Here for Fun

the smile on jesse's face faltered almost immediately. it wasn't because kevin had apologized again, it wasn't even because of the joke he'd made about being distracting. it was because he'd watched the change happen right in front of him, watched the confidence kevin had worked so hard to rebuild over the course of the drive quietly disappear after a single careless assumption. jesse hadn't even realized how the question might've sounded until he'd seen the look on kevin's face. "kevin⸺" his name left him instinctively, accompanied by a small step forward, but before he could follow after him, dayoung spoke again. "wait." jesse glanced back over his shoulder, only to find her looking in the direction kevin had gone, a thoughtful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "he's really cute." the comment caught him completely off guard. dayoung looked back at him, one brow lifting ever so slightly. "is he single?" she asked lightly. "you should introduce us sometime. or better yet, set us up." for a second, jesse simply stared at her. of all the things he'd expected her to say, that hadn't even crossed his mind. his eyes instinctively flicked toward the car where kevin had disappeared before settling back on dayoung again. a quiet laugh escaped him, though it came more from surprise than amusement. "i ..." he hesitated just long enough to choose his words carefully. "he's seeing somebody." jesse said flatly. "and it's pretty serious, they live together. i think it's heading towards marriage." but kevin was still young, too young. he had his whole life ahead of him and jesse could be patient when he wanted to be. another glance drifted back toward the car befor ehe gently held the keys out to dayoung. "here," he offered them with an apologetic smile. "try not to lock yourself out again." dayoung accepted the keys with a sheepish laugh, immediately slipping her finger through the small key ring. "i'll do my best, oppa!"

Kevin sat in his seat, trying to not let his thoughts consume him. He sunk lower and lower, blinking his eyes rapidly to avoid crying. It was dumb to get this upset. It had been a throw away comment by someone who meant no harm. Letting this swallow him up would only ruin the night. So instead he closed his eyes and tilted his head back, taking a few deep breaths. He wasn't sure how long it took for Jesse to re-appear, but the second he heard the other's voice he sat up a bit straighter. He was about to start talking when Jesse reached out to touch him. He leaned forward, into the other's touch and let out a soft breath. "It's okay. I'm okay. I promise." He knew it was probably hard to believe based on how volatile he had been so far, but he really did want to prove to Jesse that he wouldn't always be someone that the man had to worry about. Hearing that she had called him cute and asked about him made him laugh. He leaned back against the seat, looking over at the other. He reached out and took the other's hand into his own. "I know. I have you. And it hurt to hear her ask, but I know she didn't mean anything by it. I just needed some time to get over it." He gave the other's hand a soft squeeze. "Well at least she doesn't seem to have a crush on you. That does make me feel a lot better." He gave the other a small smile. "But we don't have to focus on any of that now. It's just us for the rest of the night so lets just enjoy it." Brushing his hair back, Kevin looked at Jesse slowly. After such a rough night, it was nice to know the other was so ready to help him out and take care of him. "I love you, Jesse."

Jax couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him. One of those quiet laughs that slipped out before he could stop it. “You really have no idea, do you?” He shook his head as he set the scallions down and started opening cabinets. Every shelf was organized. Every spice alphabetized. Matching glass containers, even the oils seemed to be arranged by type. He shook his head in disbelief, “I think your grocery person might love you a little.” His fingers skimmed over jars until he found sesame oil, then soy sauce. Perfect. At Jiho’s question, Jax glanced over his shoulder with a sly smile. “I cook as needed really.” He shrugged “My mom worked a lot when I was growing up.” Jax didn’t know why he was sharing so much. “So I learned pretty young. Started with boxed mac and cheese.” He snorted. “Burned it somehow. Still don’t know how.” He pulled chicken from the refrigerator, setting it on the counter before reaching for garlic “Eventually I got better. Jax zoned out for a couple of beats prepping what was in front of him. “I actually like it,” he admitted. “It’s one of the few things nobody expects from me.” He glanced sideways at Jiho with an amused smile. “People assume because I’m… well…” He gestured vaguely toward himself. “That I either live off takeout or survive exclusively on protein shakes and expensive coffee.” His nose wrinkled dramatically. “I don’t even like protein shakes.”

