Skilled hands seemed to dance around the bottles and glasses, deftly mixing each drink in the dim light. There was flair to each movement, but nothing was excessive or unnecessary. Drunks cared nothing for dramatics, after all, only to down their next drink as fast as possible to lose themselves, be it in happiness or sorrow.  

Sungmin may be young, but one can’t be naïve and innocent and also work as a bartender. In the years he’s worked as one, Sungmin likes to think he’s seen almost every type of extreme emotion, all crammed together in this dingy pub. There were the joyful drunks, the depressed drunks, the mental drunks, the bipolar drunks, the cuddly ones. You name it, he’s seen it. But of course, not everyone who goes to a bar leaves drunk. Sungmin has met some surprisingly interesting people as well, a dozen he’d befriend himself. The variety of people you meet and interact with is one of main reasons Sungmin loves his job. Being able to mix drinks was the number one reason though, obviously.

But helping others was another reason why. Most people spew out their troubles without any sort of filter when under the influence, making bartenders their listener. Sungmin just chooses to be a willing listener, rather than an unwilling one. Advice is dangerous, and giving it is certainly not in the job description, but sometimes what is needed isn’t even advice; just common sense and encouragement. Every time Sungmin earns a “thank you” or a relieved smiled for his efforts, he knows it was all worth it.

But another lesson he’s learned early on is not to become too involved. There were some crazies out there, and as much as Sungmin loved being helpful, when it came down to it, it really was none of his business.

With Kyuhyun, though, it’d been hard not to become involved. The conversation he’d started was innocent enough in intent; Kyuhyun had looked murderous, Sungmin decided to calm him down. His observational skills and intuition had told him Kyuhyun was jealous, something he saw quite often to be honest. But when the new performer, Yesung, had begun to sing, the frustration and anger had just magically drained away from Kyuhyun. Sungmin had put two and two together, which was why he had urged to other to go closer to the stage.

So it would be an understatement to say he was shocked when he found himself in an accidental lip-lock with Kyuhyun. Even more shocking was the fact that he hadn’t been pushed away; rather, pulled closer. In all the years of experience he had, that at least was a first. He was further surprised, and pleasantly so, to find in their conversation afterwards that Kyuhyun was quite intellectual, with just the right amount of wit and sarcasm to stay interesting. When Kyuhyun asked for his contact information, he’d only hesitated for a brief moment before agreeing. Kyuhyun was quite handsome, too, and those charming eyes may have influenced his decision. Just maybe.

Sungmin was jerked out of his thoughts by another order being yelled at him from across the counter, to which he quickly responded with a professional smile and a nod. As his hands reached for the next glass and bottle, his eyes flitted to near the stage, where he could see Kyuhyun and Yesung chatting. Kyuhyun had an arm slung carelessly around his hyung, with a large, teasing grin on his face. Yesung looked slightly flushed, though it could just be the lighting, and was standing stiffly with his arms crossed. His expression was one of annoyance, though the corners of his mouth were beginning to creep up. But once again, that could just be the lighting.

An unsettled feeling rose in Sungmin’s stomach as he watched the two, and the suspicions he’d had the first night he met Kyuhyun begin to roll around in his mind again. As much as he hated to admit it, Sungmin was someone who grew attached easily, and already he was growing alarmingly fond of Kyuhyun with his snarky comments and caring gaze. But the eyes that Kyuhyun had trained on Yesung right now, weren’t just caring. There was something….more intense, Sungmin thought, watching them carefully. He couldn’t help but count the number of times Kyuhyun’s “Yesung-hyung” had come up in their conversations.

Sungmin’s hand slipped on the glass, and its shattering would’ve been inevitable if not for his almost involuntary fast reflexes. Sungmin’s other hand swiftly closed around the glass that had been in free-fall, smoothly setting it down on the counter with a clink, not a single drop spilt.

Sungmin exhaled sharply, trying to calm his suddenly pounding heart. He hadn’t dropped or broken anything after his first year working; in other words, he really needed to get his act together. That was way too close. It didn’t matter he’d saved it without even spilling, he never got distracted. Sungmin sighed softly, before fully focusing on the drink he was mixing.

Thus, his focus almost caused him a heart attack a couple minutes later, when Kyuhyun grabbed him around the shoulders for a one-armed hug.

“GOD Kyuhyun you almost scared the crap out of me!” Sungmin elbowed Kyuhyun in the ribs, pushing him away when he tried to lean in for a kiss. For the second time this night, he tried to slow down his runaway heart. He shot Kyuhyun a glare, before turning back to the bottle he was opening.

