[Fic] Rundown 7/8
Oct. 13th, 2009 12:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
coley_merrinTitle: Rundown
Author: Coley Merrin
Rating: R
Pairings: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun (main) and small amounts of Siwon/Hankyung
Genre: AU, baseball
Warning: Sexual situations.
Summary: As Zhou Mi's dreams are put in jeopardy, Kyuhyun is forced to face everything he has tried to escape.
***
Chapter One ** Chapter Two ** Chapter Three ** Chapter Four ** Chapter Five ** Chapter Six ** Chapter Seven ** Chapter Eight
***
Kyuhyun wasn’t sure why he expected a call. When they were making a decision on Zhou Mi’s future, he thought for some reason Zhou Mi himself would let him know.
Instead, he heard it from his father.
“How has your time with Zhou Mi been? Now that he’s back on the active roster, you’ll have to figure out the games by yourself.”
“I know how baseball works, Dad.”
Active roster. Active roster. It meant that he could play again. That he was healed, that...
“What’s your decision on the vice president role? It’s a great opportunity for you, Kyuhyun. You should be grateful the board is even considering this.”
“I know. I’ll make a decision soon.”
“Before the end of the season, please.”
And with a click, the other line disconnected.
“I’m glad you know when the end of the season is,” Kyuhyun said bitterly to the screen, and slid his phone closed.
But what luck, his father’s secretary remembered Miyun’s birthday, which meant she received a very tasteful savings bond to be applied to her future education. Kyuhyun was sure she’d be very grateful in about 15 years.
But they had her favorite meal, and cake. He had sang happy birthday to her, with the whole of his staff, and her nanny, before they had left him with her. They bought her little gifts, her eyes shining as she opened them.
His big gift to her had been a big red train engine that she could sit on and “drive” with, using her feet. She nearly wore herself out making laps around the living room, with a new hat on her head and a doll tucked solidly in her lap. He chased her, laughed at her, feeling sort of ridiculous that he had any regret in the day whatsoever. He could see Zhou Mi on the floor with her, reaching for her, pushing the little engine for her tired legs and helping her adjust her hat. He hadn’t expected to spend this night alone with her. It was her third birthday. And it was the third birthday that had ended up being just him and her. There wasn’t anyone else to help him take pictures, or to laugh with, or appreciate her antics with. But they did well together, he and Miyun. No matter what, he couldn’t regret being with her.
“Now that you’re big and three, I guess it’s time for big girl bedtime” he said, kissing her forehead when she tiredly came to snuggle.
“‘Kay,” she said, burrowing against his chest. “Can Zhou Mimi come and play?”
“I don’t know, baby,” he said. “Do you want a book?”
“Mmhmm...”
He skirted the destruction of wrapping paper, when the echo of the door bell startled them both, Miyun arching like a frightened cat in his arms.
“Zhou Mimi?” she gasped.
“Not necessarily... Let’s go see.”
He waved back the housekeeper with a smile, peering out the security screen.
Zhou Mi.
“Guess who,” he whispered to her, as she started to tremble in excitement.
“Zhou Mimi!” she cried loudly, when the door was open and she could see who stood there.
“Miyun! Happy birthday!”
Kyuhyun could smell him, as Zhou Mi stepped up, accepting Miyun’s eager hug and hoisting her into his arms.
“Hey,” Kyuhyun told him.
“Hey,” Zhou Mi said, skirting him with Miyun in his arms and a gift bag in his hand.
Miyun wanted down almost immediately, inspecting the bag he had brought with him. “For me?” she asked, eyes shining as though a gift from Zhou Mi was worth the world in chocolate.
“For you,” Zhou Mi confirmed, letting her take it from him.
The bear was soft and small, and Zhou Mi sat on the floor without hesitation, getting down to her level.
“Koala,” she said, touching the tall, dark nose.
“That’s right.”
“Pretty.”
“Look, it’s a special bear... It sings.”
Everything in Kyuhyun seemed to freeze as the lullaby played, Zhou Mi’s soft singing voice playing from some internal speaker. “Good night, angel,” the slightly tinny voice continued. “Sweet dreams.”
“I can’t be here to sing you to sleep,” Zhou Mi said, “But this little bear can. Will you look after him for me?”
She nodded, all brimming dark eyes as though she understood that it would be the last time she would see him in a long time. “Mimi-bear,” she croaked, christening it and squeezing the thing nearly in half.
Zhou Mi smiled and cradled her close, stroking her hair. In time, the gasping little sobs quieted as the song played one more time, and she fell asleep with her face in the crook of Zhou Mi’s neck. She looked so precious, so tiny against Zhou Mi. Zhou Mi, who wasn’t afraid to hold the child and somehow allergic to holding him.
He helped Zhou Mi lay her down, tugging the embroidered pink blanket up over her gently moving chest. She curled almost instinctively into the bear, her nose along the ridge of its, and still fast asleep. Zhou Mi stayed there for a long moment, a finger against her small hand before turning and walking with Kyuhyun to the door.
