Summer Kind of Wonderful
Title: Summer kind of wonderful
Pairing(s): Sehun/Xiumin, ninja!Chanyeol/Jongin
Rating: PG-13
Length: 6,632 words
Summary: In the summer he goes to his mother’s beach house, Minseok tries to win the affections of the boy-next-door who comes over to use the pool and is seemingly resolute in refusing Minseok’s friendship. He also meets someone who touches him inappropriately, plays paintball with a crowd and considers opening a bookstore.
Warnings: Sehun, the Prince of Bad Humor. Oh, and Luhan.
Author's note: well, this was reeeally fun to write. thank you for the awesome prompt! also, thanks to the ~fairies~: s, a, and h for their support and hand-holding. this is self-betaed btw. the title was taken from gossip girl’s second season, episode 1. written for the
xiuhunation fic fest
Minseok meets Sehun in a weird way. Not because of Sehun per se, it’s just that he doesn't actually think he'll have any sort of fun during the summer break he goes to his mother's beach house -- mostly because of his stepfather. The guy is a douche and Minseok hates that facing him is a requirement to spend time with his mom. He boards the plane anyway, hoping that he'll find a way to avoid being in the man's presence.
He can't. Because what Park Yoochun wants is the exact opposite of what Minseok wants. The first thing Minseok sees when he arrives at the airport is this huge, unnecessarily sparkly sign saying "Welcome Minseokkie." He cringes but forces a smile because his mom is standing right next to Yoochun looking disgustingly supportive with a hand on her husband’s shoulder. Minseok cringes one more time.
“Hi mom,” he says, adjusting the strap of his backpack and letting his wheeled travel bag rest by his side. His mom yanks him by the t-shirt (Minseok is sure he hears fabric ripping somewhere) and wraps him in a hug so tight that he can almost feel his eyes popping out. “M-mom.”
“I missed you so much, Minseokkie,” she releases him only to hold him by the shoulders as she makes mother eyes at him. “Welcome home.”
Not really, but he’d never tell that to his mother, so Minseok just nods gratefully. He is grateful that his mother spared him of another pitiful summer in Yifan’s apartment, and her new house is just a few minutes away from the beach which makes it all more interesting and an offer that Minseok could never refuse.
“Thanks, mom,” he smiles at her. “I’ll have a good time.”
“You sure will!” Yoochun butts in. Minseok has to refrain from rolling his eyes. “The closest beach is amazing; the boardwalk has a few charming establishments and the pier is so inspiring!” he excites while guiding them out of the airport, toward his car -- a blue Subaru BRZ. He’d read somewhere that the BRZ is a car for the ones who aren’t seeking insanely high speeds. Park Yoochun doesn’t drink or smoke. Park Yoochun is the proud founder and CEO of a hair product company and his locks are always scenting like berries. Minseok lifts his eyes to gaze at Yoochun, who’s just blabbering whatever to no one in particular and figures that a Subaru BRZ is the right car for someone like him.
“Our neighbors are also very nice people,” his stepfather continues. “I really think you’ll like it in here, Minseokkie.”
Above anything else, he’s here to have fun, and that’s what he should focus on. So Minseok sighs, nods and plugs his earphones once Yoochun starts talking.
--
The weird part -- where he meets Sehun -- happens a few hours after he arrives at their house. A mansion, to be completely fair. Marble pillars and huge, giant double doors that Yoochun can’t shut up about how difficult it was to have it brought from Sri Lanka, floral motif rugs from Afghanistan and the most exquisite paintings bought all over the world. Impressive, to say the least. Yoochun may be a douche, but he’s a douche with a steady income who provides his mother with a beautiful home. A tolerable douche (doesn’t mean Minseok will be willing to welcome him into his heart).
His mother asks him about school and his plans of signing for grad school after graduation while she gives him a tour of the place. Minseok’s mother was never one to take interest in the most detailed aspects of other people’s lives, so he gives her the short and very precise answers that always seem satisfactory and allows her to engage him in detailed aspects of her life. She leads him into the library -- about 500 titles that Minseok is sure were never touched by his mom --, which is quite charming and cozy. There is a reading corner on the floor with thick, fluffy carpets and several pillows and puffs besides three arm chairs nearby and one table with six seats. He wonders if that many people would ever use that place. The playroom, how his mother calls, is where Yoochun keeps at least 7 different consoles, billiard and air hockey tables, a tall bookcase filled with board games, tables and chairs all around, paintball guns (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and a big plasma tv. That’s Minseok’s favorite part of the house until she shows him the projection room: a small movie theater. By then, Minseok is already wondering if he’s the only human being alive who doesn’t use Yoochun’s hair products.
The pool is the last part of the tour. Just like the rest of the house, it’s not a humble pool. It has a waterfall, two waterslides (one in a spiral and a straight one), a poolside bar, chairs, lounges, plants, flowers, a grill, and floats. His skin itches for a swim. So the first thing he does when his mom shows him to his room -- he won’t even get started on the king size canopy bed, tv and computer that look like have been set up just for him and the huge bathroom -- is to change into his swim trunks.
Humming to a hit song and mentally cackling at Yifan, who’s probably playing The Left of Us for the fifth time and wishing Minseok was there sharing his misery, he heads to the pool with a towel on his shoulder. The great part is that Minseok doesn’t get lost. The odd part is that there’s someone lying on his belly on one of the pool chairs. That person wasn’t there 5 minutes ago, and judging by the smooth skin and light hair, it’s a young someone. A male, young someone. His mom didn’t mention a third person living there, could that be Yoochun’s relative? Or a servant of the house?
Minseok drops his towel on a chair and walks over, getting closer enough to see the boy’s face. His eyes are closed, but that’s not what calls Minseok’s attention. That male, young someone has an interesting, royal face. All his features are slim and well carved.
He clears his throat hoping that the boy will open his eyes, but the only sign that there’s still life in him comes from the sigh he heaves.
“Hello?” Minseok tries. The boy sighs again. “Are you alive?”
No response. Minseok squints. He knows that the boy is listening. “I know you’re listening to me,” he insists.
“So you also know I’m refusing to answer.” the voice startles him, but the eyes remain closed. “Can you please move aside? You are blocking the sun.”
What a rude fuck. Who’s that little shit? Who does he think he is? For all purposes that is his mother’s house, and even if this prick is related to Park Yoochun in any way, he has no right to act like he’s the king in town. Minseok is about to retort something vicious, but Yoochun’s annoyingly chirpy voice beats him.
“Oh! So you met Sehunnie!” he says.
Minseok huffs and folds his arms on his chest, refusing to look at the insulting person.
Yoochun bluntly ignores his body language in favor of exciting a little more, “Sehun lives next door, he comes here to use the pool because the pool in his own house is too boring, right Sehunnie?”
It almost comes as a shock when the boy, Sehun, opens his eyes and sits up, facing Yoochun with the brightest smile Minseok’s seen in days. Of course he would be nice to Yoochun. He’s interested in using the pool.
“Right hyung.” Sehun answers.
Minseok is stupid enough to think this is a good time to introduce himself, and says, “I’m Minseok.”
It shouldn’t surprise him that Sehun’s expression changes drastically as he shifts his gaze to Minseok. He stares stoically, severe eyebrows judging Minseok’s every angle. “Ok.” Sehun says, standing up and smiling at Yoochun one last time before heading to the waterslides. Minseok is left gaping and confused. What… The hell is wrong with that guy?
A hand touches his shoulder and he turns to face Yoochun, “Don’t worry. Sehunnie can be difficult at first. It takes time to win him over,” then the man grins. “but you are so great, Minseokkie, you can win him over in no time.”
As he watches his stepfather disappear into the house, Minseok ponders if he’d like to win such a grumpy kid over. A splash sound calls his attention to the pool and he spots Sehun emerging, wet hair thrown back. The boy frowns at him and dives. It pains him to admit it but maybe Yoochun is right; Minseok is lovable and pleasant. No one turns down the opportunity to befriend him and it won’t be this surly boy who will put a blot on his reputation.
--
Minseok wakes up on the next day feeling awesome. One more time Minseok wears his swim trunks and heads to the pool. He’s not surprised to find The Prince of Bad Humor there sitting on his chair, wearing expensive-looking sunglasses and two sunscreen stripes on his cheeks. Minseok snorts a laugh, dropping his towel on the same chair he sat before and walking over to Sehun.
“Should you even get this much sun? You’re too pale. Could get a heat stroke.” he says, attentive to any signs that Sehun is listening to him. The previous day the two of them shared the pool for a good two hours and Sehun showed no intentions of speaking to Minseok.
To his surprise, it doesn’t take the boy long to reply him. “Sun is good for you. Vitamin D,” only his mouth moves. “I’ve read somewhere it’s essential for decreasing symptoms of asthma.”
