The Three Worst Secrets

Red Lights and Blue Lights

"You okay?"

"Yes."

Seungmin seemed to be searching for something on his face but he didn't find it. "Sorry about that. We have a weird history, Jisung and I."

"Is he the Jisung that Hyunjin was talking about earlier? His ex?"

"Yes." Neither his voice nor expression gave anything away.

"Oh... why did he think you guys were bad friends?"

"It's Hyunjin's ex that's all. He's still kind of mad at Jinnie. I just try to stay out of their mess. Did you try the drink yet?" he nudged one of the mugs a little closer to him, lifting the other two and tilting his head towards the stage.

"No... not yet."

"Try it. If you don't like it I want to get you something you will like."

Minho smiled, forgetting about the awkwardness. He sipped from the edge, ice cubes bumping into his upper lip. It tasted like fruit juice. Maybe there wasn't any alcohol in his at all.

"Oh. It's good." He licked his lips- looking up and catching the younger staring at his mouth.

"Good... that's good. Come on. They're going to rip into us for taking so long."

The walk back was different without Seungmin's hand in his. He felt vulnerable, open.

"Whoo! Just in time! Chan's going to start his set!" Felix hollered, snatching a cup and chugging half of it.

"Binnie's up after him. Oh, thanks." Hyunjin said, taking his own and sipping it quietly.

"What's a set?" Minho asked, already feeling stupid and hoping they wouldn't make fun of him for not knowing.

Felix laughed kindly and dragged him forward so he was pressed up against the stage with him. "You are in for the ride of your life!"

The lights lowered, dance music halting abruptly, revealing an underbuzz of conversation around them. People pressed up behind the four, crowding towards the stage.

"Oh God." Creeping anxiety crawled up his bones. Like a painful itch, begging to be scratched. Minho turned, looking for the exit, or the bathroom. They were too close. Strangers, bustling and closing in.

There was a steadying hand on his hip.

Seungmin. He was right behind him, pressed entirely to his back. "Is this okay?" he murmured, and his breath hit his ear like heat from the end of a lit sparkler. Igniting something in his chest.

Minho gulped. "Yeah. It's fine."

His other large hand drifted up, encased the other hip. He leaned back into him and Seungmin grinned.

"Put your eyes back on the stage. If you miss even a second of the show Bin's just going to make you come next time."

"That might not be so bad." Minho muttered while he took another sip of juice.

Chan crept into the circle of a single red stage light. The crowd hushed. He looked so much larger up there, muscles shadowed starkly, face covered with a baseball cap.

"Woah."

"Isn't he so fucking HOT?" Felix screeched, jumping beside them.

Minho could FEEL Seungmin laughing, his fingers tightening ever so slightly, chest vibrating along his shoulders and spine.

The music bellowed around them, Chan beginning a rap that was hard-hitting and deep. It was one of the songs he'd shown him back at the recording studio. Then another.