It had been nearly two days since he had seen or spoken to Zhou Mi. He let them into a private sitting room, far enough that when Kyuhyun pressed him for answers about his weird behavior, if it came to a fight, Miyun wouldn’t be disturbed.
“Thanks for coming,” Kyuhyun led off with because it was the most important thing. He was glad, for Miyun, that he had come.
“Kyuhyun...”
“You’re going?”
“With the team. We leave in four hours.”
Four hours was forever and not long enough. He reached for Zhou Mi’s hand, wanting to lead him to the bedroom. It was where they had started, and maybe where they would find equilibrium. He could forgive Zhou Mi for not calling, if they could just figure out some way to be easy around each other again. “Come with me, and...”
Zhou Mi tugged him hard, kissing him in the same manner, lips fierce and demanding and quite unlike Zhou Mi. Nothing like the seductive kiss Kyuhyun had been wanting to give. It was every inch a goodbye.
“Sorry... Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
Zhou Mi’s hands dropped abruptly, and he was closed off in a manner that Kyuhyun had never seen.
“You’re going to break it off like this?” Kyuhyun asked, his voice mild even while his heart leapt in shock. “On my daughter’s birthday.”
“What’s left for us?” Zhou Mi burst out, startling him. “You can’t stand to be involved in the sport that’s my life, and I travel with the team. You can’t even... So maybe this was a nice diversion for you, but you’d just get tired of me being involved, wouldn’t you?”
“A diversion? I let my daughter get that attached to you because of...”
“I love her,” Zhou Mi hissed. “It’s easier this way. She’ll forget about me. I won’t be here reminding her.”
“Except that she’ll hear you sing her to sleep every night!”
“I can’t do this.”
Kyuhyun shook his head, unable to believe any of it. “So go, then. Leave her even if you don’t want to. Pretend that some stupid game defines your life. Maybe you can fuck your replacement when you get back with the team.”
Zhou Mi’s face was ruddy with anger. “I would never...”
“You asked me if I slept with you to get back at my father, and then swore it wasn’t all about the sex. But you know, it was. That’s all it ever was for both of us, so now I can just find someone else to scratch that itch. You can show yourself out.”
He strode back into the body of the house, ignoring the shocked inhale. He pushed into Miyun’s room, closing the door softly and kneeling beside her bed. He rested his head beside hers, and closed his eyes, the sounds of his child sleeping sending tiny fingers of comfort to the molten, leaden area inside him.
***
The first thing he heard of Kyuhyun was three days later.
“Hey,” Donghae said. “Hey, did you hear about your boyfriend?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Zhou Mi sighed, picking up his glove.
“Okay... Anyway. So he just signed on as the team’s vice president. So he’s not just the “owner’s son” now, he’s a bigwig in the organization. You’re moving up in the world!”
“What?”
“Yeah, look...”
The printout showed Kyuhyun next to his father, a mockery of a smile on his face as they mugged for reporters. The article gave a short rundown of Kyuhyun’s educational background, and how long his family had owned the team, and that was it.
Nothing about Kyuhyun had given in, followed what his father had wanted. Just like he swore he hadn’t wanted to do.
Maybe he hadn’t given up his dreams of singing, maybe he just needed more time, maybe he really wanted Zhou Mi to stick around...
They were just more lies. Kyuhyun had made his choice.
“We’re not seeing each other any more,” Zhou Mi said, standing and handing the paper back to a startled Donghae. “So he’s moved up in the world. Not me.”
He could have picked up his phone right then and called Kyuhyun, asked him what he was thinking, what he was doing. But Kyuhyun had once told him he didn’t have that right. And Zhou Mi finally believed him. Had Kyuhyun meant to give in all along, or had Zhou Mi, as his father had intended, push him into it? Either way, it didn’t matter. It was done.
They were done.
And when Zhou Mi returned home, found the congratulatory, complimentary bottle of champagne waiting for him on his porch... It was from Kyuhyun’s father. “Job well done, with my gratitude,” the card said. For his time spent with Kyuhyun. All his time with Kyuhyun, all the kisses, and the touches, the laughter, and... All of it came down to one bottle of fancy French wine.
It went into his trash unopened.
***
It was the first home game back after the break, and the road trip. Kyuhyun took up his normal spot in the owner’s suite. There was a tasteful gathering, a celebration of Kyuhyun’s new position. Some politicians, some socialites. A few pretty young women that Kyuhyun wasn’t positive his father had invited for Kyuhyun or himself. He didn’t much care. He spoke when spoken to, and focused on the game.
It was impossible to miss Zhou Mi, tall in his dark blue home uniform. Steady, as he stood in his place beside first, waiting for the next pitch.
And as the batter swung, the ball screamed away, a few feet to Zhou Mi’s right, and Zhou Mi dove for it, instinctive, fast.
Kyuhyun was out of his seat before he knew it, most of the way standing as Zhou Mi rolled, tossing the ball to the pitcher covering first and getting an easy out.
On the big screen, Zhou Mi’s smile flashed. He wasn’t hurt. He had fallen, and was okay.
