Just a break. Taekwoon had decided that all he needed was a break. It had been a strange couple of days. And the tightness that sat in his chest when he thought about them was surely to do with stress and nothing more. Meeting and making friends with strangers wasn’t exactly his game, meeting and becoming… intimate with them was even more preposterous to his mind. So, when he woke the next morning he was determined to approach it as any other day, no meaning, no change in plans, no deviation from the normal.

Everything was fine.

His body ran through the paces of his normal everyday life. Morning, coffee, shower, dressed, work, lunch (no coffee), work, home, dinner, bed. Back to normal. It’s what he’d wanted, wasn’t it? If there happened to be a painful sort of ache inside of him he ignored it, or played it off as nerves for the upcoming opening night. Even though he never had nerves, there was always a first time for them. Of course the logic of ‘there’s always a first time’ only applied to nerves. There couldn’t be a first time for other things, like missing the company of someone.

And that wouldn’t even have been a first, if such a thought in his head existed (which it didn’t), because he’d missed plenty of people before. His family chief among them, but he wasn’t inexperienced either. He’d dated around some, had even given a long term relationship a try once right out of high school. He wasn’t incapable of missing someone, but it generally followed a long and developed process during which time he’d carefully thought about each point in the relationship.

There wasn’t any reason to feel his heart get pinched just a little when he’d decided that he wasn’t going to go to the cafe for a couple of days. In the city there were plenty of other coffee shops, why would he need to go to that one? Even when he felt something that might have been defiance in himself speak up about Ravi, he silenced it. Who was Kim Ravi even? Besides an attractive, beautiful soul that had been steadily digging itself into the back of his mind for months. Besides a strong back and slender hips and gorgeous legs, all of which he’d been given a look at.

Taekwoon no. Besides, he could always go back to the coffee shop. It was just a break, he told himself.

Plus, as the director and Manager Hakyeon were constantly reminding everyone, they opened in just less than a week, his focus should be the musical. Another reason why he couldn’t go to the cafe, all of the cast had started to just work through their breaks. A quick ten minute interval to eat something on hand and drink water but then it was right back into the grind for all of them. Tensions were already running high among the cast, arguments and tiffs bursting out on stage randomly before someone would step in to cool their heads.

Tension for Taekwoon was especially high because it seemed that Hakyeon had decided to make Hongbin the theatre’s official photographer. A fact that Taekwoon tried to ignore. After the rest of cast had all had their sessions with him the following day, he’d been hoping the boy might not show up around the building anymore, but like clockwork he’d be there in the afternoons snapping photos of this or that or everything. For the most part Taekwoon merely ignored him, and to his relief and regret, Hongbin did the same.

If he caught the other man staring at him sometimes with those wide dark eyes (not an indicator that he himself was looking) he didn’t feel some sort of spark of need deep in his gut. He didn’t imagine the kiss they’d shared. Why would he? To him, Lee Hongbin was a fan,  at most a co-worker since he always seemed to be around. And Taekwoon regularly ignored his co-workers as Jaehwan had always been quick to point out. They didn’t even acknowledge each other beyond the aforementioned staring. Wasn’t that exactly how he wanted it?

Three days.

Taekwoon stood again at his window and glared out at the city, blaming it for holding him hostage at the same location where they were. It had been at this spot where the loneliness started that first night. Though he hadn’t had the term for it then. Just a minor reaction to being with constant company he’d thought; it would pass if he returned to routine. But the soft ache had been growing to something more like a devouring pain.

Small reminders had been hounding him. The scent of the coffee that Hongbin brought into the theatre, Ravi’s coffee. The proofs that Hakyeon had shown the cast of their new program photos, the ones Hongbin had taken when he’d asked him for his idea. Especially the one from the club, with the smoky atmosphere and play of lights and shadows with shot glass in hand. When Jaehwan had forced him out to lunch to a store he’d heard of. Of course it was the same he’d ate lunch at with Hongbin and Ravi.

