Static-abyss
Pairing: Siwon/Ryeowook (Siwook)
Summary: Ryeowook got to know them over cups of tea, but he fell in love over a cup of coffee...
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Ryeowook didn't really like coffee. He drank it mostly because with Siwon it was impossible not to drink it. Siwon drank the thing like it was water, washing down breakfast with a cup of dark coffee, two sugars, a dash of milk. He didn't drink it like any other normal person, no, Siwon was in love with the stuff.
Frankly, Ryeowook had never found the thing very tasty. It looked like black goop to him, with milk it just looked like lighter goop. Tea was better for him because tea had a calming effect, something left over from the time they were in Super Junior. Ryeowook liked tea because it brought back memories of sitting up late, out in the balcony watching the stars. Tea reminded him of the time Yesung had a fit because there was no coffee in the dorm and no one had gone to buy any, until Yesung had finally snapped after a week of tea drinking. Tea reminded him of the time Hankyung helped him make some back when they were still all together, back when they had Super Girl and millions of fans.
Tea was a good thing because it reminded Ryeowook that not everything was lost. It reminded him that right now at this very moment, even though Super Junior was gone, disbanded, they were all together. They would always be together. It reminded Ryeowook of all the times he had sat with each and every one of the members, sat and talked, sat and laughed. Tea was Ryeowook's thing and so he never understood coffee.
He had never understood coffee until the changes started.
***
Ryeowook knows that there is something wrong because Hankyung won't look any of them in the face. There is something wrong because Heechul won't let go of Hankyung, not even for a second as they run through their second Super Show. Heechul is being clingy, wrapping things around Hankyung's neck, holding his hand, whispering things in his ear. They are being obvious, too obvious and Ryeowook knows that there is something wrong.
He knows what is wrong a few months later, in China, when they're finishing up their last show. Ryeowook can't wait to go home. He's tired, drained. China has always done this to him, will probably always will and he marvels at how Hankyung can keep himself together for so long in a different country.
It comes as surprise or that's what they're told it has to be. They've known for weeks already that Hankyung is leaving, some of them didn't know, but it was because they didn't listen, didn't want it to be real. Heechul is the perfect example. When Hankyung doesn't come back with them, Heechul throws a fit.
They all have deal with the loss in different ways. Heechul is quiet, withdrawn. He cries more than he eats. It gets to the point where they have to drag him out of his room and into a doctor's office. Ryeowook deals with his pain, alone, or tires to. He wants to sit alone and wonder and think, but he runs into Siwon.
Siwon is sitting on the balcony looking out at the sky, a cup of coffee in his hand. He is sitting there, eyes too far for Ryeowook to see what he sees. It occurs to Ryeowook then that Siwon and Hankyung were best friends, much too close for just simple band members. It occurs to him that maybe he doesn't understand fully what it means to lose your brother, your lover. He isn't like Heechul or Siwon and he doesn't feel the same pain, but his own is there and he knows that he can't let Siwon feel this alone.
Ryeowook sits down next to Siwon, a cup of coffee in his hand because that was all he found in the kitchen. He sits and leans against Siwon, leans closer when Siwon's hand wraps around him. They say nothing because Ryeowook doesn't know what to say. He wants to tell Siwon that it will be okay, that they will all be fine, but they've lost Kibum, Hankyung and are going to lose Kangin soon.
