❤

“Mmmmmmmm...”

Min Soo’s concentrating-- awfully hard, actually. He doesn’t say anything for what seemed to be a solid minute (and it actually was, but he’s not the one keeping count, now was he?) before actually showing signs of... well, actual life. There’s a hand, poised close to his face with fingers that quietly drummed away at his cheek.

Lips rubbed together as the thoughtful hum still had yet to reach its end. It’s easy to say that he’s completely forgotten that he was holding up this man (he didn’t even give him a chance to give a name, yet, but that’ll come soon. ... well, it’s going to have to, one way or another.) but, truth be told, he was fully aware. That was part of the “why” he’s thinking so hard on this and, in a sense, taking it a little too seriously.

With his other hand on his hip, Min Soo began tapping his foot but not out of any desperate sort of plea for a “hint”; that’s impossible to do, anyway, considering the matter at hand. Instead, it’s enough to aid him in blowing off some steam.

“Mmmmmmmmmm...!!”

With eyebrows coming down to nearly connect in a tight furrow, the idol gave a huff before opening his eyes. Focusing on the man in an almost intense stare, Min Soo pursed his lips.

“...”

Then he deflated-- exactly like a balloon that’s been popped.

“Okay. I think I bit off more than I could chew, but I know... I know--”

A sudden spark glinted within his eyes, directly locking eyes with the blond. Without warning, he squints and extends a hand forward to point its index exactly at his face.

“Binnie’s default state of being is worried,” Rohan quips, lips settling into a small smile.  At least his hunch was correct–his cousin and their fiancé often acted as a single unit, scarily in-sync with one another (he’s glad they have one another, though. subin–his dearest binnie–deserved someone like min soo).  “If they weren’t worried about me, I’d be worried.”

It was simply the nature of their relationship, how it has always been since they were young children.  Subin was older and softer, in possession of a gentle soul and bleeding heart.  They always worried about Rohan, often combining forces with their grandmother to make him see reason over particularly stressful situations the mangaka found himself in (he’s pretty sure binnie was grateful their hair was naturally light, easier to hide the grey hairs rohan most definitely caused; saved money on hair dye).  While the concerns were appreciated (more than he’d ever admit–it just… felt nice to be cared for.), the questions were… not exactly unwelcomed (rohan likes minnie, he does. he wishes binnie didn’t send him in their steed, though–a phone call would have been less… invasive. maybe easier to handle without having to look him in the eyes.) but not exactly wanted, either.

(it’s uncomfortable. the whole situation is uncomfortable. he’s not saying he doesn’t enjoy minnie’s company–because he does!–but the topic at hand is still something relatively new, something… fragile and delicate. he still doesn’t even know how to talk about it in his own god damn head. it’s confusing. his head hurts already and they haven’t even begun.)

Everything about Min Soo screams anxious–from his speech to his body language–and Rohan’s smile drops with a sigh.  He needs to quit getting stuck in his own head.  It’s only hindering the progression (only stalling the inevitable.) of the conversation, only causing the other to feel like an unwanted guest in a home that he should always feel welcomed in.

“It’s… it’s fine, Minnie,” Tired hands (is he shaking? perhaps just a little bit–he doesn’t remember the last he slept, too busy engrossed in his work.) move swiftly to fix his cup of coffee, his back turned towards the only for a short period of time before he rejoins him at the table. “I appreciate the concern, even if I–ah–don’t necessarily show it right now.”

Gaze fixates itself upon the mug held in his grasp, the near pitch-black liquid (they were out of milk, he’d have to remember to add it to this week’s grocery list.) reflecting his exhausted expression back.  Where does he begin?  How does he begin?  Is there, really, any coherent and cohesive way of explaining his newfound… relationship?

(he’s thankful that minnie is the way that he is–patient and kind. nonjudgmental. rohan has to remind himself that he’s here out of the love binnie and he both harbor for rohan, whether or not he thinks he’s all that deserving of it.)

Another deep sigh is exhaled, the artist forcibly releasing the tension held in his shoulders.  A good enough start, he supposes, is to begin by answering the question asked of him.

“I’m–yeah, I’m okay with it.”  A pause, lips twitching into a grimace. “I think. It’s… uh, it’s still a lot to process, but I guess this was a possibility I didn’t consider at first when I–”

(–kidnapped–adultnapped?–a dead killer from the morgue?)