It was killing him.

If the loneliness wouldn’t leave him, then there was only one course of action to take.

Be less lonely.

Back to the grind, Ravi forced a smile for the customers waiting at the register of Coffee House. It wasn’t their fault that he was feeling a little miserable. It wasn’t their fault that he kept looking past them toward the door, hoping to catch sight of dark hair and broad shoulders and the infamous Cat Eyes. It wasn’t their fault that he’d somehow hurt his best friends feelings by his own idiocy. It wasn’t their fault that said best friend tried to pretend he wasn’t hurt. It wasn’t their fault.

It was his.

“Hyukie,” Ravi asked when they had a moment’s rest, a steady rush of customers finally having finished, “could you take over register? I’m not feeling it today.” What he meant to say was that he’d stopped holding out hope that Taekwoon was going to come in. And why did he really think he’d ever see the man again? It would only be awkward and a little forced probably, or worse, there wouldn’t be any acknowledgement at all.

“Yeah sure,” the younger boy wiped his hands off on his apron before switching spots with him, “you okay hyung? You’ve been really out of it for the past few days. Is it because Tall Double Shot Latte with Cat Eyes hasn’t been around?” Hyuk leaned back against the counter and put on what could only be called his ‘doctor’ look. Ravi had never told him that he’d met Taekwoon over the weekend, or that he’d learned his name. “He’ll be back, remember when he didn’t come in for a week straight? You thought you’d somehow screwed up his drink order.”

Ravi gave a soft laugh at that, if only it was something so simple. No, this time he knew just why he wasn’t coming in. Overexposure, or he just realized that the mystery was gone. Who was Kim Wonsik? Some guy who worked two jobs and barely had the money to pay the rent, some guy who tried too hard? Ravi only wished he could see inside the other man’s mind. “Nah, I know,” he lied a little and let his head drop anyhow, “I’m just out of it I think, I had a couple of big rap battles last week and I think I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

It wasn’t completely untrue, but he wasn’t about to tell Hyuk about how he’d got himself as drunk as he ever was and then stole a kiss from his roommate. Bands around his heart tightened when he thought of what had happened the next morning. When he’d been drunk he hadn’t even considered the consequences, which was probably the point of being drunk just getting to float on the euphoria. But he’d never expected, never thought what it was going to do to his roommate. Maybe he’d been hoping that it would spark something between them. But he’d only got those sad doe eyes. ‘Ravi-yah, about last night,’ his heart had immediately leapt to his throat, ‘it’s funny isn’t it? I guess I just have that personality or maybe it’s my face. People only seem to want to kiss me if they’re drunk.’ He’d said it with a grin but it didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Just a handsome stranger.’

And like a coward Ravi hadn’t been able to offer anything other than an apology. ‘I’m not mad,’ Hongbin had said with a sweet smile, ‘I just wish someone would kiss me when they weren’t inebriated.’ Someone. Ravi had a suspicion he knew exactly who that someone was meant as. But as it turned out Hongbin admitted that at the theatre Taekwoon must have considered him of little interest as well. “Don’t worry, Hongbin-ah, I’m sure he just needs to focus on the show.” How could someone not take interest in his Hongbin? Everything about him was perfect.

For the last few days he’d been kicking himself. Why hadn’t he just been honest? ‘I like you Bin-ah, no, I love you. I’ll kiss you any time you want to be kissed, just say the word. I was only drunk to be brave.’ But for all that he knew Hongbin, and he did, there just wasn’t a way for him to predict how he’d respond. And Ravi refused to be responsible for ruining their friendship. This, this they’d recover from given another day or two, but a confession? He wasn’t so sure.

