Matching Key (JoongNine AU)

Code XX

Nine

I slept through the night with a heavy heart. He did say that I'll be hurt. I was. Rejection, really felt liked a punch. The morning came and I ended up waking up later than my usual, since sleep was hard to come by last night. I sat up and moved to take a shower.

The scent of coffee, and a simple toast and egg on the table, felt homely than yesterday's dinner, not that it was bad, but this was what normal looked like. Looking at the back of the person who was washing something at the sink, I hesitated on how to face him, but then, when he turned around hearing my steps and smiled, I just threw my consciousness away. He was not affected by emotion, thus I shouldn't wallow in my embarrassment, which he wouldn't understand why anyway.

"Morning, that food is still warm, I prepared them just as I heard the sound of shower. I have eaten, but I'll sit with you in a bit, go on and have your breakfast", he said, trying to sound cheerful, and turn back.

I walked closer, held his waist, tiptoed and kissed his nape. I could feel him stiffened, but didn't say anything. It didn't matter if this would be one sided. He won't have anyone to shower him with affection liked this, once he's back to wherever that is. Only then, I sat at the table and munched away.

"So, what should we do for today?", I asked when he sat in front of me with his coffee too.

"Aren't you tired? You could go back to sleep after this, Nine. It's alright".

I shook my head, "Not used to sleep too much, headache. You have anything in mind?".

He shook his head, but then started again, "Ah, about that. Since you said that kind of dinner liked yesterday, was for couples or lovers, I did further search, about how that thing work...there's nothing liked it over there... ", his words caused me to smile. Everytime he searched for something, it would be amusing indeed.

"Okay, what did you find out, I meant, other than that beautiful dinner?"

"Some doable, lovely things, just liked that kiss which you asked from me last night; and also, hmm, what to call them here, controversial? That doesn't sound right...explicit content? Yes, that's more liked it...maybe...".

I almost choked, and down the toast that stuck on my throat with a warm water. I really hope he didn't accidentally venture into any porn hub or anything, but even if he did, he must not understand what it was, just liked how he once called kissing, as lips touching.

"Chen, why did you search for that info anyway? Someone piqued your interest?".

"No. It was something that I'd seen from that buzz, Nine. But, every time it was brief, and patchy, so even though I saw and feel a little, I couldn't conclude how a couple or lovers thing worked".

"Mind if I ask, what did you see, up to this point. I might help you better if I could get a glimpse of them".

"Ermm, maybe you should eat your toast, first. You almost choked just now", he said and looked a little uneasy.

"Explicit?". He nodded, "A bit...". I looked down, and focused on finishing the remaining food before trying to have a mature talk with him later.

Joong

Nine was blushing again. His fair skin really easily turned pink. Yet, he still remained listening carefully to everything that I told him.

"I really was surprised, the first time that you kissed me, you know. If your hold was not so strong, my thought of that moment was to punch you, so you'd let go, but I couldn't even move", he said after my story finished.

"It's confusing for me too, when in my head you're supposed to like kisses but when I did kiss you, you're fighting it. Sorry, Nine. If that was your first kiss, I had turned it to become such a disturbing memory".

"No, it's alright that I understand it now. You really couldn't feel it, Chen? Even when we touched, or kissed?".

I shook my head and said, "Unless I connected with you, then, I could feel them too, but...so does the Hunters. Urgh, though I wanted to, it will become weird, isn't it...".

"But, didn't the one where, erm, you sleep together, it seemed you're somehow, kind of...liking it?"

"I don't know, Nine. Maybe, skin retained memories too, liked how your muscles worked. Erm, last night, when you kissed me, and touched a sensitive part, sensation was running everywhere on my body. So, all I could suggest; liking the intimacy, might be based on that familiarity with the onslaught of sensation it brings, more than any actual feelings involved. Sorry, it sounded cold; but that is how I am built".

"Well, then...we could work on that, since my worries that I was rejected, is now clear!"

"What are you saying, Nine? I didn't reject you, but also, I am not pursuing any other interest towards anything other than how a pair work, you knew this already, I'd told you...", Nine enthusiastic remarks, caused me to be on guard. I had spent almost half of the night debating on what the buzz meant; a past or a future. Whatever it is, the end was not pretty, and Nine shouldn't be put into that condition.

Nine moved closer, kneeling in front of me,"Partner. I don't like to be called a pair. And besides, who said that only you could do the pursuing, it worked both ways, Chen. I am not a static key, mind you, liked I'd told you too; I felt everything".

"Don't just take the pretty part, the end is a disaster, Nine!. You wanted to end up liked that?!", my voice was pressed.

Nine took a deep breath and said, "When I thought you're a psycho, I came following you still, eventhough there's a possibility of an unknown danger. Then, you're the one who asked me to think back of the reason why...remember? So, I did, and I couldn't deny, that though I was angry, the bigger part of me wanted to trust you more".

"Nine, stop...", but, my words was hushed as he held my face, looking directly into my eyes.

"That sensation that you felt last night, wasn't it the same as what you felt from the intimacy, Chen? It's pleasurable, isn't it? I also didn't know what the buzz meant, but, rather than not taking a step because we fear uncertainty, won't it be beautiful to just spend what little time we have now, together?".

"You are weird, Nine. I couldn't describe you more honestly than that".

"Hmm. But, you still haven't answered...".

I held his wrists and slowly pulled it down. Nine's eyes were darting, trying to not lose hope, but there's an obvious dejection simmering in there. Would this be alright? Would he be alright? This thought kept circling in my mind. I looked back at him for a long time.

"Then...kiss me".

Nine's eyes were damp, but he was smiling as he jumped on me, grabbed my hair tight, and gave kisses that shook the nerves on my whole body for some time. I kissed him back with the same passion, and also learnt, that you could almost feel the shivers that ran on the other person's body too.

Ah, this reality, is hundred times better than how it felt, from just a mere memory, definitely!.