Minseok hums, “That’s why you’ve decided to spend the whole summer here. Frying under all this UV light.”
Slowly, Sehun removes his shades and frowns at Minseok. That’s a frown. “Excuse you,” he stresses the words, getting up from the chair and tossing back his sunglasses before diving and sending splashes of water all over Minseok. Ok. Fine. He’ll just sit right here, with Sehun’s sunglasses on his lap.
It doesn’t take the boy too long. A few swims around the pool and he’s coming out, eyeing Minseok like he knows exactly why he’s sitting there. Reaching for the towel on the side table, Sehun sighs.
“I think we should establish a schedule.” he says.
“What?”
“For the pool,” Sehun drops the towel and shows Minseok his palm, a silent request for his sunglasses. Minseok ignores him. “I don’t like having to share.”
“You don’t--” Minseok huffs, shaking his head in disbelief. “This is my mother’s house. You don’t get to dictate rules around here”
Sehun makes a grab for his sunglasses, but Minseok is faster, hiding it behind his back before carefully slipping out of the chair.
“Give it back,” he almost sounds annoyed when he demands. It’s cute. Minseok wears it, shrugging as he points two fingers at his own face.
“I’d tell you to come get it, but we both know you’re not that kind of person.”
“You don’t know what kind of person I am.” Sehun shoots back. Now he’s really irked and Minseok smiles, licking the sides of his lips as he walks back into the house.
“For now.”
--
Yoochun just can’t shut up about the skate park. Somehow, he planted in his own head the idea that Minseok would like to hang out there, so he makes it his mission to mention the damn place at any given opportunity.
“Minseokkie, have you been to the skate park already?” At the breakfast table.
“The skate park is a great place to make friends!” at the lunch table.
“I can take you to the skate park!” when Minseok is heading to the pool.
But of all the occasions he deemed important to remark the skate park, only one really stirs interest in Minseok. He’s in the kitchen grabbing a glass of water, thinking of strolling around the city for a while because he hasn’t gone sightseeing yet when Yoochun appears out of nowhere, like always, face stretched in that wide smile that always spooks the shit out of Minseok.
“Are you going to the skate park? Sehunnie just headed there with his friends, I saw them leaving.” he says.
That’s how Minseok finds himself at the skate park surrounded by different sounds and people. There are several groups scattered around the place, each group carrying their own speakers, blaring their own music. Minseok just inspects for a moment, taking in everyone skateboarding and rollerskating and just sitting soaking up each other’s awesomeness.
It’s not hard to spot Sehun among all those unrecognizable faces. He’s sitting by the grass with a couple other people, listening intently to something a blonde guy is saying. Minseok smirks, wearing Sehun’s sunglasses that he managed to snatch the other day and decidedly approaching the group. Usually he wouldn’t do something like this -- barging into people’s spaces and making himself at home, but this is a special occasion. He’s on a mission.
As soon as he gets to them, one by one the people sitting with Sehun look up at him, and at last, Sehun himself. “Hey,” Minseok says, body completely facing Sehun. He can tell his friends are curious, all glancing at each other in question, and Sehun’s face turns mysteriously red. “you forgot this.” with natural ease, Minseok removes the sunglasses and tosses it on Sehun’s lap.
No one speaks for a while. Minseok’s eyes never leave Sehun’s. The boy is static, completely baffled as he stares at Minseok with a wide mouth and furiously pink cheeks. That’s definitely new. He’s been ‘sharing’ the pool with Sehun for a few days and he’s never seen the other blush, let alone this harsh.
“Who are you?” someone who’s not Sehun asks and Minseok turns to face the blonde guy, mouth quirking in a smile.
“Sehun and I share a pool,” grinning, Minseok gazes at a disconcerted Sehun. “right Sehunnie?”
The only girl in the group, a small type with short blue hair mutters ‘Sehunnie?’.
Minseok didn’t think Sehun would recover so soon, blinking out of his stupor and clearing his throat before explaining, “Minseok. He’s been staying at Yoochun’s.”
So he does remember Minseok’s name.
“Ah, we know Yoochun,” blonde guy says turning to look at the rest of the group. All four people (who are not Sehun) nod.
“He owns nearly every console known to man.” A tall guy with weird ears says. “Are you his brother or something?”
“My mother is married to him.”
Minseok tries to hide his amusement at the clear change in the way Sehun’s group of friends look at him. Apparently, being somehow related to Yoochun just earned him a great amount of respect. Probably all the things he owns. Definitely all the things he owns. Blonde guy waves him to take a seat and Minseok shoots Sehun a glance before complying. He looks thoughtful; trying really hard to keep his eyes on the grass.
“I’m Luhan,” blonde guy says, then points over the rest of the group. “That’s Chanyeol, Jongin, Luna, and Jongdae,” they all take turns waving at Minseok. “Sehun didn’t tell us he’d met Yoochun’s son-in-law.”
Sehun opens his mouth to justify, probably use the opportunity to insult Minseok once more, but Minseok is quicker. “He refused my offer of friendship the first day we met.”
Sehun huffs, meeting Minseok’s eyes with those severe eyebrows of his. “You didn’t offer friendship, you were just blocking the sun.”
The guy called Chanyeol snorts a laugh and Luna attempts petting Sehun’s hair, but he just ducks her hand. “Don’t mind Sehun,” she says, smiling sweetly at Minseok. “He tries really hard to be unpleasant.”
A dude riding a skateboard falls really close to them, not taking a second to stand up and scurry away with a half-hearted apology. He doesn’t disrupt the peace of the group.
“So, Minseok, are you here on vacation?” Luhan asks. He leans into Minseok, ignoring any social conventions that prevent him from invading the personal space of someone he just met.
“Um,” he tries to lean away without being rude, but Luhan’s leg is pressing on his thigh. “Yeah, vacation. My mom wanted me to visit.”
“Did you have time to go around the house?” Jongin asks. His voice is draggy, like he’s on autopilot. He also looks about to fall asleep.
“Yeah,” Minseok replies. “It’s a nice house.”
Everyone agrees enthusiastically; except Sehun. Sehun’s been quiet the whole exchange, picking on grass and taking into the people riding their skateboards and inline skaters and looking extremely detached from the conversation. He looked pretty into whatever the subject was before Minseok appeared.
“You don’t have to look so annoyed by my presence,” Minseok tells him, taking the opportunity while the others engage in the topic of Yoochun’s fantastic house. Sehun eyes him briefly, turning back to watching the skateboarders.
“Not annoyed.” he replies curtly. “Just not interested.”
“Not interested in the conversation or me?”
Sehun sighs, tearing and shredding on grass. “Both,” he blinks at Minseok. “Why are you here, really? It’s not because of my sunglasses.”
Shrugging, Minseok leans back on his hands. It helps him get a little away from Luhan. “Yoochun kept talking about the skate park so I wanted to check it out.”
“And you brought my sunglasses hoping you’d meet me here?” his tone is patronizing, and Minseok snorts.
“He told me you’d be here.”
“You’re stalking me.” it’s not a question.
“Not stalking, I’m just… Persisting.” Minseok smiles at the other. “You didn’t seem to have realized what a great opportunity you passed on when you refused my friendship offer.”
Sehun rolls his eyes, body shifting. “You didn’t offer friendship, you just--”
“Actually, Sehunnie, it was a friendship offer. Now I’m afraid you were too blunt to have realized, and that’s another reason why I’m here.” he holds his gaze, Sehun’s eyebrows knitting together in confusion as his lips part. Minseok’s eyes move unintentionally, but it’s a good thing they do; he has the chance to admire Sehun’s pink mouth. The bow of his lips is a little rounded, and he doesn’t have plushy and full lips like his friend Jongin, but they look soft and tasty and Minseok is suddenly thirsty.
He only realizes Luhan’s been calling him when a hand touches his knee. “We’re going to a party later today. Do you wanna come?”
Minseok doesn’t dwell on all the fifty shades of wrong that are in Luhan touching his knee, he just tries to lean a little bit farther away. The word ‘party’ projects images of Sehun’s cute lips in Minseok’s mind, and although it’s been less than one minute since he’s realized Sehun has pretty, kissable lips, Minseok is answering “Sure.” before he can object.
--
The party happens in a beach house not far from the skate park. Minseok drives there with Sehun’s friends, Luhan insistently trying to make conversation while Sehun scowls petulantly. As soon as they get there, the group splits. It’s a party like any other, so Minseok behaves like usual, walking around squeezing between dancing bikini girls and muscular guys. He grabs a juice can (getting drunk somewhere you don’t know is not very wise) and goes checking the place. It’s a nice house, sparkling new furniture and large family pictures hanging on nearly every wall. Whoever owns it is definitely unaware of the mess going on.
