“Hanbin? Hanbin. Jesus . Kim Hanbin!”

Hanbin stopped eating popcorn and glared over at his friend, irritably. Eating popcorn required a great deal of focus and Junhoe had just broken his. “What the hell do you want?”

“How do I look?”

Hanbin scowled at him. “Dumb, like always, now stop worrying already, you’re making me anxious and I’m not the one going on the ting date.”

“You sure?” Junhoe raised a perfect eyebrow and Hanbin wanted to punch him. He made a dramatic gesture to Hanbin’s clothes. “You look like you put effort in.” Hanbin really wanted to punch him. Mostly because he was kind of right, but Hanbin didn’t want to acknowledge that. It wasn’t like he was wearing anything special, he’d just made sure there were no stains on his clothes and that his hair looked alright…

“What, for Bobby? Kim Jiwon? The same Kim Jiwon who did a Mulan sing along on his own? The same Kim Jiwon who once asked me to lend him some money to send to a “Nigerian prince”? off.” (It is important to note here that Hanbin was lying ever so slightly when he said he did a Mulan sing along on his own. He was planning on doing it on his own, but Hanbin may or may not have shown up at the last minute with Chinese food, ready to defeat the Huns.)

Junhoe just smirked at him, and Hanbin settled for punching him in the shoulder, grinning when he yelped and spilled his coffee. Junhoe shot him with an “ I can’t believe you’ve done this” look of absolute anguish, whilst Hanbin smiled back utterly remorselessly. Who even drinks coffee at the cinema anyway?

“What are you fighting about now?” At the sound of Jiwon’s voice they both spun around, Hanbin smiling sheepishly whilst Junhoe made a late effort to flatten his hair as though after half an hour of trying might finally work. Hanbin thought if there was a creator who had designed Junhoe it would almost definitely have been a toddler. For as long as Hanbin had known him - that is, to say, since they started school - he’d been a complete mess. (And that was coming from Seoul’s resident mess, Kim Hanbin.)

In high school, everywhere he set foot he seemed to get a uniform detention without even trying. Hanbin had been slightly jealous. He’d actually had to put effort into getting detentions but Junhoe basically walked right into them. Jiwon gave up on lurking around outside the detention room and would simply join them, even though he never did anything wrong.

“I was just saying how Hanbin looks like he put in some effort for your date.” Junhoe muttered, stepping out of the way of Hanbin’s fist. He’s learning, Hanbin realised in shock. I didn’t know he could do that.

Jiwon laughed and Hanbin felt his cheeks getting hot; then at this realisation became even more embarrassed and went even redder. Why the am I blushing? I’m not twelve for ’s sake.

“Just because I’m wearing clean clothes doesn’t mean I’m making effort.” He muttered, rummaging around in his popcorn for no particular reason other than to avoid making eye contact with Jiwon.

“Does for you.” Jiwon replied with a smile.

“Fair enough.” He mumbled, feeling the corners of his mouth edge upward. When Jiwon was smiling at him like that he couldn’t help but return it. I mean, he’s not wrong.

Then he remembered why they were there in the first place and looked around, confused. “Has Jinhwan become so small he’s no longer visible to the eye, or…?”

Jiwon smirked. “He’s running a bit late but he’ll be here in a few minutes. Hey, don’t look so terrified, Junhoe, you’re not meeting the president.”

Junhoe stared blankly at him, not paying enough attention to comprehend his teasing tone. “I know I’m not, I’m meeting your American friend.”

Hanbin rolled his eyes. “Very good, Junhoe. Now touch your nose and walk in a straight line.”

Junhoe gave him a curious look before walking away without explanation.

“Hey! It was just a joke, you don’t actually need to!” Hanbin shouted after him, whilst Jiwon doubled over with laughter.

“I’m going to the toilet, you idiot!” Junhoe shouted without turning around; the lady in front of him nearly jumping out of her skin.

Hanbin turned to Jiwon who was regarding him with an amused glimmer in his eye that did not bode well at all. “What?”

“Junhoe’s right-”

“Never thought I’d see the day-”

“You did put effort in.”

