In the heights

Kim Kibum ✩ 950 words 
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Kibum loves Paris.

He loves the modern yet still old architecture, he loves the language but most of all, he loves the fashion. He loves Paris' influence on the fashion industry and it is no wonder that he's excited when they're finally confirmed for Kcon Paris. Sure enough, it isn't going to be a long trip and the excitement does dwindle a little, when they're told Jonghyun can't attend with them but when they're on the plane and land stretches out far below them, Kibum can't help but still feel a little spark of excitement.

The first breath of French air has him closing his eyes dreamily and Minho snorts.

They have a day after the concert and Kibum plans on spending it sight-seeing and shopping. He's also up for it when Minho suggests they go see the Eiffel Tower before they split up to go looking around the city.

That is, until he actually stands beneath the tower and glances up towards the top and horror settles in his chest. Taemin looks at the tower with a childish gleam in his eyes and Jinki, of all people, suggests they climb it. Kibum freezes on the spot and the others are almost at the entrance when they realize Kibum isn't following.

"Come on," says Minho and Jinki waves his hand as if to beg him over. Kibum shakes his head.

"Uh, I'll just ... I'll just stay down here, you guys go on!" he shouts but neither of the other three seems to want to leave him behind. Taemin skips back to him first with a smile that flat out screams trouble.

"Are you scared?" he asks innocently and Kibum knows right away that there's nothing innocent about it. But he doesn't want to flat out admit that yes, he's terrified so instead he glares at Taemin and says 'no'.

It's not that they don't know that he isn't that fond of heights. It's just that ever since Taemin tricked him up and onto Chicago Skydeck his acrophobia has been acting up. In other words, it's so much worse than usual - and so much that he had had to shut the curtain in the plane before they had even left Seoul.

One thing is certain though, he is not stepping into the lift that'll bring him to the top.

"What's wrong?" Minho asks and Kibum finally realizes that it's not only him and Taemin anymore. Jinki tilts his head as if he wants to say something but Kibum interrupts him.

"Nothing's wrong, I'll just stay down here."

He hopes that someone will take the hint and bring Taemin along with them without forcing Kibum to the top but Taemin pouts, grabs his wrist and forcefully drags him towards the entrance.

Kibum blanks out. The thought of even getting near the top is horrifying enough as it is and when Taemin is about to purchase tickets for them, he just completely forgets how to fight. Jinki comes to his rescue, though.

"Hey, Taemin, wait." Jinki says and puts a hand on Taemin's to stop him from going any further. "Go up with Minho, we'll maybe come later."

He nods towards the taller and Minho smiles and squeezes Taemin's shoulder. But Taemin glares at both Jinki and Kibum.

"He'll never come, he'll never face his fears if you keep protecting him, hyung!"

Jinki just sighs and ignores him. Minho drags Taemin with him and it doesn't take more than 30 seconds before Taemin seems to have forgotten all about Kibum.

The leader brings Kibum with him and places him on a bench before he sits down beside him.

"So what is really wrong?"

Kibum doesn't know how the Jinki does it, if they're just that easy to read or if Jinki is psychic, but he always seem to know that something is wrong - no matter which of them it is. Kibum just shakes his head. He doesn't want to talk about it. Jinki hums a tune, waiting for Kibum to finally spill. A minute goes by and then another and then Kibum gets so annoyed with the tense silence that he spills after all.

"I just don't like heights," he snaps and Jinki turns to look at him with a smile. Kibum feels himself calm down despite wanting to stay mad.

"I know," Jinki says. "I thought it was getting better though."

Kibum deflates. It was. He's been forced to ride roller coasters and do bungee jump on countless of varieties so climbing the Eiffel Tower shouldn't have been that hard.

"Taemin tricked me up on Chicago Skydeck and .. I don't know, maybe it'll go away again, but not now."

Jinki hums his agreement.

"So how about we take a picture in front of the tower? You can always borrow Minho's photos from the top so you can trick Jonghyun into thinking you actually did climb it."

Kibum laughs but agrees nonetheless. He'll just have to come back one day, for more shopping, for more fashion - and maybe to climb the Eiffel Tower and see the Paris skyline with his own eyes.

author's notes

In the Heights was written as a fun challenge between JungMichan and I after Kibum's Instagram pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower. 
Thanks for reading.