Minseok finds Sehun in the patio looking comfortable but somehow annoyed in a chair. He doesn’t even deny to himself that he was, indeed, looking for Sehun. He’s the reason Minseok is here to begin with, so he might as well act like it. Taking his time, Minseok approaches him, sitting in the chair next to him.
“Is everyone around here loaded or you and your friends only hang out with the rich people?” Minseok’s question startles Sehun, the boy frowning at him as he acknowledges his presence. Smiling, Minseok crosses his legs. “Hey, Sehunnie.”
“Stop calling me that,” Sehun bites, moving his eyes away from Minseok, showing him complete disregard.
“Yoochun calls you Sehunnie.” Minseok reasons.
Shooting him a judgemental look, Sehun says, “Yoochun is my friend. You’re not.”
Minseok hums, “We can change that.”
“I thought I’d made clear that--”
“Frankly Sehunnie,” Minseok leans back on his chair as Sehun turns to face him. “you put up quite a hostile front.”
“If you’re going to keep calling me Sehunnie, then I’m out of here,” placing his hands on the arms of the chair, Sehun prepares to stand up.
“Will you talk to me if I stop calling you Sehunnie?”
“Do you ever give up?”
“Nope,” he pops the p, eyebrows arching. “Will you?”
It takes him some time, but eventually Sehun rolls his eyes. “Ok.”
“Ok?”
“Ok, you can talk. But don’t expect me to enjoy.” As totally expected of the Prince of Bad Humor.
Canned juice tastes like victory. “Fine by me.”
Minseok isn’t sure if it’s Jay-Z or 50 Cent blasting on the stereo (he’s never been able to set their music apart), but for the time being he lets the horrendous beat fill the silence between them. Is there anything immediate he’d like to ask Sehun? Maybe request to inspect his mouth closely. With his own mouth.
He’s seen many mouths in his life -- many wonderful mouths and luscious, glistening, puffy, juicy lips. Back in his dorm building there are at least four people waiting to make out with him. Seriously, there’s a waiting list (Yifan made sure to organize one). Meaning he’s seen cute lips before, but there’s something about this boy’s lips that just makes his stomach twist in anxiety. Might be due to the fact that Sehun’s refused him sympathy since the first moment they saw each other and Minseok doesn’t respond too well to apathy.
Taking a deep breath, he drinks what’s left of his juice and turns to the very quiet, very stoic boy by his side. “Well. We should start talking.”
“You’re the one who’s eager to speak,” Sehun says, eyes trained on a plant that’s not interesting at all.
“I just want to get to know the guy who comes by my mother’s pool.” Minseok shrugs. When Sehun sighs, he continues. “How old are you?”
Sehun’s mouth quirks just a tiny bit upwards. “You don’t expect me to answer that, do you?”
“Fine, don’t tell me your age. Tell me what you do.”
Crossing his arms, he blinks at Minseok for a fraction of a second before looking back at the plant. He’s not planning on answering.
“Come on, Sehun, it’s just talking.” Minseok indulges.
“I go to college,” his mouth barely moves when he answers, a frown on his lips that’s more cute than annoyed. Minseok smiles.
“Me too,” he says. “Although I don’t think I’d have applied if I lived in a place like this.”
“In a beach?” Sehun asks, a bit curled into himself, voice a little tight.
“Yeah. There’s so much to do here besides going to college. I could work two jobs, keep some money and open a store. Or I could go live off sport, maybe skateboard my way through life.”
Sehun snorts, “You’re describing the early life plans of someone who now sells drugs for a living.”
“There’s so much negativity in your speech,” Minseok says. “I saw nice spots near the pier when I was going to the skate park. There’s a lot of potential for a book store.”
“No one reads around here,” Sehun informs. “People like to go to the beach, get a nice tan, then go to hip bars and drink daiquiris.”
“Are you trying to tell me I don’t have a future in this city?” Minseok chuckles and Sehun remains quiet. “It’s cute how you’re always trying to be annoying.”
“You wanted to talk.” he answers, both hands running through smooth hair. It falls softly across his forehead, right above his perfectly-shaped eyebrows. Sehun is really handsome, Minseok notices. Not that he hadn’t noticed before, but right now, he’s off the charts in handsomeness. Perhaps the sour attitude. For sure the sour attitude.
“Say, Sehun, do you have a girlfriend? Or boyfriend?” Minseok asks casually because everyone always asks about girlfriends and boyfriends at some point.
Sehun glances at him, mouth ajar as his tongue comes to poke at his lower lip. Minseok’s stomach twists and flips inside out. He tries to stay focused, but his eyes drift to Sehun’s mouth.
“None of your business.” the boy says.
“Don’t you think it’s time to try a different approach, Sehun? Bitch face is getting boring.”
With a long sigh, Sehun crosses his legs, elegantly placing both arms on his thigh. “Behold all the fucks I give.”
He looks so disinterested and posh it makes Minseok want to laugh. He’s adorable. His unpleasantness is adorable and Minseok would keep him in a small glass globe if he could. Suddenly, an idea strikes him.
“Alright, I’m going to offer you a deal. We spend the day together tomorrow. If I can’t manage to make it nice, I won’t bother you anymore.”
Loud laughter is a lot gentler than what Minseok was initially expecting when he thought of this crazy plan two seconds ago. Sehun clutches his stomach as he laughs at Minseok’s face.
“I’m serious, man,” he insists.
“If I accept this,” Sehun starts after he takes his time recovering all air lost with the cackling, a wide smile still stretched across his face. “will you really quit bothering me?”
Minseok raises his hand. “I give you my word.”
He seems to consider the offer for a second, a long finger scratching his chin. “Ok then. We have a deal.”
--
When Minseok told Yoochun that he’d have people over for the day, the man nearly brought him to the ground in a hug.
“That’s great, Minseokkie! You already made friends!” he spoke, cheek pressed to the side of Minseok’s head. “You’re so likable, of course you’d make friends in a rush!”
Minseok only didn’t push him because his mother passed by them hugging and almost shed a tear. He patted Yoochun’s back and rolled his eyes. In short, Minseok informed his stepfather that he’d be using his playroom and the pool area.
“Why don’t you use the paintball field, Minseokkie?” Yoochun suggested.
“You have a paintball field?” He’d be damned if anything in Yoochun’s house could still surprise him. Seriously. He could tell Minseok that there is a sex club underground and he’d shrug.
“Of course! In the third garden. It’s a little dusty because my bros and I hardly have time to use it, but Sehunnie used it with his friends once. Oh, you could invite Sehunnie!”
Instead of giving him information, Minseok chose to nod once and retreat to his bedroom. He called the number Luhan forcefully shoved into his contact list to tell him about the gathering. Luhan sounded a little frantic when Minseok mentioned paintball.
And now, walking around the playroom and looking at all the food and drinks Yoochun had his maids put there for them, Minseok is just a bit excited.
Sehun arrives first, naturally. Minseok is playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 when he gets in; sunglasses on and a loose, pale blue tank, he walks in like he’s used to being there.
“‘Sup,” he offers, not even bothering to take off his sunglasses. He stops next to Minseok, arms crossed on his chest and eyes on the TV. “I thought I’d warned you about the risks of skateboarding yesterday?”
“Truth is I’m only playing this for the soundtrack,” Minseok answers. “Do you wanna give it a try?”
“No.” Sehun sits in an armchair not far from Minseok. “So, do you have anything awesome planned? Luhan can’t shut up about paintball.”
A comment about how talkative Sehun is today is at the tip of Minseok’s tongue, but he knows better than to voice it. “Yeah, we’re using the paintball field. Yoochun said it’s ok.”
“Yoochun is really nice,” Sehun says. As much as it pains him to say it, Yoochun hasn’t been as awful as Minseok originally expected him to be. He’s clingy and tries really hard to get to Minseok’s good side, but other than that, his stepfather is just a silly dude.
Sehun’s friends arrive a few minutes later bringing a couple other people Minseok’s never seen before. Luhan introduces Minseok like they’re longtime friends. The new people -- Soojung, Joonmyun, and Jinri -- look thrilled to be there, and Minseok wonders if Yoochun’s house in some kind of sanctuary for these guys.
The girl named Soojung takes her time at the food table eating everything she can before they head to the 3rd garden where the paintball field is located. They carry the guns there and Luhan takes charge of splitting the teams. Minseok ends up in his team (which is not surprising, really) along with Chanyeol, Luna, and Jongdae. Sehun is on the opposing team with Jongin, Soojung, Jinri, and Joonmyun. After changing into the pristine white jumpsuits one of the maids brought for them, the rules are laid out.
“Ok, no cheating your own team!” Luhan announces.
“If you cheat your own team you’re going to bring these jumpsuits home and wash them yourself.” Chanyeol says.
