Chapter Text
Jisung stared at the "Out of Service" sign on the lift. Fuck. He thought, rubbing a hand down his face then up into his hair. He pulled on it slightly, grounding himself in the pang of pain from the tug. He could feel his fingers curling into the seat of his chair. Jisung forced himself to untense, to let go of the seat before he tore through the fabric. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't exactly take the stairs instead. Not with the chair. And it wasn't like he had his crutches on him right now so walking up them was out of the question unless he wanted to collapse halfway up from fatigue and pain in his legs.
Shit. Jisung had classes in a couple minutes up on the second floor and he had no way of getting up there. Fuck. He thought again.
He closed his eyes, leaning forward in his chair, curling into himself. What was he supposed to do? Why was the lift even out of service in the first place? Jisung exhaled sharply, breathing out through his nose and he buried his face in his hands, elbows on his thighs.
He didn't notice the sound of footsteps and something hitting the ground until the sound was right next to him. He whipped his head up at the sound of someone huffing.
Standing next to him was one of the most perfect men Jisung had ever seen. And Jisung had seen some men. This man had beautiful hair that was just a little longer than Jisung's, long enough that he was sure it could be tied up into a mini ponytail. He was facing to the side so Jisung could only see his profile but, God, even his profile was perfect. Perfect nose, beautiful eyes, a top lip that was slightly plumper than his bottom lip. Jisung could see the man's Adam's apple bob in his throat and as he grumbled about the out of service lift.
The man turned to him, his beautiful eyes falling on Jisung’s. He gave him a lopsided smile, then motioned to the lift with his head. “I feel like it’s always out of service, this one.” He said. Jisung felt his heart skip a beat. This man was unfairly beautiful and even his voice was fucking attractive. This was completely unfair.
Jisung just nodded, looking back at the lift to avoid the man’s gaze. He heard that sound again, the sound of something rubber hitting the floor. He looked around, tried to pinpoint where it was coming from. He heard it again and whipped his head around to the man. The man blinked down at him. Then smiled sheepishly, hand rubbing the nape of his neck.
“Sorry, is it bothering you?” He asked, turning to face Jisung properly. That’s when he saw it. The crutch. That’s what was making that sound. Jisung thought as he stared at it, stared at the little charms tied to the handle, the stickers on the metal. It was cute. He looked back up at the guy. He still had that sheepish look on his face, still waiting for an answer.
Jisung shook his head. “No, it’s fine. I just couldn’t see where it was coming from.” he explained, probably looking sheepish himself. The guy smiled, a relieved look spreading across his face. He held out his free hand to Jisung, who took it after putting his brakes on, to ensure he didn’t roll and slam into a wall.
“I’m Minho.” He said, shaking Jisung’s hand.
“I’m Jisung.” Jisung answered. Minho let go of his hand, his own retreating, shoving back into Minho’s jean pocket. “You have class upstairs, too?” Jisung asked, gesturing to the lift with his head. Minho nodded.
“Not like I can get up there though. Well—” Minho cut himself off, gesturing to his crutch. “—technically I could get up there but it puts me in more pain than it’s worth so, what’s the point?”
“Does the school just not have the good sense of putting us in classes downstairs? At least, then I wouldn’t have to worry about how I’m gonna manage to get to class.” Jisung grumbled, rolling his eyes. He heard Minho chuckle.
“Hey, since neither of us has anything better to do,” Minho started, looking down at Jisung. “Do you wanna go get coffee? There’s a good coffee shop not too far from campus.”
Jisung considered it for a second. He had nothing else to do and coffee sounded good and Minho seemed nice. But, there was always the question of accessibility. Minho seemed to understand that but a crutch and a wheelchair didn’t need the same accommodations.
Minho must have seen the calculations going through his head because he spoke again. “It’s accessible. Like there’s a ramp and everything. I was in a chair for a little while and that’s where I’d go because it was easiest to get into.”
Jisung blinked. “You were?” He blurted out, unable to stop himself even though he knows it can be a sensitive topic—it used to be one for him before he became an almost full time user. Minho stared back at him. Nodded. Jisung nodded back, understanding that Minho wasn’t willing to go into more detail right now.
“So… Do you want to go get that coffee?” Minho asked, thumb pointing behind him, towards the door that led out onto the path leading them off campus.
“Yeah, it’s not like I’ve got anything better to do.” Jisung said. He pulled back the brakes and maneuvered his chair so he was now facing Minho, in the direction of the door. “And anyway, I’ve got to know about this accessible cafe.”