“You all right?” the man who had sat beside him asked.
“Yeah,” Kyuhyun said, sitting back down. “Great play.”
The man chuckled. “You must really love the game.”
Kyuhyun’s smile was weak, and his eyes were on Zhou Mi.
***
Kyuhyun nearly threw out the paper folded beneath his bedside lamp, thinking it was some sort of receipt he didn’t remember tossing aside. But the handwriting on it made him pause. “Blue Midnight Lounge, ask for owner.” A phone number. And signed, “Zhou Mi.”
He nearly laughed, that Zhou Mi had the audacity to leave a note like that. And likely after their fight about it, as well. Zhou Mi had believed he had a chance at it, believed so much that he had risked bringing it up again. And Kyuhyun had nearly rejected him for it. If anything, he was certain that that had contributed to Zhou Mi leaving. He didn’t question that at all. They had never recovered from Kyuhyun’s stubborn refusal.
The phone was in his hand before he could give it thought, sweat breaking out immediately as he listened to the ringing on the other side. He couldn’t do it, couldn’t dare, and yet if he didn’t, if he let the chance go, if..
“Hello?”
“Hi, this is Cho Kyuhyun, I was calling...”
The man on the other end interrupted him without thought. “Oh yeah... Zhou Mi gave me your number. I was getting around to calling you. Said you’d be interested in singing a few nights a week?”
“I...What? Oh, yes, I guess.” Why did he sound so weak, and breathless?
“Sing a bit for me,” the man demanded, though sounding as though he were doing twelve other things at the same time.
“Right... Right now? Over the phone?”
“Unless you can teleport. It’s not rocket science, kid. Just sing a few bars so I can tell if that crazy guy is tone deaf where you’re concerned. Never accept referrals from someone in love, it’s like asking for disappointment...”
It was a weird tingle that shot through him.
“Wait, I don’t...”
“Sing!”
Breathing in, he did. Not a lullaby like he had sang for Zhou Mi, but a song they had once wanted him to perform with the choir. It was maybe ten seconds of song, fighting to keep the tremble, the urge to hang up the phone, out of his voice.
“You’re good, kid. I guess Zhou Mi is always right. Come down tonight, and pick up some music and I’ll have a slot for you tomorrow. Two songs sound good?”
“Wait...” he said, a bit panicked.
Two songs? The man didn’t know him from the guy down the street, and...
“You know where we are?”
“Yes. I do.”
“See you later then.”
And the phone disconnected.
Was he supposed to be amused or disturbed that he had been railroaded into it? The man was expecting him, and if he didn’t show up, then he would look like the biggest coward on the face of the earth.
And Zhou Mi had left his number... He tried to imagine getting that phone call. Would he have been angry, amused, pressured? If he and Zhou Mi were still together, he probably would have taken it out on Zhou Mi in some way... Probably some way fun. Pinning Zhou Mi to the bed and wrestling with him, until they were panting, laughing, and hard. And then maybe he’d have let Zhou Mi pin him...
Zhou Mi had known so much about him, good and bad. Baseball took him from you, too..., the little voice wanted to say. But he knew It wasn’t true. If he had opened his mouth, asked for Zhou Mi to stay, told him that his playing was something Kyuhyun supported... They wouldn’t be in the position they were in. Of course, that didn’t absolve Zhou Mi for just assuming that Kyuhyun would reject him, that the end of them was something that was already determined in Kyuhyun’s mind.
Zhou Mi was always right? Like hell.
***
The man was tall, and wide, eyeballing Kyuhyun when he walked through the door. They tried out a couple of songs on the spot, and he gave Kyuhyun pointers on what he wanted to see him wear. Nice suite, nice tie. Show up, sing, get tossed a pittance of money and go. If people liked him, he’d be welcome back. If he flopped, well... It was on him.
He was shaky through part of the first song, knuckles white on the microphone as he struggled to keep a hundred things in mind. Look, connect to the crowd, stay with the live accompaniment, sing as though he wasn’t croaking. As he began to breathe, as people applauded, smiling up at him, he had the epiphany he had been waiting his whole life to find.
He wanted this. Wanted it more than he had wanted anything in life. The coil of satisfaction, joy, the bliss in the music... The knowledge that he could do it, without help from his father, without anything...
Even so, he only relaxed by a fraction through the next song, the sudden influx of feeling not masking his jitters. But the song, it was solid. And the owner clapped him on the back with a congratulatory smile.
“You loosen up a little, kid, and you’ve got something. You give Zhou Mi a big hug to thank him for me when you see him. Come back tomorrow, same songs. We’ll find you some new stuff.”
He nodded, wordless, almost thoughtless. He didn’t really know how he got home, only that he woke Miyun who was nearly asleep when he got there, holding her tight as she cooed to see him. He read her a story. And he sang to her.
Miyun would know, no matter what, that her father had tried, and given it everything he had.
And really, it was all due to a man she called Zhou Mimi.
