Sungmin shivered in the chilly basement, the lights scarcely warming them in the blistering storm. Two ragged and worn blankets covered his body but it was doing very little against the poorly patched up window.

Earlier, Minho had taken the liberty of stuffing a number of oddities in the cracked opening to stop the flooding and had succeeded in plugging it. The only problem was that cold wind just slipped past all the barriers. On a lighter note, the ground wasn’t as wet.

“Are you hungry?” Minho stooped down before the shaking boy. In his hand was a chilled chocolate bar. “I found it in the mini fridge. It was this or double fudge ice cream.”

Sungmin pouted, thinking about the ice cream. “I would’ve preferred the double fudge.”

Minho rolled his eyes, breaking a piece of the candy and pressing it against the black haired boy’s lips. “Just eat. This has some protein unlike that creamy garbage.”

“This is creamy too,” Sungmin argued, chewing the food gratefully nonetheless. “Aren’t you cold?” he prompted, before opening his mouth for another piece of food.

“Not really,” he popped another chocolate morsel into the other’s mouth, “you’re only cold because you’ve lost blood.” Minho broke another part off, eating it himself.

Sungmin glanced out at the cold night again, before sighing and making a decision. “I’m cold.”

“Yeah, I know,” he replied slowly, cocking an eyebrow, “didn’t I just say that?”

“I’m really cold,” he persisted, shifting around underneath the blankets. Sungmin unwound them, revealing his curled up figure. “Can you keep me warm?” A blush rushed his face but he held on, feeling guilty and indebted for all of Minho’s kindness.

Scarlet colored the normally cool boy’s cheeks and he fumbled to catch the chocolate bar in hand. “Y-You’re serious?” he cursed the stutter, body leaning towards Sungmin.

“Just hurry up,” the slender boy snapped.

Without further hesitation, Minho pressed close, pulling Sungmin into his lap so the injured leg could easily drape over the taller boy’s body. The blanket came closer around them until their body heat mingled, igniting an unexpected warmth.

Sungmin tentatively snuggled closer, wanting to stay as warm as possible through the cold night. It was literally life or death. He would tell Ryeowook in the morning. Nothing was happening and Ryeowook trusted Minho in general. There wasn’t anything to feel bad about in that respect…right? “…Thanks…for all of it,” he muttered, embarrassed.

“It’s fine,” Minho murmured, leaning his head back and closing his eyes against all of the unwanted ersion. He wrapped his arms around Sungmin, “The sooner we sleep the sooner everything will be over.”

Pain shot through Sungmin’s chest. Why did it sound so final? “Hey…can I ask you something?”

Minho sighed, but nodded.

“You,” he paused, letting the word float in the air, “do you think Ryeowook and I are supposed to be together?” Sungmin clenched his fists, looking down at the ratty blanket keeping them warm. The reason for asking was unknown. Why would it matter if Minho approved of their relationship? He had asked without really thinking, the words coming forth all on their own.

Minho pursed his lips, considering the question. “Do you mean you and Ryeowook are meant to be together forever? Like marriage and stuff?”

“I-I guess,” he stammered, color rushing to his cheeks.

“Then I’d say you guys are good,” he took a long second to finish his thought, as if saying it were wrong, “but not perfect.”

“What would make us perfect?” Sungmin pressed.

“Nothing,” Minho replied as gently as he could, “because when something is meant to be perfect, it’ll be perfect from the very beginning and you know what? There’s no such thing.” He nudged the boy in his lap, trying to cheer him up after such heavy words, “Kyuhyun and Ryeowook aren’t perfect together either, not even close.”

The black haired teen smiled a bittersweet smile. “Yeah, that really makes me happy. If anyone is close to perfect, it’s them don’t you think?”

“Personally, I’d say it was Mir and Dongwoon,” he replied, blinking in surprise as his own statement. The reaction was reflected on Sungmin’s face as well. Minho chuckled and looked around the basement, trying to indicate their situation. “Dongwoon got us stuck here because he was searching for Mir desperately. That’s gotta account for something right? And I mean, have you ever had a chance to see them together? I’m not some love expert but I can definitely understand why Taemin was so defensive.”

Sungmin cocked an eyebrow. “Taemin’s your best friend and you’re saying someone is better than him?”

“It’s the truth!” he cried, earning a laugh from the cute boy. Minho nodded earnestly, “Really, he’s a sweet kid deep down, but he just made the biggest mistake of his life by dating Mir.”

“Huh?”

“Taemin and I were raised together,” he sighed, “but he’s always been sensitive. He took all of the words, actions, and seriously. Because of that he’s so ed up in the head I didn’t even know it was possible for someone to get through to him. I just wish it hadn’t been another messed up kid.”

Sungmin was quiet, thoughtful. “…why weren’t you messed up?” he asked, lifting his head to look at the other person.

“Me?” Minho made a face, appearing confused by the question. “I guess it was because I needed to take care of Taemin. When you’re caring for someone else, you end up forgetting about yourself. You should know what that’s like what with last year’s Ryeowook and everything.”

They kept on it, talking about this and that, falling into a cycle of laughter, seriousness, and sometimes silence. The more they spoke, the more the cold receded and the heat increased. Soon the blanket was falling away as Sungmin became animated about a certain topic of interest.

Minho just leaned back against the locked door, chuckling at whatever the boy in front of him was saying. It was strange how things worked out – a fact that had always ended poorly for Minho. That was why, as he allowed himself to enjoy the current situation, he kept in mind it wouldn’t last.

Being with Sungmin wasn’t an option. It probably wouldn’t be an option for a long time, if ever.

But it was okay.

It was really okay because so long as he could see the boy happily chattering as he was doing now, everything was fine.

Minho could continue grinning and supporting Ryeowook and Sungmin’s relationship because – “I really love you,” he laughed as a smile bloomed on his face.

Thunder shook the silenced world. And then the truth shattered everything.

All the while, only one word played in Minho’s mind: .

Sungmin swallowed his held breath, large eyes wider than life. “You…you what?”