Hanbin smiled sweetly at him, though he felt himself getting ever so restless. “All for Jinani-hyung.”

Jiwon just smiled, and it took everything in Hanbin to resist smiling back. “If you say so, kiddo.”

“If that’s not a Kill Bill reference I will be forced to remind you that you are barely a year older than me.”

“Make it what you want, babe.”

“Never call me that again.”

“As you wish.”

“Seriously, enough with the references.”

***

Junhoe had just finished smoothing down his hair in the mirror, and was starting toward the door when he bumped into the shortest man he’d ever laid eyes on. Okay, maybe slight exaggeration.

“Watch where you’re going.” The little guy muttered, brushing himself off as though he was royalty. Junhoe respected that. If you can act that high and mighty whilst being 4,0 (again, slight exaggeration) and wearing a One Piece t-shirt with some expensive looking designer trousers, then clearly you have to have something going for you. Or you’re just delusional. Probably the latter.

“Speak for yourself.” He replied, making a show of brushing himself off in an infuriatingly exaggerated manner. Whenever he wanted to annoy someone he just imagined what Hanbin would find amusing and did exactly that. Sometimes it did pay off having a friend with a very untimely sense of humour.

“Pardon?” The little guy turned around, and though he was wearing a mask across the bottom half of his face, when Junhoe caught sight of his eyes a wave of recognition hit him, though he couldn’t place it. Where have I seen those eyes before?

Forgetting all about the hostility in the air, Junhoe stepped forward, peering at him curiously. Social boundaries had never really been explained to him. “Do I know you?”

The little guy gave him a foul look before turning and walking into one of the cubicles, not deigning to reply. Once again, Junhoe was filled with respect. What an arsehole. He thought to himself as he left the restrooms, wholly enlightened by the encounter. I wonder if he’d teach me.

Junhoe walked back to the others; had a brief argument with Hanbin over the little that remained of his popcorn - despite it being full when he’d left it with them - before excitedly recounting the little exchange.

“Great story and all bro,” Jiwon said, once he’d finished, “but did you need to spend so long describing how hot he was?”

“It was absolutely necessary.” He replied, seriously.

“You said you only saw his eyes, though!”

“His eyes were pretty hot.”

“Is that even a thing?”

“Depends how hot the eyes are.” Said Hanbin, sagely.

“Seems like you’ve found a kindred spirit.” Jiwon remarked, clearly hoping to move the conversation in a direction that actually made sense.

“The hell does that mean?” Junhoe asked, blinking in confusion.

“It means you found someone who’s just as much of a prick as you are.” Hanbin explained, helpfully.

Junhoe shook his head, seriously. “This guy tops me.”

“You wish.” Hanbin muttered.

Junhoe ignored him, picking at the remainder of his popcorn whilst Hanbin and Junhoe fell into a different conversation, until a voice suddenly made him look up.

“Just met the rudest person in the toilet-” Junhoe looked up at the source of the voice and met eyes with its speaker, who upon doing the same immediately stopped mid-sentence. “You’re the who just pushed me over and then tried a pick up line on me like a malfunctioning Sim.” The little guy swore very elegantly, Junhoe was impressed. He didn’t know cursing could be elegant. Then again, he did hang around Jiwon whose Korean was rather poor, and Hanbin who was known for his uncanny ability to form the most abhorrent sentences.

“I didn’t push you over!” He exclaimed, defensively. “And it wasn’t a pick up line. I recognised you from the photo Jiwonie-hyung sent me.”

The guy just raised an eyebrow, not looking particularly impressed. He’d removed his face mask and Junhoe couldn’t help but stare a little. Anyone would, he told himself. He looked as though he was about to reply, when Hanbin - oblivious to the situation, as he and Jiwon had become embroiled in a very deep debate concerning the best Back to the Future film (their thirteen year-old friendship was now hanging by a thread as a result of Jiwon’s refusal to admit that the first film was “obviously” better than the second) - barrelled into Jinhwan, shouting his name at the top of his lungs and crushing him into one of his signature, breath-snatching hugs.