***
He found a vocal coach, at the owner’s referral, because he was not perfect. There were things he didn’t know, control he had not perfected. But he sang almost every night, after the baseball games, sometimes during. He was almost always home to kiss Miyun goodnight. And the work he did for the organization, working at his father’s side as the season rolled on, it was work. He did it, understood it. But because he had those nights, it was as though he had been freed somehow. Free to do that work without being bitter, to where even his father had complimented him.
It didn’t stop his eyes from sharpening when Zhou Mi stepped up to the plate, when he jogged to the dugout. These were the things he had needed to do, he realized, as the team scored a run. He clapped, grinning down at the green and brown diamond. He didn’t have everything yet. But he was trying.
***
In the club, he smiled at a young girl in the front, chuckled internally at her stricken expression. There were families, couples, singles, all looking for a good time. A relaxing evening. And he was a part of that. The music sank into him, his fingers curling around the stand as he waited for his cue.
The words felt like part of him now, he had performed the song so many times the last couple of weeks. So as the song slipped from him, out into the waiting audience, he looked up as he always did, connecting with the faces that that heard him. Movement drew his eyes to the entry arch, white sleeves, silver ring.
His inhale was sharper than usual, when his eyes rose, and he saw Zhou Mi’s face.
***
Author: Coley Merrin
Rating: R
Pairings: Zhou Mi/Kyuhyun (main) and small amounts of Siwon/Hankyung
Genre: AU, baseball
Warning: Sexual situations.
Summary: As Zhou Mi's dreams are put in jeopardy, Kyuhyun is forced to face everything he has tried to escape.
***
Chapter One ** Chapter Two ** Chapter Three ** Chapter Four ** Chapter Five ** Chapter Six ** Chapter Seven ** Chapter Eight
***
Kyuhyun wasn’t sure why he expected a call. When they were making a decision on Zhou Mi’s future, he thought for some reason Zhou Mi himself would let him know.
Instead, he heard it from his father.
“How has your time with Zhou Mi been? Now that he’s back on the active roster, you’ll have to figure out the games by yourself.”
“I know how baseball works, Dad.”
Active roster. Active roster. It meant that he could play again. That he was healed, that...
“What’s your decision on the vice president role? It’s a great opportunity for you, Kyuhyun. You should be grateful the board is even considering this.”
“I know. I’ll make a decision soon.”
“Before the end of the season, please.”
And with a click, the other line disconnected.
“I’m glad you know when the end of the season is,” Kyuhyun said bitterly to the screen, and slid his phone closed.
But what luck, his father’s secretary remembered Miyun’s birthday, which meant she received a very tasteful savings bond to be applied to her future education. Kyuhyun was sure she’d be very grateful in about 15 years.
But they had her favorite meal, and cake. He had sang happy birthday to her, with the whole of his staff, and her nanny, before they had left him with her. They bought her little gifts, her eyes shining as she opened them.
His big gift to her had been a big red train engine that she could sit on and “drive” with, using her feet. She nearly wore herself out making laps around the living room, with a new hat on her head and a doll tucked solidly in her lap. He chased her, laughed at her, feeling sort of ridiculous that he had any regret in the day whatsoever. He could see Zhou Mi on the floor with her, reaching for her, pushing the little engine for her tired legs and helping her adjust her hat. He hadn’t expected to spend this night alone with her. It was her third birthday. And it was the third birthday that had ended up being just him and her. There wasn’t anyone else to help him take pictures, or to laugh with, or appreciate her antics with. But they did well together, he and Miyun. No matter what, he couldn’t regret being with her.
“Now that you’re big and three, I guess it’s time for big girl bedtime” he said, kissing her forehead when she tiredly came to snuggle.
“‘Kay,” she said, burrowing against his chest. “Can Zhou Mimi come and play?”
“I don’t know, baby,” he said. “Do you want a book?”
“Mmhmm...”
He skirted the destruction of wrapping paper, when the echo of the door bell startled them both, Miyun arching like a frightened cat in his arms.
“Zhou Mimi?” she gasped.
“Not necessarily... Let’s go see.”
He waved back the housekeeper with a smile, peering out the security screen.
Zhou Mi.
“Guess who,” he whispered to her, as she started to tremble in excitement.
“Zhou Mimi!” she cried loudly, when the door was open and she could see who stood there.
“Miyun! Happy birthday!”
Kyuhyun could smell him, as Zhou Mi stepped up, accepting Miyun’s eager hug and hoisting her into his arms.
“Hey,” Kyuhyun told him.
“Hey,” Zhou Mi said, skirting him with Miyun in his arms and a gift bag in his hand.
Miyun wanted down almost immediately, inspecting the bag he had brought with him. “For me?” she asked, eyes shining as though a gift from Zhou Mi was worth the world in chocolate.
“For you,” Zhou Mi confirmed, letting her take it from him.
The bear was soft and small, and Zhou Mi sat on the floor without hesitation, getting down to her level.
“Koala,” she said, touching the tall, dark nose.
“That’s right.”
“Pretty.”
“Look, it’s a special bear... It sings.”