“–Decided to take on this responsibility.”

The conversation lulls for a brief moment, Min Soo intaking the proffered information as Rohan debates how best to proceed from here.  He raises his mug, taking a cautious sip (it’s still too hot, but he drinks it anyways.) before speaking again.

“If it’s any consolation, he’s, uhm, surprisingly… a good partner?” A wince accompanies his words, as if regretting them the moment they slipped past his lips.  Oh well, too late now. “Surprisingly thoughtful? I guess, for a mur–for a former murderer?”

(he almost said obedient, but he… doesn’t think minnie necessarily wants to hear about all of that. that’s an entirely different conversation, and one that he’s not exactly eager to have.)

“The whole situation is difficult, at best, to explain and understand; I’ll admit it’s… complicated and odd but I–” Hesitation cuts his voice off, forced calm expression faltering for a moment before he reels it back together.

He (likes it.) doesn’t want to dive into complicated emotions.

“–I think, all things considered, it’s going fairly… well?”

Rohan said it was fine, but, somehow, Min Soo found it difficult to believe. He doesn’t say anything, however, and can only nod in affirmation.

There’s something that was so... gut-wrenching about being unable to believe someone that you so desperately wanted to. This couldn’t have been the first time (he’s having some trouble remembering, but he wants to think that this isn’t the first time. they’re friends, aren’t they? friends have their fair share of disagreements, don’t they?) that something like this has happened, but Min Soo couldn’t seem to recount any such memories. As if to voice this thought without words, the corners of his lips trembled vaguely-- twitching briefly before stopping.

He almost frowned but had managed to catch himself to, instead, keep his lips into a state more accustomed to neutrality. Hands quietly pulled towards one another, entwining loosely as they hung limply between slightly spread legs. Min Soo’s eyes quietly lowered their gaze, settling for peering down at the space (it’s as if he’s unsure if he wants to meet rohan’s gaze, and he’s going to say he’s doing it just to spare rohan the discomfort of being looked at.) in-between his feet. Slowly, though, his attention brings itself up towards his fingers.

He doesn’t know why. He starts rubbing his lips together.

He doesn’t know why he does that, either.

“Former murderer,” he found himself muttering, too slow to catch himself saying it aloud. Eyebrows gradually drew together into a faint knit, vocalizing his minor difficulty (didn’t the guy murder over thirty women? he didn’t think it’d be that easy... would it?) in understanding such a change. “Yeah... it’s, uh, stuff like that that makes us worried, I guess...”

Admittedly, he’s been trying to pass all of this off as some sort of sick joke-- he doesn’t mean to in order to cope with it, just... rather, he doesn’t know what to think of it, otherwise. It almost doesn’t seem real (he always thought rohan would go the rest of his life single -- which thank god he didn’t, that would make min soo feel sympathy pains every time he saw him -- or he’d find someone who was... um... a little less like the fabled morioh murderer.), but how was he supposed to express that?

If he had said anything relating to it, he doubted it’d get him very far. Already, he’s imagining Rohan staring at him with a look not quite like disbelief but not reaching full cooperation, either. It’s something like that that simply inspired Min Soo to keep his mouth shut.

Honestly, though, he doesn’t really know what he expected out of Rohan. He wants to trust him (and he does. why shouldn’t he?), but it’s the... other side that he doesn’t trust-- if that made sense?

“... Ah, no... wait-- that’s... that’s not what I meant, sorry.”

This was frustrating but just a little bit.

“I... uh, I’m just...” he paused, feeling his tongue start to tie itself into knots before he could even try. At that, he let his head hang from his neck and soon shook his head -- hard -- once and then twice. “I-- y’know what? Hold on, I’m restarting!”

Quietly but with as much confidence Min Soo had managed to muster, he raised his head and attempted to Rohan square in the eye. He firmed his lips together, forming a line that’s on the verge of frowning but never quite reaching it. A huff escaped, but it’s not meant out of malice (not even out of frustration, contrary to popular belief. it’s just... hard talking about these sorts of things, is all.) and, rather, a small way of expressing himself without putting it into words.

“Rohan, it’s... it’s okay if you’re-- you’re stressed out about this.”

