Taemin’s POV

After an awkward breakfast with me sneaking glances between sips of congee, Minho and I each take each of Yoogeun’s hands and start out of the house. We dressed Yoogeun in his favorite Power Rangers’ shirt and his beloved jeans. His little red sneakers looked shinier than usual as he bounced between us. I gave Minho a shy smile as we headed for the front door.

“<< Where do you think you’re going, >>?” an all-too-familiar voice asks. I turn to see Kyuhyun standing at the doorway, a scrape on his lower jaw and a little scab forming over his eye. I smirk.

“None of your business,” I answer. He winces as he tries to approach, and I see the little bandage around his ankle.

“<< You’re lucky your little toy is here to cover your , >>” he snarls. I raise an eyebrow.

“<< You’re scared of my little Minho here >>?” I ask.

“I heard my name,” Minho pipes up, looking at me curiously. I chuckle darkly, watching with satisfaction as my brother shivers ever so slightly.

“<< Get the out of this house, >>” Kyuhyun hisses. I scoff.

“<< Where’s Sungmin >>?” I ask, crossing my arms. Kyuhyun pushes me in response, and Yoogeun lets out a little shriek.

“Hey, I don’t know what your problem is,” Minho growls suddenly, letting go of Yoogeun to grab Kyuhyun’s collar with both fists pressed against my brother’s throat, “but if you touch him again, I’ll kill you.”

“Yeah! Appa’s a lion!” Yoogeun cheers. I scoop Yoogeun up in case this turns into another fight. Instead Kyuhyun just kicks Minho back and straightens himself up.

“Get out of my house,” he growls. I grit my teeth and shove Yoogeun into Minho’s arms roughly.

“Say that again,” I snarl. I punch his jaw and watch him stagger. “Dad isn’t dead yet, so just shut up! It’s not your house, you << bastard! >>” With a huff, I grab Yoogeun’s hand and I march him and Minho out of that stupid house.

“So… bad day?” Minho jokes lightly. I sigh as I pick Yoogeun up into my arms. Minho’s warm arm wraps around me.

“I hate my family,” I mutter. I feel his lips meet my temple gently, and I sigh again. I feel myself break piece by piece in his arms, because the things I want to tell him will never leave my lips. Not unless I want him taken from me.

“So… Donghae, right?” Minho asks. I look up, a little confused until I remember why we even went out in the first place.

“N-neh, Donghae’s Ramen Palace,” I mutter, smiling fondly as I remember the small building that had held so many good memories. Minho releases me, grinning broadly.

“It’s nice out,” he comments, looking at the sky. We turn and walk out of the overbearing shadow of my father’s mansion, immediately crossing into the dingy slums where human-drawn carriages zoom past us and the slap of feet against the stone pavement crowds the air around us. There aren’t a lot of cars, most people just travelling by cart.

“Neh, it is,” I say softly. I walk closer to him, leaning my head on his shoulder.

Because despite the poverty, despite the fact that humans are now labor machines, despite the fact that my father caused all of this…

It’s still a beautiful day.

Minho’s POV

Taemin finally stops in front of a small, run out building with peeling red walls and a faded green door. I look at the sign and raise an eyebrow.

“This is Donghae’s Ramen Palace?” I ask.

“Yep!” Taemin chirps. He hurries inside with Yoogeun, and I follow him hesitantly.

Inside, the shop is crowded with smoke and old men slurping slowly on noodles. They look at me and I squirm nervously in my business clothes. They’re all dressed casually, and I look like an office monkey. Damn it, I should have brought other clothes…

“Donghae!” Taemin squeals. I turn my head to see him flying towards a guy with a cute baby-face and a winning smile. His arms are spread wide as Taemin charges forward.

He’s… attractive, I think as the guy embraces Taemin. My Taemin.

“Taemin, is that really you?” Donghae asks in surprise. I grit my teeth.

Of course it’s Taemin! Who else on this ing planet is that adorable? I think furiously. Taemin just giggles and pulls away, shifting Yoogeun in his arms.

“Yoogeun, say hi to Donghae oppa,” Taemin squeals. His face grows red. “I-I mean, Donghae hyung!”

“Old habits die hard, I see,” Donghae jokes, stretching forward and pecking Taemin’s lips. I bristle. It was only a gentle, innocent ppo-ppo, but I suddenly had the urge to rip the bastard’s face from his skull.

“Oh, Minho, come meet Donghae!” Taemin say suddenly, turning to me. I approach stiffly, offering out my hand. Donghae shakes it warmly.

“Nice to meet you,” he says. I give him a wan smile.

“Yeah, likewise,” I say slowly. Taemin giggles and kisses my cheek out of the blue. I struggle to keep from blushing.

“Minho, this is my ex boyfriend,” Taemin says, standing side by side with Donghae. My throat closes.

“I see,” I say. Taemin smiles and kisses Donghae’s cheek. Donghae chuckles.

“You’re still so sweet, oppa,” Taemin coos. Donghae’s cheeks flush pink.

“Yah, stop that, you little punk,” Donghae laughs, ruffling Taemin’s hair. Taemin takes my hand and drags me to an empty table that’s pushed against the wall, putting Yoogeun on a chair between us. I put a hand on Yoogeun’s back, and he looks up at me curiously.

