15 UNDER MY SKIN

Setting: Dubai

Jonghyun and Jinki agree that it’s best that they room with their dongsaeng and best friend, respectively, for their week in the Middle East in order to help Taemin and Kibum avoid the pitfalls of a forbidden romance. After sensing the sweetly warm atmosphere inside the van, the lovers know they must intervene and keep the two in separate hotel rooms, even if it will pain them to do so.

For their part, Taemin and Kibum decide to be obedient as they are determined to stay sane, and they fully trust Jonghyun and Jinki, who only have their best interest at heart.

Nevertheless, they all know that the whole deal has become more challenging now— The airport pandemonium triggered a compulsion on Kibum’s part to be over-protective of Taemin. The entertainer, on the other hand, feels that being in Kibum’s arms is all the protection he needs from the world, which is often a scary place for those like him who are not exactly regular people.

Still, they cannot deny the fact it isn’t the time nor the place to be entertaining romance or even just the idea of it.

In spite of all their good intentions, it doesn’t seem that fate is ready to cooperate.

After Taemin’s first show in Dubai, which was a success, he and Jonghyun are back at the hotel and heading up to their room when Taemin realizes that he has left his phone inside their shuttle service. Jonghyun rings the driver to meet Taemin by the entrance. The boy would have to get the phone himself because Jonghyun has to deal with a toilet emergency.

Taemin retrieves his phone from the driver and gets inside an empty elevator. After a couple of floors up, a middle-aged man gets in.

Within seconds, Taemin is completely aware that the man is continuously eyeing him from head to toe. Used to being stared and gawked at as a celebrity, Taemin just focuses on reading messages on his phone while waiting to get to his floor, which is the topmost floor.

Suddenly, he is pressed against the elevator wall as the man pushes his whole weight on Taemin and grabs the latter’s crotch. The boy’s shock delays any sort of response from him for a few seconds until he finds himself screaming.

“Stop! Get off me!”

---

“Please, Kibummie. I’m already in my pajamas. It’s an emergency. Jjong needs it.”

Kibum sighs and grabs the pack of loperamide capsules from Jinki. He is ready to shower and get into his own pajamas. Nevertheless, the prospect of saying good night to Taemin in person makes him smile.

He hits the elevator button going up and eagerly waits.

His excitement is completely snatched from him when the elevator opens and he sees Taemin pinned to the wall by a tall man... tears streaming down Taemin’s baby face.

“What the are you doing?!”

For the first time in his life, Kibum is gripped by the kind of adrenaline rush that occurs during catastrophic situations. With a strength he never knew he had, Kibum tackles the man to the corner and punches him on the face. The blow is so strong that Kibum felt his knuckles burst through his own skin. But he is numb from fury so he grabs the man by the collar, despite being shorter by some inches, and pushes him against the wall, shoving him with full force repeatedly.

“How dare you touch him, you son of a ! I will kill you!”

Before the man could fight back, guards rushed to the scene to pull him out of the elevator that has remained open all this time because Taemin has fallen on his knees by the door, sobbing and reaching out to Kibum whose full attention is on the man. Taemin has never seen Kibum look at anyone or anything in such a way. It is a violent glare that holds a promise to kill.

It turns out that the building security saw the attack on Taemin via a CCTV camera and were on their way to seize the assailant but Kibum got to him first.

When the security team has left with the offender, Kibum pulls Taemin into his arms. Taemin, feeling small and unbearably dirty, releases anguished sobs on Kibum’s chest.

“I’m here now, Taemin. I won’t let anyone touch you. I’ll keep you safe. Don’t cry, babe. You’re with me now.”

---

For a second, Jinki thought he has dozed off and started dreaming when he sees Kibum scampering inside their room with Taemin clutching at him like a child who’s afraid to be left alone by his parent. But the seriousness in Kibum’s face grounds him.

“Key... what’s--“

“Jinki, please sleep in the suite with Jjong tonight. Taemin’s staying here with me.”

“But--“

“Jinki, please! If you don’t want to go out wearing a robe, just use my coat... that one on the chair. Go now. I’ll tell you what happened tomorrow. Don’t mention anything to Jjong. Just tell him you insisted on staying with him because you’re worried about his stomach. Please, Jinki. Taemin needs to rest.”

Kibum’s authoritative tone makes it clear to Jinki that he should do what his friend says without rebuttals or questions.

As soon as they’re alone, Kibum leads Taemin to the couch where the latter crashes, pulling Kibum towards him by grabbing his shirt. In between sobs, Taemin unloads his feelings.

“He... he d me, hyung! I feel sick.”

“I f-felt his breath on my face. It... it smelled awful. He said disgusting things to me. He tried to kiss me!”

“I feel so dirty, hyung... how can you hold me?”

Kibum embraces Taemin’s shaking body and rocks the latter for comfort.

“Don’t say that, Taemin. It was a horrible incident but you are the same Taemin in my eyes. You aren’t dirty. You’re as beautiful as ever.”

They remain in a tight embrace for several minutes until Kibum feels that Taemin has stopped sobbing and shaking.

“I’ll run you a warm bath, okay? You’ll feel better afterwards. Then I’ll tuck you in so you can rest. You’re safe here, Taemin. I’m with you. I’ll be with you all night.”

---

“Kibum?” Taemin calls from the bathroom, the door ajar upon the boy’s request.

Kibum quickly runs towards the open door but stays outside. “Yes, Taemin?”

“Will you come in, please?”

“But you’re--“ Kibum was going to point out that Taemin is but realized it would be idiotic to say it as if Taemin isn’t aware of his own ness. “Are you sure you want me in there?”

“Y-yes. I want you in here.”

Kibum slowly opens the door and flashes Taemin a shy smile. He keeps his eyes on the boy’s face to avoid awkwardness. Besides, he didn’t want to risk getting when Taemin just went through a traumatic encounter with a ert.

“It’s okay. I’m not uncomfortable about you being in here.”

Kibum sits on the floor with his back on the door. He smiles, as he feels safe now since all he can see from where he’s seated is Taemin’s face and bare shoulders... and y collarbones that are glistening from the bathwater. Again, Kibum forces himself to focus on Taemin’s face alone.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes. Thank you, hyung. I’m just a bit ashamed. I’m like a pathetic damsel in distress.”

“Taemin, please. You were mobbed and attacked today. None of it was your fault. And I meant what I said, I mean what I sang in the van earlier. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“Thanks. I promise I’ll stay away from trouble.”

“