where we stop nobody knows
670w / slight hyuken / hyukbin / g
this is a preview/side-drabble of an upcoming fic; based on Big Hero 6~ happy birthday to s!
The bell tinkles when Sanghyuk opens the door, signalling his entry. He holds the door for Hongbin, pulling him in with his other hand. It is much quieter inside, the sound of traffic and chaos muffled by the glass. The restaurant is empty, save for the lone figure walking around in the kitchen. As Hongbin narrowly avoids knocking over a vase, a voice calls out, matter-of-factly.
âWeâre closed at the moment, if you didnât know.â
Sanghyuk huffs and strides past the counter, Hongbin shuffling closely behind. He pokes his head through the cut out in the wall- the little window to pass dishes through- smiling creepily at Jaehwan who is busy chopping up tomatoes. Hongbin, who finally recognises Jaehwan, speaks.
âHello there.â
Jaehwan looks up when he hears a voice, and upon seeing Sanghyuk eyeing him weirdly through the cut out, he shrieks, almost dropping his knife. Sanghyuk withdraws from the window, laughing loudly. Jaehwan takes a deep breath as if it will calm him some, and puts the knife down. He takes off his hat, stepping towards the door, thinking of giving Sanghyuk a piece of his mind. As soon as he opens the door though, he gets a face full ofâ marshmallow?
Jaehwan splutters and steps back. He sends a glare to Sanghyuk, who is laughing so hard, he needs to lean on the counter for support.
âHello there.â
Jaehwan is startled again, hearing the voice coming from right next to him. He stares wide-eyed at the giant marshmallow thing as if it will give him answers. It only stares back, face unchanging. Obviously. The face is drawn on!
âYour inflatable pillow talks, Sanghyuk, and itâs scaring me,â Jaehwan says carefully.
Sanghyuk wipes the tears from the corners of his eyes, laughter reduced to occasional giggles. He takes a deep breath, fanning his face, then smiles at Jaehwan like a kid at the toy shop.
âThis is Hongbin,â Sanghyuk announces, gesturing to the thing. âHeâs my assistant, of a sort.â He grins sheepishly, unsure of how to really explain it.
Hongbin seems to pick up on it, though, and steps forward, (it moves) filling in for Sanghyuk. âHello, stranger. I am Hongbin. I am an automated assistant. My goal is to aid in Sanghyukâs wellbeing.â
It sticks its arm out, and Jaehwan registers that it wants to shake hands. He shakes Hongbinâs hand, itâs like shaking hands with a glove, and he swears that the smile drawn on Hongbinâs face turns up a little more.
âSo this is your new invention, I assume?â Jaehwan asks, retracting his hand and turning away.
Sanghyuk, who is eating a muffin possibly stolen from the cabinet, (Jaehwan makes a note to tell him off about it later) quickly chews his last bite and says, through a mouth full of cake, âyes!â
He swallows, then beams at Jaehwan, excitement radiating off him. âTook me a few months but Iâm finally done!â Sanghyuk flails on the spot, inches away from knocking over a cookie jar. Jaehwan winces.
âSo, what is heâ a moving and talking marshmallow?â Jaehwan asks, giving Hongbin a once-over. Sanghyuk chuckles and Jaehwan decides against telling him about the chocolate smears at the corners of his mouth.
âNo, heâs a robot,â Sanghyuk points out. âA squishy robot.â
Hongbin has his face pressed up against the glass, and Jaehwan, from the other side of the tank, almost chokes on his candy bar. He sidles up to Hongbin, looking through the glass too, trying to guess what is so interesting about his fish tank that has Hongbin so occupied. After three minutes, he gets a little bored watching his fish swim around, so he nudges Hongbinâs side.
âWhat are those?â Hongbin asks before Jaehwan himself can ask.
Jaehwan glances at the tank again and deadpans, âthose are goldfish.â
Hongbin tilts his head, curious. He stares through the tank a beat longer before he speaks.
âI do not detect any traces of gold in this water container.â
Jaehwan promptly smacks himself in the face.













