the corner of Kyuhyun’s mouth. “Who said I wanted you to stop?”
The cue light blinked. Footsteps draw nearer to them.
Zhou Mi straightens a little too quickly, though his fingers linger on Kyuhyun’s jacket for one last touch before releasing him.
“Later?” Kyuhyun asks, trying to sound casual.
Zhou Mi doesn’t even pretend. “God, I hope so.”
He slips back into position, face composed, though the faint flush at his ears betrayed the truth.
Kyuhyun tries to focus on the stage. He fails spectacularly.
The night air hits Kyuhyun the moment they step out of the theater. The first snow of the season was falling, scattering in soft flakes across the street. He shivers, realizing he had left his gloves back in the dressing room.
“You didn’t bring your gloves?” Zhou Mi asks, one eyebrow arched, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Kyuhyun groans softly, rubbing his hands together. “I forgot them back in the theatre.”
Without another word, Zhou Mi slid his hand into Kyuhyun’s coat pocket, letting Kyuhyun warm his fingers against the heat of his palm. The gesture was intimate and simple, sending a shiver through Kyuhyun that had nothing to do with the cold.
“Better?” Zhou Mi murmurs, his voice low and full of desire, brushing against Kyuhyun’s ear.
“Much,” Kyuhyun admitted, turning a little to meet his eyes.
The corner of Zhou Mi’s mouth curves into that smile he could never resist.
The two of them start walking, the snow crunching softly beneath their shoes. Kyuhyun’s hand is still held by Zhou Mi’s, their fingers easily lacing together, as if they had always been that way. Kyuhyun leans in as they walk, pressing a kiss to the side of Zhou Mi’s neck, testing the boundaries. He catches the scent of Zhou Mi’s cologne — manly and faintly sweet — and feels his heart begin to race. Zhou Mi hums softly, leaning into the touch, and tilts his head just enough for the soft kisses to come easier.
By the time they reached Kyuhyun’s apartment, snow had begun to coat the ground in a delicate, glittering blanket, and both of them were very worked up. They didn’t even feel the cold anymore.
Zhou Mi pauses at the door, their hands still intertwined, breath misting in the frosty air. “You’re sure it’s okay?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper, though his gaze left no doubt.
Kyuhyun smiles, stepping closer until their lips nearly touch. “It’s more than okay,” he says, and he finds Zhou Mi’s mouth again, soft at first, then deepening. Zhou Mi’s hands move to Kyuhyun’s face, holding him close, and Kyuhyun’s arms wrap around him instinctively.
This kiss stretches long and unbroken.
Finally, they pull back just enough to breathe, noses brushing, eyes half-lidded with want and desire.
“Come in?” Kyuhyun had left no room for misinterpretation.
Zhou Mi’s lips curve into the tiniest smile. “Yes,” he breathes.
Kyuhyun smiles slowly, pulling Zhou Mi into his darkened apartment by the end of his bright, green scarf. Zhou Mi goes easily with him, closing the door behind him with his foot.
Zhou Mi stood by the bulletin board, his signature green scarf looped around his neck, expression calm, until he saw Kyuhyun walk in. Then his heart picked up speed.
“You made it,” Zhou Mi said, half breathless.
“You asked,” Kyuhyun replied, which wasn’t exactly the cool, controlled line he’d meant to deliver. Zhou Mi’s smile warmed anyway.
They stepped into one of the small rehearsal rooms. Kyuhyun closes the door behind them, suddenly very aware of how private this felt.
Zhou Mi took off his scarf and put it on the top of the piano before speaking. “So, about last week…”
Kyuhyun inhales.“Yeah.”
A long moment passes.
“I don’t regret it,” Zhou Mi said first. “I want that to be clear.”
Kyuhyun looked up sharply. “Good. Because I don’t either.”
Zhou Mi’s shoulders eased, some invisible tension loosening. “Okay. That’s a good start.” He takes a small step closer. “I like you,” Zhou Mi continues. “More than I’ve been willing to admit out loud. And last week felt… well, it’s not the kind of thing you do if you’re just coworkers.”
Kyuhyun’s breath caught, relief sweeping through him so fast it almost made him dizzy. “I’ve liked you for a while too. I was just trying not to make it weird at work.”
“You didn’t,” Zhou Mi said softly. “You don’t.”
Kyuhyun hesitates — not because he doesn’t know what he wants, but because he does. “But, I don’t want us to be sneaking around,” he admits. “I don’t want us to be in one of those ‘don’t tell anyone’ situations.”
Zhou Mi blinks, curious. “Such as?”
Kyuhyun gives him a look. “Zhou Mi, come on. We work with Heechul and Hyukjae.”
Zhou Mi’s mouth twitches. “Ah. Yes. The ‘definitely not dating’ director and choreographer who conveniently leave the theater at the exact same time every night.”
“And suddenly both ‘need to check props in the back room’ at the same time,” Kyuhyun adds, dryly.
“Or when Hyukjae pretends that the hickey on his neck is from his ‘curling iron.’”
Kyuhyun snorts. “Exactly. Everyone knows. They think they’re subtle, but they’re basically fucking each other with their eyes.”
Zhou Mi leaves out a quiet laugh. “I mean… they’re cute.”
“They are, but I don’t want to be like that. I don’t want to pretend I don’t —” Kyuhyun stopped, searching for words. “— like you when I do. I want to like you out loud.”