“Hyung.” Ravi’s thoughts tuned Hyuk out. Besides, Hongbin wanted Taekwoon to kiss him again, that was obvious. Not that he could blame him, he’d spent quite a lot of time thinking about those perfect cupid’s bow lips. “Hyung!” They’d been so close that day in the dressing room, he could still remember the feel of the other man’s fingers through his hair. God, he’d just wanted to lean forward and take a bite out of him, or be bitten, either one. “HYUNG!”

Startled out of his own thoughts, Ravi jumped and whipped his head around to scold his co-worker when he caught sight of the man at the register. “Kim Ravi-ssi…” he’d missed that soft voice, “are you ignoring me?”

“He knows your name, hyung?” Hyuk’s jaw dropped a little as his eyes grew wide in surprise.

“You’re here.” It started small, the grin that infected his face, but it grew larger with every passing moment. Ravi moved right past Hyuk to stand at the register. “Double shot latte to go, right?” The smile wouldn’t leave his face until Taekwoon shook his head. “Something else?” Ravi was honestly shocked.

“Do you get a break?” Taekwoon’s voice barely carried past the register and his eyes were looking at the counter rather than at Ravi, so he didn’t see the way his face grew mystified at the question.

“Uh, yeah, yeah I can take a break.” There was a lump in his throat that he couldn’t quite swallow down. Somewhere behind him Hyuk was making loud “ohhhhhhhhh” noises.

“Then I’ll have a double shot latte for here.” Here. With Ravi. On break. He could handle this, he hoped.

They sat at the table he normally shared with Hongbin. It was toward the back of the cafe where the noise was quieter, and they were much less likely to be overheard. Ravi waited on pins and needles as Taekwoon examined his latte in one of the cute cups the shop used for in house dining. The adorable cat face was staring up at him and for the first time Ravi was nervous about what the other man thought of his signature art for him.

“It’s cute.” he was so quiet and he said it so quickly that Ravi was barely sure he’d heard correctly. “I like it.”

That brought on a wide smile that had Ravi’s nose crinkling in delight. “I’m glad you came by, Taekwoon-ssi.”

“I missed you.”

“I mi-- wait, what?” Ravi’s eyes sharpened as his head tipped to the side trying to process what he’d just heard. There was a loud thumping inside his own head, heartstrings being plucked one at a time to make a chorus of hums. “Really?”

Taekwoon merely nodded and directed his attention toward his coffee, sipping slowly.

A soft glow seemed to fill Ravi and he just sat back and grinned for a moment, entirely too pleased with that. “I missed you too. I was beginning to wonder if you’d found a new coffee shop to visit.” He meant it as a joke but there was some amount of truth to it.

“I like this coffee.” As usual, Taekwoon’s responses were short and to the point, but it did remind Ravi of something he’d prepared.

“Hang tight for just a minute, okay? I’ll be right back.” Ravi got up from his seat and made a dash for the back room. He’d been waiting for Taekwoon to show up, had been thinking about it for far too much time during his day. Easing his backpack open, he pulled out a small bag he’d got from the convenience store and dashed back. “I got this for you. I was hoping I’d get the chance to give it to you in person.”

It was a few moments before Taekwoon accepted, taking the bag in hand a looking at it like he might uncover the secrets of it’s origin through sight alone. Slowly, carefully, he pulled the bag open and reached in to find another smaller sealed bag inside. Pulling it out he saw that it was a package of coffee stamped with the logo of the shop. Ravi’s coffee. For a few seconds he only stared at it before a small smile lit up his mouth and he raised his eyes to meet Ravi’s own. “Thank you.”

“I noticed you seemed to like the blend we had at the apartment so, I thought you might enjoy having some for your home too. Of course that might have just been the hangover. Strictly speaking we don’t really sell it here, but don’t worry I have permission to take a few bags every now and then. If you ever need more, let me know, okay?”

Once more he only received a nod back, but he was beginning to see the way Taekwoon communicated, and a nod was all he needed. “Are you coming to the musical?” The question came from out of left field and it took Ravi a little by surprise. Did Taekwoon want him there?