“Eternal glory! That's what awaits the victorious team!” Luhan’s voice sounds dreamy and Minseok muffles his laughter.
“Are you quoting Harry Potter?”
Luhan ignores him, “Let the games begin!”
The paintball field isn’t huge, but large. There are several hiding spots and kegs, barrels, old tires piled up on each other and it looks so perfect Minseok is surprised someone boring like Yoochun built something so awesome. According to Luhan, Jongin is the enemy team’s weakest player, so they’re targeting him first (much to Chanyeol’s displeasure). Minseok, however, has another agenda. He leaves base -- which is behind a couple piled up tires -- and follows his team in search for Jongin, but he spots Sehun first. He’s lying on his stomach behind a keg, safety goggles on top of his head holding his hair back. For a moment, Minseok just watches him inspect the perimeter, shooting a few times in Luna’s direction. He’s completely unaware of Minseok and if Minseok wanted, he could have taken Sehun down already. Instead, he observes. He observes so much that he misses the moment before a splotch of pink paint taints his shoulder.
The first round ends quickly. Sehun’s team beats Minseok’s in less than five minutes. After severe scolding by Luhan, round two starts and Minseok decides to follow the strategy. He helps his teammates kill Jongin (Chanyeol darts in his rescue and ends up killed. Luhan shoots at his retreating back in a moment of rage and nearly gets shot himself).
“They have someone acting as a sniper!” Luna says.
“There!”
Minseok locates the “sniper”. Of course, it would be Sehun, lying on his stomach behind a few tires near to the left corner. It’s a good position, lots of open fields ahead. It means he’s vulnerable to whoever spots him.
“I got him,” Minseok sneaks in his direction, crouching behind wood planks. Sehun seems to have his eyes on Jongdae, so when a shot aimed for his head hits his ear, he jerks scared and rolls to his back, hands coming to clutch the ~wounded~ ear. He yells “dead!” and gazes in the direction where the shot came from. His eyebrows arch as he recognizes Minseok hidden behind the wood planks. Minseok waves at him before running back to the field, aiming a few shots at Jinri, but failing. He gets hit in the leg eventually, but his team wins the second round.
A Luhan covered in blue and yellow paint gathers their team before the third round commences. “If anyone’s got a strategy this is the time to speak up.”
“We need to get the sniper down first thing,” Jongdae says.
“It’s Sehun,” Luna tells them as she cleans the barrel of her gun. “bitch’s got a great aim.”
“Chanyeol will you please stop trying to save Jongin? He’s enemy.”
The tall one shrugs, leaning his gun on his shoulder. “Can’t help it, it’s second nature.”
“I can take down Sehun,” Minseok offers.
Silence surrounds them and he sees one by one his teammates’ faces change into mischief.
“Of course you can,” Luna mutters and Jongdae snorts a laugh.
Luhan taps Minseok’s shoulder, “Try not to get yourself killed in the process.”
When the third round starts, Minseok takes cover and looks for Sehun. He’s well hidden this time, Minseok needs to shoot a few times for his own protection while he searches, finding Sehun crouching behind a pile of sandbags. The corners of Minseok’s lips tug when he notices Sehun’s eyes are focused on him, the scope of his gun following Minseok’s every careful movement. They’re hunting each other.
“Are you going to shoot me, Sehunnie,” Minseok mutters to himself, hiding half of his body behind a barrel. Sehun has him on his aim, he could have risked a shot by now.
“Minseok!” Luhan calls and Minseok’s head snaps to him. “What are you doing? Shoot him!”
Before he has time to turn his attention back to Sehun, Minseok’s chest is coloring orange. He looks down to watch paint roll down his jumpsuit before lowering his gun uselessly. Sehun smiles sardonically and waves at him, moving to change positions since his current one’s been compromised.
“Fucking loverboys.” Luhan cusses, running to save Chanyeol who’s trapped behind wood planks.
This round lasts longer. Minseok watches from the sidelines as Jongin kills Chanyeol and the taller cries ‘WHY JONGIN, WHY!’ as he’s carried out of the field. He watches Luna (who’s a great player by the way) kill Soojung and Joonmyun within a second and witnesses Sehun being killed by Luhan. The game is nearing the end when The Prince of Bad Humor joins him.
“Nice shot,” Minseok says, eyes glued to Jongdae who’s about to be shot in the back by Jongin, who’s doing an impressive job at not being killed.
“Nice game,” he replies, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. The side of his face is still stained blue. “You might have gotten my hearing impaired, but nice game.”
Chuckling, Minseok folds his arms on his chest. It’s only Luhan and Jongin playing now, and the cheering is mixed. Chanyeol is still sulking on the floor, glaring at Jongin’s form in the distance.
“So what do you say? Good day?” he attempts.
Sehun tilts his head, “It’s not over yet, is it?”
He wouldn’t say it, but Minseok can see Sehun’s already softened. Maybe winning the approval of his group of friends contributed to Minseok winning Sehun’s approval. Or maybe Yoochun was right, and all it took was a little time to get Sehun warmed up to Minseok. No one can not warm up to Minseok after all.
“Nope,” he answers anyway. “it’s not over yet.”
The game of paintball ends with Jongin head shotting Luhan in an impressive move. Everyone -- enemies and allies -- is excited by his achievement and runs to celebrate with him except for Chanyeol, who pretends to ignore Jongin for the rest of the afternoon.
It’s loud in the playroom. What seems to be a Mortal Kombat championship grows wild and Minseok can’t even hear his own thoughts. It’s good, though. Among papers, tests and assignments he hasn’t had time for some fun, and for a moment he wishes his friend Yifan was there. Poor thing must be locked in his apartment playing the same old games and occasionally heading out to restock himself of gummy bears and twinkies. Minseok is almost pulling out his phone to text Yifan when Sehun walks out of the messy bundle around the players and goes for the food. Minseok can text Yifan later.
“Who’s winning?” he asks, grabbing a cake slice and leaning back on the table next to Sehun.
“Jongdae is, although Soojung is great at this game.” he informs, taking an apple from the fruit bowl and settling next to Minseok.
The side of his face is blue and there’s pink paint on his hair and neck, but he looks great. Minseok figures Sehun is one of those people who are gorgeous without even trying. He’s covered in paint and his hair is sort of greasy, but he looks good. It’s on his genes. And his mouth. His mouth.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Minseok blurts. It just rolls off his tongue before he has time to catch himself.
Sehun squints at him; doesn’t seem outraged. “I’ll probably hang at home since the pool I used to visit is taken.”
“Can we spend some time alone tomorrow?”
Sehun blinks at him as if he’s waiting for Minseok to cackle and call it a joke.
“Um… Alone?”
His hands are a little sweaty, but Minseok maintains his cool. He shrugs, biting on his cake. “Yeah.”
Sehun still looks taken aback. “Like a date?”
“Yeah.”
“You wanna go on a date with me?”
Smiling, Minseok turns to him. “Why the surprise?”
Then something he didn’t account for happens. Sehun blushes. He lowers his eyes, folding his free arm over his chest while the other holds the apple near his face. “No surprise. It’s just… A lot of audacity.”
Elbowing his side, Minseok coaxes a small smile out of Sehun. “Come on Sehunnie, don’t tell me you weren’t expecting this.”
“I just thought you wouldn’t jump to it so quickly.”
“Why, because you’re intimidating?” he mocks.
Sehun rolls his eyes, but doesn’t retort. He bites on his apple, chewing for a while before he turns to Minseok, easy eyebrows and a contemplative look.
“That’s why you went down to the skate park, isn’t it? You were pursuing me.”
Yes, it was. He was also expecting to woo Sehun with perseverance. Minseok doesn’t say it; he just buries his hands on his pockets. “Seven o’clock? Tomorrow?”
“I’ll think about it.” the other says, eyes returning to the group of people who are now cooing at Jongdae for whatever reason.
“You know you’re going to say yes.”
Sehun snorts a laugh, face flushed. “That’s a lot of nerve…”
“Meet me at the pool area.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“You don’t know where you’re taking me, do you?” he asks after a few beats.
True, but that’s a work in progress. Minseok wasn’t expecting to get this far today, but it turned out his game is stronger than he thought. “Just… Meet me at the pool at seven.”
After a few apple bites and hidden smiles, Sehun side-eyes Minseok looking menacing, but his words don’t really sound threatening. “If you take me some place awful I’ll end you.”
“Can’t wait, Sehunnie.” Minseok pinches his ear before he walks away, Sehun’s quiet voice saying ‘stop calling me that’ as Minseok throws him a smile over his shoulder.
It might take him a while to admit it, and he’s still probably going to give Minseok a hard time over other things, but it’s clear by the way he can feel Sehun’s eyes on his back and how he keeps blushing whenever he faces Minseok, that he’s finally won over.
