#23 – Devious

He knew that Taemin was up to something. 

They hadn’t been together for more than ten years now for him to not know when his younger lover was planning something. 

But for the life of him he couldn’t figure out what the man was planning.  And it was driving him crazy!

It wasn’t anyone’s birthday coming up. 

It wasn’t a holiday.

But he just knew that the writer had some devious scheme in the works, and he was determined to find out just what it was. 

He stalked through the writer’s office when the younger man was out, careful to put everything back where he found it when he was done.  Maybe he would find a receipt or something that would tip him off?

Don’t get him wrong, it wasn’t like he thought that Taemin was cheating on him or anything – that thought never crossed his mind.  But he just didn’t like it when Taemin kept something secret from him.  It didn’t sit right with him.  They told each other everything, and even little surprises didn’t stay secret for long.  But Taemin had been at this a week, and Kibum just couldn't figure it out!

How did he know something was up?

Taemin wasn't as devious as he liked to think he was.

The former idol-singer had sudden “appointments” that he would leave for, saying he was going to talk to a lead for a story, but when he returned he would hesitate too long before answering when Kibum asked him what the story was on, and what the lead had said which just wasn't like him.  It hadn’t been long before Kibum realized that he wasn't talking to anyone for a story.

But what was it?!

Kibum even went so far as to call up Jinki.  He knew that Taemin trusted the older man’s judgment and would likely run things by their former leader first, but the man just laughed and told him to, “Wait for it.”

Finally, he actually called up Taesun – the only person on the planet who was as close to Taemin as Kibum was.  Taesun just laughed and told him to relax before hanging up the phone. 

Clearly they were in on it.  And they wouldn’t tell Kibum what was going on or being planned.  It was driving him up a wall!

Once, and only once (that he would admit to), he actually followed Taemin around Seoul.  He had looked like something out of a low-budget spy movie, with the big hat and sunglasses to try and hide his face should Taemin turn around.  He even did the stereotypical peeking-over-a-newspaper-thing as he tried to follow Taemin and figure out what the younger man was up to. 

But still – nothing worked and Kibum was in the dark.

And it annoyed the crap out of him!

Kibum shuffled his way home from work after what seemed like weeks of this kind of behavior.  He walked up the steps from the subway, still slightly proud that someone recognized him and took a picture with their cell phone as he walked past. 

His mind was still running over what exactly it could be when he was punching the code into their apartment door.  Every spare moment of thought seemed to be dedicated to trying to figure out just what the former dancer was trying to do. 

The lights were off in the apartment which meant that Taemin was out.  Probably for something to have to do with this secret of his, Kibum thought sharply. 

He threw his keys into the dish on the table and put his unused umbrella into the hall closet. 

He walked into the living room and reached out his arm to flip on the light switch when he heard the click.

He vaguely noted the shapes of other people in the sudden brightness but when he heard, “Surprise!” everything slammed home at once. 

This was Taemin’s secret, Kibum thought as he saw his lover’s brilliant smile, the young man standing next to him and taking Kibum’s raised hand. 

“Happy birthday Bummie.” He whispered quietly into Kibum’s ear as he kissed the man’s cheek and pulled him fully into the room. 

He looked around the room.  All of SHINee was there, Jinki and Minho with their wives, and several of their friends, some idols, some not. 

“My birthday isn’t for another three weeks,” he mumbled, astonished still that they had pulled off an entire party and he hadn’t been able to figure it out. 

“You would have figured it out if it had been any closer to the actual date,” Minho laughed as he hugged his former group-mate.

Kibum realized that the man was right.  If his suspicions had only been just starting now, a birthday party for him would have jumped to mind.  But since it had started almost a month and a half before the date, he never even considered the possibility.

Key greeted everyone and found himself thoroughly enjoying the night.  Glad that Jinki and Taesun, both present, hadn’t spilled the beans to him when he called up trying to figure out what had been going on.       

“Cake!” Someone shouted through the apartment, and Kibum found his arm being pulled by a childish Taemin.

“You have to blow out the candles!” Taemin explained, eyes crinkling through his grin and sliding his fingers between Kibum’s. 

“Make a wish!” Jonghyun cheered (maybe a little overly-happy from the drinks he had been having all night). 