“Appa, does this mean that…” He looks at Taemin and beckons for me to lean forward. I comply and he whispers, “Does this mean that you’re not allowed to love Taemin appa?”

“Why do you say that?” I ask softly. Taemin gives us an annoyed look, but I try not to pay attention to him as I stay near Yoogeun’s pouty lips.

“Because Taemin appa loves Donghae hyung!” Yoogeun whispers urgently. I clench my fists but force myself to stay calm.

“Yoogeun…” I look again at Taemin, who’s glaring at the table. I pick my son up and take him outside, passing Taemin’s cold exterior. Once outside, I look at Yoogeun earnestly. “I will always love Taemin appa.”

“Is that allowed?” Yoogeun asks, tugging at my hair. I shrug.

“I don’t know,” I say. Yoogeun looks at my shoulder, pouting as if he’s thinking. I take him back inside, placing him into the chair. Suddenly, I feel Taemin’s hand clench on my sleeve. I turn to him only to see him glaring upwards at me. He pulls me closer, his expression furious.

“What are you keeping from me?” he asks. His eyes are angry and demanding, but I only laugh and brush him off.

“Nothing,” I lie. He pouts and his demeanor change to the dreaded puppy-eyes.

“Tell me,” he pleads, but I only peck his lips, which makes him flustered and red.

“It’s nothing,” I whisper. He glares at my chest as I straighten up and sit in my own seat. It’s then that Donghae comes out with two steaming bamboo baskets. He places them on our table, centering them nicely before opening them and revealing the two things that had made up our dinner the night before. I look at Taemin curiously, but he just smiles back.

“When will the noodles be ready?” he asks, looking up at Donghae and blinking. I can empathize with the tortured look on Donghae’s face, because saying no to that look is next to impossible.

“In a moment,” Donghae chuckles nervously. He ruffles Taemin’s hair. “As impatient as ever, I see,” he teases.

Get your ing hands off of him, I think furiously, but I keep my mouth shut as Taemin blushes slightly and looks down.

“I wasn’t impatient before,” he mutters, tracing circles on the cheap white tables. I grit my teeth as Donghae plants a small kiss into Taemin’s hair.

“Sure you weren’t,” he says with endearing sarcasm. It’s sickening, really. He leaves, disappearing into the kitchen. I look at Taemin, who’s engrossed in his task of circle-tracing. I take a bun and feed it to Yoogeun before taking a bite out of my own. It’s slightly better than the ones at Taemin’s house, but nothing too impressive.

“They’re good, huh?” Taemin asks brightly. I give him a smile and nod. He takes his own and pulls it apart, blowing on each half before savoring each bite. I watch as his eyes close and a small smile graces his lips.

“How long has it been since you came back?” I ask curiously. Taemin chuckles and takes another bite.

“About six years,” he murmurs. He looks up and smiles sadly. “I left when I was about fifteen.”

“How did you make it on your own?” I ask although, all things considering, I could answer that with my eyes closed and my lips glued shut. Taemin doesn’t answer, instead choosing to become fascinated with the ceiling fan. I sigh.

“It’s been a while,” he murmurs. I watch his eyes close and a sudden little voice in my head hisses out that stupid question that’s going to drive me insane.

Is he thinking about him?

“So, what happened to you two?” I ask, leaning forward with sadistic curiosity.

“None of your business,” Taemin snaps, glaring at me, and I suddenly feel a pain in my chest all the way down to my fingertips. Is he honestly mad? I grit my teeth and open my mouth to tell him that it is my business because damn it, I’m ing in love with him!

Donghae, that -blocking bastard, arrives with our noodles. Never before in my life have I wanted to punch someone in the face so badly.

He gives me a huge bowl, Taemin a medium bowl, and Yoogeun a small bowl. Inside, there are white noodles topped with scallions and slices of thin, stewed beef. It’s surrounded by a yellowish soup. It look absolutely ordinary.

What the are we, the three ing bears? I think grumpily. Taemin thanks Donghae with one of those killer smiles. I grunt out my thanks and slurp up my meal.

“It’s good,” I snarl as I swallow my first mouthful, but I’m really lying. It’s absolutely amazing. This might even be on par with Jonghyun’s cooking, which is an accomplishment. There’s just this amazing balance and it makes me want more a second after I stop chewing.

“It’s like yum yum!” Yoogeun exclaims out of the blue. I look up to see him, arms raised and chopsticks in hand, soup all over his mouth. I can’t help but chuckle and wipe Yoogeun’s mouth. He grins as I wipe, his lips outlined lightly with the yellowish chicken soup.

“It’s good, isn’t it,” Taemin coos. Yoogeun nods and slurps some more. I feel a hand on my shoulder and I look up to see Donghae beaming down at me.

“Enjoy your meal,” he says, and his voice is so damn friendly, it almost makes me feel bad for wanting to knock out his front teeth.

Almost, until Taemin gives him that look that he should be giving me.

Because right now, the person that loves him the most – the person that wants him the most – is me.

A/N- Sometimes, jealous Minho is fun to write :3

More to come! Comments are love!

Goddamn, that was actually a good fit