“Well someone’s in quite the mood,” Kyuhyun teased. Undeterred, he promptly dropped a peck on Sungmin’s cheek. “You know, you have really good skin; smooth and really white, almost as good as mine.”

Sungmin rolled his eyes, exercising every bit of self-control to not smile.

“Conceited brat.”

“Aww, don’t be mean, hyung. You love me for it,” Kyuhyun’s grin widened, as if he could see Sungmin’s internal struggle not to smile. He leaned in again, but found his face being shoved away by Sungmin’s palm.

“Oh come on, I don’t get a kiss as hello?” Kyuhyun turned to pouting instead.

“Oh stop pouting, that’s disturbing.” Like Sungmin would ever tell Kyuhyun the effect his pouting was having on him right now. The last thing he needed was to inflate the brat’s ego even more.

Kyuhyun dropped the act, but inserted aegyo into his voice instead. “Oh come on….”

“That’s not going to work either,” Sungmin resisted the urge to pinch Kyuhyun’s cheeks, doing his best to look annoyed instead. “Just stop with the shameless flirting, I’m trying to work here. Are you that desperate for a kiss?” Sungmin raised an eyebrow.

“Of course I’m not desperate, the mighty Kyuhyun is never desperate!” Kyuhyun looked affronted. “Besides, stop working, just for a couple minutes, Yesung-hyung is gonna sing soon!”

Sungmin firmly pushed down the unease that’d erupted in his stomach at the mention of Yesung’s name. He sighed dramatically, before setting down the bottle he was holding.

“Fine….”

~*~*~

As Yesung stood backstage, he felt a giddiness run through him, recalling the conversation he and Kyuhyun had before preparing to perform.

It really hadn’t started out as anything special, just Kyuhyun being the snarky brat he was, teasing Yesung to the point where he’d wanted to dig a hole for himself and die. Only Kyuhyun could make him blush the way he did. But then…

“Hey, you know, I was thinking, you wanna go out somewhere and celebrate after this?”

Yesung stared at Kyuhyun, confused. “Celebrate what?”

Kyuhyun looked slightly sheepish. “You know, your performing here, being able to sing!” He bit his lip, looking like he wasn’t sure how to continue. “I mean, we didn’t really get a chance to after your first performance…”he trailed off.

Yesung understood immediately. This was Kyuhyun’s way of apologizing for what happened that night. A smile made its way onto Yesung’s lips, curving the ends upwards. But then, a thought struck him.

“Just the two of us, a late dinner and then karoke?” Yesung tried to sound nonchalant.

Kyuhyun immediately perked up, all trace of embarrassment gone. “Yeah, that sounds good!”

Yesung’s eyes widened at the quick agreement, before narrowing them slightly. “What about Sungmin?”

Kyuhyun hesitated; it was obvious he’d momentarily forgotten about the y bartender. “…it’s ok.” He grinned. “Besides, I’ll pay, so the fewer the better for my wallet, right?”

Yesung let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, and nodded in agreement. That was pretty much Kyuhyun’s way of saying ‘I’m gonna make it up to you by paying for once’. Kyuhyun never failed to exploit the fact that Yesung was his hyung, making him pay at least ninety percent of the time.

“Alright then, good luck! Though I know you’ll do fine, hyung!”

Honestly, Yesung knew he shouldn’t be feeling that happy. After all, Kyuhyun was only doing this because he felt bad, right? It didn’t change anything with Sungmin, it didn’t change anything at all. Yesung felt a bit of the giddiness subside, leaving longing instead.

‘Well,’ Yesung thought to himself wryly, ‘at least my mood right now perfectly matches the song I’m about to sing.’

He glanced at his watch before making his way onto the small stage. He switched on the mike, clearing his throat to get everyone’s attention.

“Tonight I’ll be singing Snow White*, I hope you all will enjoy.” He bowed, waiting for the music to start.

I`ll keep on feelin` everytime
You are in my heart
Baby don`t cry it’s all right
I want it to be the two of us
I’ll keep on dreamin’ everytime
I know I’ll just find your love
As we embraced each other in our arms
We became one

Across the bar, Kyuhyun was watching the performance with an appreciative smile on his face. His eyes glued to Yesung, he commented softly, “Jongwoon-hyung sings really well, doesn’t he? His voice really is the best.”

Sungmin hummed in agreement, slightly thrown off at first by the use of “Jongwoon-hyung” instead of “Yesung-hyung”. But his attention wasn’t on Yesung like Kyuhyun, rather, he was closely observing Kyuhyun’s reaction.