Pairing(s): Sehun/Xiumin, ninja!Chanyeol/Jongin
Rating: PG-13
Length: 6,632 words
Summary: In the summer he goes to his mother’s beach house, Minseok tries to win the affections of the boy-next-door who comes over to use the pool and is seemingly resolute in refusing Minseok’s friendship. He also meets someone who touches him inappropriately, plays paintball with a crowd and considers opening a bookstore.
Warnings: Sehun, the Prince of Bad Humor. Oh, and Luhan.
Author's note: well, this was reeeally fun to write. thank you for the awesome prompt! also, thanks to the ~fairies~: s, a, and h for their support and hand-holding. this is self-betaed btw. the title was taken from gossip girl’s second season, episode 1. written for the
xiuhunation fic festMinseok meets Sehun in a weird way. Not because of Sehun per se, it’s just that he doesn't actually think he'll have any sort of fun during the summer break he goes to his mother's beach house -- mostly because of his stepfather. The guy is a douche and Minseok hates that facing him is a requirement to spend time with his mom. He boards the plane anyway, hoping that he'll find a way to avoid being in the man's presence.
He can't. Because what Park Yoochun wants is the exact opposite of what Minseok wants. The first thing Minseok sees when he arrives at the airport is this huge, unnecessarily sparkly sign saying "Welcome Minseokkie." He cringes but forces a smile because his mom is standing right next to Yoochun looking disgustingly supportive with a hand on her husband’s shoulder. Minseok cringes one more time.
“Hi mom,” he says, adjusting the strap of his backpack and letting his wheeled travel bag rest by his side. His mom yanks him by the t-shirt (Minseok is sure he hears fabric ripping somewhere) and wraps him in a hug so tight that he can almost feel his eyes popping out. “M-mom.”
“I missed you so much, Minseokkie,” she releases him only to hold him by the shoulders as she makes mother eyes at him. “Welcome home.”
Not really, but he’d never tell that to his mother, so Minseok just nods gratefully. He is grateful that his mother spared him of another pitiful summer in Yifan’s apartment, and her new house is just a few minutes away from the beach which makes it all more interesting and an offer that Minseok could never refuse.
“Thanks, mom,” he smiles at her. “I’ll have a good time.”
“You sure will!” Yoochun butts in. Minseok has to refrain from rolling his eyes. “The closest beach is amazing; the boardwalk has a few charming establishments and the pier is so inspiring!” he excites while guiding them out of the airport, toward his car -- a blue Subaru BRZ. He’d read somewhere that the BRZ is a car for the ones who aren’t seeking insanely high speeds. Park Yoochun doesn’t drink or smoke. Park Yoochun is the proud founder and CEO of a hair product company and his locks are always scenting like berries. Minseok lifts his eyes to gaze at Yoochun, who’s just blabbering whatever to no one in particular and figures that a Subaru BRZ is the right car for someone like him.
“Our neighbors are also very nice people,” his stepfather continues. “I really think you’ll like it in here, Minseokkie.”
Above anything else, he’s here to have fun, and that’s what he should focus on. So Minseok sighs, nods and plugs his earphones once Yoochun starts talking.
--
The weird part -- where he meets Sehun -- happens a few hours after he arrives at their house. A mansion, to be completely fair. Marble pillars and huge, giant double doors that Yoochun can’t shut up about how difficult it was to have it brought from Sri Lanka, floral motif rugs from Afghanistan and the most exquisite paintings bought all over the world. Impressive, to say the least. Yoochun may be a douche, but he’s a douche with a steady income who provides his mother with a beautiful home. A tolerable douche (doesn’t mean Minseok will be willing to welcome him into his heart).
His mother asks him about school and his plans of signing for grad school after graduation while she gives him a tour of the place. Minseok’s mother was never one to take interest in the most detailed aspects of other people’s lives, so he gives her the short and very precise answers that always seem satisfactory and allows her to engage him in detailed aspects of her life. She leads him into the library -- about 500 titles that Minseok is sure were never touched by his mom --, which is quite charming and cozy. There is a reading corner on the floor with thick, fluffy carpets and several pillows and puffs besides three arm chairs nearby and one table with six seats. He wonders if that many people would ever use that place. The playroom, how his mother calls, is where Yoochun keeps at least 7 different consoles, billiard and air hockey tables, a tall bookcase filled with board games, tables and chairs all around, paintball guns (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and a big plasma tv. That’s Minseok’s favorite part of the house until she shows him the projection room: a small movie theater. By then, Minseok is already wondering if he’s the only human being alive who doesn’t use Yoochun’s hair products.
The pool is the last part of the tour. Just like the rest of the house, it’s not a humble pool. It has a waterfall, two waterslides (one in a spiral and a straight one), a poolside bar, chairs, lounges, plants, flowers, a grill, and floats. His skin itches for a swim. So the first thing he does when his mom shows him to his room -- he won’t even get started on the king size canopy bed, tv and computer that look like have been set up just for him and the huge bathroom -- is to change into his swim trunks.
Humming to a hit song and mentally cackling at Yifan, who’s probably playing The Left of Us for the fifth time and wishing Minseok was there sharing his misery, he heads to the pool with a towel on his shoulder. The great part is that Minseok doesn’t get lost. The odd part is that there’s someone lying on his belly on one of the pool chairs. That person wasn’t there 5 minutes ago, and judging by the smooth skin and light hair, it’s a young someone. A male, young someone. His mom didn’t mention a third person living there, could that be Yoochun’s relative? Or a servant of the house?
Minseok drops his towel on a chair and walks over, getting closer enough to see the boy’s face. His eyes are closed, but that’s not what calls Minseok’s attention. That male, young someone has an interesting, royal face. All his features are slim and well carved.
He clears his throat hoping that the boy will open his eyes, but the only sign that there’s still life in him comes from the sigh he heaves.
“Hello?” Minseok tries. The boy sighs again. “Are you alive?”
No response. Minseok squints. He knows that the boy is listening. “I know you’re listening to me,” he insists.
“So you also know I’m refusing to answer.” the voice startles him, but the eyes remain closed. “Can you please move aside? You are blocking the sun.”
What a rude fuck. Who’s that little shit? Who does he think he is? For all purposes that is his mother’s house, and even if this prick is related to Park Yoochun in any way, he has no right to act like he’s the king in town. Minseok is about to retort something vicious, but Yoochun’s annoyingly chirpy voice beats him.
“Oh! So you met Sehunnie!” he says.
Minseok huffs and folds his arms on his chest, refusing to look at the insulting person.
Yoochun bluntly ignores his body language in favor of exciting a little more, “Sehun lives next door, he comes here to use the pool because the pool in his own house is too boring, right Sehunnie?”
It almost comes as a shock when the boy, Sehun, opens his eyes and sits up, facing Yoochun with the brightest smile Minseok’s seen in days. Of course he would be nice to Yoochun. He’s interested in using the pool.
“Right hyung.” Sehun answers.
Minseok is stupid enough to think this is a good time to introduce himself, and says, “I’m Minseok.”
It shouldn’t surprise him that Sehun’s expression changes drastically as he shifts his gaze to Minseok. He stares stoically, severe eyebrows judging Minseok’s every angle. “Ok.” Sehun says, standing up and smiling at Yoochun one last time before heading to the waterslides. Minseok is left gaping and confused. What… The hell is wrong with that guy?
A hand touches his shoulder and he turns to face Yoochun, “Don’t worry. Sehunnie can be difficult at first. It takes time to win him over,” then the man grins. “but you are so great, Minseokkie, you can win him over in no time.”
As he watches his stepfather disappear into the house, Minseok ponders if he’d like to win such a grumpy kid over. A splash sound calls his attention to the pool and he spots Sehun emerging, wet hair thrown back. The boy frowns at him and dives. It pains him to admit it but maybe Yoochun is right; Minseok is lovable and pleasant. No one turns down the opportunity to befriend him and it won’t be this surly boy who will put a blot on his reputation.
--
Minseok wakes up on the next day feeling awesome. One more time Minseok wears his swim trunks and heads to the pool. He’s not surprised to find The Prince of Bad Humor there sitting on his chair, wearing expensive-looking sunglasses and two sunscreen stripes on his cheeks. Minseok snorts a laugh, dropping his towel on the same chair he sat before and walking over to Sehun.
“Should you even get this much sun? You’re too pale. Could get a heat stroke.” he says, attentive to any signs that Sehun is listening to him. The previous day the two of them shared the pool for a good two hours and Sehun showed no intentions of speaking to Minseok.
To his surprise, it doesn’t take the boy long to reply him. “Sun is good for you. Vitamin D,” only his mouth moves. “I’ve read somewhere it’s essential for decreasing symptoms of asthma.”