Everything in Kyuhyun seemed to freeze as the lullaby played, Zhou Mi’s soft singing voice playing from some internal speaker. “Good night, angel,” the slightly tinny voice continued. “Sweet dreams.”
“I can’t be here to sing you to sleep,” Zhou Mi said, “But this little bear can. Will you look after him for me?”
She nodded, all brimming dark eyes as though she understood that it would be the last time she would see him in a long time. “Mimi-bear,” she croaked, christening it and squeezing the thing nearly in half.
Zhou Mi smiled and cradled her close, stroking her hair. In time, the gasping little sobs quieted as the song played one more time, and she fell asleep with her face in the crook of Zhou Mi’s neck. She looked so precious, so tiny against Zhou Mi. Zhou Mi, who wasn’t afraid to hold the child and somehow allergic to holding him.
He helped Zhou Mi lay her down, tugging the embroidered pink blanket up over her gently moving chest. She curled almost instinctively into the bear, her nose along the ridge of its, and still fast asleep. Zhou Mi stayed there for a long moment, a finger against her small hand before turning and walking with Kyuhyun to the door.
It had been nearly two days since he had seen or spoken to Zhou Mi. He let them into a private sitting room, far enough that when Kyuhyun pressed him for answers about his weird behavior, if it came to a fight, Miyun wouldn’t be disturbed.
“Thanks for coming,” Kyuhyun led off with because it was the most important thing. He was glad, for Miyun, that he had come.
“Kyuhyun...”
“You’re going?”
“With the team. We leave in four hours.”
Four hours was forever and not long enough. He reached for Zhou Mi’s hand, wanting to lead him to the bedroom. It was where they had started, and maybe where they would find equilibrium. He could forgive Zhou Mi for not calling, if they could just figure out some way to be easy around each other again. “Come with me, and...”
Zhou Mi tugged him hard, kissing him in the same manner, lips fierce and demanding and quite unlike Zhou Mi. Nothing like the seductive kiss Kyuhyun had been wanting to give. It was every inch a goodbye.
“Sorry... Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
Zhou Mi’s hands dropped abruptly, and he was closed off in a manner that Kyuhyun had never seen.
“You’re going to break it off like this?” Kyuhyun asked, his voice mild even while his heart leapt in shock. “On my daughter’s birthday.”
“What’s left for us?” Zhou Mi burst out, startling him. “You can’t stand to be involved in the sport that’s my life, and I travel with the team. You can’t even... So maybe this was a nice diversion for you, but you’d just get tired of me being involved, wouldn’t you?”
“A diversion? I let my daughter get that attached to you because of...”
“I love her,” Zhou Mi hissed. “It’s easier this way. She’ll forget about me. I won’t be here reminding her.”
“Except that she’ll hear you sing her to sleep every night!”
“I can’t do this.”
Kyuhyun shook his head, unable to believe any of it. “So go, then. Leave her even if you don’t want to. Pretend that some stupid game defines your life. Maybe you can fuck your replacement when you get back with the team.”
Zhou Mi’s face was ruddy with anger. “I would never...”
“You asked me if I slept with you to get back at my father, and then swore it wasn’t all about the sex. But you know, it was. That’s all it ever was for both of us, so now I can just find someone else to scratch that itch. You can show yourself out.”
He strode back into the body of the house, ignoring the shocked inhale. He pushed into Miyun’s room, closing the door softly and kneeling beside her bed. He rested his head beside hers, and closed his eyes, the sounds of his child sleeping sending tiny fingers of comfort to the molten, leaden area inside him.
***
The first thing he heard of Kyuhyun was three days later.
“Hey,” Donghae said. “Hey, did you hear about your boyfriend?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Zhou Mi sighed, picking up his glove.
“Okay... Anyway. So he just signed on as the team’s vice president. So he’s not just the “owner’s son” now, he’s a bigwig in the organization. You’re moving up in the world!”
“What?”
“Yeah, look...”
The printout showed Kyuhyun next to his father, a mockery of a smile on his face as they mugged for reporters. The article gave a short rundown of Kyuhyun’s educational background, and how long his family had owned the team, and that was it.
Nothing about Kyuhyun had given in, followed what his father had wanted. Just like he swore he hadn’t wanted to do.
Maybe he hadn’t given up his dreams of singing, maybe he just needed more time, maybe he really wanted Zhou Mi to stick around...
They were just more lies. Kyuhyun had made his choice.
“We’re not seeing each other any more,” Zhou Mi said, standing and handing the paper back to a startled Donghae. “So he’s moved up in the world. Not me.”
He could have picked up his phone right then and called Kyuhyun, asked him what he was thinking, what he was doing. But Kyuhyun had once told him he didn’t have that right. And Zhou Mi finally believed him. Had Kyuhyun meant to give in all along, or had Zhou Mi, as his father had intended, push him into it? Either way, it didn’t matter. It was done.
They were done.
And when Zhou Mi returned home, found the congratulatory, complimentary bottle of champagne waiting for him on his porch... It was from Kyuhyun’s father. “Job well done, with my gratitude,” the card said. For his time spent with Kyuhyun. All his time with Kyuhyun, all the kisses, and the touches, the laughter, and... All of it came down to one bottle of fancy French wine.