Zhou Mi blinks, his expression softening. “You want us to be public?”
“Yeah,” Kyuhyun says, rubbing the back of his neck. “Not in a dramatic announcement kind of way. We won’t pretend we’re just coworkers who happen to enjoy not wearing clothes together.”
Zhou Mi steps closer, arms going around Kyuhyun’s waist. “I like that. I like you. And I like the idea of people knowing that I like you.” He pauses. “But we can take it slow. Go at your pace. Whatever you want.”
Kyuhyun shakes his head. “My pace is this. Us. Not a secret.” Kyuhyun steps closer until their shoes almost touch.
“I want that too,” Zhou Mi says. “I want you.”
Kyuhyun swallows, suddenly shy. “Does this mean I can do this again?”
Zhou Mi’s voice lowers. “Do what?”
Kyuhyun reaches out, fingers brushing Zhou Mi’s hand in a slow, deliberate way, asking without words. Zhou Mi laces their fingers together without hesitation.
The kiss that followed was not at all like the ones they had shared the week before. Those had been hot and passionate and full of desire. And, though they both still felt all of those things about each other, this kiss was sweet and warm and precious. They stayed close even when the kiss broke, breathing the same air.
Kyuhyun was still recovering from that soft, lingering kiss when Zhou Mi leaned in again, close enough that Kyuhyun could feel the warmth of his breath.
“Your face is really red right now,” Zhou Mi murmurs, brushing his thumb along Kyuhyun’s jaw.
Kyuhyun scowls. “Stop pointing it out.”
“I can’t help it,” Zhou Mi whispers. “You’re adorable when you’re flustered.”
Kyuhyun groans, looking away, only for Zhou Mi to tilt his chin back gently. “And besides,” Zhou Mi’s smile deepens. “I like knowing I can make you blush. You’re all mine now.”
Kyuhyun’s brain stopped working. His heart did somersaults in his chest. His ears started to burn like they had been lit on fire.
“M-Mine?” Kyuhyun squeaked — actually squeaked — and then immediately looked horrified at himself. “You can’t just — you can’t say that so suddenly, Zhou Mi!”
Zhou Mi’s brows rose in delighted slow motion. “Oh. You like that.”
“I do not —”
“Yes you do,” Zhou Mi interrupts Kyuhyun’s protestations, leaning closer. “Your Mi-Gēge can tell.”
Kyuhyun made a sound that could only be described as: hhkfgnh.
And it was at that exact moment the rehearsal room door swung open, revealing first Heechul and then Hyukjae, stepping in right behind him. Both stalled mid-stride and stared at Kyuhyun, and Zhou Mi, and their still-intertwined hands.
Zhou Mi didn’t move an inch, squeezing Kyuhyun’s hand tighter.
“…Huh,” Heechul finally blurted, blinking.
Hyukjae spoke then, eyes wide. “We weren’t— we didn’t see anything— we just— we’re leaving—”
“Oh my god,” Kyuhyun mutters, face flaming for an entirely new reason. “Perfect. Amazing. Exactly what I needed.”
Zhou Mi, utterly calm, nodded politely. “Good afternoon, Heechul-ssi. Hyukjae-ssi.”
Heechul narrowed his eyes. “You two are dating.”
Kyuhyun opened his mouth to deny, but Zhou Mi beat him to it with a serene, “Yes.”
Kyuhyun whipped his head around. “Zhou Mi!”
“What?” Zhou Mi smiled sweetly. “You said you wanted us to be public.”
Heechul puts a hand on his hip. “Unbelievable. This whole theater is gonna turn into a couples lounge.”
Kyuhyun, still pink, rolls his eyes. “Oh please. You and Hyukjae started it.”
“We —” Hyukjae began.
“We are not —” Heechul said at the same time.
Kyuhyun pointed at them. “You literally left the building together last night.”
Hyukjae chokes. “That was just coincidence —”
“And,” Zhou Mi adds, “you both claimed you were ‘checking props’ at the same time… three days in a row.”
Heechul whirled on Hyukjae, hitting his chest. “I TOLD YOU everyone would notice!”
Hyukjae looked betrayed. “Hey! You’re the one who kissed me behind the curtain!”
“I tripped!”
“You tripped onto my mouth?!”
Kyuhyun started laughing so hard he nearly doubled over.
Zhou Mi squeezes his hand. “See?” he whispered, amused. “We’re already far more subtle than they are.”
Kyuhyun tries not to smile but fails. “It is not a high bar.”
Heechul groans dramatically, slinging an arm around Hyukjae’s shoulders and starts to drag him out of the room. “Whatever. Fine. We’re dating! Everyone’s dating! It’s a dating theater now! I hope you are all happy!”
Hyukjae waves apologetically as he was pulled away. “Congratulations, you two!”
The door slammed behind them and Kyuhyun exhaled, leaning into Zhou Mi’s chest, half-mortified, half-laughing. “We are never living that down,” he muttered.
Zhou Mi rested his chin atop Kyuhyun’s head. “Maybe not, but,” he added softly, giving Kyuhyun’s hand another little squeeze, “you’re still mine.”
Kyuhyun’s face went scarlet all over again. “Zhou Miiiiiiii!”
Zhou Mi just chuckled, warm and bright, and kissed the plush lips of his newly minted boyfriend.