With a little help... (part 1)

They say this world of ours sometimes can result in a lonely path. And there are times that yes, it's true.

However I have you and I will always think: it's more than enough.

I watch your back. You watch mine.

Imagine my happiness finding out there's someone else covering us too.

Hyukjae crooked an eye open, the light coming from the window was hurting his sight. They forgot to roll the shutters. 'Well we were kind of busy' Hyukjae couldn't help to phrase this in his head before blushing furiously. OH GOD.

He turned his head immediately just to face the sleepy profile of Donghae, who was sleeping on his belly, the blanket covering half on his body- of course- a bit of drool coming out of his open mouth. Donghae.

Hyukjae didn't groan – and punch the mattress because too much feels- only because he feared to wake his best friend up. It wasn't like he was going to freak out but still it was kind of weird. 'I suppose I just have to get used' and even though it kind of surprising the fact he was considering for it to become a routine at the same time he couldn't help but to think like that.

Hyukjae exhaled, squirming under the blanket. He slowly tunr on his side to face Donghae, which stupidity after all those year was finally getting into him, because Hyukaje wanted nothing but to continue staring at him and fangirling over him, even though he was messy and drooling. He sure was good looking. But his moment of idyll was interrupted by the piercing sound of his cellphone ring tone. Bonamana bonamana.

He didn't want to pick up he knew from the light of the window that it was still early. His ringtone at some point stopped but then it came the piercing sound of Donghae ringtone.

Hyukjae this time groaned for real and decided that it was serious, since they were trying to reach them both at that hour, fishy even. He cracked at his own choice of words before standing up and looking for Donghae's phone that was still in the pocket of his jeans that were tossed in a far corner of the bedroom. How the heck they went over there it was certainly a mystery.

He picked up without even checking who was calling. Probably the manager.

“Yoboseyo”

“Hyukjae get dressed immediately and make dress Donghae. Now. You have merely 5 minutes before Jungsoo hyung goes upstairs!”

“Sungmin hyung? What...?” saying that he was taken aback was minimize.

“Now!”and he hang up. .

A lot of words crossed his mind, most of them curses, other ones scary question and deductions, but he would have freaked out, about Sungmin hyung knowing probably all, later.

He went towards Donghae's draws to take out some pyjama pant and t-shirt that he threw on himself as he hid the rest of their clothes under the bed. “Donghae, Donghae!” he then called the sleepy man as he shook him harshly. He didn't intend to wake him up like that but it was necessary.

“yah, Dognhae!” the latter woke up groaning trying to continue sleeping as he turned to the other side.

“5 minutes more”

“ we don't' have time for this Donghae, just please wake up and put something on, Jungsoo hyung is coming upstairs” Hyukjae said pleading. That seemed to pierce Donghae's sleepy mind because he face him eyes open.

“ what?”

“ You heard me, we only have a couple of minutes left, c'mon” Hyukjae said too worried to sound nice. He didn't expect for the morning after to be like that.

But Donghae probably understood it was serious because didn't argue back and stood up. Or at least tried to stand up.

“No way!” Donghae cried in frustration and Hyukjae never felt so embarrassed and worried at the same time.

“Don't tell me..?”

“Don't tell you what Hyukjae?”Donghae hissed as he limped trying to wear his boxer and the shirt Hyukjae was offering him.

A part of Hyukjae found it funny the other one not at all.

Look what you did monkey, how is he going to hide this?

Kyun-a not now.

But his inner was right.

“ Just lie back and fake illness just in case Jungsoo wants to check. Leave it to me”

“ Yes, leave it to you. I left it to you yesterday and look how I...” he started to whine but then they heard the sound of steps near the entrance and they shushed abruptly. Hyukjae motioned Donghae to his bed as he exited the room. He looked in the reflex of the mirror of the living room to check his appearance. Luckily the shirt hid most of the marks of their previous night session- Hyukjae knew he had bites and scratches- his hair were a mess but hopefully he looked like he had just woke up from a normal night of sleep.

Just as he was heading towards the kitchen the main door flung open.

Jungsoo hyung entered the dorm quietly still checking his phone, barely noticing Hyukjae's presence.

“ Hyung, good morning” said Hyukjae faking a yawn.

“ Oh Hyukjae” the other said as he closed the door behind him and put his cellphone back in his pocket “ Sungmin told me I could find you here” he didn't seem pissed or suspicious so Hyukjae played along.

“ Ha ha yes, Kyuhyun thought it would be funny to fell asleep on my bed so I just went up here. Since Donghae didn't feel so well.”

“ Sungmin told me Donghae would have probably feel not well” said Jungsoo concerned as he followed Hyukjae into the ktichen. 'I have to kneel down and bow to Sungmin hyung later' thought Hyukjae.

“ You know how he is when he is not feeling well, he doesn't like to feel lonely” Hyukjae commented.

“ Yes I know luckily I have some vitamins in my room so later I will give them to him. He's been really stressed lately maybe it was that.”

Jungsoo said and he moved along the kitchen in search of food for a breakfast. Hyukjae gulped knowing well that probably Donghae's stress was related to their previous situation. At least that was settled, he thought smiling.