Minseok hums, “That’s why you’ve decided to spend the whole summer here. Frying under all this UV light.”
Slowly, Sehun removes his shades and frowns at Minseok. That’s a frown. “Excuse you,” he stresses the words, getting up from the chair and tossing back his sunglasses before diving and sending splashes of water all over Minseok. Ok. Fine. He’ll just sit right here, with Sehun’s sunglasses on his lap.
It doesn’t take the boy too long. A few swims around the pool and he’s coming out, eyeing Minseok like he knows exactly why he’s sitting there. Reaching for the towel on the side table, Sehun sighs.
“I think we should establish a schedule.” he says.
“What?”
“For the pool,” Sehun drops the towel and shows Minseok his palm, a silent request for his sunglasses. Minseok ignores him. “I don’t like having to share.”
“You don’t--” Minseok huffs, shaking his head in disbelief. “This is my mother’s house. You don’t get to dictate rules around here”
Sehun makes a grab for his sunglasses, but Minseok is faster, hiding it behind his back before carefully slipping out of the chair.
“Give it back,” he almost sounds annoyed when he demands. It’s cute. Minseok wears it, shrugging as he points two fingers at his own face.
“I’d tell you to come get it, but we both know you’re not that kind of person.”
“You don’t know what kind of person I am.” Sehun shoots back. Now he’s really irked and Minseok smiles, licking the sides of his lips as he walks back into the house.
“For now.”
--
Yoochun just can’t shut up about the skate park. Somehow, he planted in his own head the idea that Minseok would like to hang out there, so he makes it his mission to mention the damn place at any given opportunity.
“Minseokkie, have you been to the skate park already?” At the breakfast table.
“The skate park is a great place to make friends!” at the lunch table.
“I can take you to the skate park!” when Minseok is heading to the pool.
But of all the occasions he deemed important to remark the skate park, only one really stirs interest in Minseok. He’s in the kitchen grabbing a glass of water, thinking of strolling around the city for a while because he hasn’t gone sightseeing yet when Yoochun appears out of nowhere, like always, face stretched in that wide smile that always spooks the shit out of Minseok.
“Are you going to the skate park? Sehunnie just headed there with his friends, I saw them leaving.” he says.
That’s how Minseok finds himself at the skate park surrounded by different sounds and people. There are several groups scattered around the place, each group carrying their own speakers, blaring their own music. Minseok just inspects for a moment, taking in everyone skateboarding and rollerskating and just sitting soaking up each other’s awesomeness.
It’s not hard to spot Sehun among all those unrecognizable faces. He’s sitting by the grass with a couple other people, listening intently to something a blonde guy is saying. Minseok smirks, wearing Sehun’s sunglasses that he managed to snatch the other day and decidedly approaching the group. Usually he wouldn’t do something like this -- barging into people’s spaces and making himself at home, but this is a special occasion. He’s on a mission.
As soon as he gets to them, one by one the people sitting with Sehun look up at him, and at last, Sehun himself. “Hey,” Minseok says, body completely facing Sehun. He can tell his friends are curious, all glancing at each other in question, and Sehun’s face turns mysteriously red. “you forgot this.” with natural ease, Minseok removes the sunglasses and tosses it on Sehun’s lap.
No one speaks for a while. Minseok’s eyes never leave Sehun’s. The boy is static, completely baffled as he stares at Minseok with a wide mouth and furiously pink cheeks. That’s definitely new. He’s been ‘sharing’ the pool with Sehun for a few days and he’s never seen the other blush, let alone this harsh.
“Who are you?” someone who’s not Sehun asks and Minseok turns to face the blonde guy, mouth quirking in a smile.
“Sehun and I share a pool,” grinning, Minseok gazes at a disconcerted Sehun. “right Sehunnie?”
The only girl in the group, a small type with short blue hair mutters ‘Sehunnie?’.
Minseok didn’t think Sehun would recover so soon, blinking out of his stupor and clearing his throat before explaining, “Minseok. He’s been staying at Yoochun’s.”
So he does remember Minseok’s name.
“Ah, we know Yoochun,” blonde guy says turning to look at the rest of the group. All four people (who are not Sehun) nod.
“He owns nearly every console known to man.” A tall guy with weird ears says. “Are you his brother or something?”
“My mother is married to him.”
Minseok tries to hide his amusement at the clear change in the way Sehun’s group of friends look at him. Apparently, being somehow related to Yoochun just earned him a great amount of respect. Probably all the things he owns. Definitely all the things he owns. Blonde guy waves him to take a seat and Minseok shoots Sehun a glance before complying. He looks thoughtful; trying really hard to keep his eyes on the grass.
“I’m Luhan,” blonde guy says, then points over the rest of the group. “That’s Chanyeol, Jongin, Luna, and Jongdae,” they all take turns waving at Minseok. “Sehun didn’t tell us he’d met Yoochun’s son-in-law.”
Sehun opens his mouth to justify, probably use the opportunity to insult Minseok once more, but Minseok is quicker. “He refused my offer of friendship the first day we met.”
Sehun huffs, meeting Minseok’s eyes with those severe eyebrows of his. “You didn’t offer friendship, you were just blocking the sun.”
The guy called Chanyeol snorts a laugh and Luna attempts petting Sehun’s hair, but he just ducks her hand. “Don’t mind Sehun,” she says, smiling sweetly at Minseok. “He tries really hard to be unpleasant.”
A dude riding a skateboard falls really close to them, not taking a second to stand up and scurry away with a half-hearted apology. He doesn’t disrupt the peace of the group.
“So, Minseok, are you here on vacation?” Luhan asks. He leans into Minseok, ignoring any social conventions that prevent him from invading the personal space of someone he just met.
“Um,” he tries to lean away without being rude, but Luhan’s leg is pressing on his thigh. “Yeah, vacation. My mom wanted me to visit.”
“Did you have time to go around the house?” Jongin asks. His voice is draggy, like he’s on autopilot. He also looks about to fall asleep.
“Yeah,” Minseok replies. “It’s a nice house.”
Everyone agrees enthusiastically; except Sehun. Sehun’s been quiet the whole exchange, picking on grass and taking into the people riding their skateboards and inline skaters and looking extremely detached from the conversation. He looked pretty into whatever the subject was before Minseok appeared.
“You don’t have to look so annoyed by my presence,” Minseok tells him, taking the opportunity while the others engage in the topic of Yoochun’s fantastic house. Sehun eyes him briefly, turning back to watching the skateboarders.
“Not annoyed.” he replies curtly. “Just not interested.”
“Not interested in the conversation or me?”
Sehun sighs, tearing and shredding on grass. “Both,” he blinks at Minseok. “Why are you here, really? It’s not because of my sunglasses.”
Shrugging, Minseok leans back on his hands. It helps him get a little away from Luhan. “Yoochun kept talking about the skate park so I wanted to check it out.”
“And you brought my sunglasses hoping you’d meet me here?” his tone is patronizing, and Minseok snorts.
“He told me you’d be here.”
“You’re stalking me.” it’s not a question.
“Not stalking, I’m just… Persisting.” Minseok smiles at the other. “You didn’t seem to have realized what a great opportunity you passed on when you refused my friendship offer.”
Sehun rolls his eyes, body shifting. “You didn’t offer friendship, you just--”
“Actually, Sehunnie, it was a friendship offer. Now I’m afraid you were too blunt to have realized, and that’s another reason why I’m here.” he holds his gaze, Sehun’s eyebrows knitting together in confusion as his lips part. Minseok’s eyes move unintentionally, but it’s a good thing they do; he has the chance to admire Sehun’s pink mouth. The bow of his lips is a little rounded, and he doesn’t have plushy and full lips like his friend Jongin, but they look soft and tasty and Minseok is suddenly thirsty.
He only realizes Luhan’s been calling him when a hand touches his knee. “We’re going to a party later today. Do you wanna come?”
Minseok doesn’t dwell on all the fifty shades of wrong that are in Luhan touching his knee, he just tries to lean a little bit farther away. The word ‘party’ projects images of Sehun’s cute lips in Minseok’s mind, and although it’s been less than one minute since he’s realized Sehun has pretty, kissable lips, Minseok is answering “Sure.” before he can object.
--
The party happens in a beach house not far from the skate park. Minseok drives there with Sehun’s friends, Luhan insistently trying to make conversation while Sehun scowls petulantly. As soon as they get there, the group splits. It’s a party like any other, so Minseok behaves like usual, walking around squeezing between dancing bikini girls and muscular guys. He grabs a juice can (getting drunk somewhere you don’t know is not very wise) and goes checking the place. It’s a nice house, sparkling new furniture and large family pictures hanging on nearly every wall. Whoever owns it is definitely unaware of the mess going on.