It went into his trash unopened.
***
It was the first home game back after the break, and the road trip. Kyuhyun took up his normal spot in the owner’s suite. There was a tasteful gathering, a celebration of Kyuhyun’s new position. Some politicians, some socialites. A few pretty young women that Kyuhyun wasn’t positive his father had invited for Kyuhyun or himself. He didn’t much care. He spoke when spoken to, and focused on the game.
It was impossible to miss Zhou Mi, tall in his dark blue home uniform. Steady, as he stood in his place beside first, waiting for the next pitch.
And as the batter swung, the ball screamed away, a few feet to Zhou Mi’s right, and Zhou Mi dove for it, instinctive, fast.
Kyuhyun was out of his seat before he knew it, most of the way standing as Zhou Mi rolled, tossing the ball to the pitcher covering first and getting an easy out.
On the big screen, Zhou Mi’s smile flashed. He wasn’t hurt. He had fallen, and was okay.
“You all right?” the man who had sat beside him asked.
“Yeah,” Kyuhyun said, sitting back down. “Great play.”
The man chuckled. “You must really love the game.”
Kyuhyun’s smile was weak, and his eyes were on Zhou Mi.
***
Kyuhyun nearly threw out the paper folded beneath his bedside lamp, thinking it was some sort of receipt he didn’t remember tossing aside. But the handwriting on it made him pause. “Blue Midnight Lounge, ask for owner.” A phone number. And signed, “Zhou Mi.”
He nearly laughed, that Zhou Mi had the audacity to leave a note like that. And likely after their fight about it, as well. Zhou Mi had believed he had a chance at it, believed so much that he had risked bringing it up again. And Kyuhyun had nearly rejected him for it. If anything, he was certain that that had contributed to Zhou Mi leaving. He didn’t question that at all. They had never recovered from Kyuhyun’s stubborn refusal.
The phone was in his hand before he could give it thought, sweat breaking out immediately as he listened to the ringing on the other side. He couldn’t do it, couldn’t dare, and yet if he didn’t, if he let the chance go, if..
“Hello?”
“Hi, this is Cho Kyuhyun, I was calling...”
The man on the other end interrupted him without thought. “Oh yeah... Zhou Mi gave me your number. I was getting around to calling you. Said you’d be interested in singing a few nights a week?”
“I...What? Oh, yes, I guess.” Why did he sound so weak, and breathless?
“Sing a bit for me,” the man demanded, though sounding as though he were doing twelve other things at the same time.
“Right... Right now? Over the phone?”
“Unless you can teleport. It’s not rocket science, kid. Just sing a few bars so I can tell if that crazy guy is tone deaf where you’re concerned. Never accept referrals from someone in love, it’s like asking for disappointment...”
It was a weird tingle that shot through him.
“Wait, I don’t...”
“Sing!”
Breathing in, he did. Not a lullaby like he had sang for Zhou Mi, but a song they had once wanted him to perform with the choir. It was maybe ten seconds of song, fighting to keep the tremble, the urge to hang up the phone, out of his voice.
“You’re good, kid. I guess Zhou Mi is always right. Come down tonight, and pick up some music and I’ll have a slot for you tomorrow. Two songs sound good?”
“Wait...” he said, a bit panicked.
Two songs? The man didn’t know him from the guy down the street, and...
“You know where we are?”
“Yes. I do.”
“See you later then.”
And the phone disconnected.
Was he supposed to be amused or disturbed that he had been railroaded into it? The man was expecting him, and if he didn’t show up, then he would look like the biggest coward on the face of the earth.
And Zhou Mi had left his number... He tried to imagine getting that phone call. Would he have been angry, amused, pressured? If he and Zhou Mi were still together, he probably would have taken it out on Zhou Mi in some way... Probably some way fun. Pinning Zhou Mi to the bed and wrestling with him, until they were panting, laughing, and hard. And then maybe he’d have let Zhou Mi pin him...
Zhou Mi had known so much about him, good and bad. Baseball took him from you, too..., the little voice wanted to say. But he knew It wasn’t true. If he had opened his mouth, asked for Zhou Mi to stay, told him that his playing was something Kyuhyun supported... They wouldn’t be in the position they were in. Of course, that didn’t absolve Zhou Mi for just assuming that Kyuhyun would reject him, that the end of them was something that was already determined in Kyuhyun’s mind.
Zhou Mi was always right? Like hell.
***
The man was tall, and wide, eyeballing Kyuhyun when he walked through the door. They tried out a couple of songs on the spot, and he gave Kyuhyun pointers on what he wanted to see him wear. Nice suite, nice tie. Show up, sing, get tossed a pittance of money and go. If people liked him, he’d be welcome back. If he flopped, well... It was on him.
He was shaky through part of the first song, knuckles white on the microphone as he struggled to keep a hundred things in mind. Look, connect to the crowd, stay with the live accompaniment, sing as though he wasn’t croaking. As he began to breathe, as people applauded, smiling up at him, he had the epiphany he had been waiting his whole life to find.