When the other laughed, he felt his cheeks burn. It was embarrassment, but not shame. It felt casual. Nice. He liked that they could joke and laugh. "Hardly. I just pay them exceptionally well. I've found that generosity often leads to good things. He watched the other with a small smile. "That must have been lonely. But you seem like the kind of person who had all kind of friends. You're... you're very charming." He didn't know why the other was so open to sharing, but Jiho liked it. He enjoyed learning more about Jax. His life was so different from Jiho's, but that only managed to interest the CEO even more. He noted the change in the other's tone, feeling suddenly embarrassed about his comment. He hadn't meant anything by it, but then it wouldn't be his first time failing to understand basic social etiquette. "I'm sorry. I didn't... I wasn't trying to suggest anything. I didn't mean clients. I just meant that you're very handsome. I imagine guys are throwing themselves at you." Of course even then, wasn't that just as transactional? People would take Jax to dinner and expect something in return? Was that not exactly what he had done? He wondered how Jax saw him. Was he was any different from all those other people?

jesse hadn't actually expected kevin to agree. for a moment, he just looked at him, almost as if he needed to make sure he'd heard kevin correctly. he had been prepared for kevin to stay in the car, maybe insisting that he didn't want to interrupt or make things awkward, and honestly, jesse would've understood. it was probably the easier choice. less complicated. less risk of kevin having to stand out there and watch the same friendly interactions that had caused so much tension earlier in the night. but instead, kevin had decided to come with him. and despite himself, a small smile tugged at jesse's lips. he had a pretty good idea why. maybe kevin wanted to put a face to the person he'd spent the entire night worrying about. maybe he wanted the reassurance that there was nothing between them beyond acting and friendship. or maybe, in his own quiet way, this was kevin reminding himself that jesse wasn't someone who was slipping away from him. that even if nobody esle knew what they were, jesse had still chosen him. jesse couldn't blame him for that. "okay," he murmured, amusement softening his expression as he stepped out of the car. "i wasn't expecting you to actually say yes." he didn't tease him for it, though. there was no judgment in his voice, only a fond understanding as he locked the car behind them. his fingers brushed against kevin's briefly as they started toward the entrance, the tough lingering for just a second before he reluctantly let go. not because he wanted to, but because old habits and constant caution had become second nature by now. there were cameras around the building. there were people who could recognize them. there were too many things that could go wrong if they forgot themselves for even a moment. but the brief contact was enough. by the time they reached the entrance, dayoung had already noticed them. the moment recognition crossed her face, her shoulders visibly relaxed, and before jesse could even say anything, she was hurrying toward them. "oppa!" the familiar name came with the same bright energy she always carried on set, and jesse barely had time to react before she was reaching for his arm, holding onto him as if she had been stranded outside for hours instead of a matter of minutes. "i thought i was going to be stuck out here forever," she complained, a small pout forming as she looked up at him. "do you know how many things i was thinking about. i was already trying to figure out who i could call."

Kevin noticed the other's surprise and suddenly felt embarrassed. Should he have said no to coming along? But then Jesse was smiling warmly and it started to make him feel better. It was so strange being in this kind of position. It was hard to know how to act, but Kevin was trying his best to find some sense of normalcy. Maybe the problem had always been the distance between his and Jesse's worlds. Surely if he met Jesse's costar and saw that there was nothing between them, that would make the voices in his head quiet down, right? It seemed like his best chance to try and be a normal boyfriend. Following the other, Kevin quickly got out of the car and gave a small laugh. "Yeah, that's fair. I wasn't expecting me to say yes either. I just thought... I don't actually know what I thought. I guess I just don't want to be away from you right now." God, that must have sounded so cheesy. The feeling of the other's hand against his own, even for just a second, sent shivers down his spine. It was maybe the closest they had ever gotten to holding hands in public. He was about to say something about it when he heard a woman calling out. He glanced up, noticing the way she immediately reached for Jesse and was touching him. Kevin knew he was stupid, but almost immediately he felt annoyed. It was like he wasn't even there. Made to feel completely invisible next to his own boyfriend. It was humiliating. When the attention did finally shift to him, Kevin stood up a little straighter. He was trying to figure out how to introduce himself when she asked if he was an assistant. Yeah, that would make sense. Why else would Jesse be with another guy this late at night? He tried not to let the question get to him, but he could already feel himself deflating. Still, he did his best to keep an easy smile, reaching out to take her hand. "Hi. Sorry about that. I can be a bit distracting at times. I tend to ask for a lot of attention." He tried to keep it light and casual, making an easy self-deprecating joke. He wasn't sure how else to respond. "Sorry." For all the talk of Jesse telling him to not apologize, he couldn't help himself. "I'm... I'll go wait in the car." He glanced over at Jesse, regretting his choice to tag along already. Looking back at the actress, he gave another small nod. "Nice to meet you, Dayoung." With that he quickly retreated, heading back to the car. He knew he shouldn't be upset. She didn't mean anything by her question. But that didn't make it any easier to stomach. No, it only made it all the more painful just how reasonable her question was. For most people it was easier to see him as an assistant rather than to ever think he could be anything more to Jesse. Kevin tried his best not to dwell on her comment. He didn't want to let it ruin his mood or the mood of the night.

