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 “Uhm, here.”

Finally Dimples raises his head, looks up at Joonmyun, then at the money in his outstretched hand, then back at Joonmyun again. “What's that?” His expression is completely impassive.

“Money,” Joonmyun says as if it isn't obvious. It should be obvious. “I've... I've been watching you play for some time now so I figured that I'd just...” He trails off, shrugs. Maybe this was a bad idea.

“Hmm.” Dimples doesn't stop playing. “Thanks. But I don't play for tips.”

“Oh.” Joonmyun drops his hand down by his side, then, after a moment of hesitation, he stuffs the money into his pocket. “I, uhm, well... you're... you're really good, you know. I really enjoy you. Uh, I mean, uh...” Dimples' sudden laughter cuts off his flustered stammering, and Joonmyun chuckles as well, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Thanks,” Dimples says again. His hand stills on the fretboard. “There is one way you can repay me, though.” He leans forward a little. Joonmyun consequently leans back. His heart is racing and his throat feels parched and Dimples is peering up at him with twinkling eyes. “Smile.”

Joonmyun's breath leaves him with a squeak. “Smile?”

“Smile,” Dimples repeats, nodding, and his lips stretch out wide as if he's demonstrating (it's really pretty up close). Hesitantly Joonmyun bares his teeth in an uneasy grimace he kind of hopes will pass for a smile. Dimples is staring at his mouth for an excruciating amount of time and Joonmyun is sure his own pulse will make him go deaf with how loud it's hammering in his ears. Then Dimples sits back and he nods once more. “Hmm. That'll do, I guess.” His fingers start plucking at the strings again. “But I like your real smiles a lot better.”

“I... thanks?” Joonmyun doesn't mean for it to come out as a question. He's just still having trouble believing that he's actually having a conversation with Dimples and... and he just gave him a compliment, didn't he? Joonmyun can feel his flush all the way into the roots of his hair.

Dimples shakes his head. There's still a small smile on his lips. “Go to work, Mr. Businessman,” he says in a teasing tone. His comment makes Joonmyun look at his wristwatch and subsequently realize that he's really, really late.

~*~

A/N: to be honest, I'm a bit anxious to post this. this story is my baby. I have put blood, sweat and tears into the creation of it. I have been working on it on and off since early 2013, and though I would usually give up on stories that have been so long underway, I love this one too much to abandon it. and now I've finally, finally, got enough of it done to be confident enough to start posting chapters. I hope you'll love it as much as I do, and I hope you'll stick around for the ride. it's going to be a long one.

special thanks to sarah for letting me whine at her, for doing beta-work and for being a good sport. also thanks to bonnie and mini for holding my hand through the rough patches as usual and reassuring me I'm not as much of a failure as I tend to believe I am.

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