He wanted this. Wanted it more than he had wanted anything in life. The coil of satisfaction, joy, the bliss in the music... The knowledge that he could do it, without help from his father, without anything...
Even so, he only relaxed by a fraction through the next song, the sudden influx of feeling not masking his jitters. But the song, it was solid. And the owner clapped him on the back with a congratulatory smile.
“You loosen up a little, kid, and you’ve got something. You give Zhou Mi a big hug to thank him for me when you see him. Come back tomorrow, same songs. We’ll find you some new stuff.”
He nodded, wordless, almost thoughtless. He didn’t really know how he got home, only that he woke Miyun who was nearly asleep when he got there, holding her tight as she cooed to see him. He read her a story. And he sang to her.
Miyun would know, no matter what, that her father had tried, and given it everything he had.
And really, it was all due to a man she called Zhou Mimi.
***
He found a vocal coach, at the owner’s referral, because he was not perfect. There were things he didn’t know, control he had not perfected. But he sang almost every night, after the baseball games, sometimes during. He was almost always home to kiss Miyun goodnight. And the work he did for the organization, working at his father’s side as the season rolled on, it was work. He did it, understood it. But because he had those nights, it was as though he had been freed somehow. Free to do that work without being bitter, to where even his father had complimented him.
It didn’t stop his eyes from sharpening when Zhou Mi stepped up to the plate, when he jogged to the dugout. These were the things he had needed to do, he realized, as the team scored a run. He clapped, grinning down at the green and brown diamond. He didn’t have everything yet. But he was trying.
***
In the club, he smiled at a young girl in the front, chuckled internally at her stricken expression. There were families, couples, singles, all looking for a good time. A relaxing evening. And he was a part of that. The music sank into him, his fingers curling around the stand as he waited for his cue.
The words felt like part of him now, he had performed the song so many times the last couple of weeks. So as the song slipped from him, out into the waiting audience, he looked up as he always did, connecting with the faces that that heard him. Movement drew his eyes to the entry arch, white sleeves, silver ring.
His inhale was sharper than usual, when his eyes rose, and he saw Zhou Mi’s face.
***
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2009-10-13 07:58 pm (UTC)(But I love it still. asdlkfj it's going to be done so soon! I'll have to reread it as a whole then. ♥)
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Date: 2009-10-13 09:53 pm (UTC)<3 Thank you~
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Date: 2009-10-13 08:10 pm (UTC)seriously, you have to be one of my most favorite writers everrrrr. Thanks so much for sharing this awesome with us so consistently ♥!!
and gjaiodremfkle your QMI. so good :D I just want to keep reading it and reading it.
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Date: 2009-10-13 09:59 pm (UTC)Aww. I really love to write and share, so I'm really happy you're enjoying it. <3<3
Oh those boys. <3
<3 Thank you~
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Date: 2009-10-13 08:14 pm (UTC)This chapter was heartbreaking ohboy. I hope there will be a happy ending, I don't want to see them sad.
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Date: 2009-10-13 10:10 pm (UTC)Happy ending, it has to be. <3 I can't do it any other way. ;_; <3
<3 Thank you~
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Date: 2009-10-13 11:28 pm (UTC)Yay for happy endings! :D♥
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Date: 2009-10-13 08:33 pm (UTC)you write zhou mi like the sweetheart he is and i love you for that. ♥
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Date: 2009-10-13 10:12 pm (UTC)I...love Zhou Mi so much. ;___; So sweet. He deserves all the happiness there is... *_* <3
<3 Thank you~
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Date: 2009-10-13 08:54 pm (UTC)MiMi-bear breaks my hearrrrtttt! Awww cute sweet little Miyun loves Zhou Mi so much! <3
I'm so so SO excited for the last chapter!!!
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Date: 2009-10-13 10:21 pm (UTC)Oh, Mimi-bear. <3 *__* They love each other...
Tomorrow~ :)
<3 Thank you~
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Date: 2009-10-13 09:07 pm (UTC)God I love this story!!!!!!!1
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Date: 2009-10-13 10:21 pm (UTC)<3 Thank you~
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Date: 2009-10-13 09:16 pm (UTC)But gosh, Zhou Mi. KYUHYUNNNN. I mean. OMG why am I so incoherent now. Okay. :/
I will never tire of Kyuhyun singing. And the fact that he's trying so hard to lead his life with baseball as the team's vice-president made me sad. He's supposed to sing, and sing only~
But OMG ZHOU MIIIII, that koala bear you gave Miyun. And Kyuhyun sharp words at him... ;__; And, and. I dunno, this chapter is so sad. :(
But I really enjoyed the ride. And it's the second last chapter already? Sighs. THANK YOU for writing. Seriously. ♥
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Date: 2009-10-13 10:32 pm (UTC)Kyu is definitely needing to find his direction... he's getting there. *_* If he finds himself, then maybe... Maybe he can find Zhou Mi, too...