Minseok ducked his head as the other snapped at him. He rubbed his arm gently, not sure if he should say anything else. It felt like everything he said just made it worse. The more that Junghwa continued, the more he shrunk in on himself. He wanted to run away. To leave and pretend tonight had never happened, that he hadn't somehow managed to fuck up the most important friendship in his life, but he couldn't. He wouldn't just leave the other on his own, especially when he had already ordered him food. So instead he just sat with his head down, trying his best not to cry. Crying just seemed to piss off Junghwa more and that was the last thing he wanted. Getting a text that the food had arrived, Minseok quickly got up to get it, bringing it back and setting it on the table for Junghwa. "You should eat."

You don't have to do anything for me that you don't want. Even the domestic stuff. "Jiho," he said softly, waiting until the other's eyes met his. "I want to. That's the whole point." He held his gaze for a long moment, "I'm not going to offer to make you food because I feel obligated. I'm offering because I *want* to feed you. I want to see what you look like when you're relaxed and full and happy." He paused, a small smile tugging at his lips. "And I want to raid that ridiculously stocked kitchen because I'm genuinely curious what a man who hires someone to buy groceries considers an essential pantry item." Jax's smile turned into a full grin as he quickly pecked the man’s cheek. “Do you have any allergies?” Jax cooed, untangling himself from Jiho's arms and rising from the couch. He held out his hand, an invitation. "Come keep me company. You can sit and judge my knife skills." Jax took the other's hand if it was given and raised an eyebrow, leading them toward the kitchen. "Can you cook?"

Jiho listened to the other's words and gave a small nod. It felt strange to hear that Jax would want to do any of this for him, but he wanted to believe it. "Okay. I get it. I'll stop being so nervous then. I just wanted to make sure that you're enjoying this as much as I am." He was happy to see Jax smile and quickly got up to follow the other. He walked after the other man, heading towards the kitchen. "No allergies. I'm pretty lucky that way. I've always been able to eat pretty much anything I wanted without issue. Even stuff like spiciness doesn't really bother me." He had always been a relatively easy person to get along with. He could eat anything and he was good at picking up whatever hobbies his friends had. He liked to be easy. The last thing Jiho ever wanted was to burden someone with his existence. "Cook? Not really. I mean I can boil noodles and that's about it." He gave a small, sheepish smile at the other.

