LOST PLANET ERA (still)

It’s mid concert in Beijing, and they’re going all out with the fan service tonight. Kai watches an amused D.O help shove Xiumin and Luhan together for a fake kiss during the dance battle. They know the common ships in the fandom and try to indulge them without going over the top, but Jongin knows fake kissing with Kyungsoo is off the table. (That’s really not D.O’s style, plus Jongin doesn’t think he’d be able to resist the temptation to make it real…) Still, he can’t help but feel a little jealous. As they’re running around with the pillow hearts, Kai notices Chen without a pillow. While smirking in Kai’s direction, Chen approaches D.O and requests a hug from the small singer. D.O obliges, and the green monster in Jongin rises up before he can stop it. He’s whopping Jongdae over the head before he realizes the other was completely prepared for it. ‘, am I too obvious?’ he wonders as he accepts the pillow hits from Chen without a fight.

‘Okay, get your head back in the game,’ Jongin scolds as XOXO starts playing. But now Kyungsoo’s pointing at him playfully but purposefully as he’s singing:

“One day, in a letter, I hid my sincere feelings
Behind the last line’s expression of affection
But I can’t send it across the distance to your heart”

Kyungsoo’s hands are all over him, and Jongin can’t take it anymore, lunging at the smaller one to pull him into a deep hug. The crowd roars approvingly, and Jongin wonders if they’d still be so enthusiastic and supportive if they knew the truth…

.

.

.

Jongin keeps wrestling with whether or not he should force Kyungsoo to put a label on what they are. He’s realistic: it’s not like they’d ever publicly be boyfriends. But there are a few non-straight idols that people in the industry are aware of (though even among the insiders, it’s never 100% confirmed to keep a final layer of protection). Jongin would settle for keeping their own members from knowing, if only he could know for sure. In the end, he always shelves the idea for later. In the fleeting moments they manage to get alone, it’s hard to concentrate on anything other than smooth, pale skin, large blown pupils, and plush lips whispering ‘Jongin’ in between light moans.

A few days later, Jongin hears his phone buzzing while he’s in the shower. When he gets out, he realizes he’s missed several texts, sent just a few minutes apart, all from Krystal.

Jongin texts back quickly, saying he’ll see her in just a minute, then throws on a basic t-shirt and skinny jeans, and rushes to the SM building. He goes straight to the ‘Room of Sorrows,’ bracing himself for what awaits him. ‘, did they decide to disband f(x)? Surely not, they’ve still got a big fan base. But what else could this be?’

He cracks the door open cautiously, and sees Krystal’s already inside. Jongin had half-expected the quiet, weepy version of the girl that he encountered last time they came together in the room, but what he’s faced with now is the exact opposite. Krystal is pacing the floor, her feet stomping resolutely with each step she takes. With fists at her sides and a hard scowl on her face, she’s muttering in angry English. Jongin can only pick out a few words here and there, and they’re just curse words he’s familiar with.

“Whoa, what’s going on?”

“Traitors! I can’t believe they can do this to her! After how straight forward she’s been all along, they just spring THIS on her?!” Krystal is ranting at the top of her lungs. Jongin’s never seen her this angry in all the years they’ve known each other.

“I’m sorry, who? Bring me up to speed. You’re angry on who’s behalf?”

“My sister’s! Unnie has been working so hard on her future plans, and everyone was on the same page until today when they drop this bomb on her. They’ve removed Jessica from SNSD!”

Jongin’s jaw drops. He tries to say something and finds that he’s completely speechless. This is shocking, and scary, frankly. The queens of the girl group industry, the prime female faces of SM – after being together all these years, they’re removing a member against her will? He shudders at the cruelty of the business.

While Jongin is collecting his thoughts, Krystal continues her diatribe against various people in SM (from members, to managers, to the CEO). Jongin convinces her to explain a little more about what exactly happened today and her theories on why.

“It’s because of her new fashion venture. They said they supported it, and she was always open about where she was in the process. She’s just been making an investment in her future – we can’t be idols forever, you know.” The statement makes Jongin grimace; he’s not ready to think about that yet. He’s got zero plans to fall back on at the moment. “And it’s not like the others aren’t doing the same things! They’ve got their radio stations or their acting gigs and other activities separate from SNSD.”

“Yeah, well, that’s a little different, though, since all the contracts are still run through SM, and the company gets their percentage of the earnings as the talent agency, so—“ Jongin realizes his words aren’t going to help and cuts himself off. But it's a moment too late: Krystal starts lunging toward him.

“Who’s side are you ON??” she shrieks as she goes to hit him on the shoulder. Normally, Jongin wouldn’t worry too much about this kind of friendly whop, but Krystal’s really mad and might actually pack some heat behind this one on accident, so he reaches up to grab her wrist and prevent the blow. Unable to vent her rage through a satisfying whack, Krystal grunts in frustration and goes at him with her other fist, but he blocks it similarly and is now clutching each of her wrists easily in his hands. She struggles against his grip for a moment, seething while glaring at his chest, as he tries to get her to look at his face.

“Hey, hey. It’s okay. I’m sorry. I’m on your side. Look – it’s me. I’m always on your side, alright?” Jongin is pleading with her, speaking in a soothing tone and succeeding in finally getting eye contact. Krystal is out of breath, from all the pacing, yelling, and now struggling, but the anger slides off her face once they lock eyes. Her expression is replaced by tears as she succumbs to the sadness of her sister’s predicament.

“It’s just… I feel so betrayed. It’s not fair to her,” Krystal cries.

Jongin gently lets go of her wrists and cradles her face in his hands, using his thumbs to wipe away her tears. “I know, I’m sorry. I understand.” Krystal keeps sobbing, and he continues to clear her face as the drops seep from her eyes. Jongin feels himself getting emotional now, overcome with deep sympathy, wanting to stem the flow of tears and patch up the wounded girl in front of him. Without thinking, Jongin leans forward and kisses her forehead softly.

Krystal pulls back a little and looks up at him, surprise evident on her face. “What are you doing?”

“I—nothing. I was just trying to console you. It’s hurting me to see you so sad, and I just want you to feel better… so I gave you a friendly kiss.”

“How very American of you,” Krystal quips dryly. Her remark breaks the tension in the air, and Jongin’s quick to snicker at it. She arches an eyebrow as she questions, “A friendly kiss? Really, dude