The koala. ;_; It sings... And Kyu, so shocked when he was wondering how to fix things... Not good with rejection, that one. :\ :\ :( :( Last one tomorrow~ I'm so glad you've enjoyed it. <3
<3 Thank you~
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Date: 2009-10-13 09:17 pm (UTC)OMG Kyu went to the club!!!! *__* i thought the owner would be Yesung, but after the description i thought about Kangin lol
Zhoumi O___O omg...
NOOOOOOOOOOOO LAST CHAPTER!!! This AU is so cute, it needs more
smutchapters!!! XDDDD I want more Miyun cuteness too .___.no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 10:37 pm (UTC)Kyu finally took initiative. Goes to get what he wants. >.<
Last chapter already tomorrow. :( :( Oh Miyun... She'll have both of them. <3 *___*
<3 Thank you~
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Date: 2009-10-13 09:25 pm (UTC)There had better be one HELL of a reunion chapter coming up D:
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Date: 2009-10-13 10:39 pm (UTC)<3 Thank you~
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Date: 2009-10-13 10:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 10:57 pm (UTC)CLAIM THIS SPOT!!!
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Date: 2009-10-14 01:59 am (UTC)So QMi are officially apart, yes, for that, I hate you *sobs hysterically at the break up*.....
But despite the official break-up, Kyuhyun still thinks about Zhou Mi and vice versa and he FINALLY starts living out his REAL dream. Again, courtesy of Zhou Mimi. So I love you for that...*squeals in joy*
But then you left a damn huge cliffhanger.
And I am just about ready to kill you right now.
OK. OK. I won't kill you because otherwise this story would never end, but seriously.
TENSION MUCH????????
Oh my God...I have never felt this excited or tense about something since my high school entrance exam results came out....
YOU HAVE GOT TO UPDATE THE LAST CHAPTER VERY, VERY, VERY SOON BEFORE i DIE OUT OF CURIOUSITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But honestly, I think the break-up was necessary (rather than unavoidable), because Kyuhyun needed time to think things through for himself, before he could offer himself to Zhou Mi. And Zhou Mi, I guess, would just have to wait until Kyuhyun climbs out of his little secure shell and opens up to Zhou Mi and see sense. Well, he finally did. And I'm glad. Thus I sincerely hope they reunite and create the happy family picture I know Miyun is hoping for....
*waves QMi banner again with glowstick and candle*
PS: I really dun hate you, please dun take that personally. I love your writing so much, I could never hate you *hugz*
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Date: 2009-10-13 11:10 pm (UTC)<3333
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Date: 2009-10-14 12:35 am (UTC)I am suppose to be doing math homework/science project/literature paper/practicing piano/studying for midterms right now. But I just had to check if you updated. And you did. And I love it.
The scene between Mi and Miyun was so sweet and cute. And a bit heartbreaking, since he was saying goodbye. The breakup between Kyu and Zhoumi was just heartbreaking as well. They both want each other, so bad. But there's still that doubt they each have at whether or not this relationship is going to work. Ugh. Love good angst. *cries*
That bear Zhoumi gave to Miyun isn't just a present to Miyun. I also see it a present to Kyu. Though they may be apart, Zhoumi's voice through the bear is an affirmation that Zhoumi's heart may always be with Kyuhyun. <3 <3
I am so glad that Kyu gave singing at the club a try. And found his dream. I cannot wait to see what happens with Zhoumi at the club. Cannot wait until the update tomorrow.
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Date: 2009-10-14 01:55 am (UTC)But... it was adorable, I will give you that. Despite the whole lack of happy endings. That makes me sad, you know. But oh well. I am still happy in that I know that there will be happy Qmi!! :D
I really loved Miyun's party, and how it showed that the only real constant in both her life and Kyuhyun's is each other. I was like 'Awwww' ;__; poor little kid, not having a big big birthday party. But I'm sure that all will work out for her!! :)
Thank you very much... I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter!! <3<3
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Date: 2009-10-14 02:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 05:45 am (UTC)I read the whole thing in a few hours and now I NEED MORE!!
Aside from my urgent need for the rest of the story...You're really good at writing. I really like the plot too. And oh my gosh the pairing is like my new otp. xD I love it so much. I love everything about it!
Thanks for writing/sharing!
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Date: 2009-10-14 05:48 am (UTC)they should be together and not like this.
Zhou Mi went to hear Kyu sing....
*waits for next update*
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Date: 2009-10-14 01:22 pm (UTC)when I read 'silver ring' the first thing I thought was ENGAGED
YOU ENGAGED MIMI OFF!! and then I realized that it was his ring'
as in the one thats supposed to be there so phew, safe.
cant wait for the next chapter ;3 (the last chapter?)
let's see if dreams come true after all...
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Date: 2009-10-14 02:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 03:39 pm (UTC)And he did it, he seriously sang... and will continue singing. He's doing it and loving it and it's making him happy. :D
Zhou Mi's there! Yes!! XD Make something happen Mi! ♥
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Date: 2010-06-15 01:44 am (UTC)God woman, you can write so so well.