Minseok finds Sehun in the patio looking comfortable but somehow annoyed in a chair. He doesn’t even deny to himself that he was, indeed, looking for Sehun. He’s the reason Minseok is here to begin with, so he might as well act like it. Taking his time, Minseok approaches him, sitting in the chair next to him.
“Is everyone around here loaded or you and your friends only hang out with the rich people?” Minseok’s question startles Sehun, the boy frowning at him as he acknowledges his presence. Smiling, Minseok crosses his legs. “Hey, Sehunnie.”
“Stop calling me that,” Sehun bites, moving his eyes away from Minseok, showing him complete disregard.
“Yoochun calls you Sehunnie.” Minseok reasons.
Shooting him a judgemental look, Sehun says, “Yoochun is my friend. You’re not.”
Minseok hums, “We can change that.”
“I thought I’d made clear that--”
“Frankly Sehunnie,” Minseok leans back on his chair as Sehun turns to face him. “you put up quite a hostile front.”
“If you’re going to keep calling me Sehunnie, then I’m out of here,” placing his hands on the arms of the chair, Sehun prepares to stand up.
“Will you talk to me if I stop calling you Sehunnie?”
“Do you ever give up?”
“Nope,” he pops the p, eyebrows arching. “Will you?”
It takes him some time, but eventually Sehun rolls his eyes. “Ok.”
“Ok?”
“Ok, you can talk. But don’t expect me to enjoy.” As totally expected of the Prince of Bad Humor.
Canned juice tastes like victory. “Fine by me.”
Minseok isn’t sure if it’s Jay-Z or 50 Cent blasting on the stereo (he’s never been able to set their music apart), but for the time being he lets the horrendous beat fill the silence between them. Is there anything immediate he’d like to ask Sehun? Maybe request to inspect his mouth closely. With his own mouth.
He’s seen many mouths in his life -- many wonderful mouths and luscious, glistening, puffy, juicy lips. Back in his dorm building there are at least four people waiting to make out with him. Seriously, there’s a waiting list (Yifan made sure to organize one). Meaning he’s seen cute lips before, but there’s something about this boy’s lips that just makes his stomach twist in anxiety. Might be due to the fact that Sehun’s refused him sympathy since the first moment they saw each other and Minseok doesn’t respond too well to apathy.
Taking a deep breath, he drinks what’s left of his juice and turns to the very quiet, very stoic boy by his side. “Well. We should start talking.”
“You’re the one who’s eager to speak,” Sehun says, eyes trained on a plant that’s not interesting at all.
“I just want to get to know the guy who comes by my mother’s pool.” Minseok shrugs. When Sehun sighs, he continues. “How old are you?”
Sehun’s mouth quirks just a tiny bit upwards. “You don’t expect me to answer that, do you?”
“Fine, don’t tell me your age. Tell me what you do.”
Crossing his arms, he blinks at Minseok for a fraction of a second before looking back at the plant. He’s not planning on answering.
“Come on, Sehun, it’s just talking.” Minseok indulges.
“I go to college,” his mouth barely moves when he answers, a frown on his lips that’s more cute than annoyed. Minseok smiles.
“Me too,” he says. “Although I don’t think I’d have applied if I lived in a place like this.”
“In a beach?” Sehun asks, a bit curled into himself, voice a little tight.
“Yeah. There’s so much to do here besides going to college. I could work two jobs, keep some money and open a store. Or I could go live off sport, maybe skateboard my way through life.”
Sehun snorts, “You’re describing the early life plans of someone who now sells drugs for a living.”
“There’s so much negativity in your speech,” Minseok says. “I saw nice spots near the pier when I was going to the skate park. There’s a lot of potential for a book store.”
“No one reads around here,” Sehun informs. “People like to go to the beach, get a nice tan, then go to hip bars and drink daiquiris.”
“Are you trying to tell me I don’t have a future in this city?” Minseok chuckles and Sehun remains quiet. “It’s cute how you’re always trying to be annoying.”
“You wanted to talk.” he answers, both hands running through smooth hair. It falls softly across his forehead, right above his perfectly-shaped eyebrows. Sehun is really handsome, Minseok notices. Not that he hadn’t noticed before, but right now, he’s off the charts in handsomeness. Perhaps the sour attitude. For sure the sour attitude.
“Say, Sehun, do you have a girlfriend? Or boyfriend?” Minseok asks casually because everyone always asks about girlfriends and boyfriends at some point.
Sehun glances at him, mouth ajar as his tongue comes to poke at his lower lip. Minseok’s stomach twists and flips inside out. He tries to stay focused, but his eyes drift to Sehun’s mouth.
“None of your business.” the boy says.
“Don’t you think it’s time to try a different approach, Sehun? Bitch face is getting boring.”
With a long sigh, Sehun crosses his legs, elegantly placing both arms on his thigh. “Behold all the fucks I give.”
He looks so disinterested and posh it makes Minseok want to laugh. He’s adorable. His unpleasantness is adorable and Minseok would keep him in a small glass globe if he could. Suddenly, an idea strikes him.
“Alright, I’m going to offer you a deal. We spend the day together tomorrow. If I can’t manage to make it nice, I won’t bother you anymore.”
Loud laughter is a lot gentler than what Minseok was initially expecting when he thought of this crazy plan two seconds ago. Sehun clutches his stomach as he laughs at Minseok’s face.
“I’m serious, man,” he insists.
“If I accept this,” Sehun starts after he takes his time recovering all air lost with the cackling, a wide smile still stretched across his face. “will you really quit bothering me?”
Minseok raises his hand. “I give you my word.”
He seems to consider the offer for a second, a long finger scratching his chin. “Ok then. We have a deal.”
--
When Minseok told Yoochun that he’d have people over for the day, the man nearly brought him to the ground in a hug.
“That’s great, Minseokkie! You already made friends!” he spoke, cheek pressed to the side of Minseok’s head. “You’re so likable, of course you’d make friends in a rush!”
Minseok only didn’t push him because his mother passed by them hugging and almost shed a tear. He patted Yoochun’s back and rolled his eyes. In short, Minseok informed his stepfather that he’d be using his playroom and the pool area.
“Why don’t you use the paintball field, Minseokkie?” Yoochun suggested.
“You have a paintball field?” He’d be damned if anything in Yoochun’s house could still surprise him. Seriously. He could tell Minseok that there is a sex club underground and he’d shrug.
“Of course! In the third garden. It’s a little dusty because my bros and I hardly have time to use it, but Sehunnie used it with his friends once. Oh, you could invite Sehunnie!”
Instead of giving him information, Minseok chose to nod once and retreat to his bedroom. He called the number Luhan forcefully shoved into his contact list to tell him about the gathering. Luhan sounded a little frantic when Minseok mentioned paintball.
And now, walking around the playroom and looking at all the food and drinks Yoochun had his maids put there for them, Minseok is just a bit excited.
Sehun arrives first, naturally. Minseok is playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 when he gets in; sunglasses on and a loose, pale blue tank, he walks in like he’s used to being there.
“‘Sup,” he offers, not even bothering to take off his sunglasses. He stops next to Minseok, arms crossed on his chest and eyes on the TV. “I thought I’d warned you about the risks of skateboarding yesterday?”
“Truth is I’m only playing this for the soundtrack,” Minseok answers. “Do you wanna give it a try?”
“No.” Sehun sits in an armchair not far from Minseok. “So, do you have anything awesome planned? Luhan can’t shut up about paintball.”
A comment about how talkative Sehun is today is at the tip of Minseok’s tongue, but he knows better than to voice it. “Yeah, we’re using the paintball field. Yoochun said it’s ok.”
“Yoochun is really nice,” Sehun says. As much as it pains him to say it, Yoochun hasn’t been as awful as Minseok originally expected him to be. He’s clingy and tries really hard to get to Minseok’s good side, but other than that, his stepfather is just a silly dude.
Sehun’s friends arrive a few minutes later bringing a couple other people Minseok’s never seen before. Luhan introduces Minseok like they’re longtime friends. The new people -- Soojung, Joonmyun, and Jinri -- look thrilled to be there, and Minseok wonders if Yoochun’s house in some kind of sanctuary for these guys.
The girl named Soojung takes her time at the food table eating everything she can before they head to the 3rd garden where the paintball field is located. They carry the guns there and Luhan takes charge of splitting the teams. Minseok ends up in his team (which is not surprising, really) along with Chanyeol, Luna, and Jongdae. Sehun is on the opposing team with Jongin, Soojung, Jinri, and Joonmyun. After changing into the pristine white jumpsuits one of the maids brought for them, the rules are laid out.
“Ok, no cheating your own team!” Luhan announces.
“If you cheat your own team you’re going to bring these jumpsuits home and wash them yourself.” Chanyeol says.