“ You seem happy Hyukjae” Jungsoo noted as he was putting some rice in two bowls. He handed one to Hyukjae.

“ Thanks. Anyway...you know the concert's activities manage to excite me”

“ if I didn't know you well I could say you are in love Hyukjae” Jungsoo commented teasingly. Damn his hyung. he and Jungsoo had this strong hyun-dongsaeng relationship and it was great aside from those times when he was too perceptive.

“Aniyo. There's no woman in my life.”

“ You know you can date, just be careful. For the moment I'm glad Donghae is taking his break up kind of well.”

“ Yeah” Hyukjae nodded, after all he was the one who was taking care of Donghae int hat moment. They ate in silent and chat here and there before Jungsoo went to his room to take some of his things and leave.

Hyukjae managed to dissuade Jungsoo to go inside Dognhae's room saying he was still asleep “ tell him he has today off. See you later ”. Hyukjae waved at him and only when he was out of the dorm again he finally sighed. Thank God it went all well.

He then went back to Dognhae's room just to find him wide awake.

“ you...” Hyukjae shook his head but couldn't help a laugh “ is this how you fake illness?”

“ I've just heard Jungsoo hyung going out” Donghae replied.

“ yes yes fishy Hae. He's out. By the way you have a day off since you are ill”

Donghae smiled jumping on the bed but he soon shrieked in pain. “Gosh hyukjae I hate you so much right now”

“ You weren't complaining yesterday” the moment he said that, both of them blushed. Hyukjae smiled a little embarrassed but still asked chilly.

“ Ok, Do we have to talk about it?” Neither of them looked regretful or shocked so Hyukjae was kind of positive they didnt have to discuss anything.

“ aside from the side effects, that seriously Hyukjae I want to kick you so bad, I think we are pretty ok” Donghae concluded.

Hyukjae smiled probably showing his gummy but sunddenly Donghae took him from his shirt and made their mouth collide. Hyukjae felt a little startled but he did enjoyed the contact of those lips, however the kiss didn't last enough to make it deeper. Hyukjae protested mentally.

“ But next time it's my turn” Donghae said mischievously. Hyukjae gulped “ ha ha” he laughed nervously.

“ I'm serious”Donghae retorted.

They stared at each other, the spark on Donghae's eyes so alluring that he felt like they could start their activities all over again. He bit his lip. They didn't have enough time.

“I suppose we don't have time” Hyukjae murmured suggestively.

“ Oh no. no. You don't” Donghae warned, trying to hide under the blankets but to no avail. Hyukjae literally jumped on him.

“ God I hate you so much” Donghae exhaled “ were you so even when you were straight?”

“shush it has nothing to do with being straight, it's just...” he bit his bottom lip again.

“No. NO!”

in the end he gained a and well some bruises from Donghae kicking him out of the bed later but it was particularly worth it, Hyukjae thought while taking a quick shower. Yes Hyukjae was pretty satisfied. He was careful to leave Tylenol beside Donghae bed before exiting, trying not to be affected by Donghae glaring. And he tried not to think the way Donghae was going to get revenge because his best friend was a kid trapped in adult body and Hyukjae just knew he would have pay this sooner or later. Maybe it was better for him to buy more pain killers?

He dried himself and dressed with some of Donghae's clothes quickly- he was running late- all the time wearing and idiotic smile. He didn't expect for this to be so smooth. He didn't' feel grossed out by the fact that from that day on he didn't suit anymore the word “straight”. Certainly having with a man was a whole new world, but this man was Donghae and even it could feel odd to share such a bond with a friend , a bestfriend, Hyukjae couldn't bring himself to feel uncomfortable. The sense of understanding they had as friends got reflected even during . It was one of the most reassuring and at the same time thrilling, experience he ever had.

He bid goodbye to Donghae once more even though the latter cursed at him- probably having some problems standing properly under the shower. But then Hyukjae finally took a look on his cellphone.

I already left. Go get Kyuhyun

see you then at practice.

YOU OWN ME.

ING HELL. His little morning session with Donghae made him forget about that little detail. Sungmin hyung knew.

'Kill me now'. How the heck was he going to explain that to Donghae?

The ride with Kyuhyun was quiet, mostly because Kyuhyun was dealing with a horrible hangover and saying he was grumpy was an understatement. Hyukjae wanted to eat his hands at the thought of Sungmin knowing ; he even wanted to shake Kyuhyun from the shoulders and take the truth out of him. Did he talk with Sumgmin that morning? Did he know too?

Of course hangover Kyuhyun was worse than normal Kyuhyun: you would never succeed in making him cooperate with you. Let alone talk.

I'm here if you like.

Shut up Kyuhyun in my head.

It's not my fault you were so obvious.

Oh c'mon I don't need a lecture from my inner now

weren't you saying you wanted to talk to me?

Shisus real Kyuhyun is ten times better!

“what?” asked the maknae seeing Hyukaje staring at him for a moment too long.