There is no one by the snowy sidewalk
Our breaths became pure white petals
Your hands softly clenched in your pockets
Slowly warming up my heart

Yesung’s eyes slowly closed as he immersed himself in the song, feeling every note and every syllable vocalizing his own hopes, dreams. He knew that warmth.

Two lonely people wanted to test
Just how profound love is
Only by my tears shall I be happy
And that is what I believe so

“This song…the melody is actually rather light and happy, but the lyrics are actually full of longing,” Kyuhyun shook his head, his expression showing pride and slight awe. “He captures that perfectly.”

Ah Ah… I know I`ll just find something
Everyone hurries home
Where does time carry our hopes?
Because surely, in a single second
The present from God
Our future will start

Yesung couldn’t help but think of Kyuhyun with these lyrics, his eyes slowly opening as he unconsciously searched for that familiar face. Their eyes connected, and Yesung felt a warmth spread through him at the sight of Kyuhyun’s smile. A true smile. Not a smirk, not a quirky grin. Just a simple smile.

I wonder what lies ahead of us?
Our dream will become the real answer
This valuable feeling of you being here
Is my strength you see

Of course Sungmin noticed the eye contact between the two. Yesung looked happy, but Sungmin paid him no more attention. Yesung’s feelings, in Sungmin’s opinion, have been rather transparent from the start. He could be wrong…but probably not.

But Kyuhyun. The softness in his eyes, the pure contentment in his warm gaze, sent shivers down Sungmin’s spine. He wasn’t sure if it was because of a bad feeling…or just the sheer amount of care in his eyes that gave him goosebumps. And that smile, that was no simple smile.

Warmth is also sorrow
Which can heal you.
Do not leave my side.
If you can do that, then that’s enough
Because I love you

Yesung felt his eyes closing again. Perhaps, yes, then it would be enough. Perhaps, as long as Kyuhyun didn’t leave him, it’d be ok if he was with Sungmin. Because Yesung loved Kyuhyun. Perhaps that would be enough.

I’ll keep on feelin’ everytime
You’re in my heart
Baby don’t cry, it’s all right now
I want us to be together
I’ll keep on dreamin’ everytime
I know I’ll just find your love
As we embraced each other amidst the snow
We became the light

Slowly, however, as Sungmin turned his attention to Yesung, he found himself getting caught in the melody and husky voice as well. Sungmin could feel his doubts stop twisting and turning in his stomach. The longing for love…or was it conviction?

Ah Ah…I know I’ll just find your love
Ah Ah…I will protect only you

As the song ended, the last note almost seemed abrupt as the audience burst into applause. No bitter taste in his mouth this time, Yesung bowed deeply, before fighting the urge to skip off stage. Kyuhyun met him halfway down the pub.

“Great job, hyung! Who was right and told you you’d do fine?” Kyuhyun teased.

Yesung rolled his eyes, but couldn’t keep the grin off his face. “Yes, because I was sooo worried in the first place.”

“Yahhh fine then next time I won’t even wish you good luck,” Kyuhyun all but pouted, causing Yesung to laugh out loud.

“All right, all right, thank you Kyu-ah for your confidence in me, what would I do without you?” Yesung decided to humor his stubborn dongsaeng.

Kyuhyun smirked, satisfied. “That’s more like it, what would you do without me?” Yesung’s smile faltered slightly at that statement, for its meaning hit a bit too close to home, but Kyuhyun didn’t seem to notice. “Come one, let’s go! It’s not every day I’m gonna treat, so you better eat lots!”

“Oh you don’t need to tell me that, I’m sure gonna take advantage of this golden opportunity!” Yesung agreed as Kyuhyun dragged him towards the door.

“Oh, wait a sec,” Kyuhyun paused in his step, turning towards the bar counter. “Yahh, Sungmin-hyung!” he yelled. Yesung’s heart sank as Sungmin’s head turned towards their direction. “I’m gonna head out tonight, I’ll text you tomorrow, kay?” Kyuhyun continued once he got Sungmin’s attention.

Sungmin gave a thumbs up, and Kyuhyun turned back to grin at Yesung. “Okay, all set. Let’s go!”

Yesung finally felt his heart settle as Kyuhyun grabbed his arm, pulling him out through the door.

A/N: I'm alive! xD haha yep lahdeedah000 here! Sorry this chapter is rather plotless, but Sungmin's thoughts are really important for future plot developments, so for Kyusung shippers that are frustrated with Kyumin, please don't skip reading those sections! And now that summer is here, we'll *hopefully* *maybe* be able to update faster! Please comment!! :D

*We DO NOT own the song Snow White nor the lyrics, all rights belong to Suju and SME. We did not write the lyrics, they were taken from the song. You can listen to it here.