Oh darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple

No one's ever burned you, nothing's ever left you scarred

And even though you want to, just try to never grow up

(4 years later)

Taemin looked at the clock- 3:21 am- and groaned. He and Jongin had gone to bed around midnight after watching a cheesy horror film, but as the younger snored away, Taemin lay awake; thinking, worrying, and wondering.

Minho’s four years of high school had flown by in no time, and he was more than successful. He had earned his varsity letter his freshman year with track, and then another one with soccer a year later. He was the class treasurer (Taemin could already tell that Minho was going to be a businessman of some sort- maybe a CFO!), had many friends, a girlfriend or two (he stopped dating after sophomore year to focus on his studies and athletics), and in the midst of all of that, earned his way into the top 10 of the class (#5 to be exact)

Taemin and Jongin couldn’t be more proud of Minho. Though both Taemin and Jongin had received higher academic rankings in their high school years (#3 and #1), they both knew that Minho’s years were much more enjoyable and normal than either of theirs. He had the rare opportunity to participate in a homestay exchange with a school in America, and during Minho’s junior year, the Choi/Lee/Kim household hosted Nicholas Little, a tall blonde boy from Ohio, for a semester. His Korean was surprisingly very good, and there were very few problems with communication. The next semester came, and Minho was off in America until summer break. He came back speaking much more English with better pronounciation, but most importantly, he gained a few new friends.

Taemin couldn’t help but smile to himself when he thought of how lucky Minho was, how successful he was, and how happy he was. Taemin remembered his own high school days when he was happy. He was a studious boy with a few close friends and a single varsity letter (he somehow managed to get on the varsity cross country team his senior year). He was by far the school’s best pianist, and played in all of the school’s orchestra/band concerts and musicals. It was all good until his senior year, when his family suddenly died in the accident. Taemin managed to finish off the year with a good rank, but he became quite depressed, and the only things that kept him going were little Minho and Kim Jongin.

Though Taemin’s and Minho’s high school experiences were quite different, both could say that they were overall successful. A few months ago, Minho received a letter in the mail, informing him of his acceptance to Yonsei University, his dream university.

Minho cried for the first time in nearly three years that day.

Taemin was so happy for Minho and so proud of him, but he couldn’t help but feel a bit sad. Minho’s four years of high school seemed to fly by in a blink of an eye, and now that graduation was less than 8 hours away, he realized that Minho would soon be gone, off studying at a big school to follow his dreams. Taemin wanted to feel happy for his little brother, but at the same time, he wanted to keep the boy in his pocket and all to himself.

Taemin was very selfish when it came to Minho. He wanted the latter to succeed, but at the same time, he wanted to keep Minho at home and safe. He didn’t want Minho to leave him- he was the last family Taemin had. What if something happened? What if Minho forgot about him? What if Minho found someone and moved in with them, leaving Taemin behind? What if-

“Taemin?”

A soft voice quickly broke Taemin’s train of thoughts and worries. The young man blinked and automatically turned his head to meet gazes with a tired but worried looking Kim Jongin.

“Taemin, what are you doing up this late? You know you have to be up by 9 to get ready for Minho’s grad-”

“Don’t say it, Jongin,” Taemin interrupted quietly. He couldn’t bear to hear that word.

Graduation.

As happy as Taemin was for Minho, he was still so scared about what came after.

“Aish, Taemin.” Taemin could practically hear Jongin’s eyes roll. The latter turned over on his side and slipped his arms around Taemin’s waist, pulling him closer to his body. “Are you still paranoid about this?”

“What am I supposed to feel, Jongin?” Taemin replied in a bitter whisper, “my little boy has grown up too fast. One day he’s a cute, squishy, innocent four year old, and the next, he’s a handsome, strong, eighteen year old…”

“Taeminnnnn,” Jongin groaned, burying his nose in Taemin’s neck, “you sound like an ajusshi. Stop worrying, please.”

“Stop worrying? Stop worrying? How can I not worry? My little brother-”

“Tae-”

“-going to college in a few months, leaving me-”

“-Taemin, will you please-”

“What if he hates it?”

“Taemin, I’m sure he’ll be-”

“What if he gets hurt?”

“Wait, how would he-”

“What will he do without me?”

“Lee Taemin, will you just let me-”

“Oh my god, what if he forget about-”

Taemin couldn’t finish his frantic worrying because at that moment, he was silenced by a pair of lips on his. Realizing what had happened, Taemin struggled for a second before he leaned back quite abruptly.

“Really, Jongin?" he exclaimed, not entirely sure how he should feel, "do you even realize how worried I am right now? How can you possible be so calm about-”

Again, Taemin was silenced by a kiss. This time, Taemin didn’t try to fight it. After a few seconds, he allowed his eyes to flutter close as he gently kissed back, feeling his face warm up a little. Even after being with Jongin for over ten years, even the chastest kisses left him flustered and smiley.

Nearly a minute passed before the pair separated just a few centimeters. Taemin could still feel Jongin’s breath on his lips.

“Will you listen to me please?” Jongin breathed, and Taemin couldn’t do anything but nod stupidly.

“Minho is a big boy,” Jongin whispered simply, “I know you’re worried about him and want him to stay, but let him spread his wings a bit. Release him from his cage and let him explore the world and find himself. Let him be free for a while. He may be migrating away for a little while, but like a bird, he’ll always find his way back home. With you and me.”

Jongin never failed to stun Taemin with his simple yet beautifully metaphoric words that always seemed to calm his nerves.

“I just… I’ll miss him,” Taemin whispered in response a few seconds later, his heart feeling a little heavy. Jongin leaned in and trailed little kisses from the base of Taemin’s ear and down his jaw, making the latter hum to himself.

“I’ll miss him too,” Jongin whispered in reply, continuing to kiss down Taemin’s neck, “you’re not the only one who raised him- he practically grew up with me too, you know.”

Taemin couldn’t help but let out a tiny laugh when Jongin’s lips found the sensitive spot on the side of his neck.

“Yeah, and he got all of his bad habits from you,” Taemin teased in response, trying to turn his head a little to avoid the ticklish contact. Jongin snorted and began to trace unknown shapes on Taemin’s stomach, making the elder squirm a little bit.

“Psh. As if. He ate like a total pig until he was almost 10, I had to completely re-teach him table manners.”

“Tch.”

Jongin chuckled as he snuck his tracing hand under Taemin’s loose sleeping shirt and began to wiggle his fingers carelessly, causing Taemin to erupt in a fit of uncharacteristically high-pitched giggles.

“Y-you little sh-,” Taemin managed to say, attempting to find a way to roll away from his boyfriend. Jongin chuckled and continued his little attack.

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