“I don’t know, Hongbin’s more the musical fan, but he did say that he was able to score a ticket from the manager. Maybe I could go, I mean, if you wanted me to be there I’d go.” That came out all wrong, he thought mentally wincing. “I mean that I want to go, to see you.” It wasn’t much of a save but it was better than making himself seem ambivalent on it.

Another nod. “I’ll get you a ticket. I want you to see it.” What he meant was ‘I want you to see me, and maybe someday you could show me your music as well.’ But Taekwon would need to build up to that. And with that he was standing and gathering his coat. “Thank you,” he repeated holding his bag of coffee. “I’ll see you again, Ravi-yah, tomorrow if you’re working or if you’re not, come to the theatre.” Eyes blown wide, Ravi could only nod.

And that was all Ravi got from him before he was leaving. Was that… had he just lived that? With the speed of light Hyukie was sitting where Taekwoon had just been, sly eyes all on Ravi. “Well,” he grinned, “that’s a new development,” and leaned forward in his chair to waggle his eyebrows at him, “how long have you know his name, jerk?”

There was a fire in Hongbin’s brain, right at the base, and the smoke of it clouded all of his thoughts until he could only focus on the bright heat that seemed to be spreading through his body. Back against the wall, eyes shut, a fist tangled in his hair and his lips being assaulted by one very intense Jung Taekwoon, he was liable to actually catch fire himself. Any thought beyond molding himself to the taller man’s body was burned away though, a muffled groan escaped his throat but was swallowed by the other man.

He could feel his shirt being untucked, a large hand sliding underneath it to scrape blunt nails over his abs, hard against rigid. A sharp tug on his lip drew his attention back toward the man demanding all his sense. Teeth dug into his lip, sharp versus soft, and he couldn’t hold back the quiet whimper of need as the hand higher up his abs to press a palm against his thundering heart.

A low growl in the other man’s throat made Hongbin’s eyes slit open just barely, desire and need clouding them to meet the burning stare of the man pressing him hard into the backstage wall. As Taekwoon’s teeth scraped over his his skin, pulling away from Hongbin’s mouth to nip at the corner of his jaw as his head was tugged to the side by the firm grip in his hair, granting a longer expanse of neck for Taekwoon to press his lips upon.

“Taekwoon-ah…” he panted softly, throat bobbing under the sudden feather light touches the man was leaving. But then it was over and he could watch Taekwoon pull back, withdrawing his hand from the fist he’d held over his heart and leaving Hongbin’s hair mussed and lips red and swollen.

“Call me that from now on, Hongbin-ah, don’t avoid me.” Taekwoon offered a small smile and nod before turning to head for his own dressing room to change from his stage clothes. Stunned, Hongbin simply tried to process what had happened there.

Taekwoon had asked to speak with him after rehearsals, he’d waited, specifically, for everyone to leave. If Hongbin had known what they were going to talk about, he wasn’t sure that he would have ever made it to the conversation. ‘I remember kissing you.’ ‘I’ve thought about it too much.’ ‘Would you protest if it happened again?’ And the moment Hongbin had shyly admitted that he wouldn’t, well… his heated face spoke for that. “Taekwoon-ah…” he whispered to himself and smiled.

And not a single drop of alcohol had been had.

In his condo, Taekwoon watched the city from his window and smiled. The pain in his heart had eased up, more, he felt satisfied in a strange way. Like he knew that he was going to sleep well that night, better than he had for the past week almost. It was perhaps poor luck on his part that there were two parts to making the ache inside him leave, two people he seemed to be tied to already but he would deal with that in time. From what he’d seen the morning he’d woke with his hangover… it might not even be a problem. Perhaps they were both already together, it was obvious they were comfortable being intimate together.

Satisfied, Taekwoon left toward his bedroom lowering the lights as he went. Satisfied because he knew he’d see them both the next day and somehow that made something warm pool in his stomach.