THE BOOK OF EXO SHIPS

KAIRIS

Kris approached EXO-K's second-maknae silently, making sure to keep his presence unnoticed. He was already feeling embarrassed enough and didn't want Kai to see him walk up red-faced. He towered over Jongin, looking more menacing than he felt as he tried to control the blood rushing to his cheeks. He felt stupid wanting to ask this but it was a wish that no one else could fulfill. He opened his mouth, took a breath, and let the words slip out.

"Jongin, teach me how to dance."

Kai had been sipping his fruit juice happily, leaning back with ease on the chair in the dorm's kitchen. He almost spit out his drink at the sound of the request and recognized the questioner just from the sound of his voice. He lurched forward and forced the drink down his throat, resulting in a horrendous coughing fit.

"Oi! Kai, are you okay?" Kris patted his back roughly, hoping he wouldn't have to resort to desperate measures if the boy was actually choking.

Between heaving coughs and sputters, Kai managed to say, "Yeah...I'm...fine..." He covered his mouth with his free hand -- the one not holding the plastic bottle of juice -- and spoke between his fingers. "Why," he coughed one more time, "do you want to learn how to dance? From me, I mean. Go ask Lay-hyung."

"I..." I don't want to ask Lay, I want to ask you, is what Kris wanted to say. But he cleared his throat and began again. "Lay's busy with Luhan a lot these days and I don't want to bother...them."

Kai nodded. It was no secret to the other group members the affection that had grown between the two. Luhan was a sweet and brotherly hyung and Lay was the precious child that wouldn't hurt a fly. Together, they were a match made in heaven, the angels would sing when they clicked. A few of the members used to have some thoughts towards Luhan, but when those two confessed to everyone that they were together, the others backed off. Kai included. But his feelings were more a fling than anything so it didn't hurt to suddenly tell himself it wasn't possible. He spent his time alone, usually in the dorms, and tried to stay out of there as much as possible.

Kai thought over the possibility quickly in his mind. Him? Teaching EXO's duizhang? It was something that had never occurred to him before. He faced forward, away from Kris, and leaned back in his chair once again. Kris looked intently at Jongin, feeling still a little awkward. Then Kai smirked, realizing he could take advantage of this situation.

The other eleven all knew that Kris had a certain pride that was rarely left unguarded. He was leader of half of them, now demoted when it came to promoting Growl. He liked to take care of the other members but when it came to trouble, he (and Kyungsoo) were the ones giving the scolding. But Kris didn't scold the way D.O did, with loud voices and targeting your bad behavior. Kris's scolding was the kind that made you feel absolutely guilty about what you had done. Kai had been scolded more times than he liked to think about and it didn't make him feel any kinder towards his hyung. Kris wasn't a dancer, he was a rapper, and he was trusting Kai to make him more of the former. 

Kai turned around and gave Kris his sweetest smile. "Sure Wu Fan, I'd love to teach you how to dance."

And even though it had been his request, Kris gulped uneasily as he tried smiling back.

---

"1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4. Kris you're off-beat." Kai stood off to the side with his hands on his hips. "Try counting in your head."

Kris pressed his lips together and Kai stared. Kai had spent the last three days teaching hyung all different dances. Jazz, hip-hop, his and Lay's routine to Two Moons, even ballet, and no matter how many times Kris messed up or had to do something embarrassing (twirls really aren't the manliest), Kai couldn't find it in himself to feel satisfied. Kris had always gotten back up and tried again and that was something Kai admired. It was a trait he himself had yet to perfect -- he often got frustrated when something wasn't going right the way he wanted it too. Yet here was Kris, prideful, somewhat-narcissistic, somewhat-sassy, dancing to Jazz and messing up every other beat, but getting up every beat after that and continuing. Kai couldn't help it; he felt jealous.