“Hey Bin, what’s with the warm reception?” Jinhwan patted his back with a laugh, momentarily forgetting about Junhoe’s presence in the midst of his reunion with his old friend. They’d met when Jinhwan had first come to Korea to visit Jiwon the second year of him moving there, and they’d stayed in frequent contact ever since.

“I missed you hyung!”

“Missed you too, kiddo.”

Hanbin pulled away and grabbed Jinhwan by the shoulders, ing him in front of Jiwon. “Now he’s allowed to call me that. Know why? He’s three years older.”

Jiwon laughed, waving his hand dismissively. “Whatever, kiddo.” He caught Hanbin’s fist as it attempted to assault his shoulder, fist bumping it and laughing again at the murderous expression on his friend’s face, which quickly dissipated into confusion as it beheld the scene before them. Jinhwan was regarding Junhoe with not the most favourable of gazes, whilst Junhoe was staring awkwardly into the distance, trying to melt into the scenery. It wasn’t that confrontation bothered him, exactly, this all just seemed like more effort than it was worth. At least he knew why he was familiar now. That had been bothering him.

“Uhm, what’s going on with you two?” Jiwon asked, frowning. “And what was that you were about to say about a rude person in the toilet- oh” When Hanbin elbowed him sharply it seemed to dawn on him. “Oh. No. That’s not how it’s supposed to go. There must be some mistake.”

“If there is, it’s not my fault.” Jinhwan said, decidedly whilst Junhoe merely shrugged.

“Okay… Gimme a sec.” Junhoe watched as Jiwon grabbed Jinhwan by the arm and pulled him off to the side, whispering something in his ear, to which Jinhwan rolled his eyes and nodded.

“Dude,” He felt Hanbin bump into his arm. “How could you mess it up before you’re even supposed to meet the guy? This is why you never get second dates!”

“And you do?”

“... Touche.”

“Besides,” Junhoe muttered under his breath, “Who wears a Naruto shirt to a first date?” Hanbin thought he saw a glint of admiration in his eyes, which definitely did not bode well. Anyone who was a role model to Junhoe was probably going to be an issue.

“It’s One Piece, you idiot.” He replied, nudging him with his elbow. Junhoe didn’t reply, staring into the distance for a while before finally speaking again. (Which came as a relief to Hanbin, who had been beginning to worry that he was communicating with his home planet, and was about to bring about the destruction of the human race. Hopefully that would at come after he’d finished his popcorn at least.)

“Hanbin?”

“Mm?”

“What’s a Sim?”

“The game, dummy.” Junhoe stared at him blankly. “The one with virtual people? Where they- you know what, forget it.”

Jiwon came back, dragging a reluctant Jinhwan with him. “Okay, let’s go watch this film, then.”

Jinhwan walked up to Junhoe, giving him a chilling smile. His lips looked soft. Junhoe wondered what they’d feel like. Probably wouldn’t be finding out anytime soon, from the rather unpleasant glint in his eyes. Or not. That was probably a sign he was into him. Junhoe found most things were a sign people were into him. After all, who wasn’t into him? (If he’d said these thoughts out loud Hanbin would have keeled over with laughter whilst calling him delusional, but Hanbin was obviously just jealous.) “Hope you’re not scared of ghosts.”

Junhoe cocked his head. “Why?”

“Because I’m terrified and even though I don’t like you I’m still going to use you as a human shield.”

“I don’t think it’s a 4D experience, hyung.” Junhoe said, helpfully, gaining another glare.

“Thanks for letting me know.” If sarcasm was the route he wanted to take, Jinhwan was in for even more frustration. Junhoe seemingly either didn’t understand sarcasm, or was just far too good at combating it with innocent smiles.

“Why not use Jiwon-hyung as a human shield?”

“I think he wants to cuddle with his boyfriend.” Jinhwan replied, wryly.

Glancing over at Jiwon, who was casually smoothing down Hanbin’s mess of hair as they laughed about something or other, Junhoe couldn’t help but agree. (He had to love him to laugh that much, c