His fingers gave a small twitch, and it’s encouraged the idol to pull one of his hands free in order to gently place it on top of the table. Without saying anything of the sort, he’s offered it towards the other (from one creative to another, so to say.) as a means of comfort-- that is, if he wants to take it. He doesn’t dare to try and force such a thing onto Rohan; he knew better than to do that.

“It’s... alright if you don’t know what to do-- how to feel.”

“I mean... I don’t think I’d know what to do -- which isn’t saying much but...! You know what I mean -- because it’s just... it’s such a niche thing, I guess? It’s... not... like everyone would be willing to do what you’re doing, and that’s... that’s saying something, I think.” His gaze wavers a little bit, scared (he doesn’t want to back down, but there’s that little voice in the back of his head suggesting it, anyway.) at how much worse he could be making this entire situation. “You... You shouldn’t have to do this, you know... It’s... I know you know this, but I’m gonna say it anyway--”

Finally, Min Soo’s stare falters. Almost nonchalantly does it lower, peering down and over to the right with its intentions clear: avoiding Rohan’s gaze. His cheeks puff out slightly, and he very nearly bowed his head as a premature apology.

“--... It’s...”

(it’s scary.)

He doesn’t know why he’s the one scared out of his mind when it should be Rohan that has every single right to be feeling terrible-- to be feeling awful and downright powerless.

Sighing, Min Soo bit his lip (chewed on it for a split second.) before, once more, raising his eyes back up to stare at Rohan.

“It’s... okay if you have to lean on us, even-- even if it just has to be once in every while.”

He tried for a smile, manages to keep it up for approximately five seconds.

       “ Awwh !!   But you do that already, how could I possibly! “   Yuu beams an impossible smile at the other.

With a swift clasp of hands does adoration suddenly bloom, practically flourishing out of mid-air into the physical world. Min Soo leans a little forward, mimicking that of a tiny, little bow before giving a small nod.

“Wha~aaat!! You’re lying-- I’m only one person, after all!”

He gave a laugh, closer to a giggle it was than an actual laugh-- it’s part of the image that needs to be upheld, he supposed.

“I think the world needs a little bit more kindness, you know!” Gesturing vaguely, Min Soo stood back with a slight curve to his back and one hand on his hip. Proud, some would say is what he looks like right now. “Besides-- between you and me, I love love love your dress--” 

Secretly, he wonders where he could get one like that...

      “ Does it really, my dear? ” Cilla responds to the statement, though bothers not to look up from her little glass of golden comfort. Although this place wasn’t an ordinary bar (catering more exclusively to either the economically or socially privileged) it was a bar nonetheless. It wasn’t uncommon for people to wander in looking for attention or distraction, announcing their business to the world.

      Still… When she does finally look up, she notes that this young man wasn’t one of the typical clientele. All at once he seemed to belong and yet also to be a stranger. His vibrant appearance, whilst endearing him to the older woman, cut quite the contrast with the dull appearance of the bar, as well as everyone else within.

      “ Whatever it is, you’ve undoubtedly come to the right place. Take a seat, we’ll get a drink in those pretty pink nails and see what we can’t do, hm? ”

Having initially held his head (it was more like his hair-- his wig that he spent sooo long on styling! ack!!) within his hands, Min Soo froze briefly upon hearing a second voice. Initially mumbling to himself, he was hardly expecting an audience, and he’s certainly not sure if he’s particularly “okay” with this happenstance.

Gradually, he glanced up with a look that almost seemed to scream both an apology and timid shyness. It’s soon replaced with a shocked look, almost accompanied with him throwing himself back and sending him off of his feet straight to the ground. Thankfully with a persistent need for survival (yeah, let’s... uh, let’s call it that!), he’s grasping the counter and pulling himself back forward.

“...”

Scooting awkwardly forward, the sound of his heels scraping against the floor was more than enough to bring him back to reality.

“Eh... Eh, r-right...” he mumbled first before blinking, suddenly breaking down into a stiff and full bow towards her, “S-S-Sorry...!! I didn’t mean to talk out loud, so it’s okay if... you don’t... want... to...”