“Eternal glory! That's what awaits the victorious team!” Luhan’s voice sounds dreamy and Minseok muffles his laughter.
“Are you quoting Harry Potter?”
Luhan ignores him, “Let the games begin!”
The paintball field isn’t huge, but large. There are several hiding spots and kegs, barrels, old tires piled up on each other and it looks so perfect Minseok is surprised someone boring like Yoochun built something so awesome. According to Luhan, Jongin is the enemy team’s weakest player, so they’re targeting him first (much to Chanyeol’s displeasure). Minseok, however, has another agenda. He leaves base -- which is behind a couple piled up tires -- and follows his team in search for Jongin, but he spots Sehun first. He’s lying on his stomach behind a keg, safety goggles on top of his head holding his hair back. For a moment, Minseok just watches him inspect the perimeter, shooting a few times in Luna’s direction. He’s completely unaware of Minseok and if Minseok wanted, he could have taken Sehun down already. Instead, he observes. He observes so much that he misses the moment before a splotch of pink paint taints his shoulder.
The first round ends quickly. Sehun’s team beats Minseok’s in less than five minutes. After severe scolding by Luhan, round two starts and Minseok decides to follow the strategy. He helps his teammates kill Jongin (Chanyeol darts in his rescue and ends up killed. Luhan shoots at his retreating back in a moment of rage and nearly gets shot himself).
“They have someone acting as a sniper!” Luna says.
“There!”
Minseok locates the “sniper”. Of course, it would be Sehun, lying on his stomach behind a few tires near to the left corner. It’s a good position, lots of open fields ahead. It means he’s vulnerable to whoever spots him.
“I got him,” Minseok sneaks in his direction, crouching behind wood planks. Sehun seems to have his eyes on Jongdae, so when a shot aimed for his head hits his ear, he jerks scared and rolls to his back, hands coming to clutch the ~wounded~ ear. He yells “dead!” and gazes in the direction where the shot came from. His eyebrows arch as he recognizes Minseok hidden behind the wood planks. Minseok waves at him before running back to the field, aiming a few shots at Jinri, but failing. He gets hit in the leg eventually, but his team wins the second round.
A Luhan covered in blue and yellow paint gathers their team before the third round commences. “If anyone’s got a strategy this is the time to speak up.”
“We need to get the sniper down first thing,” Jongdae says.
“It’s Sehun,” Luna tells them as she cleans the barrel of her gun. “bitch’s got a great aim.”
“Chanyeol will you please stop trying to save Jongin? He’s enemy.”
The tall one shrugs, leaning his gun on his shoulder. “Can’t help it, it’s second nature.”
“I can take down Sehun,” Minseok offers.
Silence surrounds them and he sees one by one his teammates’ faces change into mischief.
“Of course you can,” Luna mutters and Jongdae snorts a laugh.
Luhan taps Minseok’s shoulder, “Try not to get yourself killed in the process.”
When the third round starts, Minseok takes cover and looks for Sehun. He’s well hidden this time, Minseok needs to shoot a few times for his own protection while he searches, finding Sehun crouching behind a pile of sandbags. The corners of Minseok’s lips tug when he notices Sehun’s eyes are focused on him, the scope of his gun following Minseok’s every careful movement. They’re hunting each other.
“Are you going to shoot me, Sehunnie,” Minseok mutters to himself, hiding half of his body behind a barrel. Sehun has him on his aim, he could have risked a shot by now.
“Minseok!” Luhan calls and Minseok’s head snaps to him. “What are you doing? Shoot him!”
Before he has time to turn his attention back to Sehun, Minseok’s chest is coloring orange. He looks down to watch paint roll down his jumpsuit before lowering his gun uselessly. Sehun smiles sardonically and waves at him, moving to change positions since his current one’s been compromised.
“Fucking loverboys.” Luhan cusses, running to save Chanyeol who’s trapped behind wood planks.
This round lasts longer. Minseok watches from the sidelines as Jongin kills Chanyeol and the taller cries ‘WHY JONGIN, WHY!’ as he’s carried out of the field. He watches Luna (who’s a great player by the way) kill Soojung and Joonmyun within a second and witnesses Sehun being killed by Luhan. The game is nearing the end when The Prince of Bad Humor joins him.
“Nice shot,” Minseok says, eyes glued to Jongdae who’s about to be shot in the back by Jongin, who’s doing an impressive job at not being killed.
“Nice game,” he replies, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. The side of his face is still stained blue. “You might have gotten my hearing impaired, but nice game.”
Chuckling, Minseok folds his arms on his chest. It’s only Luhan and Jongin playing now, and the cheering is mixed. Chanyeol is still sulking on the floor, glaring at Jongin’s form in the distance.
“So what do you say? Good day?” he attempts.
Sehun tilts his head, “It’s not over yet, is it?”
He wouldn’t say it, but Minseok can see Sehun’s already softened. Maybe winning the approval of his group of friends contributed to Minseok winning Sehun’s approval. Or maybe Yoochun was right, and all it took was a little time to get Sehun warmed up to Minseok. No one can not warm up to Minseok after all.
“Nope,” he answers anyway. “it’s not over yet.”
The game of paintball ends with Jongin head shotting Luhan in an impressive move. Everyone -- enemies and allies -- is excited by his achievement and runs to celebrate with him except for Chanyeol, who pretends to ignore Jongin for the rest of the afternoon.
It’s loud in the playroom. What seems to be a Mortal Kombat championship grows wild and Minseok can’t even hear his own thoughts. It’s good, though. Among papers, tests and assignments he hasn’t had time for some fun, and for a moment he wishes his friend Yifan was there. Poor thing must be locked in his apartment playing the same old games and occasionally heading out to restock himself of gummy bears and twinkies. Minseok is almost pulling out his phone to text Yifan when Sehun walks out of the messy bundle around the players and goes for the food. Minseok can text Yifan later.
“Who’s winning?” he asks, grabbing a cake slice and leaning back on the table next to Sehun.
“Jongdae is, although Soojung is great at this game.” he informs, taking an apple from the fruit bowl and settling next to Minseok.
The side of his face is blue and there’s pink paint on his hair and neck, but he looks great. Minseok figures Sehun is one of those people who are gorgeous without even trying. He’s covered in paint and his hair is sort of greasy, but he looks good. It’s on his genes. And his mouth. His mouth.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Minseok blurts. It just rolls off his tongue before he has time to catch himself.
Sehun squints at him; doesn’t seem outraged. “I’ll probably hang at home since the pool I used to visit is taken.”
“Can we spend some time alone tomorrow?”
Sehun blinks at him as if he’s waiting for Minseok to cackle and call it a joke.
“Um… Alone?”
His hands are a little sweaty, but Minseok maintains his cool. He shrugs, biting on his cake. “Yeah.”
Sehun still looks taken aback. “Like a date?”
“Yeah.”
“You wanna go on a date with me?”
Smiling, Minseok turns to him. “Why the surprise?”
Then something he didn’t account for happens. Sehun blushes. He lowers his eyes, folding his free arm over his chest while the other holds the apple near his face. “No surprise. It’s just… A lot of audacity.”
Elbowing his side, Minseok coaxes a small smile out of Sehun. “Come on Sehunnie, don’t tell me you weren’t expecting this.”
“I just thought you wouldn’t jump to it so quickly.”
“Why, because you’re intimidating?” he mocks.
Sehun rolls his eyes, but doesn’t retort. He bites on his apple, chewing for a while before he turns to Minseok, easy eyebrows and a contemplative look.
“That’s why you went down to the skate park, isn’t it? You were pursuing me.”
Yes, it was. He was also expecting to woo Sehun with perseverance. Minseok doesn’t say it; he just buries his hands on his pockets. “Seven o’clock? Tomorrow?”
“I’ll think about it.” the other says, eyes returning to the group of people who are now cooing at Jongdae for whatever reason.
“You know you’re going to say yes.”
Sehun snorts a laugh, face flushed. “That’s a lot of nerve…”
“Meet me at the pool area.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“You don’t know where you’re taking me, do you?” he asks after a few beats.
True, but that’s a work in progress. Minseok wasn’t expecting to get this far today, but it turned out his game is stronger than he thought. “Just… Meet me at the pool at seven.”
After a few apple bites and hidden smiles, Sehun side-eyes Minseok looking menacing, but his words don’t really sound threatening. “If you take me some place awful I’ll end you.”
“Can’t wait, Sehunnie.” Minseok pinches his ear before he walks away, Sehun’s quiet voice saying ‘stop calling me that’ as Minseok throws him a smile over his shoulder.
It might take him a while to admit it, and he’s still probably going to give Minseok a hard time over other things, but it’s clear by the way he can feel Sehun’s eyes on his back and how he keeps blushing whenever he faces Minseok, that he’s finally won over.