Minho smiled, following him out, crutch tapping against the linoleum flooring rhythmically until they stepped outside, the path muffling the tap of rubber against ground. The walk to the cafe wasn’t a long one, it was only a block away from campus. Jisung was surprised he’d never come across it before. Minho went in first, holding the door open for Jisung as he wheeled in. Once they were inside, Jisung let himself take it all in. The cafe wasn’t too crowded. That was the first thing he noticed. The second was that the place was sort of vintage style. The wallpapers were simple but fancy-looking and the seats all had different intricate carvings and nice cushions. It almost made Jisung wish he could sit on one of them, they looked so comfortable. Only almost.
Minho waved him over to a table in the corner. Jisung wheeled over, stopping next to where he was sitting, putting the brakes on the chair and looking expectantly at the menu in Minho’s hands.
“I’m getting an iced Americano.” Minho said proudly, handing Jisung the menu so he could make his own choice.
There wasn’t much on the menu, but everything on it was interesting. Jisung couldn’t decide between an iced Americano and a Caramel Frappe. He was definitely getting the cheesecake though. That was a given.
Jisung put it back down when he decided between the two drinks. Iced Americano with vanilla cheesecake. Always a good choice.
“So, you’ve really never been here before?” Minho asked, leaning across the table, curiosity dancing in his eyes. Jisung shook his head.
“Didn’t even know there were any good accessible cafes this close to campus. The best one I’ve ever been to is the one a couple blocks away.” Jisung explained, looking around the cafe in wonder. He spotted another wheelchair, two walkers and a few canes. Otherwise it seemed to be able-bodied people, but there were still more disabled people than Jisung had ever seen in one space other than the hospital and the E.R.
Minho smiled, following his gaze. “I remember the first time I came here,” he started. “I was in a wheelchair for the first time in my life and I thought it was the end of the world as I knew it.” Minho chuckled to himself, looking down at the table for a moment. Jisung turned back to him, eyes following his every movement.
“I came here, mostly because my friends absolutely would not let me mope around at home in peace. I thought it’d be humiliating. Trying to get in with two hands on my wheels and having to rely on my idiot friends to open doors and shit for me. But it wasn’t. No one even batted an eye.” Minho continued. He gestured around loosely with his hands, then he pointed to the booth they were sat in. “This was where I sat, right where you are. I remember thinking maybe being disabled wasn’t the worst.”
Jisung couldn’t hold back his smile. Minho looked soft and genuine and if Jisung knew him enough he might even say he looked vulnerable, like this was information he didn’t share often, or lightly.
“But then you got better?” Jisung asked, not able to hold back his curiosity.
“Sort of. Physical therapy helped and getting actual meds was good too. I’ll never be fully healthy again because it took them so long to diagnose me or take me seriously. But I still get to come here and I am still allowed to dance on good days.” Minho explained. “That’s the most important thing for me.”
Jisung nodded. He got that. He remembered when things started going to shit for him, remembered the fights with his brother whenever he called him lazy and the frustration when his doctor would tell him it was natural and that pain at this age was a good sign. He also remembered the panic that had overcome him the first time his knees had locked. He remembered how terrified he had been on the drive to the E.R. Jisung understood how important the small things were, how good it was to get better and know you can still do things you’ve always loved.
Jisung was about to open his mouth to ask Minho a question when a waitress showed up.
“Yah! Minho-ya, Iced Americano?” she said, one brow raised in question. Minho nodded, a playful smile on his face. She nodded, wrote it down, then turned to Jisung, eyes going wide as they settled on his face.
“Ooh, now, who’s this cutie?” She asked. Jisung gaped at her, cheeks warming.
She chuckled, turning to Minho with an inquisitory look when Jisung didn’t respond.
“My friend, Jisung. Jisung, this is one of my idiot friends I was telling you about, Ryujin.” Minho said, introducing the two. Ryujin grinned, sticking her hand out for Jisung to shake. He continued to stare, face only getting redder the longer he stayed silent.
“Um—hey, hi. I’m Jisung. You already know that.” Jisung rubbed the back of his neck. Awkward. Ryujin chuckled, hand no longer waiting in midair for Jisung to shake.
“I’m Ryujin. If you ever need dirt on Minho here, I’m the girl to ask.” She laughed, grinning at him again. Jisung chuckled. Minho looked like he regretted every choice he’d ever made, burying his face in his hands and groaning.
“I’ll be sure to ask then.” Jisung smiled, turning back to face Minho.
“Must you remind everyone of your dirt on me?” Minho asked, face still buried in his hands.
“Only the cute boys.” Ryujin said, laughing again. Jisung felt his face warm again at the compliment. “Can’t have them fall for you without having seen what you look like hammered.”
Minho’s head whipped up so fast Jisung feared for his neck.
“You told me you deleted that photo.” He said, narrowing his eyes at her. Ryujin smirked, turning away from them with a little wave in Jisung’s direction. “Ryujin! Delete it!” Minho yelled after her, though she gave no sign she heard him.