He’s quick to trail off, eyes quietly flicking towards his nails as he slowly straightened. Rubbing his lips together (that was nice of her to say.), he quickly changed his mind. Nodding clumsily with a confused smile, Min Soo stood awkwardly at the woman’s side (eyes darting from her to the seat a few down from her, back and forth until, eventually...) before he took a seat.

“Um... well,” he murmured to himself, stalling unabashedly as he glanced away. “I-- Well... well, it’s, uh...”

Sighing loudly, the idol gave a deep bow of his head and blurted it out.

   “D-Do you really think so?” The young priestess would stutter out then. As her eyes would drift back down to the outfit that they had chosen together, and back up to the other’s smiling features. Looking back into those oh-so VIVIDLY EXPRESSIVE EYES that could tell its own story alone, Minnie always had nothing but the SWEETEST THINGS to say about her! It truly was a DREAM COME TRUE, that she was even able to befriend the MOON IDOL himself. Let alone meet him! And yet, here they now were. With Minnie giving her the COURAGE that she needed to go further in the path that FATE had already so chosen for her, “Ehehe… hopefully this will be the very thing that will get HIM to slow down for just a second!”

In an instant did hands come together in one, singular clap-- not as sharp as Min Soo would have liked but was enthusiastic enough to get his original point across all the same. Rubbing them together in what could have been perceived as pure, whole mischief (was that even possible? maybe for someone like min soo, it could be.), he let loose a short-lived laugh. It’s simple, straight to the point, yet manages to maintain a warm feel.

“Yes, yes, yes!!” he exclaimed while raising himself up to the tips of his toes only to fall back down onto his heels in an instant. Almost rocking in place, Min Soo clapped his hands together a second time before he began nudging Tsuruhime towards the changing room. “C’mon; I wanna see, I wanna se~eee!”

Pausing for just a second, though, Min Soo worked to sprawl out one arm towards the side with his opposite moving to clench at his bicep. Giving a halfhearted flex, he flashed a grin and posed triumphantly.

— “ Oh, hardly. You haven’t aged a bit since we’ve known each other, dear. ”

For a second there, the words did catch Min Soo off-guard (he could’ve sworn he looked, at least, two years older since a few months ago...) with both of his hands smoothly pressed against table.

“...”

Slowly but surely, though, he started to lean forward with his hands sliding outwards. Crossing his arms, he gently turned his head and rested it (cheek first! always cheek first!) neatly within the newly created hole. Blinking, he glanced up at Lust and tried for a small, well-humored smile.

“You’re just saying that, aren’t you?” he asked with his lips pulling back into a slightly wider grin, showing a bit of a tease within his tone. “A~aaah...! I mean, well, if you say so... It’s just--”

He tossed and turned vaguely, shifting around as he directed his head towards the opposite side now.

   THERE WAS THE LONGEST PAUSE HELD between them, one that anyone else would have deemed far too UNCOMFORTABLE and AWKWARD to even brave through. And yet, only the BRIGHTEST OF SMILES would be directed back at that perpetual scowl of his. One that had only deepened due to his confusion over the entire exchange. 

   It would incur an almost innocent tilt of his head on his part, as his narrowed gaze hinted at that desire to further inquire. And yet, with the numerous strange experiences he had found himself being DRAGGED INTO over the past year There was also that part of him that was practically pulling him by the back of a shoulder like a good kyoudai. And telling him to simply just walk away. Still, the pink-haired stranger seemed… friendly enough. And so, rather bluntly would he at least respond, “… What do you mean?” 

Oh, he’s run into this type before. Min Soo’s had plenty of experience with this guy’s sort of brand (was it right to say “brand”? it probably wasn’t, but he’s going to use that word anyway! who’s going to stop him? no one, that’s who!) and, as such, had no problems pushing the conversation further when it seemed that the other had... well, zero clue of where it was heading. This, too, was fine in Min Soo’s book-- in actuality, this was something that he was looking forward to.

“Trying something new, that’s all!” he responded almost immediately, one hand coming down to slap itself hard (ouch, maybe he’s a little too enthusiastic about this...) on own thigh. Despite the minor sting, the action’s repeated with little, further resistance. “Y’know, when I first came to Morioh -- oh, it’s a small town, don’t get me wrong but still... still! -- I didn’t know the first thing to do. No tour guides, no brochures, no maps, no nothing!”