“ nothing. I just think your sunglasses choice is horrible”

Kyuhyun kicked him in the shin.

To think a while ago he was in heaven. Hyukjae sighed.

Practice went smooth like always and even though half of the members were as hangover as Kyuhyun, they slowly improved their mood as the morning passed. With Dognhae sick at home Hyukjae couldn't practice his duo stage so he stayed with the other members as they came and go through their schedules because any of them had still their solo activities to do. That was why Sungmin came to practice only for meal time. A shiver went down Hyukjae's spine. He greeted him with a frozen smile 'don't blink, don't blink! Don't interrupt eye contact or he will think you are pissing in you pants. Gosh. It's really like that.'

Sungmin was grumpy, even grumpier than Kyuhyun that morning, when he greeted them.

“ Hmm. I wonder what's wrong with Min hyung. This morning too had the face of wanting to murder someone”

“ Never crossed your mind you did something to piss him off?” Ryewook who seemed amused. And he probably was.

“Nah. I wasn't that drunk.

Ryewook shrieked.

“ Ok I was. But he would have already murdered me while I was asleep. Speaking of that Hyuk, sorry for stealing your bed yesterday”

“ ha ha it's ok” Hyukjae replied nervously.

Sungmin had just arrived when their eating at the cafeteria of SM. He went to grab his tray of food before choosing to seat in the empty spot beside Hyukjae. The latter trembled.

“ Hi hyung”

“ Hyukjae” Sumgin was pissed judging from the way he torturing his rice. But Hyukjae noticed that most of his venom was directed towards Kyuhyun, who arched a brow when Sungmin passed him the salt with a particular hard glare. Hyukjae would have found that hilarious if he wasn't too involved in the situation.

Suddenly his phone rang. He checked the phone just to find so me silly message from Donghae who complained for being bored. Hyukjae smiled.

“ Hyukjae is smiling at a message” Kyuhyun

“ new girlfriend?” Shindong.

“ Ani. Just Donghae.

“ So old girlfriend “ he joked again making all the table laugh. Normal eunhae teasing but that time Hyukjae didn't' choke on his food for a miracle and Sungmin laugh was so fake that it wasn't convincing at all but none of them noticed. Except of course for Hyukjae who was aware of the situation and Kyuhyun.

Kyuhyun exchanged glances with Sungmin who shook his head in menace even though he was still smiling. Hyukjae noticed this exchange. Oh God.

'Don't tell me. Even Kyuhyun'. Hyukaje really considered to go and drown himself in the first shower stall available in Sm building.

Donghae passed an awfully boring day. He slept half of the morning after his shower and when he woke up again at least his body felt less sore.

Hungry he went towards the kitchen to eat something but nothing in the fridge was appealing enough so he simply went downstairs to go and grab some food from the awesomely well stored fridge of the dorm below (courtesy of Ryewook). However even while eating he felt bored so he decided to text Hyukjae with some silly messages.

Hyukjae.

Was is strange to feel so comfortable with what had just happened? He never had imagined that there was a way to be even more connected with his friend but apparently there was. However a part of his mind couldn't help but think that the was a mere counterpart of what they already had. That was why he didn't mind, when it came the moment, who was going to top and who not, the most important thing was being there. Of course that wasn't stopping him to fantasize about the time was going to be his turn to take Hyukjae. The day before it just seemed right to leave the lead to Hyukjae, because it was so rare to see Hyukjae wanting to own him. It had always been Donghae the clingy one, the claimer. For once he wanted to feel how was to be claimed. And Hyukjae did a pretty good job. But deep down he knew it wasn't enough to satisfy his hungry affection. How would it feel to have him, to see Hyukjae finally letting him -literally- in? the mere thought was enough for Donghae to lose his mind.

Then it came the sound of his phone. Hyukjae's reply.

Donghae smiled.

'Why the heck didn't we jump on this ship sooner?'

In the end Donghae stayed in the dorm below and entertained himself with Kyuhyun's games because at some point Hyukjae stopped replying.

He dressed himself with heavier clothes because for the others he was a bit sick ( he even received a text form Jungsoo hyugn asking if he was ok). However he wasn't prepared for them to come back so early. He barely had time to rise from the floor, lay on the couch and fake some tiredness at least, when Kyuhyun, Sungmin and Hyukjae entered the living room.

“No need to fake sickness Dognhae, we know you are not in pain. Wait maybe a little bit” commented an amused Kyuhyun.

“Kyun-a”apparently that comment gained him only a slap on his nape from Sungmin while Hyukjae covered his face with a hand.

“ Ouch”!

“ stop it! We don't have time to waste. We were lucky enough Ryewook stayed behind and Jongwoon had some personal issue to attend”.

“Hyuk?” Donghae asked oblivious.

Hyukjae sighed.

“ Just made room for me, I have to sit for this”

Donghae arched a brow. What the heck was going on?.

Author's note: here I am! I wanted to call this chapter the morning after, but then I thought the title would be reductive and so I renamed. Thank you readers for your patience, I feel bad to neglect this story, hope to have time to write part two soon. I love you <3