jesse's gaze flicked away from the road long enough to catch the way kevin had turned toward the window, the quiet in the car suddenly feeling different than it had only moments ago. it wasn't awkward, exactly. just heavier. he knew that silence well enough to recognize what was sitting behind it, and by the time kevin spoke, jesse had already guessed where his thoughts had gone. a small shake of his head came before kevin had even finished trying to defend him. "no." his answer was gentle but immediate, leaving no room for argument. "don't do that." his fingers tightened around kevin's where their hands were intertwined, his thumb brushing slowly across the other's knuckles. "i decided to lie." his voice remained calm, matter-of-fact rather than frustrated. "you didn't ask me to. you didn't pressure me into it. i could've come downstairs and checked the car the second she texted me, or i could've just told her i wasn't sure where they were. i had about ten different options." a faint, sheepish smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "instead i apparently chose the one that created extra paperwork for future jesse." a quiet laugh escaped him, more at himself than anything else. "so if i look like an idiot because i overcomplicated something that should've taken thirty seconds ..." he gave kevin's hand another gentle squeeze before glancing over at him again. "that's on me. i'm a grown man. i don't get to blame my own decisions on my boyfriend just because he happens to be very distracting." the teasing note at the end was deliberate, offered with an easy smile that softened everything proceeding it. he wanted kevin to hear the joke for what it was: permission to stop carrying the weight of something jesse had never placed on his shoulders in the first place. his smile only warmed when kevin admitted he wanted breakfast food. "breakfast for dinner?" jesse echoed. "i can absolutely get behind that." his brows lifted thoughtfully as his attention returned to the road. then kevin apologized, jesse's smile softened as kevin's lips brushed against the back of his hand. "you're forgiven," he murmured, the words carrying more affection than amusement. "not that there was much to forgive in the first place." the rest of the drive passed comfortably, conversation drifting toward breakfast food as the city lights slipped by outside the windows. it didn't take long before they pulled up to the familiar apartment complex, the glow from the entrance spilling out across the sidewalk. sure enough, a lone figure stood just outside the front doors with her arms folded tightly against the night air, shifting her weight from one foot to the other while periodically glancing down the street. "there she is," jesse said, easing the car toward the curb. he pulled to a stop a few feet away, putting the car in park before reaching for the key ring resting in the center console. though the windshield, he could already see dayoung looking up, her expression changing almost immediately as she realized it was him. before opening the door, he turned back toward kevin. "you wanna come with me," he asked, lifting the keys slightly between his fingers, "or are you staying in the car?"

Kevin was surprised when the other called him out on his spiraling. It was embarrassing to know that the other could read him so well, but at the same time it felt nice. It felt good to be known. It made him feel loved. "Sorry. I just..." He paused and let out a small laugh. "I don't know know why I'm like this. I know it's silly. Thanks for putting up with me." He gave the other a small smile. He really didn't want to bring down the mood anymore. He felt like he had been doing it all night. Turning back to face the other, Kevin made a note to himself, trying to be more upbeat. He really did want to have a good night with the other. "And for what it's worth, it meant a lot to me. The lying. I know it's kind of silly. Maybe it's even petty. But knowing you'd pick me first really makes me happy." He wasn't sure if he should admit to it so clearly, but if nothing else, Jesse deserved the honesty of how Kevin was feeling. "So basically I'll help with any paperwork that future Jesse has to do. I owe it to him. He winked playfully at the other man. Squeezing the other's hand back, Kevin felt himself start to relax as they talked about dinner. He beamed brightly at the other and leaned across the center, leaning against the other's shoulder. "I want waffles and bacon. I think we have stuff for that at home. It's been forever since I've gotten a chance to cook. I almost never have the time." He spent so much time studying that he barely ever had time to do anything other than work or hanging out with Jesse. Maybe that was part of the problem. He should spend more time finding hobbies. That or getting back into his music. That was what he really wanted, but it felt hard to create when he was always so stressed out. As they finally arrived, Kevin pulled back into his own seat. He saw her and the knot in his stomach grew, but he swallowed down those feelings. Looking over at the other, Kevin tried to figure out if it was better to get out of the car or not. In the end, Kevin gave a small nod. "I'll come." Maybe if he met her, he would see that there was nothing between them. It would help him stop being so jealous if he could just see the two of them being friends. Stepping out of the car, Kevin shoved his hands in his pockets. He trailed after the other, half-hiding behind him. He didn't want either one to feel like he was intruding.

Taemin nodded his head. He knew how lucky he was to have the free time that he did. Not needing to sleep as much as a normal person made it so much easier for him to find the time to do just about anything he wanted. "I suppose it is." He didn't want to sound like he was bragging or anything like that. He knew how tough life must be for the other and he truly did feel bad. He wished he could do more to cheer the man up, but he had never been the best at social interaction.