Zhoumi hated KUG.

He used to enjoy it but now it was…horrible. Had Kangin been so stressed as well? It never seemed like it. Then again, maybe things weren’t so hectic way back when. But ever since that damned Key took over, Zhoumi was suffering like he had never suffered before.

The new owner’s attitude didn’t affect the atmosphere of KUG but it sure affected the way Zhoumi was feeling. No matter what he did, Key found a way to insult it – whether the task was to count cups or just deliver a drink.

For instance, just the other night, the third year had simply handed a waiting student a drink and then Key was pulling him aside complaining, “You didn’t smile sincerely enough.”

Or, in more ludicrous times, Zhoumi had just finished taking inventory and filled out that week’s reports. Key – with all his stupid butting in – said, “Your hand writing . Redo all the reports because I’m pretty sure they’re all as sloppy as this.”

It was just…ridiculous!

So that night, Zhoumi just stayed locked up in his shabby back room, fuming. He wasn’t confrontational. That was the problem. Even though there were so many things he wanted to voice the third year knew that the moment he began venting, it would be a jumble of words and yelps. He just didn’t have it in him to be harsh; mainly out of fear of being verbally attacked. If there was a way to fight where you didn’t have to hear the other side out, Zhoumi would surely confront people more often, however that wasn’t how things worked.

The door to his backroom opened without warning and Zhoumi stifled a groan. He really hoped that it wasn’t Key.

Fortunately, it wasn’t.

“Mi, why are you slumped over?” Kyuhyun chuckled, striding towards his boyfriend.

Zhoumi shot up, eyes welling with tears. The other boy’s eyes grew in alarm and he rounded the small desk, pulling Zhoumi into his arms. “I hate it here…,” the third year mumbled, sobbing and wetting Kyuhyun’s shirt, “I don’t like working with these people…I don’t like staying in this tiny room…”

“It’s alright,” Kyuhyun said softly, hugging his lover tighter, “If you don’t like it here, why don’t you just leave?”

At that, Zhoumi wanted to yell that Kyuhyun didn’t understand; that he just didn’t get how much he owed to the former KUG owners. It was more than just a favor. He cared about Eunhyuk and Kangin more than most would care for the underground club founders. But…for some reason…he couldn’t tell Kyuhyun any of that.

What if Kyuhyun hated him? What if Kyuhyun didn’t sympathize with him? After all, how many people would actually agree with Zhoumi when it came to the kindness of Eunhyuk and Kangin? They weren’t exactly Teukie-hyung or Yunho-hyung.

Most people truly feared the KUG duo – tried to avoid them in normal day-to-day activities. And Zhoumi had a slight hunch that Kyuhyun wasn’t very fond of them either. If he knew the prior felt a bond with them, wouldn’t that put Zhoumi in a bad light? It would make him look like a freak.

Key…well, Key was already like a second Kangin. He knew how to handle himself and he ignored any looks of contempt thrown his way. Zhoumi wasn’t sure why the other boy decided to run KUG nor did he care much at all.

“Mm, I know…,” Zhoumi mumbled, hoping that Kyuhyun wouldn’t press him on the matter.

Kyuhyun kissed the older boy’s head, smiling into the soft dark hair. “I’m here for you,” he assured, slowly lifting Zhoumi’s face and kissing his lips, “Don’t worry too much okay Mi?”

The third year crumpled under the tenderness of those words and the soft way those lips touched his. How in all that is holy did Zhoumi get such a perfect person? Who was smiling so kindly down upon him? Who let someone like Kyuhyun love him?

Zhoumi pressed desperately back on the warm, affectionate mouth, arms winding around Kyuhyun’s neck. He felt the younger one push his shirt up, familiar fingers roaming along his slim backside. A soft moan escaped Zhoumi’s lips as he leaned into the touch.

“We can’t do anything,” Kyuhyun chuckled, “right?”

“Why not?” Zhoumi replied lowly, “it’s not like anyone comes around here.” He ground his hips into the second year, watching Kyuhyun’s eyes flash lustfully. “We can…”

Suddenly Zhoumi felt himself up against the wall and a pair of hungry lips devouring his. A hot tongue found the third year’s, tasting and exploring. He giggled into Kyuhyun’s open mouth, quickly tugging at the latter’s short sleeve shirt.

Kyuhyun rolled his shoulders, allowing the thin material to hitch up. He lowered, nibbling at his lover’s neck, paying mind to the places he knew made Zhoumi moan. As expected, the older boy did and damn… Kyuhyun’s hands followed the curve of the slim boy’s , smiling against the red mark he had created on that pale neck. “You sure no one will come?” he mumbled, at the territorial bruise.

“Yeah—”

“—this isn’t a ing house, Zhoumi.”

The lovers broke apart, Kyuhyun, jerking his shirt down. Zhoumi swallowed a growl of anger and turned to glare at Key. “What do you want?” he snapped.

Key held up a thick folder stuffed with papers. “It’s your job to take care of this stuff. What are you doing fooling around? I know it’s a teen club but if the people running it aren’t professional everything is going to hell.” His eyes scanned Kyuhyun’s body and face before snorting and turning away. “Isn’t Eunhyuk-hyung hotter?”

Zhoumi’s blood ran cold. “W-What are you talking about?” he stammered, terrified.

The KUG owner shrugged, dropping the heavy folder onto Zhoumi’s desk. “Nothing, just saying Eunhyuk-hyung is hotter…,” he smirked, eyes mocking, “Why are you so nervous, Zhoumi? Something scared you just now…maybe?”

Kyuhyun watched in confusion, not daring to utter a word. For one, it seemed like a pretty personal matter. Two, he really didn’t feel curious about their conversation. So what if Key thought Eunhyuk was more attractive? It didn’t exactly affect Kyuhyun, right?

“Sorry Kyu, I have to work,” Zhoumi said quickly, pushing Kyuhyun towards the exit, “I’ll be home later tonight so you can go to sleep before me.”

“Ah, sure,” he replied, exiting the room in a bit of a daze.

Zhoumi whipped around to glare at Key. “Why would you say that?” he cried.

“Say what?” the other prompted innocently. His mouth curved into a harsh grin. “I told the truth. That’s more than you can say. Doing with someone else and then wanting to have a perfect little romance? You’re living in a fairytale.”

“I didn’t do anything with Eunhyuk…,” Zhoumi whispered.

Key barked out a laugh, arms crossing over chest. “You’re such a ing liar! How can you even live with yourself? I saw you with Eunhyuk twice.”

“What?” His eyes were large and helpless.

The other boy rolled his eyes, holding up two fingers. “First time was the night you told him to, and I quote ‘ me’. I was there. I heard it.” He shook his head, “I didn’t think it was a big deal but then I saw you getting all friendly with that guy – your boyfriend, a few days later or something. So I was like, ‘Whatever, probably a one night stand’ but then I was at the Thanksgiving dinner and happened to see you run into a teeny-tiny closet with good old Eunhyuk.”

Zhoumi’s heart dropped into his stomach, jaw slack. Key just laughed at the expression – a bitter, taunting laugh. “And you know what? I would’ve just blown it off or whatever had I not seen you acting like a perfect little angel around your boyfriend. That’s when I realized…Holy. ing. . You’re just a little ty liar. You don’t even have the decency to tell your lover that you cheated on him,” Key spun sharply on his heel, heading for the door, “and I bet it wasn’t just once, huh?”

The door shut and Zhoumi collapsed, tears falling from his eyes. It wasn’t fair. For all the faults Key had, at least he was honest. That was the one thing – truthfully the most important thing – that made him far better than Zhoumi.