Two years before...

"Hyungs? Anyone home?"

Taemin called out as he stepped into the dorm, kicking off his shoes. He had just come home from dancing at the studio, having stayed behind to practice more. Glancing about, he saw that the living room was empty.

Oh, that's right. Jonghyun and Key were at a radio show together, Jinki had a guest appearance at Music Bank, and Minho... offered to buy the groceries while everyone was gone. How sweet.

Taemin smiled, despite himself, at the recollection of manly Minho offering to buy groceries.

Stepping further into the dorm, the stark white walls and large sofa suddenly seemed to stare right back at him. Taemin sighed. Now he’d be all alone for some time. It’s not that he didn’t like being alone… but after practicing on his own for so long, he really wanted someone to talk to.

Reaching the kitchen, Taemin sat down on one of the bar stools and put down his bag. He should probably use this time to do something useful, like pack his clothes cupboard (which he could never do when the rest were home, because Key would scream at him for being so messy, and Minho would look at his clothes and say things like ‘I can’t believe you’re so skinny.’). Right now, though, he was kind of hungry; maybe he should get something to eat first –

Clang.

Taemin froze. He’d heard a noise in the bedroom, of something hitting the floor.

. Wasn’t he all alone in the apartment?

Heart pounding, Taemin slowly stood up from the seat. The dorm is empty… right? At once, fears abounded in the overly-imaginative mind of his. What if-what if-it’s a –

 Shuffling sounds emitted from the bedroom, followed by a soft thud. Taemin gasped and rushed towards the rooms. Wrenching open the door, he was met with –

Minho?

For there was his hying, curled up against the foot of the bed, his back facing Taemin. A dozen thoughts flew through his head as he saw Minho sitting there, looking so vulnerable.

What is he doing home? I thought he went to buy groceries? Was it him who made all those noises?

And then, most alarmingly: is Minho hyung crying? (Because Minho’s shoulders were shaking in a way which Taemin only associated with sobbing –)  But with all his thoughts rushing through his head, Taemin only managed to choke on his own strangled voice.

“ – Hyung-?”

Minho did no