There’s a bright smile at the memory (it wasn’t particularly pleasant but, over time, min soo’s developed a bit of a... soft spot for the place. he’s sure he could develop it for other places, too.) that doesn’t ever seem to wane. With his other hand, Min Soo reached forward to almost grab onto the man’s sleeve only to recede at the last minute. 

“Ack-- oops, oops... sorry!! My bad, I shouldn’t do that.”

A brief glimpse towards his face led to an expression of mild apology, but it’s quick to fade.

Ah, there it is.  The dreaded question. He had been waiting for Minnie to finally quit beating around the bush (doesn’t mean he’s particularly… ready or wanting to have this conversation; doesn’t think he’ll ever be).

“It’s–yeah, something like that.”

He has to choose his words carefully.  Reveal just enough to sate Minnie’s interest (his and binnie’s combined worries and concerns, no doubt. binnie would never directly say anything, too passive in nature for confrontations.) without revealing too (where is the line drawn, however, between too little and too much when dancing around his… delicate situation?) much for his comfort.

“It’s kind of… complicated.”

(he knows minnie will drag it all out of him, though. he’s good like that, good at crawling inside people’s hearts so intimately that you can’t resist divulging your life’s secrets to him–that’s exactly why he was here, without binnie but partly on their behalf.)

Unable to remain seated, Rohan rises from the table with a sigh.  He hesitates, the urge to pace rising before he suppresses it, instead choosing to make his way to the coffee maker.  The mangaka fiddles with it a moment, lips twitching into a small smile when he realizes that it already has been prepared for him (so thoughtful; it makes him feel an unpleasant, sickening warmth in his chest.) and merely required to be turned on.  Some tension (forcibly so) eases from his shoulders as he turns to face the other once again, leaning against the counter.

“Before this–” (interrogation.) “–conversation continues, would you like something to drink? Coffee will be done in just a little bit.”

He’s never intended for it to get this far, but sometimes things just... had to happen, wasn’t that right? This as a lesson hung over him, loomed over his head like a cloud that just never seemed like it’d never clear up. Over time, Min Soo’s adapted to this newfound lesson.

It’s normalized in a sense, something that he never expected that he’d accept so readily. There were a few things (how subin and rohan were related, for instance.), come to think of it, that Min Soo thought were never possible in the first place. With the way he had gradually begun to lean forward in his seat -- originally, it’s meant as a gesture of acknowledgement... one that implicates Min Soo’s involvement and now renders him incapable of running away -- and how his arms had calmly slunk their selves on top of his thigh, he’s bound to give off some... slight airs of discomfort.

“... I get that,” he said after a moment’s silence, initially unsure if it was even his turn to speak. “Really-- I’m not trying to judge or anything... I just want to make sure everything’s okay and, um, if you’re doing okay, too.”

A nervous smile comes, and it’s soon having him privy to forcing out a small chuckle. His fingers twitched in mild anxiety (he’s preparing himself for the inevitable; rohan’s going to kick him out as soon as he prods too hard, pries a little too deep, and asks a little too soon.) with his feet raising slightly, crinkling his sneakers at the bend with their heels hovering off of the ground. Min Soo tilted his head, though, out of an attempt of ignoring the rising feeling of concern unease within his chest.

“Oh, um... no thanks-- thank you, though!”

His heart only seems to choke itself more the moment Rohan had turned back towards him. Feeling his shoulders go stiff for a brief moment (his spine tingles with a sharp shiver. maybe this wasn’t his place at all but... if not his then whose was it?), he huffed out another attempt at a laugh.

Was it always this tense, or was he just too busy to never notice it before?

“I, uh... if -- and I mean if, like this is... like, this is totally your call and everything -- I ever go too far, you’re free to tell me. I mean it,” he managed to say without a single stammer (if he could high-five himself, he would. way to go, moon min soo.) but, nonetheless, dipping his head in a quick bow. “Binnie’s just a little... teensy... weensy... bit worried and, well, so am I...”

His hands slowly came together, joining close with thumbs beginning to twiddle as a form of “busy work”. Lips sealed close for a second’s worth of time, rubbing together in mild thought (he’s biding for time.) before he suddenly let his shoulders sink. It feels heavy all of a sudden, and he wonders if this was normal.