Kibum closed his eyes and tried to capture the feel of this moment in his heart.  If the rest of his life could be like this – his friends and family around him and Taemin at his side – that would be the greatest gift he could ever ask for.  He opened his eyes and blew out the candles.  Smiling as the cries came for him to cut the cake. 

But the surprises were not over. 

In fact the biggest one of the night was still to come. 

And Kibum would never have thought that this was coming.  In fact, no one in the room, besides Taemin, knew that this was coming. 

Taemin had halted the music that had poured from the speakers tucked up in the corners of their living room.  He had rapped his knuckled loudly on the wall to catch everyone’s attention, and he had pulled Kibum to the center of the room. 

“Kibum and I have been together for eleven years now.”  He looked around the room, “Longer than any other couples here I believe…”

There were a few chuckles from the guests in the room.  But at the same time, many people watched the young writer with something akin to confusion.  What was he doing?  Had he joined Jonghyun for the night in the tipsy department?

“It’s been a hard road for us.”  Taemin reached out and grabbed Kibum’s left hand in his right.  Taemin seemed to study that hand rather than pay any attention to the others in the room.  Kibum looked concerned and intrigued at the same time, but seemed to be waiting for something.

“But we fought through all of it.  Through my recovery, through the media, through being apart for four years while I worked on my degree…”  Taemin looked up and smiled at Kibum, “I put you through a lot but you never left.  You were always here.  Always by my side.”

Taemin dropped down to one knee and someone in the room gasped.

Kibum knew that it wasn’t him who had made that noise, he didn’t think that his lungs would move enough right now to allow for a gasp.  It felt somehow like his stomach had just gone missing.  It was that strange feeling that you get at the top of the roller coaster, just as it starts to make its downward plunge.  His brain seemed to just fizzle out and he knew that he was gapping like a fish. 

Taemin still had Kibum’s left hand in his own and using his other hand, he pulled a ring from his shirt pocket.  A platinum band, with flattened diamonds and sapphires surrounding, was revealed. 

Taemin brought the ring even to Kibum’s ring finger, holding it in front of the finger.

“Kibum, I love you more than anything in this world.  I can’t imagine my life without you.  You’ve been with me through every hardship in my life, as well as many joys.  I want to be able to share the rest of my life with you.”

Kibum didn’t realize that he was crying until he saw the tear hit the back of Taemin’s hand after it slid off of his chin. 

Taemin was tearing up as well, along with the majority of their friends, none of whom had been in on the plan for this surprise. 

“The laws won’t let us marry now, but I have hope that they will change.  And when that day comes I don’t want us to have to wait.  We can be ready to marry that day if you want.” Taemin laughed slightly, the kind that he used to shield with his hand when SHINee was young.  “I want everyone to know how much I love you and how dedicated I am to you.”

Taemin smiled up at Kibum, a tear finally leaking from his eye.  “Kibum, will you make me the happiest man in the world?  Will you marry me?”

Kibum tried to speak, but the lump in his throat was too big.  He nodded his head fervently and dissolved into tears as Taemin pushed the ring onto Kibum’s finger.  Taemin jumped up and pulled Kibum tight into a hug, actually picked the elder up and spinning him a few inches off of the ground in his joy.

Their friends all clapped and congratulated the couple, wishing them the best of luck and ensuring them their support. 

Kibum didn’t hear anything.  Taemin’s questing just echoed through his mind, and the cool metal pulled heavy on his hand.  His thumb spun the ring on his finger.  He couldn’t not touch it, it was just so shocking that he couldn’t believe it had happened.  They couldn’t get married – the law didn’t allow for it – but Taemin wasn’t going to let that get in his way. 

Kibum smiled, holding his hand up in front of his face and examining the ring closely for the first time. 

“Hey Key!” Minho shouted and the former rapper’s head snapped up.

Minho was holding a camera up and gestured to Kibum that he wanted to take a photo.

Taemin and Kibum, smiles wider than ever, pulled close to each other and Kibum proudly held up his hand, showing off the ring and explaining for the rest of time exactly what had brought those smiles to their faces. 

It was another beginning, Kibum would think later on that night.  Their relationship wasn’t going to change any with each other, but something like that does make a statement to others about the depth of their relationship, and about their dedication to each other. 

Kibum was proud that Taemin was willing to make that statement and that he had gladly done so in front of all of their friends.

But as the flash went off Kibum thought – life was perfect. 

Cute right? I was trying for something light-hearted.