Jisung heard Minho groan again. He turned back to look at him, tearing his eyes away from where Ryujin was now getting orders from another table.
Minho’s ears were bright red, like the teasing had gotten to him. It was kind of cute.
“You alright?” Jisung asked, a smile creeping in as Minho looked up at him, lifting his head from where he had once again buried them in his hands for the third time since they got here. Minho groaned quietly but nodded, shooting a glare in Ryujin’s general direction before turning all his attention back to Jisung.
“She isn’t like that usually.” Minho said, shaking his head dismissively. Jisung smiled again. He didn’t mind, Ryujin seemed fun to be around and he didn’t mind the compliments, however flustered he got from them.
“It’s fine. She seems fun.”
“She is. When she isn’t being a little shit.” Minho said. Jisung chuckled, eyes turning into little crescent moons as they did when he was truly smiling. Truly happy.
“Have a lot of friends who are little shits?” Jisung asked, still smiling that wide smile he just couldn’t control.
“Most of them are.” Minho answered. “But they’re great, so I let them get away with it. Most of the time.” he added.
Jisung couldn’t help but chuckle, Minho was funny, really funny. He didn’t just make a couple jokes for a laugh, no, every joke seemed to roll right off Minho’s tongue, as natural as breathing. He was good at it, too. Not everyone was. Not in the way Minho was, not in the way that made Jisung laugh loud and uncontrollably and so much his cheeks hurt from smiling and his stomach hurt from laughing. When Ryujin came over with their coffee and Jisung’s cheesecake, Minho was telling him a story about one of his friends wanting to try weed carbonara and hating it so much he’d invited Minho round to eat it for him.
“And you ate it?” Jisung asked through laughter.
“Obviously. It wasn’t actually that bad, he’s just a huge baby.” Minho shot back, smiling widely around the rim of his coffee cup.
“Good enough you’d eat it again or…?” Jisung chuckled.
“Eh. If the opportunity presented itself, I would maybe consider.” Minho said, looking off into the distance like this was some dramatic TV show. Jisung dissolved into giggles once again.
“How’s the cheesecake?” Minho asked once they’d both calmed down. Jisung had just taken a bite and was now trying to chew quickly so he could swallow it down and answer. The cheesecake was delicious, it was light and creamy and the biscuity base was the perfect mix of dry and wet, not too much of either, just enough to compliment the rest of the cheesecake.
“It’s really good.” Jisung said once he's finished chewing. “Probably one of the best cheesecakes I’ve ever had.” He admitted, taking another bite.
Minho smiled sweetly and Jisung almost shied away under his gaze, heart racing, cheeks suddenly set ablaze as Minho looked at him with such warmth in his eyes.
Jisung wasn't usually so easily flustered, not by a simple smile and warming gaze. Compliments—sure, he couldn't even take one without becoming a blushing mess, no matter who said them. But this? Smiles? This didn't usually get him blushing like a school girl.
“Maybe you’ll become a regular here, then.” Minho said. It snapped Jisung out of his thoughts, brought him back to earth and right back under Minho's stare.
Jisung smiled. “Maybe I will. It’s a nice place.”
They stayed there a long time. Jisung missed his next class and half an hour of his free period before he realized how much time had passed.
“Oh shit!” Jisung said, staring at his phone screen.
Minho looked at him worriedly. “What’s wrong?”
“My friend has been calling me for the last half hour,” Jisung cringed, reading the many texts Changbin had sent him. “I completely forgot I was going to meet him at the studio during my free period.”
“Shit. I’m sorry for distracting—”
“Hey. Don't apologize. It's not your fault.” Jisung interrupted softly. He was used to feeling guilty for things he want to blame for, it wasn't a nice thing. “And anyway, I had a really nice time.” Jisung said, looking away, cheeks warming already.
“I'm glad.” Minho answered. Jisung didn't have to look to hear the smile in his voice.
“I’ve got to go, see you around campus?” Jisung asked, pulling back the brakes of his chair and maneuvering out of the space at the table that he’d wedged himself into to be sat next to Minho.
Minho grinned. “Same time tomorrow?”
“In front of the lift?” Jisung asked.
“I’ll be there.” Minho said, standing, grabbing his wallet and his crutch. Minho had paid at some point, Jisung had tried to let him pay his share but Minho had been adamant about paying for Jisung's coffee and cheesecake as well as his own coffee. Ryujin had cooed, Minho had flipped her the bird. Jisung hadn't known if he should blush or laugh. He'd done both.
“I'm paying tomorrow, then.” Jisung said. Minho smiled as Jisung began to wheel away, towards the door and out of the cafe.
Minho's smile was stuck in his head the whole way back to campus.
Jisung’s cheeks were going to hurt a lot from all the smiling he’d been doing recently.